Today listening to the game I was smiling while the Binghamton Boys proved they belong in NY and help to reinforce my trust in them. I've been a big proponent of getting the youngsters into the games and they've responded in Spades.
Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans were the stars today. They appear to continue the tradition of mid-season call-ups that have produced David Wright, Jose' Reyes and John Maine. [Granted Maine didn't come thru the system, but his call-up in July of '06 was a major factor in reaching the NLCS Game 7.]
Murphy is a hitting machine. He finished his 1st week in NY hitting .467. With his plate discipline and cool demeanor I see great things in his future. He hits the ball to all fields, works the pitcher, and never seems overwhelmed. His gap to gap power is sorely needed in the line-up and could be a difference maker in games to come. He continues to cover the field well and is no worse than Alou' in that regard. His speed isn't his strong suit, but he's no Ramon Castro on the bases either.
Nick Evans is not the power hitter that Murphy is capable of being but he too is producing in the field and at the plate. Today he made a critical play in the field to end the 8th inning and he drove in 2 runs with a Sac Fly and a single. It's too bad that the veterans on the Mets can't take a lesson from the kids. When all that's needed is a fly ball or a single to score a run, the Vets swing too hard, pop-up bunts, strike-out, or hit into Double plays.
Argenis Reyes didn't hit the ball out of the infield today, but he turned in sparkling plays in the field that help contain the Padres and limit the damage that could have been done. He has twice the range of Castillo, and never seems overwhelmed by the spotlight. As a bonus, he's hitting over .400 as a pinch hitter.
The efforts of the rookies were nearly wasted by the pen once again. Santana deserved the win but Scott Schoeneweis did his Heilman imitation by serving up another HR. Feliciano and Smith did well in limiting the bases loaded no out jam in the 8th inning. Why Kunz wasn't brought in to face the music in the 9th I don't know. What could he have done worse than Scott? Eddie hadn't given up a HR in over 4 years until last night. What were the chances of him doing that 2 nights in a row? I'd take Eddie over anyone else in that pen right now.
After Scotty boy tried to waste away another game it was left to the hitters to save the day. Chavez got a single, Reyes popped up a bunt to Bell, A. Reyes makes out #2 and then David came to the plate. After having a difficult series on the bases and not hitting the ball very well the last week or so, David went 3-5 with a walk off 2 run HR. He took a low outside slider and parked it over the fence in left field. Believe it or not, that was the first walk off HR of David's career in baseball not just MLB.
The offense was disappointing this series but managed to win 2 of 3 from the lowly Padres. Now they face the Marlins and need to play better than the last time they went "fishing". If Murphy and Evans continue to improve, and the Carlos brothers can get off the snide, the Mets could draw closer to the division lead before the weekend is over. All Murphy needs now is a HR to go with his doubles, triple, and singles this week. I'm hoping he hits one out to set the tone and get the Mets jumping on the Fish.
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3 comments:
David had 3 hits, not 4. So did Beltran. And I definitely think Murphy deserves a shot to stay with the team when Church gets back.
I thought I heard Howey Rose say he had 4 hits, sorry. I really like Murphy and hope he sticks around too.
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- Joe
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