Seems Daniel Murphy has a fan. His name is Jose Reyes. Here are 2 excerpts from an article in Newsday by David Lennon.
As Murphy trotted off the field, he pumped his fist. The defensive gem not only saved a run, it killed the Phillies’ building momentum — and also earned him further admiration from one of his biggest fans.
“Unbelievable,” Reyes said. “There’s not too many second basemen who can make that play. I think he’s been much better than anybody expected. I’m surprised how comfortable he’s looked over there in his first year at that position.”
“That’s a hard position — I know from experience,” said Reyes, who played 43 games at second base during an ill-fated experiment in 2004 to accommodate the signing of Kaz Matsui. “It’s not easy. The good thing about him is that he works hard. That’s important. He’s always out there during batting practice taking ground balls and working on double plays. A lot of guys wouldn’t do that.”
13 comments
stickguy
5/2/2011-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
I think I will but give more credence to Jose’s opinion on this than all of the “experts” at MB and MMO that “knew for a fact” he could never ever possibly play the position without causing a global catastrophy (even though they had never seen him play there).
Can’t base everything on body type orperceived athletic ability. Besides, anyone that makes the majors has to be one hell of an athlete to make it that far, including a guy like murphy.
TRS86
5/2/2011-1:29pm at 1:29 pm (UTC -4)
Considering that Havens may be the Fmart of 2B, I am fine with leaving Murphy there for the extended future.
stickguy
5/2/2011-1:33pm at 1:33 pm (UTC -4)
I agree. I think Murphy is showing enough to be considered a legitimate starting 2B, and should just stay there unless something happens and he falls apart.
I have always been the president of the Havens fan club, and am certainly not giving up on him yet. Hopefully he gets back to playing real games sometime this month, and can finally stay on the field. if he does and can get in a solid 4 months of PT this summer, he is going to force the issue.
entirely possible that if Havens does have a break out stretch, they find a way to use them both, but more likely one of them gets traded (if Murphy shows to be a legit starting player).
njstuckintx
5/2/2011-1:40pm at 1:40 pm (UTC -4)
And not just a platoon player.
metsfan4decades
5/2/2011-1:38pm at 1:38 pm (UTC -4)
I had no problem with giving Murph the chance to see what he could do at 2nd, going back to ST of last year. If there was going to be one ball player that would work his butt off to learn a new position, it was going to be Murph.
He tried to take over LF in 2009, without a peep and worked hard in ST trying to do that. That wasn’t exactly a success for him or the Mets but May that year he moves to first base after Delgado goes down, again with no complaints, no self confidence issues. He learns the position on the fly while playing the position and did a credible job there considering.
How can you not be pulling for a kid like this? Doesn’t hurt that his bat seems to contributing as well.
njstuckintx
5/2/2011-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
Go Big Murph!
metsfan4decades
5/2/2011-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
Anyone familiar with this web site?
http://www.readtheapple.com/2011/05/osama-bin-laden-killedby-daniel-murphy.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheAppleYour1SourceForFakeMetsNews+%28The+Apple%3A+Your+%231+Source+For+Fake+Mets+News%29
Read the Apple’s commentary on last night.
njstuckintx
5/2/2011-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
The comment on the article made me chuckle.
“Francesa was on the FAN overnight as a guest and apparently said Murphy didn’t do it right.”
Ceetar
5/2/2011-2:05pm at 2:05 pm (UTC -4)
if you’re not famliar you should be.
metsfan4decades
5/2/2011-3:14pm at 3:14 pm (UTC -4)
Speaking of Reyes, I’m tired of reading about the endless speculation of the Mets not resigning him. This on MLBTR:
Jose Reyes has spent his entire career with the Mets, and Beltran has been with them since the ’05 season. There seems little chance of either player being re-signed. Both are playing well on the young season and should do well in free agency. They’re also midseason trade candidates, with Reyes expected to fetch more given his lower salary. At $18.5MM, Beltran might be mostly a salary dump even if he’s healthy and hitting.
*************
First of all, trading Beltran won equate to 18.5MM. We’re a month into the season and for every week that goes by and he’s still here, that salary goes down. When a trade takes place, we’ll be dumping and the gaining team will be responsible, for whatever is left.
Second…why is Tim D. assuming there is little chance Jose is here next year? Is it just because he’s assuming the Mets will be broke come next year? Didn’t Sandy state if the Mets do decide to resign, they’ll have the money to do so?
Am I just grasping at straws here?
In my perfect scenario, the Mets get that investor(s) signed sooner rather than later and they then turn their attentions to a mid season extension for Reyes.
stickguy
5/2/2011-3:30pm at 3:30 pm (UTC -4)
well, you are a fan so you hope for the best, and they are synical media types that assume (and hype) the worst case scenario.
these 2 really should not be lumped together anyway. I don’t think there is any chance they try to resign Beltran, and he can’t be offererd arbitration, and has the knee issues, so heck yes, he is prime trade bait.
Reyes, other than being on the last year of his deal, is a totally different situation all the way around.
and if they want him, the Mets can still cut payroll significantly (like 20-30mill, depending on K Rod) and still bring him back, and add a few more bodies.
kistics
5/2/2011-3:44pm at 3:44 pm (UTC -4)
Mejia complete team of MLC of his pitching elbow… geez…
kistics
5/2/2011-3:48pm at 3:48 pm (UTC -4)
tear*