So long Matt

by iluvthecubs on Jun 14, 2007 1:12 AM CDT

I know there are a lot of happy people out there, but my daughters are the ones at Spring Training that Matt waived to and my oldest one couldn't believe it tonight. I told her it is all about winning at this level. You can be a nice guy, but tickets don't sell for nice guys. Maybe we will make a trip to Iowa to see Matt.

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ohh yeahh

say hi to ronny cedeno and neal cotts if u go. . . if u wait few more weeks u might get to see ohman and maybe jock down there. . .

by CZ38 on Jun 14, 2007 3:56 AM CDT reply actions

jock will be dfa'd

can't go down

by Chanman25 on Jun 14, 2007 6:49 AM CDT up reply actions

Then Lets' DFA his ass!!!!!!!!

n/freakin/t

MMMMM...Hebrew National

by Kinky Reggae on Jun 14, 2007 9:43 AM CDT reply actions

Murton needs to play every day

Be interesting where they put him, RF or LF...he hasn't been same as part-timer...seemed a little bitter about it in today's Trib, but he didn't deliver much when given chance to play.

Pinella says he was looking for guys to step up and no one really did in OF; Pie, obviously, has lately and Pagan has more overall tools than Murton....

So who's our RF?? Looks like a platoon of mainly Floyd alt. with Jones *(until/unless he can be moved) with Pagan and possibly DeRosa getting some time there (vs. right-handed pitchers so Fontenot can play 2B, I'm guessing).

Prefer Floyd spelled by Pagan and backed up for defensive purposes in late innings, always. Jones just hasn't hit at all despite extended opportunities.

by writerinwrigley on Jun 14, 2007 10:23 AM CDT reply actions

re: Murton needs to play every day

This Sun-Times article indicates that Murton will play right field in Iowa.

And I agree, Murton needs regular at-bats to show he hasn't completely lost the plot and, who knows, maybe regular playing time in right will improve his defense, too.

Unlike others, I'm not going to kick Murton when he's (sent) down. I've always liked him and supported him as a player. No, not as a future all-star or a solution to all of the Cubs problem. Just a guy who, on the right roster, could pay dividends with patient at-bats and timely hitting. (Maybe he'll develop power, maybe not. It seems doubtful right now.)

Make no mistake, I don't think that roster is the Cubs' -- at least not unless his bat and outfield defense rebound astoundingly in Triple A. And even then, I'd still rather see someone in right field with more speed. More likely than not, Murton is tradebait.

As for right now, I agree that, as long as he's healthy, Floyd should get the majority of starts in right field with, as you say, Pagan as a defensive replacement or even starting against pitchers who have historically dominated Floyd. I wouldn't be opposed to DeRosa taking some starts in right either.

Good luck, Matt.

Justice for Ted Lilly! Justice for Mike Fontenot!

by daver on Jun 14, 2007 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions

As far as square pegs in round holes are concerned

I guess it's one down, and one to go (Jones). My guess is that Piniella is intrigued by Fontenot, and wouldn't mind using DeRosa in RF more, making Murton even more redundant. While I really like Murton's potential as a number 2-type hitter, he's not a good, or smart fielder.

If Hendry can make Jones disappear, that would leave Pie, Soriano, Floyd, and Pagan in the OF, with DeRosa also a possibility. Roles could certainly be more well-defined at that point.

by davidalanu on Jun 14, 2007 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions

Soriano, Pie, and Pagan

were in the outfield last night in the later innings (after Pagan pinch-ran for Floyd).

Have the Cubs ever fielded a faster set of outfielders?

by ChipSet on Jun 14, 2007 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Not since

The days when Matt Stairs and Julio Zuleta roamed out there!

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Jun 14, 2007 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Going to Iowa and getting regular time in RF

is the best thing that can happen to him right now. He'll be able to try and get his swing back and play RF in a little less pressured situation. Who knows, in a month if Hendry trades JJ, he could be back.

by rlpete on Jun 14, 2007 12:15 PM CDT reply actions

You can really tell a lot by 100 at bats

There's also nothing like switching positions at the ML-level, either. It'd be hard enough in a normal park, but doing it in the toughest RF in the majors probably didn't help.

by JDay on Jun 14, 2007 12:34 PM CDT reply actions

Murton does not have the arm to be a right fielder

With the Fonz locked up long term, he really has no place in the future of this team.

by LT on Jun 14, 2007 12:40 PM CDT reply actions

Maybe not as a starter

but at least if he doesn't drop the ball he could be a 4th outfielder.

by rlpete on Jun 14, 2007 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions

So long farewell, auf widersehen good-bye

There's a sad sort of clanging from the clock in the hall
And the bells in the steeple too.
And up in the nursery an absurd little bird
Is popping out to say cook-coo cook-coo, cook-coo
Regretfully they tell us cook-coo
But firmly they compel us cook-coo
To say goodbye cook-coo...
To you...

So long farewell, auf weidersehen good-bye

Mark Prior
I hate to go and leave this pretty sight

So long farewell, auf weidersehen adieu

Kerry Wood
Adieu, adieu, to you and you and you

So long farewell, au revior auf weidersehen

Wade Miller
I'd like to stay and taste my first champagne
Yes?

Jim Hendry
No

So long farewell, auf weidersehen goodnight

Neal Cotts
I leave and heave a sigh and say good bye - goodbyyyyyyeeeee!

Rocky Cherry
I'm glad... to go.... I cannot tell a lie

Ronny Cedeno
I fleet, I float, I fleetly flee I fly...

Matt Murton
The sun... has gone... to bed and so must I...

So long...farewell...auf weidersehen goodbye...
Goodbye...
Goodbye....
Goodbye....

Cubs Fans
Goodbye...

by JFCubFan on Jun 14, 2007 1:22 PM CDT reply actions

that is quite possibly the funniest post I've seen

on this board .. I laughed til I cried and could just imagine these guys in blue pin striped lederhosen doing this ..

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Jun 15, 2007 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Guess that's the word (German)

Somebody here knows too much about musicals/The Sound of Music...or did you look it up?

Of this group who might we see back in Wrigley before the end of this year?
I'd say Cotts (esp. if can deal away Eyre to some team desperate repeat DESPERATE) for relief...Wood seems to be a long shot, no progress, and W. Miller has little left in tank.

I still think Cedeno has a future as a major league SS, but maybe not with Cubs depending on what they do in off-season to replace Izturis, whose option most surely won't be exercised.

by writerinwrigley on Jun 14, 2007 2:19 PM CDT reply actions

Erm....

Cedeno has a future as a major league SS

For the Devil Rays or the Royals.....maybe.

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

by Faith plus 1 on Jun 14, 2007 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Murton gets hosed

I think it is BS. Will he get some AB's, great. But freaking Jones needs to be released. Murton is a good kid and got caught up in garbage. Hope you rip the ball Matt, you don't belong in the minors.

by Johnny Callison was a Cub on Jun 14, 2007 8:50 PM CDT reply actions

Just leave him on the bench

Don't cut Jones, don't DFA him, just sit him down and tell him that he is going to be on the bench as a pinch hitter, with an occasional start if Floyd is unhealthy.

Everybody always wants to trade these spare parts, but it is pretty clear that at this moment, nobody wants or needs Jones. If somebody on a contender gets hurt, then you might see him get dealt, but none of these video-game trades are going to happen.

Tell me Gerald, what is this "walk" you speak of?

by Ross on Jun 14, 2007 9:43 PM CDT reply actions