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Skip Locoweed bids a hearty welcome to all of them.
Meanwhile
| ="Jason Grey, graduate of the MLB Scouting Bureau's Scout Development Program and ESPN.com blogger,":273wj8ej]• Daniel Murphy's bat is going to play at the big league level, but the question is finding a position for him. As many know, the Mets have him playing second base exclusively here to see if he can handle the position on a full-time basis, and things are encouraging thus far. He hasn't been tested too much, but he also hasn't seemed out of place turning the double play. Murphy has good reactions and adequate footwork, and though his actions are somewhat stiff, he has been making the plays. So far, so good.
• The Mets are also trying to get Eddie Kunz back on track after their potential future closer struggled at the end of the season in 10 late appearances at Triple-A and the big league level. Kunz was throwing 91-93 mph in his first two outings, but that's down from the 95 mph we saw last season, and at times he has had to back off all the way down to 89 to throw a strike. He still has the good sink and fade on his heater, but he has been lacking both command and control with his fastball. His slider is still a good pitch at 82-86 mph with tight, late bite. He's still opening his front side too early at times, and his ability to get left-handed hitters out is in question, so he's still very much a work in progress.[/quote:273wj8ej]
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HahnSolo
Oct 14 2008 08:09 AM
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How old is Kunz again?
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AG/DC
Oct 14 2008 08:14 AM
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Kunz is 22, born <a href="http://www.ultimatemets.com/gamedetail.php?gameno=3848" target="_blank">April 8, 1986</a>, the date the Mets opened their winningest season.
Jonathan Niese, for a nice bookend, was born <a href="http://www.ultimatemets.com/gamedetail.php?gameno=4022" target="_blank">October 27, 1986</a>, the day that season ended in triumph.
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AG/DC
Oct 14 2008 08:36 AM
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The Sag attack is continuing, by the way. Peoria went into the eighth inning of yesterday's game down 5-2 to the Surprise Rafters despite two singles and a double from Murphy.
He leads off the eighth against Royals prospect Rowdy Hardy --- the 2007 Carolina League Pitcher of the Year and a lefty to boot --- and does exactly what he needed to do, hammering out a walk. The Saguaros follow his lead and rally for nine runs, including an RBI single by Murphy eight batters later, facing Hardy again.
Peroria surprised Surprise with an [url=http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=l119&t=g_box&gid=2008_10_13_surwin_peswin_1:300lpdc2]11-6 win[/url:300lpdc2]. They are now 6-0 and and Murphy finished the game with a .571 batting average, tops in the league. Not bad for a guy who's there to work on his fielding.
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Frayed Knot
Oct 15 2008 09:42 AM
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[url=http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=14419]Josh Thole[/url] - catcher and 1st base
Also featured in Adam Rubin's blog:
Josh Thole became a Florida State League All-Star in 2008, hitting .300 in 111 games with St. Lucie to burst onto the scene as perhaps the Mets’ top catching prospect, rivaling Francisco Pena and Dock Doyle. Thole, a 13th-round pick out of high school in Breese, Ill.
Q: You had moved up every year in the minors since joining the Mets, but this had to be considered a breakout year.
A: “No question about it. It was a great opportunity. Actually, the opportunity arose at the end of April. I just kind worked myself in there and became an everyday guy. Everything just kind of fell my way. We were struggling a little bit as a team and trying to shake things around. I kind of went from there.”
Q: You had been primarily a first baseman with the Mets before ‘08, no?
A: “This last year was the first tine that I did a lot of catching. I think I caught about 70 games. That’s the most I’ve ever caught. I was drafted as a catcher. Then when I got to the Mets I caught a little bit - in the Gulf Coast, Kingsport and then Savannah just a handful of games. I mainly played first base. Getting back into the catching, it’s a lot different here than what I had to go through in high school. It’s kind of like starting from scratch. I kind of redid everything, from the stance to throwing to second base to blocking. Everything has just been a whole big change for me. Bobby Nadal, our catching coordinator, really has been putting in a lot of time with me.”
Q: The Marlins scout called you right before the 12th round in ‘05 and you agreed on the contractual terms. You had an understanding they would draft you that round, but then it didn’t happen and the Mets took you before they picked again?
A: “We thought we had a deal done. Then it slipped right through. I didn’t know what was going to happen from there. The (Marlins) scout that called me just said it was out of his control.”
Q: You grew up taking batting practice in a barn belong to a friend, Jason Rakers?
A: “Through high school, that’s what I did. I’m from southern Illinois, so it’s all country. His dad had a little loft where he put a batting cage up. My dad went up there five, six times a week with me and did our work. It was a hayloft. The barn was on the bottom and the hayloft was on the second level.”
Q: Breese is close to St. Louis, but rural?
A: “About 40 minutes across the river. All farmland. We actually lived in the city. We weren’t all farmers. It’s rural, but they have some nice subdivisions.”
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AG/DC
Oct 15 2008 09:46 AM
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Thole Man!
<img src="http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/thole.JPG">
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AG/DC
Oct 15 2008 09:52 AM
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Meanwhile, Dan Murphy went 1-3 yesterday, starting one DP and turning another. No other Mets played as Peoria took their first loss of the season, falling 8-6 to the Surprise Rafters. It seems like the first game in which they've scored less than nine runs.
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AG/DC
Oct 15 2008 06:53 PM
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More AFL reportage from Adam Rubin:
<blockquote>Eddie Kunz was among the players who chatted with Surfing the Mets during an Arizona Fall League stop. Here’s what the reliever had to say:
How did you view the major-league experience? It was positive to get exposed, even if you would have liked more success?
“More success would have been nice. But just to get up there and get the experience, it’s not so much of a shock for me anymore. Hopefully I’ll be up there with the team again next year and it will be a little bit different. I’ll feel a little bit different, and the feeling will be a lot better for me because I’ve already been there and done it.”
<img src="http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/docs/images/Minorsphoto.jpg" align="right">Were you a little nervous?
“A little bit. The first day. Not from the pitching aspect. The nervousness of being there and seeing everything, and all the fans and all that kind of stuff. It’s a big shock for somebody going from the minor leagues and all of a sudden there are 60,000 fans. You have people yelling down your throats.”
That throwing error in Houston in the debut was entirely because it was your debut? It wouldn’t have happened in a similar instance in Binghamton?
“Exactly.”
Are there things you learned about major-league hitters that now you’ve gone back to the drawing board to work on?
“I definitely learned a lot from major-league hitters. They’re a lot more patient and they wait for their pitch no matter what it is. Here (in the AFL) it’s kind of the same way. A lot of these guys have either been to the big leagues for a little while. They’re doing the same thing. They’re patient. It’s making me have to put the pitches where I want to. That’s where it’s been helping me out a lot here.”
Spring training, just compete for a spot in the bullpen?
“Pretty much. I’m going to work out real hard and get there and see what happens and try to make it on the squad.”
You played in the Pac-10 with Oregon State, so Arizona is not new terrain for you.
“I know this area very, very well. The three years I was in college, we played at Surprise, Peoria, we were down at Arizona State. We played at all the different parks around here. This is nothing new to me. Plus, I was here last year (in the AFL). I was in Scottsdale last year.”
Finally, not getting called up in September. What can you say? Disappointment?
“A little bit. Yeah. But I can see their (point). They didn’t want a lot of people up there while they tried to win the pennant. They didn’t want to crowd up everything. Of course, I’m going to be a little angry and mad because I had a lot of people in my ear, ‘Oh, no worries. You’re going to go up.’ And nothing happened. Like every day in baseball, things change. One second it can be one thing, another second it can be a different thing. Of course I’m a little angry about it, but whatever happens happens.”</blockquote>That's a whole lot of nothing. Sorry.
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AG/DC
Oct 17 2008 08:56 PM
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Bowman has leveled off some, but he and Murphy remain a two-headed smashing monster for the Sags. Murphy is second in the circuit in runs and third in on-base percentage, continuing his argument to remain that the top of the Mets order next season.
Sadly, he has made his first miscue. Not so, Jason Vargas, who went another 2 2/3 scoreless.
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="1" bordercolor="0"><tr bgcolor="tan"><td><b>Player</td><td align="center"><b>Pos</td><td><b>2008 Club</td><td align="center"><b>G</td><td align="center"><b>AB</td><td align="center"><b>R</td><td align="center"><b>H</td><td align="center"><b>2B</td><td align="center"><b>3B</td><td align="center"><b>HR</td><td align="center"><b>RBI</td><td align="center"><b>TB</td><td align="center"><b>BB</td><td align="center"><b>SO</td><td align="center"><b>SB</td><td align="center"><b>CS</td><td align="center"><b>0BP</td><td align="center"><b>SLG</td><td align="center"><b>BA</td><td align="center"><b>OPS</td><td align="center"><b>E</td></tr><tr><td>Shawn Bowman</td><td align="center">3B</td><td>StL, Bin</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">25</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">10</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">18</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">.44</td><td align="center">.720</td><td align="center">.400</td><td align="center">1.164</td><td align="center">0</td></tr><tr><td>Daniel Murphy</td><td align="center">IF</td><td>Bin, NO, NYM</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">25</td><td align="center">10</td><td align="center">11</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">16</td><td align="center">8</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">.559</td><td align="center">.640</td><td align="center">.440</td><td align="center">1.199</td><td align="center">0</td></tr><tr><td>Josh Thole</td><td align="center">C</td><td>StL, Bin</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">12</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">.353</td><td align="center">.250</td><td align="center">.250</td><td align="center">.603</td><td align="center">0</td></tr></table>
On the rubber, not all is well. Eddie Kunz has pitched in two games since we last saw him. In one, he pitched the ninth for his first save. In the other, he pitched a lousy third of an inning, giving up a walk, seven hits, and eight runs. Soembody needs to make some adjustments, my friend.
Tobi Stoner ads an inning to his celebrity, but Bobby Parnell too has turned back into a pumpkin.
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="1" bordercolor="0"><tr bgcolor="tan"><td><b>Player</td><td><b><b>2008 Club</td><td align="center"><b>W</td><td align="center"><b><b>L</td><td align="center"><b>ERA</td><td align="center"><b>G</td><td align="center"><b>GS</td><td align="center"><b>CG</td><td align="center"><b>SHO</td><td align="center"><b>SV</td><td align="center"><b>IP</td><td align="center"><b>H</td><td align="center"><b>R</td><td align="center"><b>ER</td><td align="center"><b>HR</td><td align="center"><b>HB</td><td align="center"><b>BB</td><td align="center"><b>SO</td><td align="center"><b>WHIP</td><td align="center"><b>HLD</td><td align="center"><b>GF</td></tr><tr><td><b>Eddie Kunz</td><td>BIN, NO, NYM</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">16.62</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">4.3</td><td align="center">10</td><td align="center">8</td><td align="center">8</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">3.00</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">4</td></tr><tr><td><b>Tobi Stoner</td><td>StL, Bin</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">1.59</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">5.7</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">1.24</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td></tr><tr><td><b>Jason Vargas</td><td>DL</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0.00</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">7.7</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">1.25</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td></tr><tr><td><b>Bobby Parnell</td><td>BIN, NO, NYM</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">7.71</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2.3</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">2.57</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td></tr></table>
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Edgy DC
Oct 28 2008 10:40 PM
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Bowman is falling back toward the pack, but Thole is asserting himself.
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="1" bordercolor="black"><tr bgcolor="gray"><td><b><font color="blue">Player </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">POS </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">G </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">AB </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">R </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">H </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">2B </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">3B </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">HR </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">RBI </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">TB </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">BB </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">SO </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">SB </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">CS </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">OBP </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">SLG </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">AVG </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">OPS </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">E </td></tr><tr><td><b>Daniel Murphy</td><td>2B</td><td>10</td><td>40</td><td>12</td><td>16</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>11</td><td>23</td><td>8</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>.480</td><td>.575</td><td>.400</td><td>1.055</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td><b>Josh Thole</td><td>C</td><td>9</td><td>31</td><td>8</td><td>11</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>12</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>.450</td><td>.387</td><td>.355</td><td>.837</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td><b>Shawn Bowman</td><td>3B</td><td>9</td><td>37</td><td>6</td><td>11</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>7</td><td>20</td><td>2</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>.333</td><td>.541</td><td>.297</td><td>.874</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td><b>Totals</td><td>-</td><td>-</td><td>108</td><td>26</td><td>38</td><td>8</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>22</td><td>55</td><td>16</td><td>10</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>.435</td><td>.509</td><td>.352</td><td>.945</td><td>1</td></tr></table>
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smg58
Oct 29 2008 05:12 AM
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Thole walked more than he struck out at St. Lucie this year. The power's not there yet -- much less of an issue if he's a catcher and not a first baseman -- but the high OBP looks legit. He's likely two years away, though.
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Edgy DC
Oct 29 2008 05:57 AM
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(wishful)I think a solid AFL season can rip a half year off a guy's schedule, though.(/wishful)
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soupcan
Oct 29 2008 06:06 AM
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I read somewhere (maybe yesterday in the Post?) that Murphy's play at second was not half bad. I think the quote from some unmamed scout was that he was better than expected but needed work on his dp pivot. The scout felt though, that that was no big deal and would come in time.
Same article said that Murph was penciled in as the everyday leftfielder next year. For whatever that's worth.
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Edgy DC
Oct 29 2008 07:21 AM
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I assign you to find this quote.
I have to say I don't like having that portrait as the centerpiece to the John Franco avatar, as every time I read a post with that avatar, I think it's from Gary Cohen Jr.
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soupcan
Oct 29 2008 08:08 AM
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Mission accomplished.
]
OMAR'S PLATE PHILLED
By JOEL SHERMAN
October 28, 2008 --
PHILADELPHIA - Omar Minaya has watched the World Series and recognized the competition in the NL East has been growing tougher by the victory.
With last night's Game 5 suspended after 5 ½ innings, the Phillies remained one win away from clinching a title. That would be one more bullet in the psychological arsenal the Phillies enjoy over the Mets. They already have the past two Septembers, when they rallied by the reeling Mets.
"Every time a team goes deep into the playoffs and wins a World Series, that built-in experience gives a team a different level of confidence; it definitely makes a team better," Minaya said. "I think it is especially true if you keep your nucleus together, and that [Philadelphia's] nucleus will be together."
The only two significant Phillies who can be free agents are left fielder Pat Burrell, 32, and pitcher Jamie Moyer, 45. It could be argued the Phillies' 11 best players are all in the prime years between 24 and 31, and are all under control through at least 2009: Joe Blanton, Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard, Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, Brett Myers, Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Ruiz, Chase Utley, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth.
"Their core players are still going to be there, and we know they are definitely going to be good going forward," Minaya said. "It would be a lie to say that I don't watch what these other teams do, the acquisitions they make. But we have to concentrate solely on our team."
Minaya's plan is to emphasize pitching additions, ideally an innings-eating starter and a few late-inning relievers, including an established closer. The Post reported last week that free agents Derek Lowe and Brian Fuentes top the Mets' wish list.
The Mets will monitor what is transpiring with Manny Ramirez. However, they have no intention of spending $20 million-plus annually on a corner outfielder. They would only seriously consider Ramirez if all pitching avenues were blocked, and the Mets felt they had to bulk up their offense instead.
For now, the plan is to have Daniel Murphy as the primary left fielder. He is playing second in the Arizona Fall League, and a scout who has watched him said, "He looks much more comfortable there than I expected. He makes the routine plays and his hands are fine. His double-play turn needs help, but he will get better with repetitions because he works hard."
The Mets, though, are intending to send Murphy to the Puerto Rican Winter League to prepare him for left field. For now they want to add a supplemental righty swinger to serve as a caddy to Murphy and Ryan Church (think Gabe Kapler, Jason Michaels, Marcus Thames).
Perhaps the Mets should consider using Murphy as a full-time jack-of-all-trades similar to how Tony Phillips was deployed during his best seasons. Murphy could sprinkle starts at first, second and left to get in the lineup daily while allowing the Mets to determine his best regular position for 2010.
The Mets also must determine exactly what they have in Church. Minaya and several other Met officials denied the persistent buzz that Church does not like New York and wants out. But do the Mets love Church? He was outstanding early last season before a second concussion.
Some Met officials now are unsure if Church struggled late because of lingering problems from the concussions or because he gave in to the pressure and became pull happy.
"I think he is part of a championship puzzle," Minaya said. "I would just like to see him play a whole year so we can see."
joel.sherman@nypost.com |
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Benjamin Grimm
Oct 29 2008 08:16 AM
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I know we haven't seen that much of him yet, but right now my sense is that Murphy will get on base at a rate that would be terrific for a second baseman, but I don't know if he'll put up the slugging numbers that you'd want from a corner outfielder.
If so, he'd be much more valuable as a second baseman, so I hope that the experiment works out, if not in time for 2009 then in the years to follow.
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duan
Oct 29 2008 09:00 AM
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i do fear that the mets have got really innately conservative about positional stuff. I think a part of this is due to the media glare that you get in NYC, if ever an experiment is happening there's back page headlines awaiting when things go wrong and so on.
at least in part they feel that they need to protect players from it, because it can start to impinge a player rather then not. So if they had a season at AAA for him, they'd be happy to keep the Murphy @ 2nd experiment going, but they're not going run the risk of him being exposed to booing, tabloid headlines and WFAN morons.
Y'know back a few years ago they flipped Fonzie to 3rd to 2nd then to 3rd. Didn't do him much harm at that point.
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Benjamin Grimm
Oct 29 2008 09:04 AM
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True. Their last two high-visibility position changes didn't work out, so maybe they've become gun-shy. Although both of them are now several years in the past. (Reyes to second to make room for Matsui, and Piazza to first.)
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Frayed Knot
Oct 29 2008 10:38 AM
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Not that shying away from something for fear of adverse publicity is a good idea, but the team might feel that if Murphy is used as a super-sub and doesn't hit .400 like he did in his brief stint this season that the position switching will get blamed for the downturn in offense on account of it "screwed with his head" much like not allowing Heilman to start is blamed for his lousy year*.
* Of course that doesn't explain his several good years out of the pen but who says this stuff if supposed to be logical.
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Benjamin Grimm
Oct 29 2008 11:29 AM
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I'd be happy to see him get about 100 to 120 starts in left field in 2009 and to have them revisit the second base idea for 2010.
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Edgy DC
Oct 29 2008 12:41 PM
Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 29 2008 01:04 PM
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My bed looked too enticing last night, and I went to slumber without posting the pitching numbers, but our hurlers have been holding up their end of the bargain. At least the hurlers whose names don't rhyme with Eddie Kunz.
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="1" bordercolor="black"><tr bgcolor="gray"><td><b><font color="blue">Player </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">W </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">L </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">ERA </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">G </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">GS </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">CG </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">SHO </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">SV </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">IP </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">H </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">R </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">ER </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">HR </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">HB </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">BB </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">SO </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">WHIP </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">HLD </td><td align="center"><b><font color="blue">GF </td></tr><tr><td><b>Jason Vargas</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0.00</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">12.67</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">0.47</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">0</td></tr><tr><td><b>Tobi Stoner</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0.84</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">10.67</td><td align="center">8</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">1.03</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">1</td></tr><tr><td><b>Bobby Parnell</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2.84</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">6.33</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">9</td><td align="center">1.11</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td></tr><tr><td><b>Eddie Kunz</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">9.72</td><td align="center">8</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">8.33</td><td align="center">13</td><td align="center">9</td><td align="center">9</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">2.40</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">6</td></tr><tr><td><b>Totals</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">2.84</td><td align="center">21</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">38.00</td><td align="center">29</td><td align="center">12</td><td align="center">12</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">15</td><td align="center">29</td><td align="center">1.16</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">7</td></tr></table>
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Benjamin Grimm
Oct 29 2008 12:49 PM
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What's the deal on Parnell? Are they considering him as a reliever in the big leagues, or a starter?
I got the feeling late in the 2008 season that they were thinking bullpen for him, but that might have just been short-term.
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duan
Oct 29 2008 12:57 PM
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="Benjamin Grimm":1but6tbs]I'd be happy to see him get about 100 to 120 starts in left field in 2009 and to have them revisit the second base idea for 2010.[/quote:1but6tbs]
if he makes 100-120 starts in LF next year he'll never play anywhere else.
| ="Benjamin Grimm":1but6tbs]True. Their last two high-visibility position changes didn't work out, so maybe they've become gun-shy. Although both of them are now several years in the past. (Reyes to second to make room for Matsui, and Piazza to first.)[/quote:1but6tbs]
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John Cougar Lunchbucket
Oct 29 2008 01:05 PM
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I think the "experts" see Parnell ultimately as a late-inning guy.
I suppose this means they think his stuff is good but not good enough to get thru a lineup twice or thrice a night? Or maybe his full complement isn't there but his fastball/sinker are OK? There some kind of backhanded complement to it.
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smg58
Oct 29 2008 01:07 PM
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I think the worst-case scenario right now with Murphy is that he can play 2B well enough to fill in there as a reserve, which would enable the Mets to carry an extra outfield bat (i.e., a better hitter than a typical reserve infielder) on their bench. That's encouraging.
The Mets have Santana tied up for a while, Maine under control for three more years, Pelfrey for at least four more years, Niese coming up in 09 or 10 and likely hanging around for a while, and presumably a free agent signing for multiple years. In that context, I would be neither surprised nor disappointed if they commit Parnell to the pen.
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Edgy DC
Oct 29 2008 01:13 PM
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There's the possiblity that Murphy at second is trade bait also --- making his tenure there a chance for someone else to take.
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Benjamin Grimm
Oct 29 2008 01:31 PM
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Oh, I hope not.
I'm rooting for Murphy to be the Wigginton/Keppinger type guy that they actually keep.
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Edgy DC
Oct 29 2008 01:54 PM
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No doubt. I'm just exploring their possible thinking. I think they should write him in at second, get a righthanded veteran backup ready and tell any grousing fans to suck it.
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metirish
Oct 29 2008 01:58 PM
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Sherman from the Post had the Mets talking to the Royals about their" headache contract " Jose Guillen and the Royals taking Castillo in return.
That was last week IIRC , Metsblog then had this from the Royals version of Marty Noble.
“The whole scenario doesn’t sound right because a) Castillo went on the disabled list last July 3, and who wants a player with a strained hip flexor? and b) Guillen has a no-trade clause in his contract that includes the Mets.
Guillen will earn $24 million for the next two seasons, while Castillo is due to make $18 million for the next three.
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Benjamin Grimm
Oct 29 2008 02:01 PM
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Would you consider Castillo as the veteran backup? Historically he's hit well against lefties, although not in 2008.
There's also Easley and Ramon Martinez.
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MFS62
Oct 29 2008 02:06 PM
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="Benjamin Grimm":3shu83wl]Would you consider Castillo as the veteran backup?
[/quote:3shu83wl]
I don't care what he is called in 2009, as long it isn't a Met.
Later
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Edgy DC
Oct 29 2008 02:09 PM
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="Benjamin Grimm":3pfmu0mf]Would you consider Castillo as the veteran backup? Historically he's hit well against lefties, although not in 2008.
There's also Easley and Ramon Martinez.[/quote:3pfmu0mf]
They're mostly fine for what they are, but I'd like to see some creativity. Castillo isn't really versatile, so he'd force Murphy to be.
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Vince Coleman Firecracker
Oct 30 2008 06:47 AM
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| ="metirish"]Sherman from the Post had the Mets talking to the Royals about their" headache contract " Jose Guillen and the Royals taking Castillo in return. |
Let's see, a second baseman with a .360 OBP for a corner outfielder with a .300 OBP.
Sounds like a great fucking trade to me! Maybe we can throw in some prospects, too!
What do you think, Jerry Manuel?
| ]"You don't see a lot of guys that have statistical numbers play well in these championship series" |
Absolutely! Let's get the worst "statistical numbers" players we can find! Our batters will make outs all the way to a championship!
/getting worried about this offseason
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Edgy DC
Oct 30 2008 07:23 AM
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I don't think that's particularly fair.
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Edgy DC
Oct 30 2008 07:32 AM
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1) Castillo's career OBP may be .367 but his OBP last season was .355.
2) Guillen's OBP last season was .300 but his career OBP is .327.
3) All that is apart from the tremendous differences in their slugging.
4) Castillo's OPS + last season was 77 and Guillen's 96.
5) The Mets could use a righthanded power hitter to give them some lineup balance.
6) Guillen's been healthy the lasst two years, and Castillo hasn't.
That said, Guillen gives me pause. He's been a jerk and roid user.
The Manuel quote is out of context. He received an unfair beatdown for it at FireJoeMorgan.com, of the kind usually reserved for Ozzie Guillen.
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metirish
Oct 30 2008 02:24 PM
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From Ken Davidoff ,
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Quick thoughts on Yankees and Mets prospects, from a scout who recently spent time in the Arizona Fall League:
For the Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes: "He scuffled when I saw him."
First baseman Juan Miranda: "He's got a little power. He's no Gold Glove, though, despite what the Yankees say about him."
Second baseman Kevin Russo: "He played hard and saw the ball well."
Centerfielder Austin Jackson: "He threw well. He's a pretty good athlete."
Mets reliever Eddie Kunz: "He's got some ceiling."
Daniel Murphy: "Not too pretty at second base." |
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Benjamin Grimm
Oct 30 2008 02:30 PM
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In the last few years, "scuffled" has become a euphemism for "struggled."
It doesn't sound as bad, but it means the same thing.
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Edgy DC
Oct 30 2008 02:49 PM
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Sign me up and I promise you I'll play hard and see the ball well.
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Nymr83
Oct 30 2008 03:33 PM
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I'd make the trade:
1. Guillen is a better overall hitter than Castillo
2. Guillen is healthier than Castillo
3. They both have bad contracts, but Guillen's is shorter in duration
4, Guillen plays a position at which the Mets are thinner right now
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Edgy DC
Nov 11 2008 02:57 PM
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Our men are still hitting, though there's been some errors.
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="1" bordercolor="black"><tr bgcolor="gray"><td><b>Player</td><td align="center"><b>POS</td><td align="center"><b>G</td><td align="center"><b>AB</td><td align="center"><b>R</td><td align="center"><b>H</td><td align="center"><b>2B</td><td align="center"><b>3B</td><td align="center"><b>HR</td><td align="center"><b>RBI</td><td align="center"><b>TB</td><td align="center"><b>BB</td><td align="center"><b>SO</td><td align="center"><b>SB</td><td align="center"><b>CS</td><td align="center"><b>OBP</td><td align="center"><b>SLG</td><td align="center"><b>AVG</td><td align="center"><b>OPS</td><td align="center"><b>E</td></tr><tr><td><b>Daniel Murphy</td><td align="center">2B</td><td align="center">15</td><td align="center">63</td><td align="center">22</td><td align="center">25</td><td align="center">8</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">18</td><td align="center">39</td><td align="center">13</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">.487</td><td align="center">.619</td><td align="center">.397</td><td align="center">1.106</td><td align="center">4</td></tr><td><b>Josh Thole</td><td align="center">C</td><td align="center">14</td><td align="center">51</td><td align="center">14</td><td align="center">19</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">14</td><td align="center">26</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">.429</td><td align="center">.510</td><td align="center">.373</td><td align="center">.938</td><td align="center">1</td></tr><td><b>Shawn Bowman</td><td align="center">3B</td><td align="center">9</td><td align="center">37</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">11</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">20</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">.333</td><td align="center">.541</td><td align="center">.297</td><td align="center">.874</td><td align="center">0</td></tr></table>
Gotta love them walk rates.
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Edgy DC
Nov 13 2008 08:05 AM
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I think we may need to formulate a rescue plan for Edddie Kunz.
The other pitchers are all holding their own in what appears to be a hitters' league.
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="1" bordercolor="black"><tr bgcolor="gray"><td><b>Player </td><td align="center"></b>W </td><td align="center"></b>L </td><td align="center"></b>ERA </td><td align="center"></b>G </td><td align="center"></b>GS </td><td align="center"></b>CG </td><td align="center"></b>SHO </td><td align="center"></b>SV </td><td align="center"></b>IP </td><td align="center"></b>H </td><td align="center"></b>R </td><td align="center"></b>ER </td><td align="center"></b>HR </td><td align="center"></b>HB </td><td align="center"></b>BB </td><td align="center"></b>SO </td><td align="center"></b>WHIP </td><td align="center"></b>HLD </td><td align="center"></b>GF </td></tr><tr><td><b>Jason Vargas</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2.61</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">20.2</td><td align="center">15</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">11</td><td align="center">0.92</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">0</td></tr><tr><td><b>Bobby Parnell</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">2.81</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">16.0</td><td align="center">14</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">8</td><td align="center">17</td><td align="center">1.38</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td></tr><tr><td><b>Tobi Stoner</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2.81</td><td align="center">9</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">16.0</td><td align="center">13</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">12</td><td align="center">1.19</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">1</td></tr><tr><td><b>Eddie Kunz</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">10.95</td><td align="center">12</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">12.1</td><td align="center">21</td><td align="center">15</td><td align="center">15</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">9</td><td align="center">11</td><td align="center">2.43</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">8</td></tr></table>
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Benjamin Grimm
Nov 13 2008 08:11 AM
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Prediction: The Mets don't open the 2009 season with Eddie Kunz as their closer.
(I'm really going out on a limb on that one.)
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Edgy DC
Nov 13 2008 08:15 AM
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I think congress needs to bail his ass out.
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smg58
Nov 13 2008 08:27 AM
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Nobody pitches more than a few innings per game in Arizona, I've noticed.
Vargas appears to be thriving in a mostly relief role. But is it enough to justify tendering him a major-league contract?
Stoner appears to be handling an inning or two of relief work as well. That might get him to the bigs sooner.
I don't like the walks for Parnell. He'll need to get his control in order if he wants to contribute in Flushing next year.
Can we all agree that Eddie Kunz is not next year's closer?
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John Cougar Lunchbucket
Nov 13 2008 08:36 AM
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="smg58"]
Vargas appears to be thriving in a mostly relief role. But is it enough to justify tendering him a major-league contract?
Yes.
| ]Stoner appears to be handling an inning or two of relief work as well. That might get him to the bigs sooner.
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Good. I looked up "Tobi Stoner" on Facebook and 3 chicks appeared.
| ]I don't like the walks for Parnell. He'll need to get his control in order if he wants to contribute in Flushing next year. |
Not a good rate, 1 every 2 innings. But he's not gonna get more than 2 inning stints if he winds up in the pen! Problem solved! OK, not really, but I like the lack of HRs.
| ]Can we all agree that Eddie Kunz is not next year's closer? |
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His 600-some Facebook friends will be disappointed.
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Farmer Ted
Nov 13 2008 09:03 AM
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Daniel Murphy, professional hitter. 2009 ROY. Me. Limb. On it.
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Edgy DC
Nov 13 2008 09:12 AM
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It looks like he invalidated himself by two at-bats this year.
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duan
Nov 13 2008 09:35 AM
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="Edgy DC":1aelqa4m]It looks like he invalidated himself by two at-bats this year.[/quote:1aelqa4m]
well considering they didn't notice the edinson volquez had pitched y'know 80 innings in two seasons before last I wouldn't think they'll hold that against Murphy.
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metirish
Nov 20 2008 09:01 AM
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The Mets' Daniel Murphy was batting .397 (25-for-63) with eight doubles, two home runs and 18 RBIs in 15 games in the Arizona Fall League. (Newsday / David L. Pokress)
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The Mets' second-base experiment with Daniel Murphy temporarily has been shelved now that he is scheduled to have an MRI on his right knee today at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.
Murphy, 23, left the Arizona Fall League after complaining of "discomfort" in the knee during batting practice before a game on Nov. 11. The Mets have refused to categorize the injury as either a sprain or strain until the results of the MRI and it is uncertain whether he will return to finish the AFL season.
Murphy was batting .397 (25-for-63) with eight doubles, two home runs and 18 RBIs in 15 games for the Peoria Saguaros. General manager Omar Minaya insists that Murphy was not being groomed as a potential second baseman for next season despite his duties with Peoria. But with the Mets in the market for an everyday leftfielder -- perhaps free agent Raul Ibañez -- the more positions Murphy can play, the better chance he has of contributing at the major-league level.
It is highly unlikely that the Mets would try to get by with another platoon of Murphy and Fernando Tatis in leftfield, despite its success last season. Murphy, a surprise call-up in early August, batted .313 (41-for-131) with nine doubles, two home runs and 17 RBIs in 49 games for the Mets. He also hit .375 (12-for-32) with runners in scoring position and batted .462 as a pinch hitter with one homer, five RBIs and six walks. |
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soupcan
Nov 20 2008 10:14 AM
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New York Post is a bit more dramatic...
| ]MURPHY'S KNEE WORRIES METS
By BART HUBBUCH
November 20, 2008 --
This doesn't sound good.
Mets left fielder and rising star Daniel Murphy was flown back to New York from the Arizona Fall League last night for an MRI exam this morning on his ailing right knee.
Murphy felt discomfort in the knee during pregame batting practice Nov. 11 and hasn't played in the AFL since.
Murphy, by far the biggest (and most pleasant) surprise for the Mets this past season, already has missed time in Arizona this fall due to a lacerated forearm suffered during the league's "Rising Stars" game last month.
Murphy, who is slated to platoon in left with Fernando Tatis next season, has been tearing up the AFL when healthy. Murphy is hitting .397 with two homers and 18 RBIs in 15 games.
The Mets, meanwhile, remain in a holding pattern in their pursuit of a new closer because they are awaiting the medical records of Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes.
The Mets also might have to find a new No. 1 target for their rotation after 35-year-old righty Derek Lowe reportedly opened the free-agent bidding yesterday asking for a whopping $16 million per season.
bhubbuch@nypost.com |
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Frayed Knot
Nov 20 2008 10:46 AM
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Meanwhile, the Daily News was calling it a hamstring problem
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themetfairy
Nov 20 2008 10:57 AM
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="Frayed Knot":2tmg2xab]Meanwhile, the Daily News was calling it a hamstring problem[/quote:2tmg2xab]
Well, they are connected....
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metirish
Nov 20 2008 08:01 PM
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| ="Frayed Knot"]Meanwhile, the Daily News was calling it a hamstring problem |
Update from Lennon
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Update on Murphy
It appears that what the Mets intially believed was a knee issue for Murphy is actually a hamstring strain. Good thing they got him to an MRI machine.
Here's the full update from the team below:
The Mets Daniel Murphy underwent an MRI this morning at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery and the test revealed that he has a Grade 2 Strain of the right hamstring. Murphy felt discomfort in the leg in pre-game batting practice of his November 11th Arizona Fall League game.
He will skip winter league ball in Puerto Rico so that he can be ready for the opening of Spring Training this February in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
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smg58
Nov 21 2008 06:30 AM
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Murph doesn't need to prove anything in winter ball at this point anyway. If you're going to have an injury that sidelines you for a month, November is a good time to have it.
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soupcan
Nov 21 2008 07:22 AM
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Paging Mackey Shilstone...
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Edgy DC
Nov 25 2008 08:26 AM
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I never posted the final numbers. Eddie Kunz never did right his ship --- at all --- but there were a lot of positives to walk away with, even as Bowman and Thole regressed toward the mean. If Thole ever gets some sextra base power, he'll be a prospect.
You couldn't have reasonably asked for more out of Bobby Parnell. In fact, considering his college profile and his draft slot, you've already gotten more out of Bobby Parnell than you ever deserved. Congratulations to the Mets on that inspired pick.
League leaders: Moirphy was thoid in the league in OBP, fifth in average, twelfth in slugging, good for the tenth-best OPS before he checked out.
Parnell was third in wins, sixth in ERA, ninth in WHIP. Vargas was fourth in ERA, fourth in WHIP. He also led the league in holds with five. Stoner was tenth in WHIP.
Kunz was tied for first in games, and fifth in games finished, and probably tied for first in games fucked up. But he was also tied for fourth in saves with two.
Let's just hope Dropkick is healthy in spring.
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="1" bordercolor="black"><tr bgcolor="gray"><td><b>Player </td><td align="center"></b>POS </td><td align="center"></b>G </td><td align="center"></b>AB </td><td align="center"></b>R </td><td align="center"></b>H </td><td align="center"></b>2B </td><td align="center"></b>3B </td><td align="center"></b>HR </td><td align="center"></b>RBI </td><td align="center"></b>TB </td><td align="center"></b>BB </td><td align="center"></b>SO </td><td align="center"></b>SB </td><td align="center"></b>CS </td><td align="center"></b>OBP </td><td align="center"></b>SLG </td><td align="center"></b>AVG </td><td align="center"></b>OPS </td><td align="center"></b>E </td></tr><tr><td><b>Daniel Murphy</td><td align="center">2B</td><td align="center">15</td><td align="center">63</td><td align="center">22</td><td align="center">25</td><td align="center">8</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">18</td><td align="center">39</td><td align="center">13</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">.487</td><td align="center">.619</td><td align="center">.397</td><td align="center">1.106</td><td align="center">4</td></tr><td><b>Josh Thole</td><td align="center">C</td><td align="center">19</td><td align="center">69</td><td align="center">15</td><td align="center">22</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">17</td><td align="center">29</td><td align="center">10</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">.400</td><td align="center">.420</td><td align="center">.319</td><td align="center">.820</td><td align="center">2</td></tr><td><b>Shawn Bowman</td><td align="center">3B</td><td align="center">9</td><td align="center">37</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">11</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">20</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">.333</td><td align="center">.541</td><td align="center">.297</td><td align="center">.874</td><td align="center">0</td></tr><td><b>Totals</td><td align="center">--</td><td align="center">43</td><td align="center">169</td><td align="center">43</td><td align="center">58</td><td align="center">12</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">42</td><td align="center">88</td><td align="center">25</td><td align="center">17</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">.428</td><td align="center">.521</td><td align="center">.343</td><td align="center">.949</td><td align="center">6</td></tr></table>
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="1" bordercolor="black"><tr bgcolor="gray"><td><b>Player </td><td align="center"></b>W </td><td align="center"></b>L </td><td align="center"></b>ERA </td><td align="center"></b>G </td><td align="center"></b>GS </td><td align="center"></b>CG </td><td align="center"></b>SHO </td><td align="center"></b>SV </td><td align="center"></b>IP </td><td align="center"></b>H </td><td align="center"></b>R </td><td align="center"></b>ER </td><td align="center"></b>HR </td><td align="center"></b>HB </td><td align="center"></b>BB </td><td align="center"></b>SO </td><td align="center"></b>WHIP </td><td align="center"></b>HLD </td><td align="center"></b>GF </td></tr><tr><td><b>Jason Vargas</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2.10</td><td align="center">9</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">25.7</td><td align="center">20</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">13</td><td align="center">0.97</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">0</td></tr><tr><td><b>Bobby Parnell</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">2.25</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">20.0</td><td align="center">15</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">9</td><td align="center">20</td><td align="center">1.20</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td></tr><tr><td><b>Tobi Stoner</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">3.66</td><td align="center">11</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">19.7</td><td align="center">17</td><td align="center">8</td><td align="center">8</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">7</td><td align="center">15</td><td align="center">1.22</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td></tr><tr><td><b>Eddie Kunz</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">10.93</td><td align="center">14</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">14.0</td><td align="center">24</td><td align="center">17</td><td align="center">17</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">10</td><td align="center">14</td><td align="center">2.43</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">9</td></tr><tr><td><b>Totals</td><td align="center">8</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">4.08</td><td align="center">41</td><td align="center">8</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">0</td><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">79.3</td><td align="center">76</td><td align="center">37</td><td align="center">36</td><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">31</td><td align="center">62</td><td align="center">1.35</td><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">11</td></tr></table>
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John Cougar Lunchbucket
Nov 25 2008 08:47 PM
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Nice article telling like it probably is here:
| ]Murphy and Co. get hacks in Arizona
Plenty of players see autumnal time out west
By Michael Salfino / SNY.tv
Assessing a team's Arizona Fall League roster gives a good sense of the pizazz of their prospects. Last year, scouts couldn't be blamed for looking past the roster the Mets fielded and toward those soothing desert landscapes. But this year's group has improved along with the Mets Minor League fortunes, highlighted by second baseman in training Daniel Murphy.
Here are some observations of Murphy and the rest of the best of the Mets 2008 AFL roster courtesy of a National League scout and our friends at Baseball America, editor John Manuel and AFL reporter Kary Booher.
We already knew Murphy can hit. He finished at .397/.487/.619 in an AFL campaign cut short by a hamstring injury that should fully heal by Spring Training. That line is a fair translation of his big league numbers considering the level of competition in the AFL is about Double A-plus.
I asked our experts what they thought about Keith Hernandez's anointing Murphy in September as the Mets future No. 3 hitter.
"That's getting a little carried away," our National League scout says. "Murphy has good bat speed, is short to the ball and judges the strike zone, which should allow him to hit for average. But I'm not convinced he is much more than a 15-20 homer hitter. I don't think his bat is solid enough to play left field."
Baseball America's Manuel agrees.
"To me he's more Ryan Church, a corner outfielder who will hit but perhaps not for power and average as a three-hole hitter should. I see him as .300 with 15 homers one year, .270 with 20-25 homers the next."
That's sweet for a second baseman, assuming the reviews of his AFL trial are good enough.
"He is below average at second base with fringe-average range and stiff hands," says our NL scout. "Third base is his best position."
Baseball America's Booher adds, "He showed some signs that he might be able to pull it off, but even his fall league manager said he was pretty raw over there. He just may not have enough range and agility."
Scouts generally like Murphy and gave off the impression they were pulling for him to succeed at second. But the skills were lacking.
Says Manuel, "The scouts and Minor League managers I've talked to A, believe he'll hit, B, love his grinder mentality and C, doubt his ability to play second effectively in the Majors."
On to the rest of the Mets' AFL notables, led by left-handed hitting catcher Josh Thole, who turned 22 last month. Thole finished at .319/.400/.420 after hitting .300/.382/.427 at High A St. Lucie.
Our NL scout thinks he has a relatively modest big-league future. "Thole is an extreme contact hitter whose bat plane isn't conducive to power. Defensively, he's average: solid receiving skills and average arm strength. I see him more as a platoon catcher given his left-handed bat."
Manuel thinks that defensive assessment is a minority opinion, but agrees with the offensive assessment.
"He's got a decent swing with a good approach but is just not a guy scouts think will drive the ball consistently for power. Defensively, he's a backup at best, fringe-average or below-average in most aspects."
Jason Vargas was a surprising addition to the AFL roster, given his big-league experience.
Says our scout, "In the outing I saw in the AFL, he was pretty solid in mixing his pitches and disrupting timing. I give him an excellent chance to resume his role as a backend starter."
Bobby Parnell, who we saw in September as the Mets bullpen imploded, looked good, as well. But he not viewed as having a future in the rotation. He finished the AFL season allowing no homers in 20 innings with 20 Ks and 9 walks (2.25 ERA).
"I like Parnell better as a reliever, where he could dominate with his fastball and slider; both of which have outstanding movement," says our scout. "He throws with a bit of effort and doesn't change speeds real well, so the move [to the pen] would probably boost his peripheral numbers."
Adds Manuel, "Parnell reached 97 mph with his fastball in the past; one of his problems as a starter is the inconsistency of his velocity, from start to start and even within games, I've had scouts say he'd be 88-92 early and up to 95-96 late."
Our scout clocked the 24-year-old righty's fastball this fall from 87 to 95 mph.
Tobi Stoner is another righty who will turn 24 next week who had similar peripherals to Parnell: 0 homers in 19-plus innings with 7 walks and 15 Ks (3.66 ERA).
"I would rate the fastball/cutter/curveball as average pitches, with the slider being slightly below," our scout says. "Stoner is athletic and has good arm action, but tends to rush through his delivery. He profiles as a long reliever for me."
Manuel thinks Stoner has "back-of-the-rotation stuff at best, but has a chance."
Eddie Kunz really struggled (three homers, 24 hits and 10 walks in 14-plus innings).
"I've never been that high on Kunz," says our scout, who has specialized in rating amateur draft talent. "His velocity is solid and has a solid ground ball/fly ball ratio. But doesn't pitch aggressively and can be predictable late in the count."
Manuel agrees, "He's always going to be a volatile guy in terms of his performance because he's not particularly athletic, loses his slot and gets hittable."
Manuel spent a lot of time focusing on the Hawaii Winter League, so I asked him about Scott Shaw, a 22-year-old righty with size (6-foot-5, 230) and solid numbers last summer and in Hawaii (32-plus innings, 12 hits, 9 walks, 35 Ks).
"Shaw pitches backward a lot -- 87-88 mph fastball, touching 90 with lots of changeups and curves. He had a huge year since signing, including throwing more than 100 innings pitched. I wouldn't read too much into the stats but he had a great debut and will more than likely be fast-tracked next year, probably to St. Lucie, maybe higher because he's shown a 160-inning workload is something he can now handle."
Michael Salfino is a nationally syndicated columnist and a regular contributor to SNY.tv. |
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Edgy DC
Nov 25 2008 08:56 PM
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From experience, I assume "pitching backwards" means getting ahead with breaking pitches and then widening the target to get the batter to chase the fastball, rather than the more typical pattern of starting with the heat, but the first time on reading, without explanation, that Shaw "pitches backwards a lot," it can conjure some funny images.
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Frayed Knot
Nov 25 2008 09:56 PM
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"But I'm not convinced he is much more than a 15-20 homer hitter. I don't think his
bat is solid enough to play left field."
This is the danger with going overboard with Murphy, that he's going to be a bit of a
"tweener" -- not enough glove for 2nd base yet only a mediocre bat if he's in a
corner spot.
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smg58
Nov 26 2008 04:45 AM
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If Murphy can post an OBP in the .400 area, he doesn't need to hit more than 15-20 homers to be a plus leftfielder.
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Frayed Knot
Nov 26 2008 06:27 AM
Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 26 2008 06:42 AM
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Sure, but that's a level maybe 10 guys reach in a given year (8 MLers at .400+ in '08)
Throwing him out there and expecting that is a pretty tall order - especially
off <150 ML ABs and a ~.350 minor league OBA
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Edgy DC
Nov 26 2008 06:28 AM
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Yeah, there's nothing mediocre about that.
Tony Gwynn has carved a nice slot in the Hall of Fame for outfielders with less power than that. Tim Raines should be joining him.
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Benjamin Grimm
Nov 26 2008 07:05 AM
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I suspect that Davey Johnson wouldn't hesitate to pencil Murphy in at second base. He always valued the bat over the glove, and was pretty successful with that approach.
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seawolf17
Nov 26 2008 07:15 AM
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="Benjamin Grimm":11j7l0q0]I suspect that Davey Johnson wouldn't hesitate to pencil Murphy in at second base. He always valued the bat over the glove, and was pretty successful with that approach.[/quote:11j7l0q0]
That would explain "Mitchell SS" appearing in the boxscore from time to time.
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Edgy DC
Dec 05 2008 09:48 AM
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Mets land two guys on the Arizona Fall League’s 2008 Top Prospects Team
Starting Pitchers
Tommy Hanson (Braves --- maybe should have been the league MVP at 5-0, 0.63, 49 Ks and 7 BBs in 28.2 IP)
Kevin Pucetas (Giants)
Bobby Parnell (Mets)
Relief Pitchers
Bud Norris (Astros)
Joh Bannister (Rangers)
Catchers
J.P Arencibia (Blue Jays)
Matt Wieters (Orioles
Firstbasemen
Logan Morrison (Marlins)
Rhyne Hughes (Rays)
Secondbasemen
Daniel Murphy (Mets)
Kevin Frandsen (Giants)
Thirdbasemen
Wes Hodges (Indians)
Brett Wallace (Cardinals)
Shortstops
Jason Donald (Phillies)
Gordon Beckham (White Sox)
Outfielders
Eric Young, Jr. (Rockies)
Sean Doolittle (Athletics)
Chris Pettit (Angels)
Austin Jackson (Yankees)
Casper Wells (Tigers)
Mike Baxter (Padres)
Note the lack of Latin American-sounding names. I guess they tend put their offseason work in the Carribbean leagues.
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