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Open Thread: Cubs vs. Mariners, Friday 3/28, 9:15 CT

Yelloncard_tiny by Al on in Game Threads

Back in Chicago and back to work early tomorrow morning, I won't get to see much of this televised game, maybe the first couple of innings.

Hope the rest of you can fill in the details.

Afternoon notes (some of which have been discussed before):
  • Matt Murton's headed to Iowa. Or a deal to another team -- Jim Hendry is actually well-respected among players because he does try to find another situation for someone he can't fit into the Cubs. That article also says Kevin Hart's likely made the team:
    [Lou] Piniella hasn't said anything to pitcher Kevin Hart, who also appears to have made the final 25. Hart figures he'll get on the bus with the team until he's told to get off.

    "That's a good way to look at things," Piniella said.

  • TCTSNBN today says that MLB should investigate A-Rod and Magglio Ordonez for steroid use. Why? Because Jose Canseco said so. Great logic there.
  • Bruce Miles says Piggy may have turned Lou's head. To which I say, "Good! He's earned the spot."

Tonight, Ted Lilly goes against Seattle's Carlos Silva. The Cubs will be the "home" team tonight and bat last. It's on radio in Chicago (WGN) and Seattle (KOMO), on WGN-TV and on MLB Audio at the MLB.com Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday (2007 version)

MLB.com Gameday (2008 version)

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Goodbye Matt Murton...

you're majestic legend will live in our hearts forever!

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 28, 2008 2:30 PM CDT   1 recs

I wonder if this unicorn bucked him off.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Mar 28, 2008 2:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

haha

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 28, 2008 2:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

damn

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 28, 2008 2:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The second

he is moved, traded or demoted I'm divorcing him.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 28, 2008 2:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

MOW

what's that mean? Add it to the BCB Dictionary!

Stats spelled backwards is statS!

by digitalbenjamin on Mar 28, 2008 3:10 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yea

I only saw 3 things and it sort of caught me up. Need more!

by Rudey on Mar 28, 2008 3:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ballhawk

You need to add your term to the BCB dictionary...

by LT on Mar 28, 2008 3:19 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I think its there

and i'm ashamed.....

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 28, 2008 3:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Godspeed, Murt

Since this is the age of placing blame, I put Murt's mediocrity squarely on the shoulders of Dusty, Sarge and Gene. Remember when he first came up to the Cubs? Patient hitter, waited for his pitch and drove it. Then the sermon of "Be (dude) aggressive (dude) and swing (dude) at everying (dude)" was preached to him a few too many times...and he was obviously struggling just to make contact. Poor guy, I hope he gets traded, gets a chance to play and rediscovers his stroke. He was also my daughter's favorite since he was a redhead too!!

by kentmeister on Mar 28, 2008 3:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

oops

of course, in the above I meant "everything" not "everying"...don't want to be mistaken for a Sox fan!

by kentmeister on Mar 28, 2008 3:04 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The problem with Murton

Is not his Offensive production, it's that he's a mediocre Defensive OF and his problem as it relates to the Cubs, is that he can not play CF.

If he does have a weakness offensively, it's that he doesn't have above average power for a Corner outfielder, which most GM's look for an a corner OFer.

by lemon20pie on Mar 28, 2008 3:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes

His D is certainly the problem...but if he drove the ball with power like he is certainly capable of I'm not sure we would have even needed Fuku. With his swing reduced to Willie Magee-like ball-slapping, his lack of versatility is costing him even more. But at least he can throw better than Jacque!

by kentmeister on Mar 28, 2008 3:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

have at it fellas

I'm sitting this one out.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 28, 2008 3:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Agreed...

Murton, as he currently stands, his an above average hitter. Unfortunately, defensively he's yet to prove he's a capable RF. As a LF, people want more power.

His problems on the Cubs was that he's not as good as Soriano (who is here for 7 more years), he doesn't bat LH, and he can't play CF. The first two are the biggest problems. If he was better than Soriano, he'd be the LF. If he batted LH, he might be the RF and we might have passed on Fukudome.

I think the divide people have on Murton is what they envision moving forward. There are many who think he'll never develop the power to go along with the solid average and OBP. If those people are right, then he's destined to be a 4th OF or platoon LF. Others see his size and his plate discipline and imagine that he can develop enough power to be a better version of Jeff Conine (who had a pretty decent career as an MLB regular). If they're right (or if Murton develops 25+ HR power), then Murton will find a spot as a regular somewhere.

It remains to be seen whether he develops the consistent power to lock up an everyday spot. But whether he does or not has no impact on his future as a Cub. His future as a Cub is pretty much over. We're locked in in LF and RF for the next 4 years, and that's pretty much the extent of his versatility.

by SouthernCub on Mar 28, 2008 4:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

This is NOT a big deal--the only one to blame is Murton...

...for not being a better player AND for having options....

This is business and the opening day 25 roster is meaningless unless you start throwing guys away who can help you and they are out of options. Seriously, who cares who made the last 2 roster spots even 4 weeks from now, so long as we have the best 35 guys in total under our control. Because you are going to need 35 guys for a 162 game season, not Matt Murton on the 25 and some other guy who can help cut loose.

Matt Murton's game has flaws. He's mediocre defensively and has little speed. These are big negatives when you also don't have a lot of power and you play corner OF. Murton would serve himself well by learning 1B, 3B, and improving his OF defense. I like Murton but I am realistic, the guy has big limitations, still I'd like him to be on my 35 man roster for the 162 game marathon.

With all that said, there will be real interest in Murton and I expect he'll be traded. He would have been gone already had the Cubs acquired Roberts and moved Derosa to OF sub. So Murton gets the bad news now and I feel bad for him about the timing because the Cubs put 100% of their eggs on getting Roberts and they put everything on hold. Hopefully they'll get something decent for Murton and he'll go to a good team like the Padres where I can watch him play in person.

by DudeVf11 on Mar 28, 2008 11:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You should add a little sign...

...that says "To Iowa -->" or something like that.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by dat cubfan daver on Mar 28, 2008 3:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

that picture is epic!!!

Matt Murton, riding off into the sunset of Iowa on his magical Unicorn steed. It's true what they say, Gingers are magical

Chuck Norris is a Cubs fan...

by Walker71421 on Mar 28, 2008 3:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That picture

sums up why I missed BCB. Where else in my daily life can I find a great combination of the Cubs and Lisa Frank? Nowhere, my friends. Nowhere.

I Believe!!!!

by Sarah Hope on Mar 28, 2008 6:52 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

LISA FRANK!


That is exactly what I thought of, too! Kinda reminds me of those really fantastical looking paintings of dolphins and whales that used to be on notebooks and folders, too.

"These are the saddest of possible words: Tinker to Evers to Chance."

by bluebythebook on Mar 28, 2008 7:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I have found my next tattoo...

"I got mad hits like I was Rod Carew!"

by lostinthevines on Mar 28, 2008 8:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Is it time to consider Pie for the lead off spot?

Now that the Cubs have the Right Handed hitting CF in Johnson they've sought for the last 3 months and Pie will hit against Righties only for the most part, when will the campaign for Pie to lead off begin?

by lemon20pie on Mar 28, 2008 2:37 PM CDT   0 recs

Realistically...

we shouldn't even consider it until after we see what he's going to do with a full season facing ML pitching. After that, if he's can make adjustments and show real progress...then yeah...that campaign is coming.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 28, 2008 2:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Amen.

I'm a huge Felix supporter (let me rephrase that...), but it's way, way, way too early to start even considering him for the lead-off spot.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by dat cubfan daver on Mar 28, 2008 3:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't think so...

...he appears to be gaining some confidence, and that is critical in his development as a young hitter. That confidence is fragile right now, so you need to put him in a spot with the least amount of pressure, and that will be 7th or 8th for this year.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Mar 28, 2008 3:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Doesn't make any sense for Pie...

his skillset has never been suited for the leadoff spot. He's never taken a lot of walks, so unless his average is high he hasn't been a good OBP guy. Pie has always seemed better suited for a #6 type spot in the order. There, he could use his doubles power to drive in the big boys in a low-pressure environment. Also, the #6 spot would be a good spot to take advantage of his speed.

Eventually, he may develop into a #3-5 hitter. But I don't know that his skillset will ever be ideally suited for the leadoff spot.

by SouthernCub on Mar 28, 2008 4:17 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Theriot doesn't take a lot of walks right now either

and as it stands, he's the Cubs lead off hitter. Having seen 7 ST games this year, it's obvious to me that he worked on shortening his swing in the off season and if would ever be considered to be a lead off hitter, it would be right now. I say that mainly because he'll only see Righties. I agree that the Cubs future hopes of Pie is to hit lead off, but as of this moment, the Cubs lead off hitter is Theriot and I don't think Pie and his OBP could be drastically worse than Theriot's.

Then you'd have that CF spot leading off and Theriot hitting 8th. I also agree though that it is a little premature to seriously discuss it, but just tossing it out there.

by lemon20pie on Mar 28, 2008 4:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

EDIT:

..."the Cubs future hopes of Pie is to *not* hit lead off" etcetera etcetera etcetera

by lemon20pie on Mar 28, 2008 4:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't like Theriot leading off either...

But Theriot does actually take walks at a higher rate than Pie. And he is a patient hitter in general.

Ideally, I'd have Fukudome there among current Cubs. If we'd gotten Roberts, he'd be the guy I'd put there. But Theriot (while not ideal) is probably better suited at leadoff than Pie.

Now, if Pie continues his torrid spring into the season and Theriot struggles, then I'd suggest moving Fukudome to leadoff, Theriot to 8th, and Pie to 6th.

by SouthernCub on Mar 28, 2008 4:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Theriot's P/PA

was actually one of the worst on the team last season. It's only Spring Training, but I thought Felix showed pretty good patience at the plate for the most part. Does that mean he should lead off? no it doesn't, not now atleast. But having said that, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Felix leads off at some point this season.

by lemon20pie on Mar 28, 2008 4:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The Phillies claim

Tim Lahey off
waivers from the Cubs.

by cubswin on Mar 28, 2008 2:40 PM CDT   0 recs

Interesting

He has to stay on the Phillies 25 man roster the entire season, which seems unlikely.

My question is: If the Phillies put him on waivers again, is he put back into the waiver pool for any team to claim and then is it just a nasty circle of a waiver pool anytime he is released or now that he's been claimed and if put back on waivers, will he be returned to the Twins?

by lemon20pie on Mar 28, 2008 2:54 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I hope he can swim...

;)

Let me get back to you, will ya, Charlie? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.

by JB 23 on Mar 28, 2008 4:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

LOL

Courtesy of The Cub Reporter

It's on the front of Rotoworld, but the Phillies claimed Tim Lahey today off waivers. They'll have to keep him on their 25-man roster all season to keep his rights beyond 2008 without a trade or cash exchanging hands. If he can't stick, he'll go through waivers again, but more likely end up back in the Minnesota Twins organization (if they want him). The Cubs are still owed a player for the Craig Monroe deal from the Minnesota Twins. It's certainly possible that it still might be Tim Lahey, but they'll have to wait for the Phillies to be done with him first

So it sounds like when and if Lahey is released from the Phillies, he will be returned back to the Twins.

by lemon20pie on Mar 28, 2008 4:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Why when I copy and paste the quote box

from the comment tips page, it never works?

by lemon20pie on Mar 28, 2008 4:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

highlight the text
then hit the quote icon...

Let me get back to you, will ya, Charlie? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.

by JB 23 on Mar 28, 2008 4:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

that is nuts!...

I would imagine every team needs several legal analysts to stay on top of all the inner workings of MLB transactions for each players situation.

Let me get back to you, will ya, Charlie? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.

by JB 23 on Mar 28, 2008 4:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks JB 23

One more quick question, where is this "quote icon" for which you speak of? Me not find.

by lemon20pie on Mar 28, 2008 5:01 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

When you post a comment...

.... look for the " above the box.

Then you can type your text, or copy/paste, highlight it and hit the " button.

It will look like the above box.

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

by Al on Mar 28, 2008 5:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

If I Am Not Mistaken...

...isn't PTBNL trades need to be reconciled within 60 days? I thought I read that somewhere...

Jacque Jones is gone, and I doubt Ivan DeJesus would mind this!

by initram on Mar 28, 2008 10:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The Deadline

is 6 months.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Mar 28, 2008 10:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That must be getting close, then.

n/t

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

by Al on Mar 29, 2008 4:26 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Whats the lineup?

Any starters going tonight or will evenryone be resting?

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 28, 2008 2:42 PM CDT   0 recs

I would think the starters would see...

some limited action. Probably start and sit after their 2nd AB.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Mar 28, 2008 2:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

cool

i'd eb a bummer to have bought tickets if it's all minor leaguers.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 28, 2008 2:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Agree...

...I wonder if Lou will start to put Fuku in the 2 hole about now, or wait until the season is underway.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Mar 28, 2008 3:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hopefully

...tonight will be like last year when the Friday night game mostly consisted of starters and major leaguers and the Saturday game was all minor leaguers after the 3rd of 4th inning. I bought tickets for tonight's game and not tomorrow's game assuming this year will be the same.

by Zachary on Mar 28, 2008 5:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

fanposts

I think Al you might have to consider using some liberty in deciding whether or not a fanpost is worthy enough to be a fanpost. Or if there is a way for the programmers to include the "recommend fanpost" feature like was on the old BCB.

I'm still waiting to see a "what I had for lunch" fanpost.

by lemon20pie on Mar 28, 2008 3:04 PM CDT   1 recs

HAHAHAAH

My appologies for my 1st fanpost. it was my 1st day.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 28, 2008 3:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No excuses~!!

U made up for it for beign the master poster!

Dont burn urself out bud.

by Rudey on Mar 28, 2008 3:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Wont happen

I still hold the record on the now extinct Textamerica.com (flickr type site) well over 100,000.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 28, 2008 3:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Recommend feature

There is a recommend feature, although almost no one seems to have found it. There is also a recommend feature for individual comments. For example, I just recommended your comment by clicking on "actions" -> "recommend".

by John Q Freejazz on Mar 28, 2008 3:45 PM CDT to parent up   3 recs

I have made a request...

... for a more visible "Recommend" feature. They are considering it.

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

by Al on Mar 28, 2008 3:49 PM CDT to parent up   3 recs

Re: Recommend feature

I was thinking of posting a meta-fanpost on the recommend feature, as it has hardly been used since the advent of SBN 2.0. Maybe it would help if it were made a little more visible.

by John Q Freejazz on Mar 28, 2008 3:50 PM CDT to parent up   1 recs

I wasn't aware that there already was a

"recommend fanpost" in place. Thanks.

by lemon20pie on Mar 28, 2008 3:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Feel free to make a post like that.

I had intended to mention it earlier but forgot.

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

by Al on Mar 28, 2008 4:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I LOOOVE

the "C" and "Z" features!

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 28, 2008 3:59 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Found the recommend feature for fanposts

Really wasn't that hard to find. Guess I just assumed since there's only been one recommended fanpost that there wasn't a recommend option.

by lemon20pie on Mar 28, 2008 4:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

c and z features are indeed great

My favorite upgrade though is the "auto refresh" feature. During game threads with the auto refresh, it becomes a chat room, which is cool.

by lemon20pie on Mar 28, 2008 4:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Back to the recommend feature in fanposts

So, if I hit the recommend option at the bottom of the post by creator of fanpost, will it get moved to the "recommended fanposts" area above recent fanposts?

by lemon20pie on Mar 28, 2008 4:11 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Al has it set at 4 reccomends before it shows up

right now. So that is why we don't see any in that section yet because few knew how to reccomend. I think 4 will be fine once everyone knows about it.

by LT on Mar 28, 2008 4:21 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Another question

So when you recommend an individual comment, what does that do? What is the purpose of having a recommend feature for individual replies?

by lemon20pie on Mar 28, 2008 4:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't know.

Maybe the tech team can answer that.

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

by Al on Mar 28, 2008 5:08 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You can see how many people have recommended a post

but I haven't noticed any sort of filter to where you would only look at these posts?

by LT on Mar 28, 2008 5:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ur my hero

10 days 800+ posts, and im not even kidding about u being my hero cause of it.

Hope to meet some of u guys at the games i can go to!
POOR students ftl.

by Rudey on Mar 28, 2008 3:38 PM CDT   0 recs

Well thanks then!

So many of my posts count as 2 becuase the second I post it I think of something to add....geesh.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 28, 2008 4:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

In that case

they should count as 1/2 (.i.e. half a post)

Why does everybody stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" when they're already there? ~Larry Anderson

by JohnM on Mar 28, 2008 5:22 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yep

i wish there was an edit button for the user that left the comment. That way I could add what I forgot and also correct some of my 3rd grade spelling erros.

Poor Matty Murton....

by Keystone80435 on Mar 28, 2008 6:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

If Matt comes

to Iowa