Category: Matt Murton

Soriano Out Six Weeks With Broken Hand

June 11, 2008 by cubsnet

Alfonso Soriano was hit in the left hand by a pitch in tonight's 7-2 win and broke a bone in that hand. He will be out, it appears, at least six weeks. Interesting that it happens on the same day the St. Louis Cardinals lose Albert Pujols to a calf injury for three weeks.

The Cubs will call up Micah Hoffpauir, who went 8-for-19 with 3 doubles in a brief stint in May. He was going to be called up when the Cubs go to Toronto this weekend, anyway. However, Hoffpauir has drawn just 1 walk in 65 plate appearances for Iowa this year.

Meanwhile, two players who thought they were major league players at the beginning of this year, continue on in Iowa. Felix Pie has hit just .171/.223/.333 for Iowa since his demotion in mid-May. And Matt Murton has hit .311 with a .411 OBA, but has just 1 home run in 50 games for Iowa. Newly signed, and old Cub, Jason Dubois already has 5 in 12 games. After Hoffpauir, the position player most likely to be recalled is Eric Patterson, who is hitting .326/.361/.514 for Iowa. Patterson is also 10-for-10 in stolen bases.

Who Do You Bat Second?

January 31, 2008 by cubsnet

Given the following information, who do you bat second in the lineup?

Player A	Age	PA	BA.	OBA.	Slg.	BB%	IsoP
2005-07 Minors	23-25	560	0.339	0.406	0.521	9.1%	0.182
2005-07 MLB	23-25	929	0.296	0.365	0.455	9.4%	0.159
2008 ZiPS Projection	26	522	0.289	0.360	0.465		0.176
Player B	Age	PA	BA.	OBA.	Slg.	BB%	IsoP
2005-07 Minors	25-27	728	0.304	0.366	0.386	9.9%	0.082
2005-07 MLB	25-27	770	0.276	0.341	0.379	8.7%	0.103
2008 ZiPS Projection	28	533	0.266	0.324	0.348		0.082

Murton's Big September Contributing to Playoff Run

September 23, 2007 by cubsnet

Of all the Cubs' players having big Septembers, Matt Murton's has probably been the quietest. Yet, since I wrote that Murton was continuing to have a disappointing season on August 23, Murton is hitting .428/.478/.652 in 16 games after today's 3-for-4 with 2 doubles performance. The Cubs have been seeing more lefthanded pitchers, Piniella has put Murton in opportunities to succeed, and Murton is delivering in a big way. I believe the Cubs' refusal to trade him earlier this year after his demotion will pay long-term dividends.

Good News for the Stretch Drive

August 23, 2007 by cubsnet

Aramis Ramirez will no longer get, and apparently no longer needs, days off to rest his knee, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. Ramirez has been remarkably consistent the past four seasons, each time posting an adjusted OPS+ between 126 and 136. This year, he and Derrek Lee are tied for the team lead at 131. Ramirez has not played in 28 of the Cubs' games this year.

Additionally, "Alfonso Soriano (quadriceps) ran through a series of trainer-supervised tests before the game, including full batting practice and base-running. He appeared to fare well but is not expected back for a week to 10 days." Soriano's return is important. For whatever reason, Matt Murton has continued to have a disappointing season. He has hit .240/.296/.440 in 54 plate appearances since Soriano went down on August 5.

Cubs Refused to Trade Murton to Padres

July 6, 2007 by Squib Hits

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Cubs "flatly refused to consider trade scenarios that involved [Matt] Murton during discussions with the Padres that eventually sent Michael Barrett to San Diego a week after Murton's demotion." Murton is hitting .280/.368/.467 for Iowa since his demotion. He has two home runs in 75 at-bats.

Murton to Iowa; Rapada Up

June 13, 2007 by cubsnet

It wasn't the return of one of Henry Blanco, Daryle Ward, or Aramis Ramirez that did Matt Murton in. It was the need for a thirteenth pitcher, Clay Rapada. (Though Sean Marshall sure made that need disappear tonight.) Murton has a good attitude about the demotion, saying, "I don't think that 100 at-bats dictates what a player is capable of doing, especially after what they've done in their previous at-bats. At the same time, in the market we're in here, and the team we have, and the un-met expectations at this point, there are going to be moves made, and I'm the move."

The 6'5" 26-year-old lefthanded throwing Rapada, meanwhile, had a 3.77 ERA in 28.2 innings for Iowa. He was 9-for-9 in save opportunities. Last year, Rapada split time between double-A West Tenn and Iowa. At West Tenn, he had a 0.82 ERA in 43.2 innings, striking out 45 and walking just 10. He had a 3.04 ERA for Iowa last year in 23.2 innings, as he last some control, walking 15. As Lou Piniella commented, the Cubs won't need 13 pitchers for long, so Rapada doesn't have much time to make a mark.

Murton May Go To Iowa Soon

June 12, 2007 by cubsnet

Arizona Phil runs through the roster possibilities once Henry Blanco, Daryle Ward, and Aramis Ramirez return from the disabled list. I think he's right: there is a very good chance that Matt Murton will be headed to Des Moines soon. Coming into tonight's 0-for-3 with a double-play performance, Murton was hitting .259/.338/.345, "good" for an adjusted OPS 9.5% below league average. After Murton hit 319/.390/.522 after the All-Star Break last year, those are disappointing numbers indeed. And it is not as if Murton is providing much of a lift against lefthanded pitching either, posting a 743 OPS against lefties, less than Cliff Floyd's career 796. Angel Pagan will benefit from a Murton demotion. The Cubs will need some outfielder other than Alfonso Soriano who can hit from the right side.

Piniella Not Happy With the Roster?

May 31, 2007 by cubsnet

The Daily Herald's Bruce Miles writes in today's paper that "there have been rumblings that Piniella is growing impatient with the roster given to him by Hendry." I'd be curious to know what Piniella wants.

The Cubs are currently 6th in the National League in runs scored, but there are certainly problems on offense. Three of the top four outfielders have slugging percentages below .400. Jacque Jones, Matt Murton, and Cliff Floyd have just four home runs between them. None of them have ever had slugging percentages that low over a full season, excepting Floyd's rookie year as a 21-year-old in 1994. Jones is hitting .245/.302/.335 as the starting centerfielder. Much more of that and the Cubs will be compelled to replace him with Felix Pie for good. The trouble is that Jones is signed through next season, and for $6.3M.

This Outfield Isn't Hitting

April 25, 2007 by cubsnet

The Cubs may have a logjam in the outfield, but it's the sorriest hitting outfield logjam there is. Entering today's play, here are where things stand:

Cubs Sign Cliff Floyd

January 24, 2007 by cubsnet

After months of speculation, the Cubs have finally signed Cliff Floyd. (Hat tip: Baseball Think Factory.) The deal is for one year with a mutual option for 2008. No word on the amount yet. If the Cubs keep Jacque Jones as well, the big loser here for the 2007 season is Felix Pie.

PECOTA projects Floyd at .265/.344/.461 next season. Those numbers could be even better if Lou Piniella severely limits Floyd's at-bats against left handed pitching. For each of the past five seasons, Floyd's OPS against righties has been at least 100 points higher than his OPS against lefties.

UPDATE (9:20pm): Contract details, courtesy of the AP: