Could Murton Help With Middle Relief?

by 10 14 23 26 on May 22, 2007 2:52 PM CDT

This comes from a website that posts anything and everything, so take it with a grain of salt. It says the Cubs might be shopping Murton for for a reliever.

My question is, who could we actually get for Murton? Does this mean nobody will take Jones?

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Sorry if this was already discussed here.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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His weak arm is enough of a liability in right...

...much less in middle reli...

Oh, you mean in a trade.

by cwyers on May 22, 2007 2:51 PM CDT reply actions

LOL

Good diary title. I was wondering that myself.

I like Murton (unlike others on this site) but he appears to have little future with this team. If he could bring middle relief help, deal him.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on May 22, 2007 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions

actually I saw this coming the day Soriano signed

Murton is a lot like R White defensively and offensively, at best 20 HR's 300 BA. If he was a SS or 2B, even 3B he might be something but I will always recall that Murton appears to project to the 75th best OF'er in the NL.

If the Cubs can get a good reliever...fantastic! And I still think that they can garner another player from Jones being traded.

Harry Carey: 3 & 2, 2-out, no place to put him...tying run on 3rd...winning run on 2nd...THE PITCH....HEE POOOOPPPED....IT UP!

by Ivy Walls on May 22, 2007 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions

75/30

comes to 2.5. So, he is projected to be a starter on approximately 15 baseball teams. Which is half of them. Interesting.

by Rev Gunia on May 22, 2007 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Good grief

Matt Murton doesn't have much trade value. Despite what some of you think, there isn't wondrous market for punch and judy hitting left fielders that are undistinguished to awful in every bloody phase of the game.

Grasshopper, snatch the pebble from my hand...

by BlueMike on May 22, 2007 3:05 PM CDT reply actions

I waver on what Murton's value is

and one flaw of Hendry's is he usually waits too long to trade players, and let's them start to drop in performance before he pulls the trigger.

One thing I disagree on, is some fans worry that Murton will turn into a big run producer if the Cubs trade him. I just don't see that happening. I see him as a 280-290 type hitter, that could hit you 15-17 dings if he got 500+ AB's. His value may be decent for a small market club, that can hold onto him for a few years at a bargain price, but I just don't know how much he would fetch.

"Just give me 25 guys on the last year of their contracts; I'll win a pennant every year" - Sparky Anderson

by MPH73 on May 22, 2007 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Ah, Orange Guy...

...how far you have fallen. From beloved fan favorite to nothing more than a common bargaining chip. Such is life.

Funniest line from the article: "To the White Sox for Mike MacDougal?"

Ha ha -- not after this past weekend's series!

Send...more...paramedics!

by daver on May 22, 2007 3:13 PM CDT reply actions

I make that trade in a nanosecond

Trouble is, Kenny Williams would hang up the phone and fall on the floor laughing. Look, if anybody is willing to give Jim Hendry a box of sunflower seeds and an infield rake to be named later for Matt Friggin Murton, then he should jump off his barstool and make the deal NOW.

Grasshopper, snatch the pebble from my hand...

by BlueMike on May 22, 2007 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions

You're nuts

by gjdow on May 22, 2007 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Let's see here...

...White Sox outfielders as a group are hitting .235/.302/.374. Murton is hitting .264/.319/.356 -- and he's slumping right now. He's out hitting quite a few of their outfielders.

But noooooo. Knowing things would put too much of a burden on you.

by cwyers on May 22, 2007 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Well...

There's not one team in major league baseball where Matt Murton would be the starting left fielder. Not one team. And don't give me this crap that Ozzie Guillen would like him on the White Sox either.

Grasshopper, snatch the pebble from my hand...

by BlueMike on May 22, 2007 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Man...let it go...

You know how BlueMike is. It's not even worth the bother.

But seriously, Matt Murton for Jon Rauch should have happened a month ago. Love the guy, but it's no use in trying to pretend he's a right fielder.

by Damen Jackson on May 22, 2007 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions

The Cheat

Al should dial up the Cheat and see what we can get for BM. Maybe he has some year-old diaries on how a White sox homestand went in May 06.

by MHef08 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on May 22, 2007 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions

My trade value is significantly diminished

My contract with BCB is an albatross for Al. I'm unmoveable. Fortunately, I'm having a renaissance and producing as if I were still in my prime.

Grasshopper, snatch the pebble from my hand...

by BlueMike on May 22, 2007 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions

LMAO

n/t

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on May 22, 2007 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions

re: My trade value is significantly diminished

I'm surprised you haven't pulled a hammy dissing Matt Murton.

Send...more...paramedics!

by daver on May 22, 2007 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions

he may have hurt his back

laughing over some of the murton trade suggestions.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on May 23, 2007 8:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Deal w/ the Padres

They have a deep pen and need help in LF and obp help. Of course, Murton's obp is far from stellar...

SORIANO! YESSSSSSSS! JIMBO!!!

by CubFaninCA on May 22, 2007 5:12 PM CDT reply actions

I know...

... the Cubs have been interested in Scott Linebrink for a long time. Murton by himself might not do it.

Do the Padres have any use for Scott Moore?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on May 22, 2007 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Sure.

Kouzmanoff, their third sacker, is batting .185. In theory, they need a third baseman. Problem is, Moore is stinking it up at AAA right now.

by cwyers on May 22, 2007 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Scott Moore?

Are you kidding me? Scott Moore? How the frick on God's green earth would have any conceivable interest in Scott Moore? Is San Diego looking for a new parking lot valet?

You people have gone mad today.

Grasshopper, snatch the pebble from my hand...

by BlueMike on May 22, 2007 6:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Do you just

step up to the soapbox and not bother reading or what?

Read the post again then spout off at the mouth.

Faith Plus One - Contributing Editor -http://www.inaleagueofherown.com

by Faith plus 1 on May 22, 2007 7:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Prolly not

They gave up Josh Barfield for Kouzamoff (sp). They need all kinds of outfield help. Both Cameron and Giles are struggling.

SORIANO! YESSSSSSSS! JIMBO!!!

by CubFaninCA on May 22, 2007 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Al, you've cracked up

Scott Linebrink is arguably THE BEST set-up man in baseball the past several seasons. You could offer up Felix Pie and San Diego would tell you to go scratch. Matt Murton and Scott Moore? While you're at it, why don't you see if those two can net Jake Peavy or Johan Santana. Good grief.

Grasshopper, snatch the pebble from my hand...

by BlueMike on May 22, 2007 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Brian Wilson

Besides being the genius behind 'Pet Sounds' and 'Smile', Brian Wilson is also a solid young middle-reliever in the Giants system. He had a brief stint on the DL this year with a muscle strain, but he's back pitching lights out. Since the Giants love old guys who can pitch, why not send Neal Cotts and Matt Murton to them for Wilson.

I saw Wilson pitch a game against the Padres in Spring Training, and he can bring it. He hit 97mph on the Peoria Sports Complex radar gun and has a terrific curveball.

by TMOX on May 22, 2007 7:17 PM CDT reply actions

Murton is likeable....

...perhaps even valuable due to his penchant for BBs and the good 2006 2nd half. He is strong in a skill set where the Cubs have been weak, but he is also limited in ability in other areas, e.g., defensively , speed, and that he does not play an IF position as well. Since the Cubs don't view him as a starter then sure he should be traded to help the bullpen. The Cubs have decided to go with more proven decent players and Murton is likely just a decent player himself projected top-end. The one aspect of Murton's games that really annoys me is the GBs and the GDIPs. For a guy who hits so many GBs he needs to be much faster. There are a lot of ins and outs, lot of "what have yous" to his game.

by DudeVf11 on May 22, 2007 8:24 PM CDT reply actions

Murton and GIDP

Uh.... what GIDP's? He has ZERO GIDP this season. But hey, if you don't want to let facts get in your way, go ahead. One great thing about Murton this year is that he has beaten out a number of GIDP's by hustling this year. And a number of them have scored.

by frustratedfan on May 23, 2007 10:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes, those pesky facts...

...can be troublesome, I agree. And we should probably look at the rate that he hits into DPs given the possibility and not just the number of GIDPs per ABs. It looks like he is either working hard at lifting the ball some in 2007 or selse just too few ABs to say whether he'll have another season of 2+ GB/FB. He did appear to be one of the more likely Cubs to GDIP in 2006 and with fewer ABs hit in to as many or more than Aramis and Jones. Murton's been a good GDIP candidate and given his lack of power and speed that's a negative quality to me. He might make up for it in plate discipline and maybe his rates are no different than any other Cub? This is one where perception is driving my point but there are some facts to suggest that he's a good GIDP target.

by DudeVf11 on May 24, 2007 1:01 AM CDT up reply actions

Speed

Except that Murton DOES have good speed. And he hustles out of the box. That's why he doesn't have that many GIDP's. And its a bit more complex than just that.

For example, the lead off hitter (particularly in the NL) is FAR less likely to GIDP. Firstly, between 20 and 25% of his AB are assured to be in a position where he can't GIDP. He leads off the game and thus automatically can't GIDP for that AB. Secondly, he follows the pitcher. The pitcher, if a runner is on with no outs, is likely to bunt any runner to second. Thus no GIDP. If no runner is on, the pitcher is less likely to get on base. Thus no GIDP. In sum, it takes a series of combinations for the lead off hitter to even have a GIDP chance.

Secondly, the runner on first makes a big difference. Batting after the catcher versus batting after the speedy center fielder, makes a GIDP more likely.

Thirdly, a player that hits after a big time power hitter is less likely to have chances for GIDP than, say a contact hitter, as the power hitter will clear the bases.

In sum, its a complicated equation, but frankly your eyes are misleading you.

by Frustrated Fan on May 24, 2007 8:19 AM CDT reply actions