3
2010
Remembering Dave Magadan…
An article by 
I recently came across a comment from former Met Dave Magadan regarding the Mets’ recent acquisition of Jason Bay. In a nut shell he said the Mets got themselves the kind of player who will transform a locker room full of players focused on their individual performances, into a team with one focus; to win a championship.
David Joseph Magadan was destined for greatness after a standout high school career that made him the most popular amateur baseball player in the state. The Tampa, Florida native and Godson of Lou Piniella, chose the University of Alabama as his next stop, where he would embark on a stellar collegiate career and achieve national prominence for his record-setting baseball achievements.
In 1983, his .525 batting average led the entire NCAA, and set the All-Time SEC (Southeastern Conference) record. That record still stands today, and is still the fifth best in NCAA history. His .439 career batting average is also the SEC record and tenth best in NCAA history. Besides being selected as an AP All-American, he also was named the College Player of the Year by Baseball America and won the prestigious Golden Spikes Award as the best amateur baseball player in the nation.
The New York Mets selected Dave Magadan with the 32nd overall pick in the 1983 First-Year Player Draft, and assigned him to the Class-A Columbia Mets where he batted a sizzling .336 that season. Magadan may have very well been the best pure hitter that they have ever developed and there is no doubt he was the most patient and selective hitter as well.
He made his Major League debut during the Mets championship season in 1986 as a September callup, and doubled in first at-bat in a 6-5 win over the Padres. His first game started would be even more memorable, as “Mags” was 3-4 at the plate including the game winning RBI in a 4-2 win over the Cubs on September 17th. Mags also got on base a fourth time in that game via an error. He batted third in the game as Keith Hernandez got a well deserved day off, it didn’t really sit to well with Carter, Strawberry and Knight who all batted behind him that day. However, by the end of the game he was one of the guys and well on his way to becoming a fan favorite.
For the most part, the Mets never fully committed to him as an every day player and in his career he only played over 125 games once. Naturally, Magadan was stuck behind the legendary Hernandez at first base, but when Mex moved on, the Mets decided to sign the not so legendary Mike Marshall to play first base, a move that would prove to be a bust.
Magadan’s best season came in 1990 when in 144 games played, he batted .328 with a .417 OBP. He drove in 72 runners that year and scored 74 while hitting six homers. His batting average ranked third in the league behind Eddie Murray (.330) and league leader Willie McGee (.335). His .417 on-base percentage was second best in the league and Lenny Dykstra of the Phillies beat him out by just 1/100th of a percentage point. Always know for his productive outs, he had 10 sacrifice flies that season, good for fourth in the league. Defensively, Mags established a Mets record with a league-leading .998 fielding percentage at first base.
At the end of the 1992 season, Magadan filed for free agency and soon after, he signed with the expansion Florida Marlins who were set to debut in 1993.
Magadan would finish his Mets career with a .292 batting average in 701 games played. What was most remarkable was that in 2,483 plate appearances, Magadan struck out just 248 times and drew 343 bases on balls. He had an exceptional eye at the plate. He had a career on-base percentage of .390, and also batted .300 or better 5 times in his career.
After his career as a player, Magadan was hired by the Padres to be their minor league hitting instructor in 2002, and would later serve as their major league batting coach from 2003 to 2006.
In 2007 he was named the hitting coach of the Boston Red Sox, a position he still maintains today. The Red Sox have led the American League in several offensive categories during his tenure including batting average, on-base percentage and you guessed it… walks.
In his first season with Boston, the Sox immediately improved across the board in batting average (.269 to .279), slugging percentage (.435 to .444) and on base percentage (.351 to .362), and led the American League with 689 walks.
In Magadan’s third season with the Sox, Boston finished third in the A.L. in runs and second in the league with a .352 OBP, .454 slugging mark and .806 OPS. In fact, the Sox have ranked in the top three in the A.L. in each of those categories in each of Magadan’s three seasons with Boston.
Many consider Magadan to be one of the brightest minds in the game and it won’t be long until he earns his first managerial position.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
Went to my first Mets game, a Mayors Trophy game at Shea, in '73. We beat the Yankees 8-4 and I was hooked. I marched in two Banner Day parades, and before the Grand Slam single, there was the "Hendu Can Do" grand slam - I was there. I've collected Mets memorabilia all my life and started Mets Merized Online to feed my addiction.
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“In a nut shell he said the Mets got themselves the kind of player who will transform a locker room full of players focused on their individual performances, into a team with one focus; to win a championship”
Another shot to the mets players, jeez….
Magadan has no idea what he’s talking about by saying that, he sounded bitter coz he was never given the chance to play.
Dave Magadan was giving a corollary to what Jerry Manuel said last offseason. Jerry’s emphasis was on team play and he felt the Mets in 2008 were too focused on individual stats.
Des:
This is baseball!!!! Not baskteball or football!! Plus, trust me, if players were focus on individual stats maybe the bullpen wouldn’t had blown 29 games!!! I’m sure as a proud player u wouldn’t wanna lead the league in blown saves!!
It takes the whole team to win, our bullpen stunk, david w didn’t hit in the clutch, reyes faded towards the end, perez well, was perez, our starting pitchers (other than santana) were gassed.. How any of that was individualism!?? Plz..
I get the idea. I played baseball through college.
Rather than deal with me, why did Jerry feel the need to deal with ‘team play’ rather than what he diplomatically attributed to the lack of small ball following 2008?
I think some of the problems were widespread but can, in part, be attributed to Wright and Reyes. I expected more from those guys, but each had multiple issues.
I don’t think Rollins is the player Reyes can potentially be, but he’s got the rings and we know who doesn’t.
Des,
I get ur point, but it was more of a team spread problem, especially the bullpen in 2008. Manuel is not the type of leader this team needs, he’s a great player friendly, not a manager that leads by example, that’s why he didn’t have a managerial job before now wit us and probably would be his last if fired, when a team lacks leadership it begins wit the manager in my opinion.
Oh, and fyi, rollins has 1 ring only, so he doesn’t have the “rings” just a ring.
Magadan has no idea what he is talking about? Did you read the same article I did? Magadan has been a success both as a player and a coach. Had the Mets and their fans not been so in love with Mex, he would have been the heir apparent. Instead, they (the Mets and many of the fans) fell in love with the idea of having a first baseman with pop (sound familiar?) and gave up on Magadan, his high batting average and OBP, good glove and outstanding at-bats.
Again, he has no idea what he’s talking about? What I meant by that is that how can he say that this team is full of players focus on stats only?? He should focus on his boston red sox who got shot down in the playoffs by the angels pitching instead of taking shots at players from his former employer. And outstanding career?? U might wanna take that comment down a notch.
one sec buddy. I love Magadan but please do research before you speak. Magadan ended up having an average career and thats pushing it. So lets not make it like Dave became a batting champion….
Many fans think Dave Magadan and Daniel Murphy are similar players destined for similar careers. Both were born in Florida and played college ball in the southeast, and each had a major league career began with the Mets at age 23. Continuing the similarity, both throw R, bat L and have 6-03 frames. Dave weighed in at 200 pounds and Daniel is slightly bulkier at 210 pounds.
So how do we compare their performance? Magadan had a lengthy career of 16 years while Murphy is just starting his. So I compared Murphy’s first two years with Magadan’s first two full years, including a partial year call up by the Mets in September, 1986.
The major difference that jumped out at me was that Murphy hit for more power but with a lower batting average. To give greater context, I’ve included the 2009 Mets team averages.
BATTING (AB, AVG, OBP, SLG )
Magadan (524, .298, .395, .359)
Murphy (639 , .275, .331, .437)
2009 Mets (n/a, .270, .335, .394)
For his 16 year career, Magadan’s performance numbers were similar to his early year’s. His AVG and OBP declined slightly but his SLG was up (.288, .390, .377). Of course Father Time hasn’t been heard from yet regarding Daniel Murphy’s career.
Not sure I understand the comparison really. Murphy has significantly more power than Magadan had, and Magadan is a far more disciplined pure hitter.
Magadan spent 4 full years in the minors and hit only 4 homeruns (3 of them in low A ball, and only 1 HR over the next 3 years). Murphy hit 24 homers in 1.5 seasons between A and AA before getting called up.
I don’t really see them being comparable at all. Even their defensive styles are the opposite. Murphy is aggressive and quick, Magadan was more cerebral and smooth, if slower, with the glove.
To some degree, I don’t think Dave Magadan and Daniel Murphy are similar players. But some fans think they are, including at least one who posted on this site within the past week.
Murphy was known for his plate discipline (remember his long at bats in the spring?) but that appears to have been a victim of the comments and defensive moves made by Jerry and Omar. These same two guys tried to goose Ryan Church by saying that Murphy was a better hitter. Remember? Well that comparison also added to the pressure Murphy was dealing with!!!
I agree
I say hire Mags as our hitting coach. Steal him away. He is a classic example of what people see as second tier first basemen. Because he didn’t have the power, he didn’t get to play.
With this kind of player, it doesn’t take much to make up the power. Just fill it in at another position and let a great fielder/great hitter play.
“let a great fielder/great hitter play”
And justin, who’s that player ur talking about? Please don’t say daniel murphy..
I am talking about Magadan and why you can play him everyday. Go read the book MoneyBall. The Magadan type player is GOLD. High Average, High OBP, lots of productive outs. If he is light with the power, you make up for that in another position.
And, since you brought him up what’s wrong with Murphy? He played an amazing first basemen and made plays look easy that are not easy. He made mid season adjustments to his swing and his approach to counteract the adjustments that MAJOR LEAGUE pitchers made to him. He was a better hitter in the second half of the season. That is after he made his adjustments and was comfortable at a position in the field.
You obviously have a problem with Dave Magadan. But I guess you have a Murphy problem too. Let’s here your argument against him.
Look jb,
If u notice or read any of my comments in this blog u see I’m a fan of murphy, but the reason why we didn’t go after a lf last year was becoz everyone over judge him, thinking he was this great patient hitter n he wasn’t, I want him to do good, but honestly, counting on him to be more than a above avg player can cause us problems, I wish I am wrong n he produces what I want 285 18 75 but is not a guarantee that’ll happen, is better to think of the moment and not on wishes. That’s why a guy like garco or even garciaparra needs to be the back up 1b for this team in case murphy greatness doesn’t showcase
Murphy hit 12 HR’s in his first full season… with no protection around him, after being moved all around the field, and having to learn two positions all while having to adjust his swing for the first time in his career. Yet he did it… rather successfully.
I am actually in the minority. I think he needs to be the everyday 1b with no platoon. The best way to get a guy to hit lefties is to let him hit against lefties.
If he doesn’t produce, then find a platoon halfway through the season or next year. I see incredible potential in Murphy, and with a big bat in LF you can afford to let him bloom at first.
i think Murphy is besides the point here. i agree; his #’s aren’t bad for his first full year; cut that against the backdrop of the ,ess the Mets were last year, and add that he was under intense pressure because of his LF woes and had to learn a 2nd position, the kid really performed admirably under the circumstances. 12/63, with 38 2-baggers and 4 triples, in that scenario isn’t bad; might even border on the ‘good’ for a 1st year guy. 15/75 very doable for Murphy in a ‘normal’ year, now that he’s set and the core + Bay will be in the lineup.
BUT he’s besides the point, because our main IF worry is Castillo; and our critical need is starting pitching.
Bob, Why exactly is Castillo a worry? Is he the 2nd baseman he was? no? But he is still an above average defender. He brings very little offensively other than slap hits, but that is what most 2nd baseman do. If we drop him from 2nd to 8th, he becomes much more attractive. He slaps bad pitches into singles, he rarely strikes out, and has a good OBP. That means he clears the pitcher… often… and that’s important.
We made up for power we were lacking with Bay. Now lets just bring in a pitcher and get this season underway.
JB, he has ZERO range; had 11 errors and only 71 DPs last year..thats pathetic for a full time 2B…about 25% fewer DPs than my sample basket comping him to Cano, Phillips, Utley..and the guy hasn’t had more than 87 DPs since 2004.
We need good up-the-middle defense to protect our rotation.
Seriously people…look at Magadans stats. Where do you see a great player? I like Magadan but this guy was average at best. His best OPS was .874 and that was 1 year. Most of his OPS was under 800. Furthermore, the man never drove in more than 57 runs in a year or score more than 58 runs in a year. After he left the mets…he played 9 seasons and batted over .275 4 times, of which 3 were .300 seasons. Lets not get started that over those 9 seasons he never hit more than 4 HRs and 24 doubles. People will kill me for saying this but there is a good chance that if murphy plays as long as Magadan..his stats might be better. LOL
Mags was never a power hitter to begin with. He is a hitter who puts the ball in play. I hope the Mets in the future will get him as its hitting coach.
It was Sean Casey that made that comment Dave Magadan said “He’s a lunch-pail guy,” said Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan, who spent the last 1½ seasons with Bay. “He’s going to come in and play every day and play hurt, and he’s going to be an asset to the Mets.”
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/sure_to_be_hit_bg97psa6ySOHcnfdluXvCK#ixzz0bc2Q4gLf
How smart could really be? He never took steriods! If only he had! We would have had Rafael Palmeiro type 1st baseman! Instead Magadan hits 5-10 home runs a year I mean really! How much of a team player could Magadan really be? He never took the needle for the team! He left us to suffer through, Vince Coleman, Boobey B, and Mike Marshall! What a selfish guy!
*I am invoking the 3 glasses of wine disclaimer to the above comment.
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