Matt Murton: Japanese baseball star.

by cedarpip on Jan 9, 2011 9:04 AM CST

Seems our old friend Matt Murton is tearing up Japanese baseball. There's a great story about him on espn.com. Here's the key quote:

"Though the Tigers lost in the first round of the mid-October playoffs, Murton finished his season with 214 hits in 144 games, a .349 batting average, 17 home runs and 91 RBIs. Even before setting the record, he became only the fourth player in Nippon Professional Baseball history to have a 200-hit season."

Congrats Matt. Full article here.

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by cubsluver22 on Jan 9, 2011 9:13 AM CST reply actions

Guess you missed this from a couple days ago

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2011/1/7/1922455/nice-murton-write-up-on-espn

by Dcr18 on Jan 9, 2011 9:14 AM CST reply actions

Well... I didn't see this posted a couple of days ago

So, thanks for the news.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)

by SackMan on Jan 9, 2011 8:00 PM CST reply actions

Oh well, it happens.

Good article nonetheless

by EJThunder on Jan 9, 2011 9:01 PM CST up reply actions

Just out of curiosity

Does anyone have any idea what kind of money he is making over there?

by hoppy91 on Jan 9, 2011 8:39 PM CST reply actions

From Fangraphs:

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/your-annual-matt-murton-update/

Matt Murton is currently playing for the Hanshin Tigers of the highest Japanese professional league, the NPB. His contract this year calls for a $1 million salary, with a $500,000 signing bonus.

by EJThunder on Jan 9, 2011 9:00 PM CST up reply actions

I would never have guessed

that much. wow, good for him. sure beats riding the pine in the majors and riding the buses in the minors.

by hoppy91 on Jan 9, 2011 9:11 PM CST up reply actions

Posted this before but its definitely worth a look

Japanese broadcast of Murto’s record-breaking hit. Still cool een though I don’t understand any of it. lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g93s9S1lTcM&feature=related

by EJThunder on Jan 9, 2011 9:03 PM CST reply actions

Awesome!

Love the mascot with the flowers and the opposing pitcher’s perfunctory applause.

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Jan 10, 2011 11:09 AM CST up reply actions

In years past, didn't American-born players get nothing to swing at if they

were getting close to a record?

"Enough foreplay- let's get crackin'"- Fred Garvin

by davidalanu on Jan 9, 2011 10:10 PM CST reply actions

I was thinking that too

Dont know if some players would be unhappy with this or not.

Kinda interesting in the video above to see how ecstatic people are in the stands and, if you watch, one of the outfielders on the other team takes his glove off and applauds Murton.

I think its clear, though, that Murton is a down to earth guy and he is a very humble person and the NPB fans see and respect him. Its nice to see.

by EJThunder on Jan 10, 2011 1:56 AM CST up reply actions

That was the HR Record

That Oh had, and Tuffy Rhodes was getting close. The success of Rhodes, Murton, and to be honest, Fukudome, shows me the level of pitching there isn’t great, aside from a few like Dharvish.

Scott Bora$ is satan.

by Canadian Cubs Fan on Jan 10, 2011 2:07 PM CST up reply actions

I'm guessing/hoping...

…Micah Hoffpauir lights up that league next season.

Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!

by daver on Jan 10, 2011 2:36 PM CST up reply actions

Hitting a curve ball...

is very difficult and that is primarily what they throw over in Japan.Great job by Murton!

by goatstew on Jan 11, 2011 6:35 PM CST reply actions

Dang Hendry!

Just think where we’d be if we had kept him, he was the next Ted Williams and everyone but Hendry knew it. Cheap Cubs. if only we had kept him and Eric Patterson and Bobby Hill we’d be contenders now. But no, traded them for a bunch of nobodies.

Baseball is too much of a sport to be a business and too much of a business to be a sport.
William Wrigley Jr

by bubbamike the one and only on Jan 14, 2011 1:48 PM CST reply actions