24
2012
Rounding The Bases: Collins Impressed With Murphy At 2B, Mets Attendance Keeps Falling
An article by Hojo's Mojo
Here are some excerpts from the weekend you may have missed and might want to read to catch up on things.
Mets Matters
Mets manager Terry Collins said he’s impressed with the play of Daniel Murphy in his first season as a full-time second baseman. Murphy was a corner infielder in college, but played first, third and left field throughout his first two seasons with the Mets. He made strides as a first baseman, but New York was set on Ike Davis. So Murphy made the transition to second. ”I think anytime you’re a guy who’s trying to learn a new position, you spend a lot of time at that position to get comfortable, and Dan has worked very, very hard,” Collins said. “I think he’s done a very good job defensively, he’s really done a good job around the bag.” – Mets.com
Through the first 75 home games this year, the Mets have sold 2,083,794 tickets, 3.9 percent less than the same period last year, according to Baseball-Reference.com. With only seven home games remaining, against the Miami Marlins and the Pittsburgh Pirates — traditionally weak draws — and a horrendous record at Citi Field, where they had won 5 of their previous 30 games after Friday night’s 7-3 victory update against the Marlins, the Mets are almost certain to see their attendance decline for the third straight season. – New York Times
Around The League
In an unprecedented agreement between Major League Baseball and union officials, suspended Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera will be ruled ineligible to win the 2012 NL batting title. Cabrera asked to be removed from consideration on Wednesday, when his representatives sent a letter to union officials. The Players’ Association worked out a one-time amendment to Rule 10.22(a) with MLB officials on Thursday. Commissioner Bud Selig said publicly that he wasn’t likely to take action on the matter. Cabrera said he had “no wish to win an award that would be tainted,” and that he “believe[d] it would be far better for someone more deserving to win.” – MLB.com
The Marlins are planning to fire president and team architect Larry Beinfest, perhaps as soon as next week, according to two high-ranking executives with knowledge of the move but not permitted to speak publicly because the final decision will be made by owner Jeffrey Loria. Beinfest would be replaced by Dan Jennings, the Marlins assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel. – USA Today
About the Author: Rob Johnson
17 Comments + Add Comment
Recent Comments
- JerseyGuy276: on Gee Roughed Up As Braves Shutout The Mets 6-0: So, I was actually at this game...
- Hank: on Gee Roughed Up As Braves Shutout The Mets 6-0: This Sandy Alderson delusion needs to stop....
- Hitman: on Gee Roughed Up As Braves Shutout The Mets 6-0: They should start around the first base...
- BadBadLeroyBrown: on Gee Roughed Up As Braves Shutout The Mets 6-0: As the Mets LOSE and LOSE they...
- Franklin: on Gee Roughed Up As Braves Shutout The Mets 6-0: If you sign free agents then you...
Need Tickets To The Mets Game?
Check Out These Great MLB Links!
Photographs From Gordon Donovan
5397 Fans Follow Us On Twitter!
1269 Fans Like Us On Facebook!
2341 Fans Read Our Feed!
1702 Fans Subscribe via Daily Email!
Still not sold on Murphy at second, I don’t care what Collins says. We need to improve up the middle and outfield.
Couldn’t agree with you more! Not sold on Murphy as a second baseman. But what would you expect Collins to say? He’s in no position to criticize management or his players. Just like Sandy they’re both temporary fill ins. Thole is not the answer at catcher nor is Shoppach. All good defensive teams are solid up the middle. We have a long way to go.
Two of the big questions going into this year were Murphy and Tejada. Both played well. Leave well enough alone. We have bigger holes to fill.
Hi Rob,
Wonder how much of that attendance includes the free and discounted ticket offers througout the season? Any figures on actual attendence REVENUE compared to last year? It’s not the attendance figures that count – smaller crowds are of little concern if they bring in more cash bigger ones – something the Mets counted on with Citi Field and it backfired right in their own faces.
That’s hard to say considering we don’t know the price for product or merchandise sold either. It’s very possible that they increased the price of food or merchandise to off-set the discount. You also would have to factor in the employees that were let go or re-assigned as well.
Hi TR,
Exactly right but that is why I pointed out we can’t go by attendance figures. It might be a good bet that the drop in revenue was much more than the three percent drop in attendance. And since we know that the attendance figures include so many no-shows, the point you raise about food and merchandise becomes even more important.
We won’t really know even after the reports come out about operating expenses versus revenue since those figures tend to be manipulative and not reflective of television and other aspects of the business we are not aware of.
the other thing that the gross tickets sold doesn’t tell you is the mix. You could drop 100K in tixs sold, but make mroe money overall if they drop was in cheap seats but you sold more mid/high level ones (not saying they did, just that there is a big spread in face values).
I wouldn’t put any stock in what Terry Collins says about Murphy. Yes, he improved a little, but he is still a negative factor and when you have a team that cant score runs you cant afford to give away runs like Murphy at 2B does. Just keep you fingers crossed that Flores could be ready by next season’s all star break.
Hey, you can’t talk bad about everyone’s favorite Met on this blog or they go nuts. Every time I poke fun at “El Stiffo”, I get pounded by the likes of Des.
You wont get no pokes from me, Murphy sucks at second!
You and your cohorts are having a field day. Live it up boys, but you’ve lost. Murphy was far better than you want to admit. None are so blind as those who will not see.
I’ll get each of you a guide dog for the 2013 season. LOL.
Murphy is what I like to call, a “Fool’s Gold” type of player. You may think he’s gonna stick one place, but the next year comes and you end up asking yourself, “What was I thinking?”, quite like how fans who were sold on Murph being the LF of the future got burned. That was an adventure, wasn’t it? He may have been solid after a full year at 2nd, but you would be foolish not to shop him in the winter.
Except Murphy never looked good in LF. He also had even played LF in the minors prior to trying it opening day in 2009. The situations are a little different.
Murphy’s total minor league experience in the outfield was 11 PO’s. The Mets were certainly bringing him up slowly, wouldn’t you say? That decision to put a kid who had virtually NO outfield experience in the outfield shows how desperate Jerry and Omar were to keep their jobs. Blame them.
I like Muph but he just does not hit with enough power. I am not saying Uggla or Utley numbers but 15 would be nice. Finishing strong would have been nice if it would be finishing above .500, so knowing that is not going to happen, I am disappointed in another losing season.
IN MY ESTIMATION THE FRANCHISE CAN NOT BE RIGHTED UNDER CURRENT OWNERSHIP WITH JEFF WILPON’S INEPT HANDS @ THE WHEEL.
WITH FRED ADAMENTLY OPOSED TO SELLING & UNLIKELY WILING TO FIRE HIS ELDEST CHILD;
I AM CONVINCED IT’S GOING TO TAKE MUCH MORE THAN ONE OR TWO MEAGER ATTENDANCE SEASONS; HOWEVER IF TRUE MET FANS ARE STRONG IN THEIR RESOLVE I BELIEVE THE SACRIFICE OF BOYCOTTING THIS YEARS ASG @ CITIFIELD IS ABSIOLUTELY NECESSARY TO PROVIDE MLB(SELIG) WITH THE INSIGHT NEEDED TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF THE FANS & McCOURT THE WILPONS FROM THE COMMISIONER’S OFFICE! AS THE TOTAL EMBARASSMENT EMPTY SEATS WILL BRING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC’S MLB IMAGE @ SELIG’S CONTROL i.e. PROPPING UP HIS FRIENDS(WILPIONS)WHILE DEALING DEALBLOWS TO HIS FOES(McCOURTS)
Murphy will win a batting title b3fore he’s through. Don’t trade him. Leave him at second and let him play.