Tag: Daniel Murphy

Astros 4 – Mets 3 April 20, 2011

NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Jose Reyes #7 of the New ...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The Mets are finding new and interesting ways to lose games at this point with their seventh straight home loss. R.A. Dickey pitched a really good game until he gave up the go-ahead solo home run to Hunter Pence in the eighth inning. His final line is 8 IP and 4 runs. Jason Isringhausen pitched the ninth so at least K-Rod didn’t get another game finished toward his vesting option for 2012.

The Mets had some great offense going with 12 hits. Jose Reyes had 4 hits and Carlos Beltran and Daniel Murphy had 3 hits apiece. Murphy had a dramatic home run in the sixth to tie the game at 3-3. But the Mets couldn’t take the lead.

Angel Pagan got thrown out trying to score on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth and would have tied the game at 4-4. Reyes led off the ninth with a hit and Josh Thole popped up a bunt and Reyes was doubled off first base to, effectively, end the game. It was a new way to lose and I’m sure we’ll see many more ways to lose this season.

Box score

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Mets Cut Brad Emaus

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Brad Emaus ...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Apparently, as Mets fans we need to get used to the new front office making quick decisions. I’m surprised that the Mets pulled the plug on Brad Emaus so quickly. From all reports, the Mets were high on him coming out of spring training. High enough to make him their opening day second baseman and not playing in a platoon with Daniel Murphy.

Emaus looked overmatched at the plate and in the field in his short 14 game Mets career. You can see his offensive stats below:

Year G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
2011 14 42 37 2 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 9 .162 .262 .162 .424
1 Season 14 42 37 2 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 9 .162 .262 .162 .424
162 Game Avg. 162 486 428 23 69 0 0 0 12 0 0 46 104 .162 .262 .162 .424
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/19/2011.

With six singles in 42 plate appearances there just isn’t much to talk about. As a Rule 5 draft pick, the Mets need to put him through waivers and offer him back to the Blue Jays for $25,000 if he clears waivers, which he certainly will.

Justin Turner was called up and is starting at second base tonight. He’ll play a straight platoon with Murphy.

That Sandy Alderson has a quick trigger finger. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing yet. But we may not have to wait for the non-waiver trading deadline for the Mets to start making moves this year.

 

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Mets 8 – Nationals 4 April 9, 2011

The Mets got their first home win in front of a lot of empty seats at Citi Field tonight. Carlos Beltran put on a show hitting two homers, both right-handed in the game to lead the offense. Beltran has been getting good wood on the ball so it wasn’t a surprise to see him start hitting. But two homers at Citi Field is a feat.

Chris Capuano got his first win as a Met despite the fact that he gave up 4 runs in 6 IP. He gave up 7 hits and a walk but he also had 7 strikeouts. He won’t win too many games with a 6.75 ERA (or keepĀ  his job in the rotation) but it was good enough for a win tonight against the perennial basement dwelling Nationals.

The Mets took the lead for good in the sixth on a two-run triple by Ike Davis to right center. Then Daniel Murphy had a pinch-hit RBI single that scored Davis.

The Mets and Nationals will play the rubber game of the series tomorrow afternoon.

Box score

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Mets Release Luis Castillo

Luis Castillo with the New York Mets on June 2...
Image via Wikipedia

There wasn’t much doubt that this was going to happen at some point this spring, it was just a matter of when it was going to happen. Today, the news came out that the Mets finally released the chronically under-performing Luis Castillo. It came out from the beat reporters that Castillo asked for his release today, unhappy with the assemblage of talent trying out at second base to replace him. Even the $6.25 million left on his contract for 2011 wasn’t enough to save him.

Castillo’s contract was inexplicable from the start. The Mets picked him up from the Twins at the trading deadline in 2007 and went on to one of the greatest late-season collapses in baseball history. At 31 years old, he appeared to be on the downside of a former speedster’s career. His legs didn’t look fresh and he couldn’t cover the same ground in the field that he did in the late 90’s with the Marlins when we saw him steal bases against Mike Piazza at will with his running mate Juan Pierre.

Of course, Omar Minaya rewarded him with a long-term contract. 4 -years/$25 million. It was hard to believe that was really true. But it was. Continue reading “Mets Release Luis Castillo”

Video: Mets Spring Training, Secret Loans, Bench

Kerel Cooper of the On The Black and I got together again to talk about the state of the Mets. This week we cover spring training games starting, MLB issuing a secret loan to the Mets, the bullpen, and the candidates for the bench in 2011.

A couple of issues we talked about that are worth discussion are that I love Jenrry Mejia in the bullpen and hate Nick Evans coming off the bench. Check out the video below to see why.

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2011 Critical for Mets’ Reese Havens

Reese Havens
Image by Eric Kilby via Flickr

The 2008 draft saw the Mets with two first round picks. Omar Minaya went after seasoned college bats who could make an impact in the immediate future. He took a first baseman with doubles power in Ike Davis. The Mets believed those doubles would soon develop into home runs. They also took a gritty shortstop with a left-handed stroke that made him a target for Theo Epstein in Boston. Reese Havens was drafted and, upon his move to second, it was said he would become the top second baseman in the system.

The 2011 Mets field a team that is set at every position with only one exception: second base. The farm system does not have a second baseman ready to seize the position. Ruben Tejada can field the position but his bat needs tuning at Triple-A. Daniel Murphy has been experimenting for a second time at second base. Murphy has proven he can handle big league pitching, but his fielding leaves much to be desired. Up the middle defense is crucial to a baseball team and especially a sinker baller like Mike Pelfrey. Eventually, Murphy’s experience at different positions could make him a nice utility player but as a regular he would be exposed. The Mets also have Justin Turner who came to the team last year but didn’t set himself apart. Continue reading “2011 Critical for Mets’ Reese Havens”

Mets Minor League Update: Lucas Duda

Lucas Duda
Image by slgckgc via Flickr

Watch out Fernando Martinez, there’s another corner outfielder who is gaining ground on your prospect mojo.

Lucas Duda received International League Offensive Player of the Week accolades last week after blasting five home runs in 23 AB’s. Duda finished the week with a .304/.433/1.000 clip at the plate for the week. Duda has 22 RBI and 23 total hits for AAA Buffalo since his promotion from Binghamton. Impressively, that promotion came on June 14th. The USC product only has 20 games at the AAA level under his belt.

The 24-year-old has made a splash onto the AAA scene, and has impressed scouts at all levels of the farm, but not so much with his power until now. Duda supplanted himself into the Buffalo record books by going yard in five consecutive games last week. After being drafted by the Mets in the 7th round of the 2007 draft, Duda has only tallied 24 home runs in his three full seasons of professional ball. Clearly, Duda is maturing at the plate and putting his 6’5 240 lb frame to good use. Continue reading “Mets Minor League Update: Lucas Duda”