Daniel Murphy: Mets starting second baseman?

Murphy at the plate / Wikimedia Commons

Second base has been a glaring hole in the Mets lineup since the departure of Edgardo Alfonso. Over the last decade, second base has been patrolled by the likes of: a past his prime Roberto Alomar, Danny Garcia, Miguel Cairo, Jose Valentin and most recently the much maligned Luis Castillo. None of these players struck fear in opposing pitchers. To solve this problem the Mets have looked inside their organization and are now hoping Daniel Murphy can fill the hole. Along with Murphy, Rule-5 draft pick Brad Emaus and the aforementioned Castillo are competing for the second base job.

Many people in the Mets organization are hoping for Murphy to win the job because although he is still unproven at the big league level, he has shown the most potential to be a productive hitter. The question with Murphy arises on the defensive side of the ball. When he was first called up to the big leagues, Murphy, naturally a third baseman, played the outfield and had his fair share a struggles with limited range, a poor arm from the outfield, and a tendency to misjudge fly balls. The Mets grew tired with his adventures in the outfield and tried him out at first base where he did improve but still was no Gold Glover. With the rise of Ike Davis, first base is no longer a possibility for Murphy.

In order to keep Murphy's bat in the lineup, the Mets decided to give him a trial at second base. Murphy’s first attempt to be the Mets second baseman was derailed by an injury which incurred while turning a double play in the minor leagues. This sidelined Murphy's chances for most of the 2010 season.

Many critics, based on his defensive history, do not believe Murphy will be able to play second base on the major league level. However, Murphy is confident he can make the switch, claiming, “I've played some second before in the minor leagues. I played in high school. So it's not quite as foreign as I think left field was to me, and even probably first base."

Although Murphy is not a naturally gifted fielder he has the reputation as a notoriously hard worker which will surely help his cause. He claims that he's been improving over the off-season. “I've been working on trying to shorten up my 'stroke' [throwing motion]. It's definitely gotten better." He added, “With the work I've been able to do in the offseason as far as my footwork, it's helped out a lot." With his work ethic, Murphy has the potential to become an adequate major league second baseman, but ultimately if he wants to make the team and have a long big league career, he will have to produce with the bat.

Up in to this point in spring training none of the second basemen have distinguished themselves as a clear front runner to make the team. Murphy has been the most productive hitter despite hitting only .250 compared to .154 and .124 for Castillo and Emaus respectively. Still Murphy is no shoo in to make the team because Castillo is clearly a superior defender and Emaus has the advantage of being a Rule-5 pick where they would have to offer him back to the Blue Jays if he does not make the team. What may give Murphy the upper hand is that new Mets manager Terry Collins has stated that he views second base as an offensive position.

Despite his rocky road to the majors he remains confident in his abilities claiming, "In some capacity I'm going to be able to help the 2011 Mets to win a pennant."

Memories of the Duke

Duke Snider / Virtual Card Collection

On February 27th, Duke Snider, the Hall of Fame center fielder, died at the age of 84. Although he is no longer with us, his accomplishments and memories still remain. Duke is the only player to hit four home runs or more in two different World Series. In a recent ESPN.com interview, Giants Manager Bruce Bochy remembers Snider as, “a god, a baseball hero for all of us.” Even Snider’s rival and Hall of Fame center fielder, Willie Mays recalls Snider as, “a fine man, a terrific hitter and a great friend, even though he was a Dodger."

According to Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, “He was the true Dodger and represented the Dodgers to the highest degree of class, dignity and character.” Fellow Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda praised him as, “one of my idols. I almost fainted.” Unlike Mays and Mantle, “Duke never got the credit of being the outfielder that Mays and Mantle were,” said former teammate Don Zimmer.

It seems baseball lost another idol. "His name will always be with me because of what he told me about what he was taught as a rookie of how to become a better hitter. ... He said he used to swing and miss a lot. He used to go out to the bullpen and stand in there while the guys were warming up so he could learn the strike zone better. And he did. He became one of the best players in the game,” said by Mets manager Terry Collins in a ESPN blog. Duke is gone, but the memories of Duke Snider are everlasting.