13
2011
If At “First” You Don’t Succeed…Get Depth
An article by 
There’s an old saying related to baseball that, “If at first you don’t succeed, try the outfield.” But if the Mets march to the beat of their own drummer, they changed that philosophy from the “outfield” to “first base.” John Olerud leaves as a free agent, no problem! Throw Todd Zeile there. Mo Vaughn hasn’t played in a few years and was an American League DH at his most feared. Hey, I have an idea: why not put him at first? He’s played there a bit! Doug Mientkiewicz? Yeah, he was a first baseman. But he was pretty bad at baseball.
What’s funny about the team this year is that seemingly, EVERYONE gets thrown at first base. After Ike Davis took a freak-accident-spill on a routine infield pop-up earlier this season, like many Mets injuries, it didn’t seem like much…but he hasn’t played since. Evidenced as such, the Mets have thrown four guys at first base not named Davis. In fact, Daniel Murphy holds the lead with 46 games started at 1B, and 37 games for Lucas Duda. Ike Davis played 36 games at first base, and Nick Evans has started 27 game at 1B (as of Tuesday). If Evans finishes out the season at 1B, four guys could theoretically finish playing less than 50 games each at 1B. The Mets have not had a ton of turnover at first base in its history, so this is significant.
You know what I find interesting? That when Ike Davis is anticipated to return next season, the Mets find themselves in a position of strength: a lot of guys who can play first base. Bonus: all of them have proven they can hit and play the position well enough to be every day players or at the very least, in a platoon situation.
Clearly, the position is Ike Davis’ to lose come next year in Spring Training. At least, this is how I am looking at things. Lucas Duda has been pretty much hand-selected by Terry Collins to be his starting right fielder in 2012, and obviously for the remainder of the season. Leaving us with Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans as the odd men out. All of a sudden, the Mets and their Front Office have a position of value and strength to use as trade bait.
Who is the odd man out, singular, though? In that respect, odd “men” and that would be Nick Evans and Daniel Murphy.
It’s funny with these two. I’ve made no secret about my appreciation of Daniel Murphy, as I feel his defensive woes are much ado about nothing, plus he’s shown he’s at a position of strength as a first baseman. If he had a more consistent position, whether first, second or third base…anything in the infield, really…he’d certainly be a big asset to any team. Nick Evans is a bit limited to where he can play, as his biggest strength has been showcased at first base, but he also has experience at left field. However, we all know left field is locked up by Jason Bay till 2013. Unless he is traded. But that’s not the hypothetical here.
Anyway, defensively and offensively, Daniel Murphy might have a slight leg up on Nick Evans on the Mets. Yet, his value could be used to get more parts in return in a trade.
See where I am going with this? Is Nick Evans more valuable as an off-the-bench guy in 2012 for the team? Or is Daniel Murphy going to be counted on for the team in a bigger way?
Another thing to consider is the Jose Reyes situation. If Reyes is not figuring into the long-term vision of the team, where Ruben Tejada plays in 2012 will impact how the Mets will look at the future of the aforementioned players. Clearly, the easiest scenario is that Reyes will re-sign, Tejada will play second base and all is right in the world. But if Reyes flies the coop, Tejada will easily be penciled in at shortstop next year. Right now, while Daniel Murphy rests his legs, he’s also the only one of the previously mentioned with any regular second base experience. Another item that would weigh in his favor of staying with the team than Nick Evans.
Overall, Evans took several years to prove himself, but with regular-ish playing time, he’s shown that he can keep up with the big boys. Murphy though was able to smack the hell out of the ball from day one pretty much. We’ll also need to consider that Evans is out of options. Like, negative amount of options at this point with how many times he’s been put on waivers (Cot’s and MLB Contracts has no information on his current status unfortunately). Daniel Murphy isn’t arb eligible until 2013 due to his injuries in the last few years. This could go either way: he’s so cheap it makes sense to keep him around, or trade him while his value is high and let him become another team’s “problem.” (But he’s a good problem to have)
There is a surplus at first base for the Mets for 2012. I guess on one hand, it’s good that the Mets have so many serviceable players to fill in when their every day players go down at this point. On the other hand, the odd men out look to be Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans. Either way, their value is at its highest and it would make sense at this point to see about the future without either of those players in the organization.
About the Author: Taryn Cooper
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I was one of those folks who were a “DOUBTING DANIEL” at the start of the season. And he has showen me MORE than enough to ease many of those doubts. I’m still not convinced he is a good 2B but he isn’t attrocious either and could be played there and given enough time to make the position his own.
Thats said I’m a BIG Murphy fan now because of his Bat and IF versatility but I have even MORE reason than that to like him and I am surprised no one has has seemed to notice what I believe was his BIGGEST contribution this season.
When Wright and Davis went down, followed by Reyes, Murphy seemed to take over as the LEADER of the IF and I believe he is mostly responsible for the fight this club showed when by all rights this team should have just rolled over and played dead without three of thier biggest and most dangerous batters in the lineup!
I truly believe Murphy’s “ENTHUSIASM” injected some energy into the team at a time they truly needed an energy boost. Yes this unrestrained enthusiasm also caused some of Murphy’s most boneheaded mistakes, but his energy definitly was a big part of why this team won as much as it did while those big three bats were out.
When Murphy got hurt to end the season he said something that stuck with me…
His biggest disappointment was he wasn’t going to be able to “GO TO WAR” like he had been doing with the team and help it win!
When have you ever heard Wright or Beltran talk like that? When have you ever heard a Met talk like that since the 80′s in fact?
Now SOME credit goes to Beltran and Turner as they certainly helped by showing HOW to fight and feeding off that enthusiasm so it certainly wasn’t ALL the Daniel Murphy show.
But would it was Murphy’s energy I believe that caused the tem to “GO TO WAR”
And at this point that is my single biggest reason for saying we NEED to find a place to play Murphy as an everyday player!
I don’t know what tyhe future holds for Reyes and Wright (one could be gone by December!) Beltran is already gone and this team will NEED new leadership if we intend to build mostly with youth!
And I think Murphy is probably the best HOME GROWN leader this team has produced in recent history!
He is the type of guy who can motivate the team out of those long slumps and keep them fighting in games most teams would take for lost and roll over!
Thats something this team has lacked for a good long time and if it means a few more errors at 2B (or even the OF) to retain well I’ll take those errors and hope he learns more as he plays there more just as long as that WARRIOR ENERGY has a place everyday on the field where it can permeate a team that in the past has seemed lifeless at the first sign of adversity!
His instincts suck as the guys in the booth will tell you but his leadership is a commodity we need to find a place to keep on the field.
Not to mention that .320 Bat in the lineup!
Personally I would Try and dump Bay on someone, move Duda to LF and play Murphy in RF if thats what it takes.
It may not be pretty at first but it seems to be the best way to release some of the roster pressure on the 2B position while retaining the bat, the leadership and energy that Murphy brings to the table!
Thanks Metsie, that was a very impassioned response! I was telling a friend of mine (who loathes Nick Evans) that I think he’s expendable, and he’s shown that his value can be raised if he gets regular playing time. But to me, Murphy’s less replaceable, and if you notice there’s been a great drop off since he went down. Obviously, Reyes was out too, and Wright hasn’t been 100% this year. But when he plays there’s a different dynamic. So I agree with you.
As we are debating CLUTCH in another thread it relates here.
The Phillies ARE the phillies due more to their makeup than their talent. Yes they bought a lot of good pitching but they have been winning well before they got that pitching with players who are good but not great!
Rollins is no Reyes and Polanco and Werth were never HOF bound.
But it was their INTERNAL MAKE UP that has carried them and put them into position where that pitching could succeed and win them some championships.
Murphy also may not be HOF (not yet anyway) but he HAS that makeup and while stats are nice I know it takes more than just numbers to win ballgames.
It takes attitude which I have to say Murphy has in spades!
We can’t just let that go or downplay it on the bench.
We need to get it into the game no matter what it takes to do it!
My only issue would be I think I may actually trust Duda in RF more than Murph… Either way, Go Big Murph!
I never expected Murphy to be this good. It was a total shock. But I’m not sure where he fits in at this point. Duda has won the everyday RF job in my opinion so platoon Murph in LF with Bay. I’m not buying into Bay’s recent 10 day outburst, the guys a bum.
I’m with you in that I am totally shocked at how good a hitter Murphy became and what’s more whenever you’re watching a game and you think to yourself we really need a hit here Murphy usually comes through with a CLUTCH hit in a big spot.
The problem is where to put him. The second base talk HAS TO STOP, right now it’s bordering on insane that people STILL to this day think he has a chance there. What to they want? For the third injury to him there end his career?
His best position is 3B and I know what I would do there. 1B is already taken so other than that I really don’t know where he’s gonna play, somewhere in the OF? No clue.
If wright brings a good pitcher, putting Murphy at 3rd is not a bad idea. What the Mets lose by the change you gain pitching. plus some $$$$$ which the Mets need now. Plus 3rd is Murphy’s natural position.
Murphy now has TWO bad knees, career wise it’s not good. When guys had bad knees or got older, they would put them at 1st. With Davis already there, I am sure where we can use Murphy on defense.
medical history says that when one Knee goes the other is soon to follow so I’m not all that concerned it will be a consistent issue.
He was not a speedster even before the knees went bad so it’s not like he is losing something he never had.
Lucas Duda with two GOOD knees is probably still slower of foot than Murphy with two bad ones!
So I don’t see his two ACLs being a chronic problem. bad cartilage maybe but thats not what his problem is.
You all forgot to put Turner into the mix here. But here is another scenario if Jose departs. They could Move Wright to SS and the use Murphy and Turner at third then platoon at second Tejada Turner maybe Murphy. Has not Wright commented about playing SS at some time. That why you can still have Murphy bat as well and Wrights one the infield.