Murphy is set to be the Mets’ starting second baseman again this year, and he will work extensively with new infield coach Tim Teufel to prevent the same results according to Dan Martin of the NY Post.
“I know I’ve got to get better at everything around the bag at second base,” Murphy said. “And [Teufel] has told me he’s watched film of me, but he’s also seen with his own eyes what I need to do and how to attack it.”
It was Murphy’s unfamiliarity with the double-play pivot that led directly to both his season ending knee injuries and although he was able to avoid surgery each time, that will be a main focus when he gets to Port St. Lucie on Feb. 10.
“I talked to Tim at fantasy camp in Florida a couple of weeks ago about a game-plan for what I have to do to get more comfortable there, so we’re already getting things going,” said Murphy. “We were always at different levels when I was coming up through the system, but I know how good a player he was, especially defensively.”
They have to get his bat in the lineup somehow, Murph’s too good an offensive player to keep on the bench. He may not look pretty out there, but I think he’ll improve with time and become an average defender at second.
