The least talked about thing surrounding the signing of second baseman Neil Walker last week, is that it officially ended the seven year tenure of Daniel Murphy with the New York Mets. Citi Field will sound a little bit different next season without the melodic sound of “I’m Shipping Off To Boston” playing 4-5 times per game – the official song of The Irish Hammer and No. 28.
Murphy’s baseball career began on August 2, 2008 when he was called up to replace the injured left fielder Marlon Anderson – only one thing – Murphy played all of zero games in the outfield in the minors. In his first at-bat he singled off All Star Roy Oswalt, but if that wasn’t enough, Murphy made a spectacular leaping grab against the wall in left field and then fired to second base to nail Hunter Pence and complete the inning-ending double play.
However, it wasn’t smooth sailing for Murphy who was trying to learn the outfield position on the fly and too many baseballs were frequently soaring over his head and it all came to a head on April 12, 2009. Johan Santana had been throwing a gem, which was marred when Murphy committed a crucial error that cost the Mets the game. Afterward, Santana had some harsh words for the rookie outfielder, stating: “ It’s one mistake that he made. It cost us the whole ballgame, but it’s part of the game.”
This is where my respect for Murph grew. After the comments made by Santana, he could have pouted and said that he is strictly a third basemen. Instead he was out there early the next day fielding fly balls and learning to get better reads. He inevitably was told to shift tactics and start taking ground balls at second base. We see professionals complain about positions changes day in and day out, and Murphy could have certainly done the same. But, that is not who he is. Rather he is a team player that was willing to do whatever the coach asked him to do, he was always the good soldier.
Wilmer Flores hugs Daniel Murphy after cleaning out his locker and leaving Citi Field for the last time as a Met. (Newsday)
Whether you like him or not, you have to admit that Daniel’s career has come along way. I know it is difficult to forget the images of him dropping balls in left field, misjudging routine plays, or just looking absolutely lost on the baseball diamond. But his value to the team went beyond the field. He became a leader in the clubhouse and someone that the younger players looked up to and aspired to be. He was a hard-working blue collar ballplayer… An everyman.
Murphy leaves the Mets ranking eighth with his career .288 batting average, second only to David Wright in doubles at 228, and 12th all-time in runs scored at 422. In 2014, he was the lone Mets All Star and led all NL second basemen in hits, doubles, and runs scored.
This season, in addition to his historic and exciting exploits in the NLDS and NLCS, he batted .288 and posted a career high .449 slugging percentage to go with 38 doubles, 14 home runs, and 73 RBI. He also was MLB’s toughest batter to strikeout, whiffing just 38 times in 538 plate appearances.
He has achieved a lot playing in six full seasons, and along with David Wright they were the last two Mets who had swung a bat at at Shea Stadium. He has been through all the hard times the organization had to endure, but stayed long enough to see and lead the team out of the dark and toward that light at the end of the tunnel.
Murphy’s Mets career has been fraught with moments of frustration or euphoria, but nobody can doubt he gave it everything he had. His tenure as a Met may not have been all pretty, but it has been one that all Mets fans should appreciate. His intensity, tenacity and all the hard work he put in to being everything the Mets wanted him to be is something that has inspired many. It has been a pleasure to be able to watch Daniel Murphy play everyday and I just want to say, thank you for giving it your all and carrying the Mets out from the abyss.
