2
2011
Maybe Defense IS Important: The Downfall of the Mets
An article by 
From the beginning of the season, defense had seemed to be a big question, but one the Mets front office seemed to ignore for the sake of offense. While the offense has been good if not great this season, the runs the defense has cost the Mets is definitely showing differential in the pitchers FIP, or fielding-independent pitching.
The real experiment from the onset of the season was “who will play second?” and that was answered by a group of three hitters (Emaus, Turner & Murphy) and one fielder (Tejada). Emaus played below average defense and couldn’t hit at the professional level, so he was gone by April 19th. Justin Turner and Daniel Murphy platooned the position, and Turner was scorching hot from the beginning, with average defense and range. However, Turner’s bat cooled and Murphy’s heated up right around the time of the Ike Davis, and then David Wright injuries. For that reason, Lucas Duda and in some cases Nick Evans were left to play 1st base. Then, the Jose Reyes two-week hamstring injury.
If an infield of Duda/Turner/Tejada/Murphy doesn’t scream gold glove, there is a reason why. Daniel Murphy, who is a great hitter is truly comfortable at zero positions on the field, and the best he has looked was at first base, but still makes as many mental and fielding mistakes as he does amazing plays. Lucas Duda also has no position, and is much better served as a LF, but he just doesn’t look right at first base. Justin Turner has decent range, but a constant theme by most of the Mets has been the inability to turn the double play, and in most cases that is spearheaded by Turner covering second or feeding the ball to second.
If the last few games has taught Mets fans anything, it is that defense is key and mistakes will happen. When mistakes keep happening, however they show that its in the players nature. Yesterday, two errant throws by both Jose Reyes and David Wright, and the huge mental error by Daniel Murphy ensured the Mets would and will get their pitchers in to trouble with their gloves.
With the season being two months from completion, the Mets may need to look into a few avenues to improve their infield defense, because signing a free agent pitcher to a poor defensive team (Angel Pagan has been..interesting in CF) will become difficult. It is essential to hold on to some foundations or ideas of a good fielding team, because a team can score runs, but if they can’t save them with their defense – its a lost cause.
About the Author: Sean Kenny
Sean Kenny is a student/writer currently attending school at the City College of New York. For more Mets news, notes and thoughts follow him on twitter @TheSeanKenny
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Last night sucked for sure, but let’s look at the larger picture.
The Mets had a 5 game winning streak then have promptly lost three in a row.
Yes, Daniel Murphy had a base path brain freeze Sunday. Yes, Murphy had a delayed reaction in…well, whatever the heck he was trying to do there (I’m still trying to figure it out and I LIKE Murphy!).
During the losing streak, here are some stats from our usual suspects:
Jose Reyes: .231/.231/.308
Angel Pagan: .083/.083/.167 (uh, zoinks?)
Lucas Duda: .100/.100/.400 (inc his big HR from last night!)
That’s just a few of the guys who haven’t been hitting their weight recently.
In fact, the only one slightly tearing things up is DW .300/.417/.300 during the losing streak and he’s been on fire since he returned from the DL. And Jason Bay of all people .333/.333/.583
Murphy, btw, won a game in April (may? my senility is creeping in) with his bat, and no one seems to remember, yet they jump all over him in extra innings with a brain freeze in the field (which I admit, was just dopey) but looking at the stats, the Mets were lucky to even friggin be in that position of playing in the 10th inning.
Why isn’t anyone bringing up THOSE stats? I guess b/c it’s easier to slam Murphy. (Which I know you aren’t doing in this piece, Sean, but you understand, the Tuesday Morning 1Bing going on here)
oh and before the wisenheimers speak up, the following are Carlos Beltran’s stats since he was traded:
.190/.227/.286
Period of schmadjustment, maybe. But we can’t exactly point to the loss of Beltran for this lack of production either since he hasn’t been tearing it up.
Well Coop it should be pointed out that much of that 5 game Winning streak was due to bad fielding by the other side as well!
Everyone loves Hitters (especially HR hitters) as scoring is always the thing a fan wants to see.
But many under appreciate the good fielding needed to ensure those scored runs are not nullified by scores made on the other side.
Good pitching wins ballgames,
GREAT fielding makes good pitching GREAT pitching.
Good Hitting makes all that win games but it can’t do it if the other side is scoring just as much because the fielding or the pitching isn’t good.
Now I certainly don’t think Murphy (or Turner) should be crucified for making fielding mistakes. they SHOULD know better by now and I know you feel Beltran is not the cause but consider this….
They no longer have Beltran to rely on to score runs for them. And the Mantra around the club has been “WE HAVE TO MAKE UP FOR THAT LOSS!”
That results in people being overly aggressive trying to do MORE than they probably should such as instead of doing what seems natural look for something better and more spectacular.
The result is NOTHING happens because your not focused at the plate or don’t make the logical play to first you would normally if you were not trying to do MORE than standard!
So while Beltrans missed contribution is not directly related to the recent problems his not being here has influenced them in the MENTAL part of their game. They are not doing what they should because they PERCIEVE the need to do more and as a result do LESS than they should!
If he was still here he might not be doing anymore than he has done in SF, but maybe everyone else would not be pressing at the plate or trying to do something more with the glove than they would have if he was still here!
and THAT is the effect the trade of carlos has had on this team, We aren’t missing his production what we are missing is the comfort level the other guys had when he was here that allowed them to just do what they needed to do instead of trying to do too much and screwing up!
My wife never compliments me for taking out the garbage, but she sure as hell will yell at me for not doing it.
Maybe Defense IS Important – maybe,
Just that title alone is a reflection of the times we live in today. Back in the day that was never a question and never an issue. It was ALWAYS pitching and defense is what wins. It’s what wins over ANYTHING else and it’s always been that way.
People are just simply getting dumber and dumber. The more statistics that are invented the more stupid people get, sad times for baseball right now. Questioning the importance of defense and combine that with the talk we’ve been hearing on the broadcasts lately in how baseball players are less knowledgeable about baseball instincts than they have been in the past has also lowered the bar.
I guess the new way is to charge high prices and build fancy stadiums to watch slumbering idiots just hit and hit and hit instead of watching a highly trained professional athlete play baseball at it’s highest level.
Sad times for baseball for sure and the moneyball philosophy has a LOT to do with because it’s reaching a newer generation of fan that doesn’t know any better.
Ya, questioning things sucks. Baseball has been played the exact same way its entire history. There has never been a single change to anything to do with it.
The best way to improve your team is to keep doing things exactly the same way you always did them.
Broad strokes much? Don’t like the title, ok, I agree, and I also agree that defense is PARAMOUNT in the game.
How does this turn into people are getting dumber and dumber and even bring up moneyball?
Talk about dumber and dumber………..
Argue the importance of defense, stop assuming this is about moneyball and statistics alone.
Let’s bring in Ruben Tejada for his fielding brilliance. He’s got style, if not substance.
In 2011, Tejada has made 6 errors with the Mets and 11 errors with the Bisons.
So Tejada has made a total of 17 errors.
In 2011, Murphy has made a total of 9 errors at all positions combined.
Hmmm. Tejada, 17 errors. Murphy 9 errors.
so murphy is better than tejada defensively???? i hope you’re not actually saying that???!???
Deal with the numbers. What do you think?
Is it Tejada’s offense that makes up for his stylish but often lousy defense?
I don’t thinks so. Ruben in the past couple of months has a major/minor BA that’s getting closer to .100 than .300. Murphy is a solid .300 plus hitter.
actually Murphy has 24 errors combined. And that’s counting his physical errors only and not the mental mistakes like he did last night and it’s also not counting the horrendous baserunning gaffs he’s made too and what about all the other mental mistakes that have not been directly or indirectly the cause of a loss either?
You’re CONTINUED unfair attacking of a 21 year old prospect that is developing before everyone’s eyes makes you look like a bigger JERK than you actually are and frankly i’m embarrassed for you.
You claim you’ve been watching baseball since the days of the Brooklyn Dodgers yet your ability to judge talent or on any baseball opinion is about as BAD as anybody’s here or even WORSE than most
You ALWAYS resort to attacking that kid and why? And now you’r on Justin Turner’s case too? WHY? Because you have you’re own favorite kid that you want to see at 2B? Is that what’s it’s all about.
Between your attacks on a 21 year kid who, let’s be honest here – IS GOING TO MAKE IT and BE a nice hitter and solid defender, your assessments that Pat Gillick is telling Ruben Amaro what to do in Philadelphia (maybe someone named Ruben did something to you in your own life?) your “original reporting” about Jerry Manuel flying to Sacramento to start a baseball program, your crazy statistical breakdown of Murphy’s hitting which has NOTHING to do with why he’s a defensive liability, and all your other fantastical anecdotes you’re just making yourself look real bad, fool.
bayonne, how in the hell you catch a runner between first and second, while there are men on 2nd and 3rd and STILL don’t make an out!!!????????????????
HOW STUPID CAN YOU AS A BASEBALL PLAYER BE!!! collins basically threw him under the bus,even HE couldn’t stand what murphy did, you simply throw to first and let the first baseman deal with that runner and the runner on third!!
stupid baseball players!!
NICE! Some people either need their eyes checked or the heads examined if they think Murphy is an everyday player. He needs to be a DH. How do you fall in love with a player with zero defensive skills or intellectand poor baserunning skills? I know…because he can hit the softest .320 in baseball history.
Tejada will never be a good hitter. He makes contact now, so that’s not the issue, but his forearms and his wrists lack snap and strength. Bayonne you can’t handle the truth. You’ve made incessant attacks on Wright and Murphy. So don’t get soft and cuddly now. Your kid is mediocre. Last year with the Mets he ranked 77 defensively out of 92 major leaguers who played 2B in 50 or more games.
By the way, all I did was present the statistical analysis or the Rising Apple web site. There may be craziness but it’s not Rising Apple and it’s not me. Who is left, Mr. Bayonne?
And you also disappeared when Tejada was brought up and played well for a long time. You only reappeared when he was sent down after hitting a slump. What was that all about? Hmm?
So now you’ve reappeared just by coincidence when Tejada was sent down and now your acting like a bully again knocking the kid. And NOW you’re on Turner’s case as well. Are you crazy or something?
As I predicted in spring training the BEST Mets middle infield combination was Reyes and Tejada and you were upset because my prediction came true. I think THAT’S the reason you disappeared. And when Tejada went into a prolonged slump and was send back down (as he SHOULD’VE been) only then you reappeared. But while all that was happening Justin Turner came out of nowhere and developed into the Mets starting 2B and he won the job fair and square. As much I like Tejada and STILL do Turner is the right call right now.
Here’s another prediction – you’re gonna wind up with egg on your face because Tejada is only 21, still developing, has now gotten BETTER than he was last year and he has the rest of his career in front of him. But don’t worry about that now because Turner is the Mets second baseman and doing a VERY NICE job too. And now you’re on his case.
What the hell is wrong with you? Don’t you know anything about baseball? What have you been watching for 50 or 60 years?
I’ve only been yelling about Daniel “DH” Murphy since spring training and am happy that a good chunck of people are now using common sense. They have awoken and seen what you refuse to see…Murphy is a DH. He is as bad a defender as I’ve seen in my 44 years on this earth. I admit that he can hit well, albeit with zero power numbers, but he is a brick handed butcher with the glove. He’s lucky that Ike is hurt or he’d be a pinch hitter on this team.
Zero power? Does power only equate to HRs or does that count for 2Bs as well?
In Citi field? For crying out loud! That is a bizzare question. With those dimensions my momma can hit doubles. Someone wake me up, I’m dreaming about an aleterante baseball universe, the bizarro baseball world where you can suck defensivley, run the bases like a little leaguer, and not know what to do with the ball when you actually catch it.
You’re momma probably plays worse D than Murphy, so the point is moot.
You’ve pretty much stated that Murphy is worthless, which is certainly your opinion. He’s horrible at D, etc. etc. I’ve seen Murphy make some tremendous defensive plays and I’ve seen him make errors. Calling him trash, a little leaguer, etc, is just wrong and inaccurate.
Murph is 3rd in the league in doubles, but that doesn’t matter much, I guess.
That’s where you’re wrong. My momma plays better defense than Murphy. Did you actually say “I’ve seen Murphy make some tremendous defensive plays”? Hell, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. Last I check, that’s what they pay him for!
Join the legion of Murphy haters. You act like a hater. We have a few of them here.
I think it’d be easier to handle if there was rational thought behind the arguments. Oh well… Rational and Sports fans don’t always go together.
I’d say they are mutually exclusive.
I founded the club. I’m going to register a domain soon called danielmurhysucks.com–Hold on…He just made another boo-boo as I was typing.
Silly post by a fan who doesn’t really understand the game of baseball but has a trash mouth.
I can go toe to toe with my knowledge of the game with you anytime. Take your rose colored Daniel Murphy glasses off and see what’s in front of you. Again, if Ike were healthy he’d be pulling splinters out of his goofball rear end and be relagated to pinch hitter.
Thats it, tell us how smart you are. There are a few guys here who do just that and only that. And they all seem to say the same things.
you need a big time offense to effectively offset the seemingly countless Angel-Daniel goofs. They are two real baseball brains. The mets do not have that kind of offense. Nobody cries about the yankee shortcomings on defense in recent years. Because they give their pitchers enough of a regular season cushion. Still, there is no getting around the brain fart when the game is tied late.
Agreed. What is really baffling is how you can make it to the majors and have zero defensive skills or intellect. It’s one thing to be bad defensivley, but confound that with no defensive insticnts when you actually catch the ball (which in Murphy’s case is seldom). Top that off with no baserunning skills or knowledge of the base paths. My brain hurts just thinking about it.
and let us not forget that Angel swings at everything, to boot! I really think the mets will not offer him arbitration next year.
The official scorer has a lot to do with deciding if it’s an error or a hit. A lousy fielder will get more errors than a a very good defensive fielder that gets the benefit of the doubt. You also have to consider was it a fielding error or throwing error like in last night’s game with the throwing error to second base by Wright. Comparing statistices between players does not tell you much unless you actually see each play. Reading all the comments about Murph you have to wonder who scouted this guy and how did he make it onto a major league club. He clearly should be a DH in the AL.
AMEN!
And a lot of terrible fielding decisions do not even result in errors. Angel missing cutoff men. Daniel screwing up rundowns.
Hale sending Reyes on Stanton
david wright throwing error on a SURE 5-4-3 DP!!!!
exactly. To say a game is one or lost on one play is silly and cliche.
REPOST: Someone wake me up, I’m dreaming about an alterante baseball universe, the bizarro baseball world where you can suck defensivley, run the bases like a little leaguer, and not know what to do with the ball when you actually catch it. Sorry, I meant run the bases like a tee baller.
is it just me or did the mets win 5 in a row last week? did defense matter then?
they still played bad defense. They just won playing bad defense by outscoring opponents.
I’ll take dumb ball players for $100, Alex. The answer, he has the lowest baseball I.Q. in the majors. BING…who is Daniel murphy, CORRECT!
lmao!!!
Yep it did, Why did we sweep the reds again?
Was it due to Fielding? Damn right it was!
Their BAD fielding cost them the series!
is it me, or noone is talking about how bad DEFENSIVELY david wright has looked since coming back from his injury??? murphy we know sucks defensively because he doesn’t have a position, but wright’s got to do better than that, but i know what his apologist will say “he’s hitting, doesn’t matter, or well he’s rusty still”.. (roll eyes)
he has to do better than that..
BTW…Look who’s not in tonight’s lineup? Collins fianlly woke up and is sending Murphy a message.
he threw him under the bus, timwe is running out, and this guy does a stupid play like that??? no.. sit you ass on that bench!!!
Do you know what the phrase “threw him under the bus means”?
ummm. yes.. don’t you think he did it?
check today’s lineup and tell me if collins didn’t send a message?
Dude you do NOT know what it means.
It’s a phrase meaning to sacrifice another, who usually is not deserving of it. Normally done for personal gain by the person making the accusation.
So tell me again, how did TC throw Daniel Murphy under the bus? Did Murphy actually have a good game and TC is lying about it?
What the?
And you should add: you throw someone under the bus to deflect the decision onto the backs of someone else. Don’t you think TC has some blame here for playing Murph at first?
That’s a stretch now, who else should he have played there with Davis out.
There’s a big Scott Hairston contingent here.
This has nothing to do with this post but I just want to get it off my chest…
I appluad the Mods of this site for trying to add features to the blog but we really could do without the Like Dislike and hiding (when enough dislike a post) nonsense.
Personally I feel it’s better for the site if people dislike something to make a post and make an argument against instead of just crapping on one enough times to hide it and force the rest of us to click to view it.
If someone doesn’t like it then let them say why, not hide behind some vote cause I’m betting most of those dislikes are basically grudge votes held over from other arguments trying to silence posters they don’t like and nothing to do with the comments they actually made!
It’s up to you and I wouldn’t try to tell you how best to manage this site because honestly you guys have always done a bangup job here.
Just seems to me that feature adds little and could go. But maybe I’m in the minority…
Just my two cents worth…