What do you do with Murphy?

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Say Murphy is ready to come back in a week or two -- and I'm sure they'll have him play in as many rehab games as they can.

What do you do with him? As long as Davis keeps playing as he is -- which could change once the league gets a better look at him -- I can't see them sending him back to the Herd just because Murphy is ready.

Does Murphy spell the end of the Cat? Cat can play in the field, and I'm pretty sure Murphy's not a utility kind of guy.

Do you keep him on the bench as a pinch-hitter?

Do they send Murphy to the Herd to learn how to be play second? Or play him there at first and say "Goodbye" to Jacobs?

Trade him?

[metirish]

Trade him?......he's got no value has he?


Sit him on the bench and see what happens.

[Gwreck]

So long as Murphy > Frank Catalanotto, I guess that spot on the bench is his.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yes, he has value, but the team may be able to find a trading partner just has he comes off the DL.

I say demote him so he can practice playing the multiple positions that would prepare him for the role that would be the best current match for him. Call him up if a spot opens up, but until then, work-work-work. First, second, third, left, and right. Get a bunch of gloves, Daniel, and we hope to see you soon.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

DeRosa plays 7 positions, but plays none of them very well (and some of them in pretty ugly fashion). Oquendo was really only a good shortstop-- everything else, he played passably. As a fielder in general, Ty Wigginton-- and Mr. Mora, for that matter-- are great hitters.

When people say things like "Murphy's not a utility guy," I wonder if they're nursing some strange, hagiographic distortion of how most utility guys really play defense (in a word: "shittyish").

If Murphy can get serviceable at second-- which is to say, Tatis-brand-serviceable, not pre-Flushing Roberto Alomar-brand-serviceable-- he'll be an invaluable bench resource (a 1B-2B-3B-LF-RF with an okay bat) at his pricetag for the next couple of years. (Consider again how much the team's paying Cora for his services*.)

*I'm not crapping on Cora, Edge, just noting his price tag relative to what he offers.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Some guys are utility men who field, others are utility men who hit, and we should really use different terms for them because they're not the same beast. I think he's perfectly serviceable as Lenny Harris with younger legs, less girth, and more power.

Matt Franco is a very good analog, but Murphy has more starting experience.

[batmagadanleadoff]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: his services*.) *I'm not crapping on Cora, Edge, just noting his price tag relative to what he offers.

It's okay to crap on Cora. Alex Cora sucks. (In Cora's defense, most backup infielders suck. That's why they're backup infielders.) Money aside, though, there's nothing wrong with having Cora provided he ain't getting more than 125-150 PA's per season.

[Guest attgig]

No matter HOW Ike does before Murph comes back, Ike should stay exactly where he's at. even if he.... wait, I'm going to stop right there before I jinx the guy.

Murph's also a left so don't even try to platoon them.

If we can trade him, we should, perhaps package him up with ollie, and get a long man/reliever and send tak to the rotation.

Or, he goes to AAA and works on 2b & SS so he can be a true utility guy.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I can't imagine that Perez + Murphy would bring back anything other than an overpaid guy who the other team doesn't want.

Sure, Murphy sweetens it a bit, but I don't think enough to make much of a difference.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Murphy is never going to play shortstop unless there's a cholera outbreak, nor does he need to to justify a spot on the Mets bench.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: his services*.) *I'm not crapping on Cora, Edge, just noting his price tag relative to what he offers. It's okay to crap on Cora. Alex Cora sucks. (In Cora's defense, most backup infielders suck. That's why they're backup infielders.) Money aside, though, there's nothing wrong with having Cora provided he ain't getting more than 125-150 PA's per season.

"I'm not crapping on Cora here, in this particular instance" might be clearer.

Some guys are utility men who field, others are utility men who hit, and we should really use different terms for them because they're not the same beast. I think he's perfectly serviceable as Lenny Harris with younger legs, less girth, and more power. Matt Franco is a very good analog, but with more starting experience.

"Utility bat" and "utility glove"(even if the latter sounds a little like a Home Depot clearance item)?

But yeah, that's what I'm thinking. He's a half-decent-- north of Coratown/Jacobsville, south of BayRidge/Wrightburgh, right about at Francoeur Village-- bat that you can plug and play for short periods at 3-4 positions already (1B, 3B, LF-RF).

He is a "utility guy." He could be a more useful utility guy if he learned 2B. (Given that he's playing "2B-style" 1B already, this should be workable, AFL disappointments notwithstanding; SS/CF, however, does seem like a bridge too far.)

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I can't imagine that Perez + Murphy would bring back anything other than an overpaid guy who the other team doesn't want.

Kinda like Gary Matthews Jr. Wonder what sucker GM would take him off someone's hands. Oh, wait....

I'm pulling for Murph. Seems like a really good guy.

[Guest Edgy DC]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: SS/CF, however, does seem like a bridge too far.

Catcher is right out.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Can he fill out a lineup card, make pitching changes, and avoid calling for the bunt like it was a bodily function?

[metsmarathon]

i'd love to see murph get some time in at second.

[Ceetar]

btw, DeRosa kinda sucks this year. I wouldn't want those numbers on my team right now..

Murphy is a better player than Catalnotto and Tatis (leaving GMJ and Cora out since they play positions Murph doesn't)

No reason not to bring him up here, other than I don't think Manuel particularly likes him. He'll add value. And we'll worry about Ike if we need to. He wouldn't be the first guy (Murphy himself comes to mind) to have a really hot start and then cool off and be overmatched. It doesn't look like Ike will right now, but if he starts to slow a little, even just giving him a day or two off I'd feel a lot more comfortable with Murphy playing than Fernando or Frank.

[Guest attgig]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I can't imagine that Perez + Murphy would bring back anything other than an overpaid guy who the other team doesn't want. Sure, Murphy sweetens it a bit, but I don't think enough to make much of a difference.

ok. Perez + Murphy + $$

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

attgig wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: I can't imagine that Perez + Murphy would bring back anything other than an overpaid guy who the other team doesn't want. Sure, Murphy sweetens it a bit, but I don't think enough to make much of a difference. ok. Perez + Murphy + $$

Dude.

Let's flip it. You're a GM of... hell, pick a team.

Omar comes to you with Murphy, Perez and, say, 20M to offset Perez's salary.

What would you be willing to give in a pitching vein for this package? (Keeping in mind that your team is so pitching-poor that you'd be champing at the bit to plug Perez into your starting rotation.)

[Guest attgig]

I can't imagine that Perez + Murphy would bring back anything other than an overpaid guy who the other team doesn't want. Sure, Murphy sweetens it a bit, but I don't think enough to make much of a difference. ok. Perez + Murphy + $$ Dude. Let's flip it. You're a GM of... hell, pick a team. Omar comes to you with Murphy, Perez and, say, 20M to offset Perez's salary. What would you be willing to give in a pitching vein for this package? (Keeping in mind that your team is so pitching-poor that you'd be champing at the bit to plug Perez into your starting rotation.)

Ok, I'm the pirates.

My starting pitchers are atrocious, some of them getting too old for me to really expect them to be able to consider as young enough that I let them develop: ie, my ace, zach duke is 27 years old coming off a decent season for a #4 or 5, and starting the year with a 6+ era. meanwhile, when one of the other starters just went down with a concussion, I had to call up a guy who has had no major league success, and was even cut by the o's for rich hill.... Meanwhile, I have a 1bman who's a washed up ex-prospect barely hitting 200.

Could I consider bringin Ollie back who's had success there in the past for a few mil a year in hopes that he can reclaim that past success? Do I bring in a serviceable, albiet not great, 1bman who'll actually produce a little bit to replace the longshot that I signed in the offseason?

If I'm getting money, where perez can be had for maybe 1/2 the salary, I don't think it's such a huge commitment, that he doesn't go for it, perhaps sending back a prospect or two in return. obviously nobody who's a sure thing, cuz they're going to hold onto them. But maybe who could become a decent option int he pen.

meanwhile, there's either Dillon Gee or Tak to replace perez.


or maybe the A's with the sheets experiment obviously failing, and a huge hole at DH, and their 1bman possibly out with a fractured finger.
maybe the nationals with them putting marquis on the DL
maybe the astros and their lack of offense



in the end, will the mets admit their mistake, and dump ollie? i doubt it. and I didn't mean to hijack the thread about murph so my appologies there....
but my point is if the mets are willing to eat some money, admit their mistake, move on, I think teams will be willing to take him. heck, if kris benson got a gig this year, i think a team will give ollie a shot...

[Guest Edgy DC]

Admitting the Mets overpaid Oliver Perez and dealing him aren't the same thing.

[metirish]

Newsday

Mets explore options for when Murphy returns
Daniel Murphy is expected to be used in a utility role at Triple-A Buffalo when he returns from the disabled list.

PHILADELPHIA - The dawn of the Ike Davis Era has forced the Mets into yet another experimental phase with Daniel Murphy, who is expected to be used in a utility role at Triple-A Buffalo when he returns from the disabled list. A person familiar with the club's thinking insisted that it was a tentative plan because there is no predicting what may happen between now and when Murphy is healthy enough to be activated. Murphy was supposed to be the Mets' Opening Day first baseman, but lost the job when he suffered a Grade 1 sprain of his right knee during the final week of spring training. Murphy, 25, has been on the DL since March 31 for an injury that the Mets estimated would cost him two to six weeks. He played five innings at first base Friday in an extended spring training game in Port St. Lucie, Fla., but took Saturday off. The Mets do not anticipate trying him at second base or leftfield until he is completely healthy and they were unsure how much longer Murphy would need in Florida before heading to Buffalo. But with Davis anchored at first base for the immediate future, Murphy needs to give the Mets more defensive options if he is to be used in the majors as a utility player. Also, the team has no idea if Murphy can handle a variety of positions. Last season, Murphy made the Opening Day roster as the team's starting leftfielder, but started only 27 games there before his defensive lapses - and Carlos Delgado's hip surgery - prompted the Mets to switch him to first base. Murphy made his first career start at the new position May 20 in Los Angeles and continued to be a work-in-progress during the remainder of the season. Heading into this year, the Mets planned to have Murphy as their starting first baseman, even after signing Mike Jacobs, and his occasional tutorials with 11-time Gold Glove winner Keith Hernandez had them optimistic that he could handle the job. As long as Davis remains healthy, however, the prospects for Murphy at first base are slim. He could be useful off the bench. In 48 career games as a pinch hitter, Murphy is batting .317 (13-for-41) with a double, triple, two homers and 12 RBIs.

[smg58]

I think whatever future Murphy has as a starting player is probably going to come at third base, which won't happen with the Mets. That doesn't mean he couldn't be a very good reserve for us in the meantime, but he should get some time at second, third, and the outfield in AAA before getting a call-up. I'd worry about his market value later.

[G-Fafif]

After the last two days, I make him my ace pitcher.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

So, Murph's shuffled off to Buffalo for SuperJoe-ing. But I'm kind of curious... what exactly does this mean?

What of the mechanics of this? Are there performance targets the organization is-- or should be-- looking to see? Games-played targets? Skills-demonstration? I wonder... what sort of training process/targets does one use to build a utility player?

[metirish]

Good questions , he's listed at 6'2" - 215 (that seems generous) , will he be nimble out there?.....is that big for a second baseman?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

He seems okay fielding balls at first, though I'm not certain we'll ever call him "nimble."

What he does seem to be is aggressive and rangy. Channeled properly and with glove-eye coordination that even approaches average, that could make for a hell of a run-saver there, actually.

[G-Fafif]

This thread title could have been borrowed from a 1930s radio comedy series in which the foibles of Murphy the immigrant barkeep are fodder for laughter for the good American folk listening at home while sublimating their mistrust of "ethnics".

"What Do You Do With Murphy?" is brought to you by the manufacturers of Maxwell House Coffee -- it would even sober up an Irishman!

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Shave his belly with a rusty razor, early in the morning.

[bmfc1]

Murphy in the starting lineup tonight for the Bisons, playing 1B (displacing Jacobs).

http://bisonsblog.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/05/buffalo_at_lehigh_valley_game_4.html

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Murphy in the starting lineup again tonight for the Bisons... at second, as per Adam Rubin.