Pop quiz , hotshot. You have one spot on the bench for either Mike Fontenot or Matt Murton. What do you do? What do you do?

Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 11:56am

Comments

Submitted by navigator
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 12:15pm

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/photo?slug=b1408874022...

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 12:32pm

I posted this in the previous thread, but it is relevant here.

Fontenot staying, Murton getting sent down:

That leaves the last spot for Mike Fontenot as the Cubs decided to go with an extra infielder over an extra outfielder. The Cubs will bring five outfielders to Chicago, including two reserves in Daryle Ward and Reed Johnson.

It was a tough decision for Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella, since both Fontenot (who hit .255 this spring) and Murton (who hit .345) made contributions to last year's division-winning team.

Murton will be sent to Triple-A Iowa or traded.

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 12:53pm

WOW!! I can't believe they are sending down Murton over Fontgod. So Murton goes from playing almost everyday and putting up decent overall numbers in 2006 to being sent down in 2008, even though he outperformed Fontgod in ST. Tough luck for Murton. Hopefully he gets traded and we get a useful part and not just dump him. Man if this happened with Dusty as the manager, there would be 300 posts already on this thread.

Go Cubs!!!

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 12:59pm

His bat is very valuable. To me, Fonty is a punch and judy hitter, that gets hot for little spats. But, his bat disappeared from mid-July on. So - why did the team not play him in CF at all in the minors?

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 1:14pm

E-Man:
"So - why did the team not play him in CF at all in the minors?"

Maybe they left him at SS mainly because they were showcasing him for BALT for the Roberts deal, that has never materialized.

I am not a big Murton fan like many Cubs fans are, but he clearly head and shoulders a better player than Fontgod no matter the position. And with Derosa's flexibility in the IF and Cedeno able to play SS and 2B, they had enough felxability where they didn't need another IF.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 1:46pm

I think this has more to do with Lou's apparent Lefty/righty fetish. What I don't get is how they go from "If Murton were left handed it would solve all our problems" in December. To him not making the club after hitting .350 during spring? Seems kinda like nose extraction for facial spite.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 1:13pm

So who Platoons with Kfuk?

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 1:20pm

DeRosa. Theriot and Cedeno then play 2b/ss.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 1:23pm

Who is the first right handed hitter off the bench?

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 1:50pm

Reed Johnson or Cedeno.

Fun times...

Submitted by Summer of Zimmer
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 1:38pm

Eric Patterson seems a lot better offensively than Fontenot. He could supersub, flip-flop at 2B or OF. With Theriot, Cedeno & DeRosa all available to fill SS duty at times, why not get an extra little lefthanded offensive production? Especially since DeRosa mashes lefties, but is mediocre against righties.

Submitted by asecrest
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 1:41pm

I really don't get keeping "FontaYyyes" up and sending Murton down. I understand the reasoning in having more middle infield depth than OF but we seem to be plenty deep up the middle with Theriot, Cedeno, and De Rosa. Not to mention we could always plug in Soriano at 2B if absolutely need be on a certain day due to injury or late inning substitutions.

Submitted by Andrew
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 2:19pm

I also don't get this. We have four middle infielders now on the roster (DeRosa, Theriot, Cedeno and Fontenot) and only four real outfielders (I don't think of Ward as anything other than a PH/1B). Why exactly is Fontenot needed? Can't we just bring him up if there's an injury? You're not going to need more than 3 middle infielders in a game. This idea of having another lefty bench bat makes no sense when that lefty bench bat can't hit.

Other than getting Murton full playing time (which you only do for a future starter, which Murt is not), I don't see the point in this. Hendry's forcing himself to either deal Murton for next to nothing (selling low like always) or else leave him pissed off in the minors. Stupid move.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 2:29pm

intriguing math you use...I count


Middle Infield: DeRosa, Theriot, Cedeno, Fontenot

Outfield: Soriano, Pie, Fukudome, Johnson, Ward, DeRosa

without Fontenot though, you can't use DeRosa in the outfield ever, as you only have one backup for the middle infield.

Submitted by Andrew
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 2:34pm

Yeah, I guess that's how Hendry and Lou are looking at it. I don't see Ward as an outfielder (mostly b/c I can't imagine him lumbering around out there). I did forget to include DeRosa as an outfielder.

You're right about not being able to use DeRosa in the outfield, but you wouldn't need to use him out there if Murton is on the roster.

I just think this REALLY weakens the bench and puts to waste a player that could be useful.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 2:31pm

and I disagree that you're not going to need more than 3 middle infielders in a game...especially when one is Ryan Theriot who should be pinch-hit for liberally.

Submitted by Andrew
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 2:38pm

True, but that speaks more about Theriot's ability. I agree that four middle infielders would be ideal, and probably are necessary, but I just feel like Hendry's really painting himself into a corner with Murton. He's going to be forced to trade him for ten cents on the dollar.

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 2:39pm

I don't like either option, honestly. Fontenot because he's a lefty? Murton because he's pleasantly mediocre? Who knows.

Submitted by joshb
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 2:50pm

i'm gonna say something outlandish. The only thing keeping Murton from being a superstar is lack of the juice. ah the world we live in.

Submitted by Andy
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 3:07pm

meh, the juice wouldn't make him a better outfielder.

Submitted by joshb
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 4:40pm

and to that i point you at manny ramirez. who gives a crap how they field if he mashes the damn ball.

my real point is there was a day when murton's ability would have been coveted. Since we expect 40+ homers now tho, he is just a sub par player.

I don't have a man crush on the guy. I just thought he was a solid player. Soriano's signing and now this Johnson signing pretty much spells the end for him in a Cubs uniform. He would be fantastic to have as a backup option for Soriano but that would be pretty unfair to him IMO. Let him go play for someone who needs a starting LF

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 4:47pm

I still think he will end up being a good MLB player. By any objective means he is the 4th best hitter in the Cubs organization. It's just that the cubs are not really the place for a young player to ply his trade. If he lands somewhere and is given an opportunity this year. It's really not out of reason to see him put up a 300/370/500 line. Once he establishes himself with another organization. He is totally the type of guy that Jim Hendry will overpay for in 5 years. Right about the time he is on the descent from his peak abilities.

Submitted by George Altman
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 2:56pm

I don't know what's so hard to understand about all this. I predicted this yesterday knowing Lou would not go into the season with only 1 LH bat on the bench.

Also, right, wrong, or indifferent: Fukudome, Pie, and Theriot are going to be in the starting lineup 5 to 6 games out of seven. Where exactly was Murton going to play besides RH PH? He has options left, Cedeno doesn't, and they WOULD lose Cedeno for nothing if put on waivers. Iowa gives Hendry a chance to get something for Murton whereas waiving Cedeno gets nothing.

Nobody is married to Pie, Fukudome, DeRosa, Theriot being in the starting lineup all season but will obviously get a long look through mid-May. If Murton is still in AAA at that time, they can always recall him. Obviously, there's still deals out there to be made including Cedeno, Murton, Fontenot, et al.

With Reed Johnson, I couldn't see anything for Murton to do except PH.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 3:22pm

Solid points all around George. The only concern at this point is whether Fukudome can handle LHP. And I suspect that Lou will give him a good amount of rope to see if indeed he can.

Submitted by Timmer
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 3:04pm

Who's the emergency catcher, DeRosa?

Submitted by George Altman
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 3:35pm

Timmer,

Koyie Hill or Closser in Iowa...about 2 hours away in a Gulfstream IV chartered for $3-4,000/hour.

Aaron, I agree. If Fukudome tanks through May, I would look for DeRosa and Johnson to be playing a lot more RF. Or as I said, recall Murton if still in Iowa.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 3:52pm

Koyie Hill or Closser in Iowa...about 2 hours away in a Gulfstream IV chartered for $3-4,000/hour.

Umm... no.

Most, if not all, teams have an emergency catcher on their roster who would catch if something happened to the two normal catchers.

Last year Murton was the emergency catcher, I believe.

Submitted by vorare
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 4:18pm

My guess is Marmol, given that he's a converted catcher.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 4:39pm

Marmol is way to valuable to risk injury at this point as a catcher.

My guess would be that it would be DeRosa.

Not that I am worried about though; the use of an emergency catcher is extremely rare.

Submitted by navigator
on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 4:53pm

That's right. It was Matt Murton.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=2...

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