Archive for the ‘Daniel Murphy’ Category

BY RANDY SHEMANSKI
STACHE WRITER

Most Mets fans who follow the minor league affiliates may have noticed that righty Dillon Gee threw a gem for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on Tuesday night, beating the Syracuse Chiefs, 6-1. He allowed a run on three hits while striking out six in seven innings.

But it was one pitch that proved the type of player and teammate Gee is.

With two outs, nobody on and the Bisons leading 4-0 in the top of the sixth, Gee hit Chiefs’ outfielder Leonard Davis square in the back of his right shoulder with a fastball. A seemingly normal mistake, except for one thing – Davis is the guy who took out Daniel Murphy at second base on June 2, tearing Murphy’s MCL and ending his season. Davis eventually scored in the inning, but the Bisons were glad to trade a run for Gee’s apparent action.

Clearly, Gee was standing up for his fallen teammate, something young pitchers don’t do as often as they should.
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BY BRYAN ROTHENSTEIN
STACHE WRITER

Yesterday the Mets had a much needed off day after Wednesdays debacle to close out another losing road trip, especially after 2 spectacular starts from Santana which resulted in 0 wins. But what an off day it was.

It was chock full of talk centered around the blown call at first base in the Tigers game with two outs in the top of the 9th to blow a perfect game for Tiger’s pitcher Galaragga. It would have been the second perfect game in a week and third of the season, but due to one bad call, will just go down as the perfect game that wasn’t. I honestly feel bad for Galaragga, but not as bad as I do for the umpire, Joyce.

He has umpired since 1989 and is well respected around the league, however will now be remembered for nothing other then the man who blew the perfect game. He apologized after the game and did the manly thing and admitted he was wrong. He even passed up the opportunity to sit out tonight’s game and came back out to do his job. He was visibly upset as he fought back the tears while accepting the lineup card from the same man he hurt the night before. But a good man he is, he made a mistake, acknowledged it and turned the page. He knows it will never be forgotten but knows he still has a job to do and was prepared to do just that.
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FRANK GRAY
STACHE WRITER

It is no mystery that the New York Mets are trying to avoid a repeat of seasons past. It also is not a surprise to say that they are an average team at this juncture of the season. The Mets have a difficult June schedule that still includes games with, in no particular order, the Yankees, Twins, Tigers, Marlins, Phillies and more.

This is a crucial stretch they are about to enter. Keeping this in mind, it is important to be honest when assessing where they are right now and where they may be when the trade deadline begins to loom in July. Today June 3rd, 2010, the New York Mets stand at 27-27. They are exactly at .500 and tied for third in their own division.

They are a far cry from being a contender, but also in no means are they so far behind anyone that they can’t make a run toward the playoffs. To do that, however, it will take something that Mets GM Omar Minaya has never done before. He must make a substantial midseason transaction. He has not been known for the big splash moves in the middle of the season.
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BY PATRICK CREIGHTON
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Let it ride.

This was the real motto of the New York Mets coming into this season. Forget about recovery and prevention, we believe, or any of that other nonsense you may have heard. Three simple words describe the Mets outlook coming into the season: let it ride.

The Mets chose to gamble in so many areas coming into the season, I heard my fellow media cohorts proclaim that Citi Field would be host to anything from Division winners to a Federal Disaster Area and everything in between (although to be honest, most said Disaster area).

After 52 games, the Mets stand at 26-26. Not a division leader, but certainly not the disaster so many of my colleagues were so gleefully predicting in March either. Too nervous or scared to go all out for the big prize, the Mets have played it mostly close to the vest, and are dead even. They collected on some bets, and paid up big on others.
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FRANK GRAY
STACHE WRITER

The New York Mets have long been without a presence of leadership and quiet consistent confidence. There are several players that exude those attributes in Mets lore. One of them is Edgardo Alfonzo. While with the Mets, he became a leader and an example. He was what is called, ‘clutch’. Not many players can claim that anymore, especially in Queens.

The team has been searching for quality back up players and all the while spending and wasting valuable money on starters that don’t belong in the major leagues. According to MLB Rumors.com, Alfonzo had recently expressed interest in playing in the MLB again and more specifically with the Mets. The team has a need on the bench and even more so, a need at second base.

That position is currently being patrolled by Luis Castillo, who is having a poor season. His batting average (.246)and on base percentage (.340) are lower than his career averages. He does have seven stolen bases and two triples this season so far, but he is not getting on base and doing what he was paid to do entirely.
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FRANK GRAY
STACHE WRITER

In the last part of the series on leadership in the New York Mets club house, we will look at several player options. Those options include Carlos Beltran, Jason Bay, Jeff Francoeur, Rod Barajas, Ike Davis and Jose Reyes. We have reviewed Johan Santana, David Wright and Francisco Rodriguez.

Now, moving on, let’s further examine the rest of that list, starting with Carlos Beltran. Beltran was brought in to be the playoff-tested veteran. He was supposed to bring experience and leadership to a young core to push them over the top. He has brought the experience, but he never has brought that leadership the team sought.

Too often, his mouth has written checks that his abilities couldn’t cash. That has gotten his reputation into poor standing in both the league and the club house. Then, his health became an overwhelming issue. It still is. A leader, as previously stated, must be both on the field and produce.
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FRANK GRAY
STACHE WRITER

It has been a week of vindication so far for the New York Mets. They began this week with an abysmal record of 4-8, after having only two wins in a six game road trip. When the present home stand opened, it did so with much fan fare for the eminent arrival of minor league standout, Ike Davis.

A questionable roster move given the particular circumstances he was thrown into. It came with many questioning the timing, myself included. With the team off to such a poor start, it seemed as if management were just grasping at straws to fill seats and save their jobs. Thus far, after a week that currently has them at 9-9, it just may have done that.

They have not only won their first series, against the Chicago Cubs by taking three out of four, but have already taken the first two games of a three game series against the division rival Atlanta Braves with one game still to play tomorrow. So, as they go for a possible sweep, let’s put it in proper perspective. If they win or lose, they are still within a game of a .500 winning %, either one game over or one game under.
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BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

In case you haven’t heard, Daniel Murphy has started to run without the protective brace, and it is looking like he will not be all that long before he is ready to play for the Mets. That leaves one important question. What will happen if Ike Davis solidifies himself as the team’s starting first baseman?

Daniel Murphy has already been vocal about his feelings, and you might be surprised about what he said.

“I was given more than enough ample opportunity to play well there last year,” Murphy said about left field. “I didn’t, and it was costing us ballgames. So they made a decision to go with someone else, which I think was right. I think eventually if I have to do so, I can play a good outfield or another position. That’s going to be something that’s always going to be up to Jerry’s discretion.”
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FRANK GRAY
STACHE WRITER

The New York Mets had a seven hour marathon on Saturday night with the St Louis Cardinals. It was a 20 inning endurance test, that the Mets prevailed in. However, recent reports have indicated that not all of the players survived the stamina trials of the day. Mike Jacobs has been designated for AAA.

This is a curious move, as it begs two important questions. Before those questions are asked, however, one last look at Jacob’s numbers so far. The team has played just 11 games. In the games, Jacobs has drawn the ire of Mets fans all over the country with his high strikeout rate. In 24 at bats, he has 7 strike outs.

This is about a one in three rate, or 33%. That’s not a good rate. An average batter is supposed to strike out half as many times as they walk. With only three walks, he has walked half as many times as he has struck out. This is the exact opposite.
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FRANK GRAY
STACHE WRITER

The New York Mets have not had a highly successful first week of the regular season. It was one filled with uninspiring play and comebacks that fell just short. We’ve seen grand slams and staff aces get booed at their home park. We’ve even heard stories of the manager, Jerry Manuel claiming to not be prepared for his team to face a pitcher that they had just pitching for them. It was indeed a inconsistent week.

The team is currently standing at a 2-4 record. It is hardly the time to panic, but when one sees the upcoming schedule, one may want to limber up their fingers in preparation to press the button soon. The team is coming off of an off day on Monday as they travel to Colorado.

Unfortunately, they are not playing the South Park Cows. They are playing the Colorado Rockies. A team that is young, scrappy and hungry. The type of team the Mets don’t fare well against. A team that also sports a certain bullpen pitcher that could currently have been pitching in Queens had the Mets given him a respectable offer. The pitcher is Joe Beimel.
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