MVN: Most Valuable Network

#1

Posted by <img src="http://www.blogge, April 17, 2008 8:49 AM

You pick very strange - and crappy - players to like.

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#2

Posted by <img src="http://www.blogge, April 17, 2008 8:56 AM

I could say the same for your taste in bloggers.

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#3

Posted by <img src="http://www.blogge, April 17, 2008 10:09 AM

I like Murton too. He'd be a solid everyday player if given a chance. How Murton spends his career at AAA while Austin Kearns continues to have a major league career is something I'll never understand.

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#4

Posted by <img src="http://www.blogger.c, April 17, 2008 10:14 AM

I don't mind the decision. Actually I kind of like it. It's not likely to happen with this visit, but Eric Patterson has a shot of becoming an above average 2nd baseman that provides pretty much everything Brian Roberts does. There's a chance, a slim one, that Lou sticks Patterson at 2nd and likes what he sees so much that he sticks and that makes this a better team. Considering that this is only a couple of weeks, there's nothing to lose and that chance is worth taking because Eric Patterson does have a future in the big leagues as a starter. Murton is going to be a 5th outfielder (platoon outfielder).

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#5

Posted by <img src="http://www.blogger.c, April 17, 2008 10:18 AM

Kearns is actually a pretty good comparison, sarge. Kearns, however, is significantly better defensively, but offensively they are very similar.

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#6

Posted by <img src="http://www.blogge, April 17, 2008 10:48 AM

Maddog, it disappoints me to see that you have that opinion.Comparing EPatt to Brian Roberts is like comparing Ryan's Steakhouse to Ruth's Chris.EPatt seemed like an okay player in Spring Training. And, I think he will be above average if he can fulfill all of his potential. However, Brian Roberts? Um, I'll believe when I see it.

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#7

Posted by <img src="http://www.blogger.c, April 17, 2008 11:47 AM

Let's keep in mind a couple of things. 1. Brian Roberts has had exactly 2 good seasons in his MLB career. 2005 and 2007 were excellent seasons, but he's been very mediocre other than those 2 years. His true talent level is not that of which he did in 2005 or 2007, but somewhere in between those two years and the rest of his career. Basically, his career batting line (.760 OPS) is where his true talent level lies.2. In the minor leagues Roberts hit .281/.377/.372. That's a Ryan Theriot like batting line. Eric Patterson in the minors has hit .297/.365/.462. .827 OPS for Patterson and .749 for Roberts. Roberts didn't get the full-time gig until he was 25 years old and he spent 6 years in the minors. Eric Patterson is 25 now and had we not signed DeRosa he'd more than likely already have a year of experience under his belt. However, Patterson has actually played in more minor league games.Roberts stole 111 bases and was caught 29 times in the minors. Patterson has stolen 112 bases and has been caught 34 times.These two are very similar players. If anything, Eric Patterson has the higher ceiling because he's been better in the minors...MUCH better and he's younger. Obviously Brian Roberts is more of a sure thing than Patterson. There's still a good chance Patterson is a bust like any minor league player, but based on what we know to this point, these two are indeed quite similar. Roberts is the better bet to keep his production up while Patterson has the much higher ceiling. Patterson is one of the most overlooked prospects in baseball in my opinion. He's a guy who hits for average, takes his walks, and has some thump in his bat. The scouts think he plays below average defensively, but the stats tell a different story. Although the Mark DeRosa signing has paid off to this point, it was a poor signing because it held Eric Patterson back. Since Patterson is very similar to Roberts, there's little doubt he's better than DeRosa. Even if Patterson was a bust, he'd still likely give you equal production as DeRosa does. He's a good ballplayer and if the Cubs somehow stick him at 2nd and Lou likes what he sees, the Cubs are a better team and they can use the prospects they were willing to give up to get Roberts for something else. Rafael Furcal is likely to be available around the deadline.

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#8

Posted by <img src="http://www.blogge, April 17, 2008 11:51 AM

I hope Patterson ends up being as good as you think, but I'm not confident in the Cubs' development of position prospects to even think he'll come close to touching Brian Roberts.

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#9

Posted by <img src="http://www.blogger.c, April 17, 2008 12:23 PM

I don't know how good Patterson will end up being. I only know what you can reasonably expect from him and if he does that, he's going to be a very good 2nd baseman. There's still that chance, a very good chance, he never does that. That's the nature of being a prospect...most all of them fail. That being said, Patterson is the type of prospect with great upside and solid numbers that you give a chance to. Hopefully the Cubs will. Hopefully Patterson pans out.

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#10

Posted by <img src="http://www.blogge, April 17, 2008 12:48 PM

Same song and dance from a couple years ago.Cross our fingers and hope for the best.

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#11

Posted by <img src="http://www.blogger.c, April 17, 2008 12:58 PM

It's always the same song and dance with prospects. But you have to give some of them the chance they deserve or everybody would 150 years old in baseball.

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