May
27
2011

Murphy’s FLAW

An article by Craig Lerner

Daniel Murphy (r.) misplays a ball in the ninth and gets the stare down from closer Francisco Rodriguez (c.) as he is removed from the game by Terry Collins.

Daniel Murphy has done everything the Mets have asked of his this season, and has performed reasonably well in the field and at the plate. Today however, things just didn’t go particularly well for the Murph-Man as the Mets lose a heart-breaker to the Phillies 6-4 at Citi Field.

The turning point in the game came in the top of the ninth with the score tied 3-3 and K-Rod in to keep the Phillies at bay.

With one out and runners on first and second base, Domonic Brown grounded a Rodriguez fastball to first base, but the ball rolled right under the glove of Daniel Murphy to score a run and give the Phillies the 4-3 lead. That opened up the floodgates and they would eventually take a 6-3 lead.

The Mets tried to comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Jose Reyes singles and then takes second base on defensive indifference. Carlos Beltran then lined a sharp single to center field to drive home Reyes and winds up on second base after the ball was misplayed.

Surprisingly, the slumping Jason Bay raps a single putting runners on first and third, but Murphy, who represented the winning run, grounds into a double play to snuff out the rally and end the game.

Murph went 1-5 at the plate, and also made a mental gaffe in the fifth inning failing to back up a play that eventually led to another Philadelphia run.

Shake it off kid, we got another game tomorrow.

About the Author: Craig Lerner

I'm a data analyst and researcher for a leading news agency who loves life and is hooked on the Mets. I love following the Amateur Draft and have a particular fondness for the Mets Minor Leagues who I follow each day. Give me a cold beer, a summer day, and a Mets game, and I'm good to go.

16 Comments + Add Comment

Bayonne Mets Fan May 27, 2011 at 11:33 pm

There’s no shaking it off – defense, defense, defense. Bad defense is what cost us the game tonight and as usual if you’re gonna try and replace defense with hitting you’re NEVER gonna win that way. Never.
- martin May 28, 2011 at 3:02 am
  
  especially not when you play an inferior hitter like murph at 1b. murph is a decent hitter as a 2b, but an awful hitter as a 1b. so you cant make the argument that he is there for offense. he is there because they have nobody else to replace ike
- NYMetsfan May 28, 2011 at 7:19 am
  
  No mention of Murphy hitting into a double play to end the game with two men on? Isn’t that what really cost the game? If that was Wright who hit into a game ending double play, Bayonne would blame the entire SEASON on him………..
Metsie May 28, 2011 at 12:00 am

That said we all knew that Murphy would make an error that would cost us a game, I’m not so sure it was what you call an error just a bad choice of positioning but the glove did cost us.

I’m not as upset as some will be, he has done a pretty good job for the most part and he hasn’t done it often enough for it to be a concern.

But I will say this about the game…
If we can come that close to beating the Phils with what we have, who we don’t have and without K-Rod blowing a save, You have to say that when Wright and Davis come back and hit that we could pretty much beat anyone if we don’t screw up!
Midwestern Met May 28, 2011 at 12:37 am

K-Rod’s tightrope finally snaps and it costs the Mets a win against the Phillies. Read all about it: http://tiny.cc/4dr0p
gary s. May 28, 2011 at 12:53 am

The more murphy plays, the more he is exposed as a .250 hitter with no power and no position that he plays better than average.I like murphy despite his shortcomings.We need to find an american league team to deal him to.He would excel as a dh in the AL..
- martin May 28, 2011 at 3:03 am
  
  he would be an absolutley awful DH, he doesnt hit nearly enough
- harry c May 28, 2011 at 8:10 am
  
  gary…please tell what american league teams want a DH who you describe as a 250 hitter with no power. The answer is NONE.
Jerry M May 28, 2011 at 1:31 am

Errors happen. Bays throw, Pagans bad playin the field, Reyes not getting to the bag quick enough to get the lob form Tejada.How many has Wright made on throws.Lets call a spade a spade and Murphy wears his emotions on his sleave and he cares at lot. His video today shows his emotions.
Mr North Jersey May 28, 2011 at 2:24 am

Had 2 watch the game on a phillies feed. I think that says it all.
jdon May 28, 2011 at 6:57 am

Murphy’s errors are often dumb or ill-advised decisions on the run, whether he is fielding or on the bases. Overzealousness. He is just not very bright as a player. Often tries to do to much. Or, as he told Terry earlier this season, after being caught stealing third when he was several runs behind, tryng to “make something happen.” It usually results in the wrong “something” happening.
Metsr1 May 28, 2011 at 10:27 am

I said it all winter and got bashed by a few on this site, but I maintain that Murphy is as overrtaed a ball player as I’ve ever seen. He is a butcher with the glove and has no defensive position. He can’t manage to make good choices on the bases either. But since he one of our “homegrown” players, many put on rose colored glasses when watching him.
- Zander56 May 28, 2011 at 11:14 am
  
  He isnt overrated if you simply realize what his role is and that is a utility infielder. As a utility infielder and bat off the bench you could do a lot worse. Murphy isn’t our first baseman he’s playing because Ike Davis is out. Murphy has less than 150 games played at 1B in his entire profesional career.
theonlymaskman May 29, 2011 at 11:10 am

The reality is that Murphy is not a professional ML ball player, but rather just a regular guy bumbling around on the field and hacking away at the plate. You could go to the sandlots of America and find plenty of guys playing softball for fun who are every bit equal to Murphy, not that you would ever put them on a ML team.
- Des May 29, 2011 at 11:37 am
  
  Sorry, but your post is bizarre. By the way, Tejada has made more errors this season than Murphy. A lot more. Check out his combined Buffalo/Mets record.
  - theonlymaskman May 29, 2011 at 2:10 pm
    
    Sorry, but I don’t find any relevance between Tejada’s fielding and whether or not Murphy is a ML’er. Bizarre post? I guess it’s yours that takes the prize. You can defend Murphy if you wish, but the quality of Mejada’s fielding, especially citing his performance in Buffalo, is not the way to do it. Murphy was laughed out of the OF and can’t step onto the grass there. He is barely any better in the IF. For a no-field, minimal hitter, he essentially stinks and is in the starting lineup by default due to injuries to starters. He is not even a decent utility IF’er because you expect fielding excellence from them. If this team is to ever get better, we’ve got to get rid of players like Murphy who can be found anywhere.

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	26	18	.591	-
Nationals	23	22	.511	3.5
Phillies	21	24	.467	5.5
Mets	17	25	.405	8.0
Marlins	13	32	.289	13.5

Last updated: 05/21/2013

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