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Murph at 1st in ‘10?
If you’re looking for detailed analysis of last nite’s game I’m sorry but BMF just doesn’t have it in me to rehash the latest meek Met loss.
I watched the game and the only thing I took away from it was a deepening sense that we could be all right handing D-Murph the keys to first base next year.
Of course plenty can change between now and the hot stove but why not let this kid man first while spending our free agent dollars to address the multiple other holes we have pending.
Does anyone else get the feeling payroll will be going down next year???
A quick look at the free agent pool reveals Aubrey Huff and Russell Branyan as likely the most alluring first sackers. While each guy offers more power than Murphy neither is a sure bet. Huff finally broke thru for a career year in ‘08 only to resettle back towards mediocrity. Branyan on the other hand finally got an everyday job this year and is on pace for about 35 HRs. But with only one full season on his resume he too is a risk especially avg wise, but I think the .250 range is a reasonable expectation for him.
I like both of those guys but Murphy is cheap, he’s homegrown and despite the first half of this season I believe he’s proving he can indeed hit at the big league level.
As for the .240 avg he’s held down most of this season you have to largely give him a pass since we stuck him in LF and asked him to learn the position on the fly. As much as we’d all hope an experiment gone horribly bad like that wouldn’t affect a guy’s offensive production it’s going to. I mean how can it not?
After LF we moved the kid to first another new role and shockingly he responded with rapidly improving defense and if you look closely his .300 bat is returning as well.
After a solid month plus run Murphy has raised his avg from the .230 range to .253. While that’s not quite Mex territory yet it is reasonable for a second year player. And for the record it wasn’t fair to expect the kid to hit .300 this year -and I admit to being guilty of that. But I do think he’ll be a .300 hitter for the bulk of his career and his power should develop to the 15-20 bombs range.
The way I see it is if we go with Murphy we can address LF, catcher and SP which all need help.
Pagan is a possible solution in left… but that’s a discussion for another day.
And we’ve got a lot of days ahead of us before we play any meaningful games again…
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CONGRATULATIONS to Big Pelf on his first Lil Pelf!
Word is Mike and his wife are now parents to the bouncing baby Chase Pelfrey!
You know I had to run Schmifty’s GO BIG PELF onsie pic today!!!
To read the story behind the GO BIG PELF onesie click HERE
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Mojo Kitty rocks the batting helmet for luck!
August 7th, 2009 at 2:45 am
Hello BMF et al. I have four weeks vacation now so i just took tomorrow off. Murphy deserves a chance. just like jason phillips
jk (just kiddingg as the kids say murph deserves a chance)I like your ideas BMF but i can hardly write at this point. I was fighting with yankee fans all night. I have a worjk function at stankee stacium Monday. Ihope they lose as usual whn i’m there. might see ya later Monday. yanks suck, this sucks, kudos to parnell getting a rotation nod? is that true. later bmfers much love
August 7th, 2009 at 2:53 am
that guy is confused or a dbag.
August 7th, 2009 at 4:54 am
Move Murphy to second next season so we have place to add a legit and needed power hitter to the lineup.
I think Pagan’s emerging as very valuable asset for left field next season. If he continues to shine, stays healthy and grows as player, he’s a talent that should be in the lineup every day.
August 7th, 2009 at 6:55 am
hahaha…i missed the onesie story the first time, thanks for reposting
i think if baseball was just spring training and nothing else, i’d be happier
August 7th, 2009 at 7:18 am
“Move Murphy to second next season”
No chance. You can’t make Murph try to learn a 3rd position in 3 years and expect his offensive game to grow. Besides, Castillo will still be under contract and has earned the right to be the teams 2B next year.
The best Mets teams historically have not had a lot of power at 1B. Kranepool, Mex, Olerud, Zeile, none of those guys hit for a lot of power, but they hit .300, were solid RBI guys and played good-to-great defense. It is not unreasonable to expect that Murph will be able to fill that role.
The power the Mets will be adding will be Beltran over Pagan, Francoeur over Church, Reyes over Cora, and Wright returning to form. That is a VERY large increase in power.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:00 am
How awesome would it be to see that lil bubba in the stands wearing that onesie!
Move Murph to 2nd?!? Are you high?
Yes, if an animal gets too comfortable in one spot they start building a nest and mating, wouldn’t want that!
I really like him at first, I like his young legs and quick reflexes.
No hate on Delgado here, but we now have a backup that can flip pecking order with our starter, not bad at all.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Pelf named his kid Chase? Who’s next Chipper Santana?
August 7th, 2009 at 9:45 am
I like Murph at 1st and with all the holes we have next year let’s start with oh, I dunno, at least 2 starting pitchers, 2nd base (hoping Castillo is done), CF if Beltran is really out the whole season (excuse me while I throw up), a starting catcher, a big bat, a few relievers, etc.
Oh right, and an entire farm system.
If we fill those then let’s talk about first base. I believe in Murph, I really do.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Projecting Murphy is the answer at 1B and Pagan can start in LF is the same thinking that caused this year’s disaster. You can’t take two power positions and play guys without power and then expect the team will score enough runs, with or without all the injuries. Especially since Pagan and Murphy aren’t exactly defensive whizzes.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:58 am
“Projecting Murphy is the answer at 1B and Pagan can start in LF is the same thinking that caused this year’s disaster.”
Not really. This year’s disaster was caused by an unreal slate of injuries, which couldn’t be overcome b/c the Mets farm system has been depleted from years of signing and trading for high profile players on the downside of their careers.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:43 am
“Pagan and Murphy aren’t exactly defensive whizzes.”
I agree about Murph, though he’s no worse than Delgado defensively. But I think you’re wrong about Pagan. He’s not Beltran (nobody is), but he’s actually a pretty good defensive outfielder who covers a lot of ground and has a good arm too.
August 7th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Mets, see U 2010.
August 7th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Like I said yesterday, It’ll be better to keep Murph at 1st and spend the big money on pitching and a good LF’er…
August 7th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Lord Charles, do you really believe if the Mets had stayed healthy they would be anything more than a mediocre team this year chasing after the wild card? It’s not like this team was blazing through the league when everybody was in the lineup. They were hovering around .500 when the injuries hit in May, but the Phillies had such a slow start the Mets weren’t also-rans yet.
August 7th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
The Mets were 7 games over and 0.5 games back through May, when at least their pitching staff, Beltran, and Sheffield were healthy. Keep them, and add in Reyes and Delgado (who had a .914 OPS in 26 games) and it is reasonable to believe that the Mets would have played the next 2 months at least 7-games over, which would put them at 61-47, 1 game behind the Phils and 2 games up on the Wild Card.
August 7th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
what i do not understand is while there is a the premier first baseman sitting in the broadcast booth, why don’t the Mets make him the mentor of Murph at First? who better could teach him the ins and outs of first base play?
was Mex asked and he turned the spot down, or was he just snubbed? how could it hurt having the best first baseman in Mets history work with Murphy? something is bound to rub off, even if it’s just attitute towards the game
August 7th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
I thought Mex has worked with Murph, at least in ST? Also, you have to wonder about MLB rules there. I’m not sure what they say about broadcasters doubling as coaches/instructors. Knowing MLB, there are probably some obscure rules that prevent it.
August 9th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Your dreaming thinking Murphy will be a .300 hitter. If he roids up he may get 15 bombs. PA- LEEEEESE! Come on with the dreaming the dude is a 250 hitter with 5-10 HR power, slow of foot and barely ok at defense at 1b AND NOWHERE ELSE. I have read other articles where many scouts don’t even think he is even an adequate bench player and frankly with the Mets wonderful management and player development system I tend to worry about any one they think is good.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I don’t enjoy saying this, but I don’t think Murphy will hit enough to be a regular, ever.