Matt Murton acknowledging the crowd yesterday in Japan after tying Ichiro's hits record. He has...

Matt Murton acknowledging the crowd yesterday in Japan after tying Ichiro's hits record. He has four games remaining to try to break it.

over 1 year ago Al Yellon 15 comments 0 recs |

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I know its not MLB

but, thats still an accomplishment. Why cant he just do it over here?

"Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical." -Yogi Berra

by imacubman on Oct 4, 2010 12:17 PM CDT reply actions

Good for him

That’s a pretty remarkable achievement in any league.

by Orval Overall on Oct 4, 2010 12:30 PM CDT reply actions

I've always liked Matt

and am very happy for him. I hope he breaks the record.

A lovely story:

One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....

But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.

The end

by sue369 on Oct 4, 2010 12:40 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Will probably depend on if Japanese pitchers let him.

It appears that unlike the old days , they are not protecting Japanese superstar records. He got a pitch to hit in his next AB and got good wood on it but straight to the center fielder.

"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Oct 4, 2010 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions

I wondered about exactly that: Japanese pitchers letting him have a legitimate chance at breaking the record...

There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?

by Zeke on Oct 4, 2010 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah that is pretty fascinating.

Guess it isn’t quite like the old days. The Japanese league may not be at the level of MLB but it does make you wonder why he’s able to tie Ichiro and not have more success here. Perhaps he just needed more time to develop. It is a shame either way.

Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10

by Sandberg's evil twin on Oct 5, 2010 12:30 AM CDT up reply actions

Just wanted to provide a pat on the back:

I bet Murton becomes a Tuffy Rhodes-like big star in Japan.

by Al Yellon on Dec 7, 2009 1:27 PM PST

I’d say “who knew”, but I have my answer.

"A good cigar is like a beautiful chick with a great body who also knows the American League box scores." Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger

by PacificCub on Oct 4, 2010 1:26 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Now if only Micah Hoffpauir would take my advice.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 4, 2010 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Not really fair to compare them.

Hoff might do OK in Japan and he has no use here. Murton was and is a far better player.

"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Oct 4, 2010 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions

True.

Hoffpauir, with his uppercut swing, seems perfectly suited to the smaller Japanese parks.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 4, 2010 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Congrats to Matt

my favorite over Patterson in the battle of the rookies (2006?) – good to see he is having success…

by hansman1982 on Oct 4, 2010 1:31 PM CDT reply actions

A little more detail

http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2010/10/04/an-american-tiger-matches-ichiro-record-in-japan/

"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Oct 4, 2010 1:45 PM CDT reply actions

This maybe explains why Fukudome never really became the slugger he was in Japan

Murton is a middling hitter and ties Ichiro’s record. Dome was a damn good hitter over there and comes here and only shows flashes of it.

American Major League pitchers are a tad better than their counterparts in Japan. The Ichiros and Matsuis are the exception when it comes to Japanese hitters making a major impact over here.

Don’t get me wrong, I was happy to get Dome. His influence helped the 08 Cubs and he is a great right fielder. But, for all the money the Cubs spent, they might have gotten the same from someone else at a lot less.

Just goes to prove again that there are no sure things in sports, or in life. Glad to see Matt doing well there, I liked him, too.

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Oct 4, 2010 7:07 PM CDT reply actions

I'd say both leagues have better pitching for sure, just like hitters.

You’ve got the US, all of south america to draw from, as well as other nations. Japan has Japanese players and some hitters that couldn’t make it in MLB. Different talent pool.

Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10

by Sandberg's evil twin on Oct 5, 2010 12:34 AM CDT up reply actions