This is the latest in my series of player projections for the Mets. Today: Daniel Murphy.
Daniel Murphy, 2B
Murphy's defense and health will be crucial.
Murphy is the kind of hard-nosed, face-first ballplayer Mets fans love. But it’s that same penchant to rush in where angels fear to tread that makes him an injury risk, even more so now that he has been all but handed the second base job. He has blown out his knee in consecutive years, both times while manning second base. The Mets need him curb his high-wire act long enough to stay healthy in 2012. Until his injury, he was the team’s most productive bat in the second half – even more than Jose Reyes, who wasn’t quite himself since returning from his hamstring injury.
If Murphy improves his footwork at second base, he will be able to avoid the dangerous collisions with baserunners that all middle infielders have to handle.
At the plate, Murphy hit .320/.362/.448 in 2011. But as ESPN’s Eric Simon pointed out, 32 of his hits came on pitches outside the strike zone. Since his name isn’t “Vlad,” one would expect that he won’t be as proficient a bad-ball hitter this year. He’ll have a good year at the plate, but expect his numbers to drop a bit.
Projection: .287, 11 HR, 68 RBI
FanGraphs: .296, 10 HR, 68 RBI
Up next: Ruben Tejada
11 comments
MetsFan4Decades
2/27/2012-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
Didn’t realize that fact about the 32 hits coming on balls outside the strike zone.
Hey, maybe he really will be proficient as a bad ball hitter.
This team needs all the help it can get this year.
Stick
2/27/2012-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
the batting numbers seem reasonable. I assume he will be hitting 2nd. And if he can play at all competantly at 2B, they would be fine #s for a 2B.
But, i still am worried about his D long term. So I believe he is just keeping the position warm for Reese Havens. i could see murphy traded at some point too (and longer shot, Wright leaves and Murphy takes over at 3rd. Real long shot!)
Stick
2/27/2012-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
just thinking here, but if these #s are legit, the middle of the order could be scary (to the other team, not just the fans).
this murphy, 2010 DW (hoping for better, but that is IMO realistic), duda and Davis mashing. that is 1/2 the line up putting up a lot of production. If Bay can actually pull his weight, that will be an excellent 2-6. And not many teams have more than 5 really good hitters anyway. Thole and Tejada just need to get on base and pick up some baserunners, and whoever hits leadoff just needs to get on base and trot around a lot.
torres is a real wild card hear too.
Ceetar
2/27/2012-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
the offense is gonna smash it around a lot this year.
gategem
2/27/2012-6:53pm at 6:53 pm (UTC -4)
And so will the pitching and defense.
MetsFan4Decades
2/27/2012-3:25pm at 3:25 pm (UTC -4)
‘just thinking here, but if these #s are legit, the middle of the order could be scary (to the other team, not just the fans).’
I like your thinking. This is what I’m hoping as well.
Paul Festa
2/27/2012-5:05pm at 5:05 pm (UTC -4)
I think they’ll hit. Hopefully, the top of the order will get on base enough to give Wright, Davis, and Duda enough opportunities to drive in runs. The pitching staff, on the other hand…well, those projections are coming up.
NJstuckinTX
2/27/2012-3:15pm at 3:15 pm (UTC -4)
I think he’ll put up closer to 18 HRs than 10.
trs86
2/27/2012-3:22pm at 3:22 pm (UTC -4)
My turn again:
.293, 15 HR, 72 RBI
Stick
2/27/2012-3:57pm at 3:57 pm (UTC -4)
damn fine numbers for a 2B, if he can be at least servicable in the field.
actually, that looks like AS #s for what is out there at 2B in the NL these days, don’t they?
Hazmet
2/27/2012-6:49pm at 6:49 pm (UTC -4)
High Wire Act? What high wire act? A high wire act for Murph is turning a routine double play. I love Murph, everyone love’s Murph but it’s not a matter of if he get’s injured at 2nd it’s a matter of when. He is the man without a position.