I went to the same high school as Murton a few years before. He has a brother that is likely on his way to the big leagues, Luke. I watched him take two pitches for balls, hit a homer that was called foul, take another ball and hit the next pitch for a homer. He's playing at Georgia Tech next year.

Murton doing well in the Arizona Fall League merely seals his fate.

He has a brother that is likely on his way to the big leagues, Luke.

Do they have two more brothers named Mark and John?

Murton doing well in the Arizona Fall League merely seals his fate.

Huh?

I'm guessing Dusty will give Murton lots of spring training AB's, because you know he loves playing the young guys.

Like we really needed Mientkweihcwiaonvatz!

I'm guessing Dusty will give Murton lots of spring training AB's, because you know he loves playing the young guys.

I spent last offseason terrified the cubs were going to do something stupid. You have no idea how excited I was when Troy Percival was signed by someone else.

This year is shaping up to look like more of the same.

BTW, who is going to be running this Cubs blog? I don't recognize any of the names from Cub threads. Was there a different handle you fellows used to post under?

KDF (kinda damn funny), rlr.

His fate? I agree with that sentiment.

Murton doing well in the Arizona Fall League merely seals his fate.

Huh?

I'm not being entirely serious, but it seems that doing well in the AFL does not ensure that a position prospect will get a chance in the Cubs organization, to the point where you have to wonder if it actually hurts them.

BTW, who is going to be running this Cubs blog? I don't recognize any of the names from Cub threads. Was there a different handle you fellows used to post under?

Scott Lange has commented at BTF before, and he's a long-time Cubs blogger. I'm drawing a blank, sorry to say, on Ross Barnes though.

BTW, who is going to be running this Cubs blog? I don't recognize any of the names from Cub threads. Was there a different handle you fellows used to post under?

I've been lurking and occasionally posting here since the early days, and as Andre mentioned I've been Cubs blogging since April 2003 at Northside Lounge. I'll give a more detailed "official" introductory post later today.

On-topic, I don't think Murton has a incredibly high ceiling as a hitter, but considering the options he certainly ought to be a presumptive starting outfielder going into spring training next year. Like everyone else though, I fear that Dusty will look for any reason he can find to justify taking PA's away from him in favor of Burnitz, or next year's Hollandsworth, or any other 30+ outfielder he can find.

Now, you know that you can't just a player by what he does in September October, because it's not against real major leaguers who are trying. The only way to judge whether a guy is ready to play is to not play him during the heart of the season.

On-topic, I don't think Murton has a incredibly high ceiling as a hitter

Actually, I think he does have a very high ceiling, depending on whether you mean potential or actual. He hit .342/.403/.498 in 313 AA at-bats, then followed it up with .321/.386/.521 in 140 AB in the majors. It's possible that he has taken things to a new level and can maintain this. I wouldn't bank on it, particularly in the short-term, and in fact I'd project something along the lines of .280/.350/.430 for him. That's not very good for a corner OF, but what he did this year is intriguing and I think it's quite possible that he could maintain it.

In another world, you would simply match Murton with a strong lefty OF platoon partner, someone like Burnitz, and try to get him 250-300 AB with the chance of much more. But with Dusty managing, he isn't going to get the playing time to establish himself, and he will atrophy from disuse.

I've got all kinds of hopes for Luke ... I'm told he has more power than his brother.

Do they have two more brothers named Mark and John?
I can't speak for the parents, but Matt has been vocal about his playing for the God Squad.

I can't speak for the parents, but Matt has been vocal about his playing for the God Squad.

Hopefully the Man Upstairs will smite those who interfere with his deputies.

Guzman pitches again today; got hit hard by Brandon Wood & Co. last time out.

Actually, I think he does have a very high ceiling

I'm inclined to agree. Murton's primary weakness is his lack of power. He hasn't shown it at any level just yet but the size and strength are there. If he can integrate the power into his approach, he could be a minor star. If not, I hope he can keep hitting .300 and improves that defense or he's going to be good pals with David Kelton.

He hit .342/.403/.498 in 313 AA at-bats, then followed it up with .321/.386/.521 in 140 AB in the majors. It's possible that he has taken things to a new level and can maintain this.

The power spike, which he carried through all year, is really intriguing. Until last year, his stats made him look like a guy with gap power and an exceptional batting eye. This year he looked like a poor man's Luis Gonzalez.

Guzman pitches again today; got hit hard by Brandon Wood & Co. last time out.

Any day Guzman pitches and his arm stays attached is a good day.

It'll stay attached for at least another day; game postponed by rain.

Interview with Murton at Cubs.com:

Q & A

I heart Matt Murton.

He's had quite a year. With ~600 PAs across four levels, here's his composite line:

.342/.406/.514, 538 AB, 184 H, 78 R, 30 2B, 6 3B, 17 HR, 73 RBI, 54 BB, 80 K, 20 SB, 6 CS

Not bad for a 23-year-old. Even discounting for level of competition and assuming some pullback of the batting average, those stats bode well for next year. I don't think .300/.375/.500 with good speed and average defense is out of the question. The Cubs would be insane not to pencil that into the lineup for 600 PAs in '06.

The Cubs would be insane not to pencil that into the lineup for 600 PAs in '06.

If only he were 35, I'd know he'd play.

---If only he were 35, I'd know he'd play."

I suspect that, with the exposure of Dusty and Hendry to the internet (and even sportswriter) analysis which is now available,and whatever "pressure" becomes of that, that these sort of comments will not end up applying to Murton. I think they will pencil him in, and will deny him the LF job only if he has a really horrible spring training. The only way we will know how much rope Murton has is to see who they acquire who could be the LFer. If all they have is Hairston, or a Patterson shift, or a Nomar conversion to OF, then Murton has the job.

Guzman had a decent start today against Surprise, the best offensive team in the AFL:

5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

For the season:

30.2 IP, 28 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 12 BB, 28 K, 3.82 ERA

The 1.3 WHIP is surprisingly high, but the strikeouts and ERA are solid given the offensive environment. (He's in the top 10 in both categories.) Plus, his arm hasn't fallen off yet, so there's that.

Maybe Aardsma's arm *has* fallen off and he's pitching with what's left. Here's his line:

18.2 IP, 32 H, 23 R, 20 ER, 10 BB, 18 K

Ouch. Seriously, maybe they should have shut him down a few weeks ago. He's only thrown ~110 innings this year, which isn't a lot for a former starter, but perhaps the shuffling to and from the bullpen has resulted in a tweaked something-or-other.

matt murton, you are my hero, you keep trying even though the man tries to keep you down, you fight the man and all he stands for.....damn the man anbd his neifi loving self

I had a dream last night that I ran into Matt Murton at Subway, which is very strange considering I'm not a Cubs fan.

Like we really needed Mientkweihcwiaonvatz!

come on, darren. we needed a ####### shortstop and trading murton was the only way to get it done.

I recall Theo saying that the only way to get MIWENwioefhaoewitz was to include Murton. If it took both Nomar and Murton to get OCab, then that was stupid.