Since the Cubs acquired second baseman Daniel Murphy, the team is 6-0.
Murphy
is hitting .407, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .448 OBP and 0.4 WAR since leading off
for the Cubs. He solved two problems: the lead off hitter slot and the
weak offensive production. He was the spark plug that ignited the Cubs
current six game winning streak.
Cole Hamels has been a
godsend to the Cubs rotation. Not only has he taken the place of Yu
Darvish, he has pushed the other starters to perform better. In his five
starts (all Cub victories), he is 4-0, 0.79 ERA, 0.941 WHIP. As a
veteran presence, he took some pressure off Jon Lester to lead a shaky
staff into the final two month grind of the season.
On
the South Side, the White Sox starting pitchers have a streak of
quality starts. Michael Kopech's debut in the rain was impressive, as
was his second start. He is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA. But even more
impressive has been Carlos Rodon. He has solidified his role as a #1
starter (and was one of the reasons the Sox traded Chris Sale). Rodon is
6-3, 2.70 ERA, 1.007 WHIP. Young starters Reynolaldo Lopez and Lucas
Giolito have been coming on strong after a rocky first half of the
season.
The 2019 rotation is starting to take shape
very quickly. A White Sox staff of Rodon, Kopech, Lopez, Giolito and a
fifth starter from Carson Fullmer, Dylan Covery, Jordan Stepehns, Tyler
Danish or Donn Roach will be solid. After completing the starting
pitching part of the rebuild, it should be easier to consolidate the
offense when Elroy Jimenez joins the team in late April, 2019.
It
is interesting to note that the addition of a player or two can really
turn around a ball club with both excitement and enhanced performance.
Showing posts with label Murphy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Murphy. Show all posts
August 28, 2018
October 16, 2015
METS HERO
Daniel Murphy displayed rare high level baseball IQ in the deciding playoff game against the Dodgers.
With a huge infield shift on, Murphy was on first base with one out. The batter walked, and Murphy started to jog to second, then turned on the gas as he got to the bag since no one was covering third base!
He stole third base from first on an out!
It is such a mindboggling play that rarely happens.
Murphy recognized the situation, and knew the rule that the ball was still live to rush to third base. The Dodgers were caught flat footed on a defensive play. One would think either the shortstop or the pitcher should have moved toward third base to stop Murphy from advancing to third.
But the runner's heads' up play put him on third base which was the deciding play of the game. The next batter hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field so Murphy scored to tie the game.
Later, Murphy hit the game winning home run.
There is more pressure on players in the post season because there is more at stake, more viewers, and bigger plays because of the stage. Murphy met all those pressures and performed well above average, which gave his team the victory.
With a huge infield shift on, Murphy was on first base with one out. The batter walked, and Murphy started to jog to second, then turned on the gas as he got to the bag since no one was covering third base!
He stole third base from first on an out!
It is such a mindboggling play that rarely happens.
Murphy recognized the situation, and knew the rule that the ball was still live to rush to third base. The Dodgers were caught flat footed on a defensive play. One would think either the shortstop or the pitcher should have moved toward third base to stop Murphy from advancing to third.
But the runner's heads' up play put him on third base which was the deciding play of the game. The next batter hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field so Murphy scored to tie the game.
Later, Murphy hit the game winning home run.
There is more pressure on players in the post season because there is more at stake, more viewers, and bigger plays because of the stage. Murphy met all those pressures and performed well above average, which gave his team the victory.
March 26, 2014
MORE HEAD SCRATCHING
The Donnie Murphy era is over. The Cubs waived/traded/sent Murphy to the Rangers. Murphy will now replace injured Ranger SS Profar. Maybe the front office felt bad about Texas GM Daniel's regretful lament on how he got snookered for four good prospects in the Matt Garza deal.
One would have thought Darwin Barney would have been the best infield trade chip on the current roster. The Tigers had interest but instead traded with Baltimore for veteran shortstop Alex Gonzalez.
But even more bizarre is the news that the Cubs have requested release waivers on catcher George Kottaras. He had been acquired for cash from the Royals earlier in the offseason, and would have been owed $1.075MM for the coming season.
The 30-year-old backstop had a .180/.349/.370 line in 126 plate appearances last year. He has a lifetime mark of .214/.324/.406. He was acquired to replace Dioner Navarro as Wellington Castillo's back up.
That means minor leaguers John Baker or Eli Whiteside have to the new back-up catcher.
Now, I saw Kottaras drop a routine foul pop this week. Whether that was the straw that broke the front office's bad talent back is unknown. The move will save the team approximately $500,000 in salary.
One would have thought Darwin Barney would have been the best infield trade chip on the current roster. The Tigers had interest but instead traded with Baltimore for veteran shortstop Alex Gonzalez.
But even more bizarre is the news that the Cubs have requested release waivers on catcher George Kottaras. He had been acquired for cash from the Royals earlier in the offseason, and would have been owed $1.075MM for the coming season.
The 30-year-old backstop had a .180/.349/.370 line in 126 plate appearances last year. He has a lifetime mark of .214/.324/.406. He was acquired to replace Dioner Navarro as Wellington Castillo's back up.
That means minor leaguers John Baker or Eli Whiteside have to the new back-up catcher.
Now, I saw Kottaras drop a routine foul pop this week. Whether that was the straw that broke the front office's bad talent back is unknown. The move will save the team approximately $500,000 in salary.
September 11, 2013
PRODUCTION AT THIRD
There was a comment that the Cubs have gotten good production out of their third base platoon this season (Valbuena, Ransom, Murphy).
As of today, this is how the platoon fared:
Valbuena: 301 AB, 69 H, 11 HR, 1 SB, .229 BA, 1.7 WAR
Ransom: 158 AB, 32 H, 9 HR, 20 RBI, 0 SB, .203 BA, 0.9 WAR
Murphy: 110 AB, 31 H, 10 HR, 20 RBI, 1 SB, .282 BA, 1.4 WAR
Total: 569 AB, 132 H, 30 HR, 75 RBI, 2 SB, .232 BA, 4.0 WAR
Individually, none of the Cub third sackers are in the Top 20 MLB Third Basemen.
Collectively, the platoon would rank amongst in those Top 20 players:
#1 in AB
#11 in Hits
#3 in HR
#5 in RBI
#18 in BA
#10 in SB
#8 in WAR
22.7 percent of the hits were home runs. It is an all or nothing approach.
By comparison to the last full time starter at third, Aramis Ramirez, who had an injury shortened season, played in 78 games, 265 AB, 73 H, 10 HR, 40 RBI, 2.85 BA, 0 SB, 0.2 WAR. Most executives would still say A-Ram is a better third baseman than the Cubs platoon.
Ramirez HR percentage of hits is 13.6 percent.
If one gives Ramirez stat line a 144 game projection as a current full season, Ramirez would have 15 HR, 58 RBI, .285 BA. That would put him around #11 or #12 best MLB third baseman this year.
As of today, this is how the platoon fared:
Valbuena: 301 AB, 69 H, 11 HR, 1 SB, .229 BA, 1.7 WAR
Ransom: 158 AB, 32 H, 9 HR, 20 RBI, 0 SB, .203 BA, 0.9 WAR
Murphy: 110 AB, 31 H, 10 HR, 20 RBI, 1 SB, .282 BA, 1.4 WAR
Total: 569 AB, 132 H, 30 HR, 75 RBI, 2 SB, .232 BA, 4.0 WAR
Individually, none of the Cub third sackers are in the Top 20 MLB Third Basemen.
Collectively, the platoon would rank amongst in those Top 20 players:
#1 in AB
#11 in Hits
#3 in HR
#5 in RBI
#18 in BA
#10 in SB
#8 in WAR
22.7 percent of the hits were home runs. It is an all or nothing approach.
By comparison to the last full time starter at third, Aramis Ramirez, who had an injury shortened season, played in 78 games, 265 AB, 73 H, 10 HR, 40 RBI, 2.85 BA, 0 SB, 0.2 WAR. Most executives would still say A-Ram is a better third baseman than the Cubs platoon.
Ramirez HR percentage of hits is 13.6 percent.
If one gives Ramirez stat line a 144 game projection as a current full season, Ramirez would have 15 HR, 58 RBI, .285 BA. That would put him around #11 or #12 best MLB third baseman this year.
August 21, 2013
REBUILDING WITH JOURNEYMEN
Nate Schierholtz hit his 18th home run to lead the Cubs over the Nationals in game one of their Wrigley series. Fellow journeyman Donnie Murphy also hit 2 home runs, and back up catcher
Dioner Navarro hit his 11th HR of the season.
Schierholtz and Navarro are both 20; Murphy is 30. Murphy was a mid season free agent acquisition. Navarro and Schierholtz were off season role players who had not had a starting chance in a long time.
Schierholtz has one year of arbitration left so he is under control through 2014. This season he has a 2.5 WAR.
Navarro signed a one year deal with the Cubs so he will be a free agent. The switch hitting catcher will get a large raise in the off season through free agency. This season he has a 1.8 WAR.
Murphy, in only 13 games as a Cub, has a 1.2 WAR. Murphy can also be a free agent in 2015.
The question is why did it take so long for these three journeymen to become potential full time starters with the Cubs? First, the Cubs are a bad team short on talent and depth at positions. Second, these guys are entering their prime playing years. Third, they have something to prove to the other teams that let them go. Motivation to succeed can be very powerful, in the short term.
It is doubtful that the front office thought these three players would give the power production spark that has been missing from the team. Sometimes, a GM gets lucky.
But there stays in Chicago will be short lived since the entire rebuild philosophy of the organization is to build from within with home grown prospects. The Cubs want a long term pipeline of young players who can be called up year to year like the Rays. The rebuild Cubs have always traded away veteran talent to acquire more prospects. The Cubs have traded 11 players so far this season. This trend is expected to continue in the off season.
If the Nationals can make the strange move to trade for David DeJesus, when the Nats are 10 games out of a wild card, then other teams may want to cherry pick the Cubs roster with the intent of building for next year today. Schierholtz and Murphy could be valuable pieces for a ball club that believes it is one or two players away from a championship season next year.
And the Cubs will accommodate those bidders. Because the Cubs do not want to build a club through journeymen.
Dioner Navarro hit his 11th HR of the season.
Schierholtz and Navarro are both 20; Murphy is 30. Murphy was a mid season free agent acquisition. Navarro and Schierholtz were off season role players who had not had a starting chance in a long time.
Schierholtz has one year of arbitration left so he is under control through 2014. This season he has a 2.5 WAR.
Navarro signed a one year deal with the Cubs so he will be a free agent. The switch hitting catcher will get a large raise in the off season through free agency. This season he has a 1.8 WAR.
Murphy, in only 13 games as a Cub, has a 1.2 WAR. Murphy can also be a free agent in 2015.
The question is why did it take so long for these three journeymen to become potential full time starters with the Cubs? First, the Cubs are a bad team short on talent and depth at positions. Second, these guys are entering their prime playing years. Third, they have something to prove to the other teams that let them go. Motivation to succeed can be very powerful, in the short term.
It is doubtful that the front office thought these three players would give the power production spark that has been missing from the team. Sometimes, a GM gets lucky.
But there stays in Chicago will be short lived since the entire rebuild philosophy of the organization is to build from within with home grown prospects. The Cubs want a long term pipeline of young players who can be called up year to year like the Rays. The rebuild Cubs have always traded away veteran talent to acquire more prospects. The Cubs have traded 11 players so far this season. This trend is expected to continue in the off season.
If the Nationals can make the strange move to trade for David DeJesus, when the Nats are 10 games out of a wild card, then other teams may want to cherry pick the Cubs roster with the intent of building for next year today. Schierholtz and Murphy could be valuable pieces for a ball club that believes it is one or two players away from a championship season next year.
And the Cubs will accommodate those bidders. Because the Cubs do not want to build a club through journeymen.
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