Murphy an All Star

[RealityChuck]

http://metsblog.com/metsblog/murphy-not-wright-to-represent-mets-in-asg/

Murphy � not Wright � to represent Mets in ASG July 6th, 2014 7:52 pm Daniel Murphy will be the only player representing the Mets during next week�s MLB All-Star Game in Minnesota. This is Murphy�s first All Star Game appearance. David Wright finished roughly 300,000 votes behind starting 3B Aramis Ramirez. It is only the second time in his nine-year career that Wright will not taking part in the All-Star Game. Murphy finished fourth in voting for the starting second baseman, which went to Chase Utley. Edgardo Alfonzo was the last second baseman from the Mets to make an All-Star Game.

[batmagadanleadoff]

If Murph was a friend of mine, I'd congratulate him and be happy for him. Sincerely, I would. (And do you got any extra tickets to the ASG. And plane fare to Minnesota, Mr. Murphy?) But because I don't know Murph personally and I'm in cranky Met fan mode, I'll just say that this is a Joel Youngblood pick. The Mets had to have a representative.*

This team blows.

*And it's been a long time, I think, since the Mets had one of those every team's gotta have at least one all star pick.

Edited July 6, 2014 by Guest

[metirish]

Obviously he got chosen for his defense........

congrats Murph

[Guest d'Kong76]

He's certainly all-star worthy this year. Similarities
between him and Youngblood would require a warped
sense of reality of which I'm not capable right now.

Congrats!

[Edgy MD]

Certainly deserves it.

[metirish]

He does , hard work can payoff

[Guest themetfairy]

Congrats Muffy!

[Edgy MD]

Now let's hope he doesn't pull an Uggla.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Did Joel Youngblood lead the league in hits?

[Zvon]

He's leading the league in hits Bats. He deserves it. As a Mets fan Murphy is something to cheer about. Cheer up.

And gratz Muffy!

[Gwreck]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: *And it's been a long time, I think, since the Mets had one of those every team's gotta have at least one all star pick.

Armando Benitez, 2003 was the last true "token" representative.
Bobby Bonilla, 1993 was a lesser choice but he did have 20 homers in the first half of the season.
John Stearns, 1982 was also a token representative.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: Did Joel Youngblood lead the league in hits?

I don't know what got into me. Murph's no worse than the third best second baseman in the NL so far, after about half a season. Murph might even be the second best second baseman in the NL this half season. That's a lot more deserving than Youngblood's all-star selection. Apologies. Really.

Your wish is still my command.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Gwreck wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: *And it's been a long time, I think, since the Mets had one of those every team's gotta have at least one all star pick. Armando Benitez, 2003 was the last true "token" representative.

Depends on how you define "All-Star". I thought Armando was a star reliever for most of his Mets stint. I thought he was a deserving AS selection from the moment he passed Franco on the team depth chart, but had gotten passed for the AS team every other year prior to 2003.

I didn't research your token list, but if I hadda guess off the top of my head, I woulda guessed that Stearns was probably the last Mets all-star to get selected because some Met hadda get picked.

[G-Fafif]

Benitez in '03 was super token. That was the first year of the current selection system wherein the players pick along with the fans and whoever isn't accounted for after that falls to the manager's prerogative. Dusty Baker (managing the N.L. in a Cubs uniform, of all things) took Benitez, who wasn't used...and then the Mets sent him packing before the "second half" commenced. AB was a helluva lot better than is generally credited for, but at no point in 2003 did his performance exude All-Star stellarness. He went with 21 saves, 7 blown saves and the last of his goodwill long expended. If Piazza hadn't gotten hurt in May, chances are he would've been elected per usual and nobody would've thought to have named Armando.

Also super token was Ed Kranepool in 1965: 7 HR 37 RBI .287 BA at the break. Eerily similar to Murph right now: 7 HR 35 RBI .294 BA. But leading the league in hits is leading the league in hits. And there's nobody else. A couple more wins for Niese (no matter what one thinks of the value of pitcher's wins) and a healthier shoulder and I think he would've/should've gotten the nod.

All that said, good for Murph. Homegrown kid turned vet before our eyes, dates back to Shea, carried the Mets name to the White House, epitome of what you'd call a team man. I'm very happy that for the rest of his days he will be referred to as All-Star Daniel Murphy.

To be joined in Minneapolis by former teammate Frankie Rodriguez, former systemmate Carlos Gomez and guy who would've been a Met had not something happened Scott Kazmir.

[G-Fafif]

Youngblood was batting .359 at the "break" in 1981 (the strike-enforced break) and didn't have quite enough ABs to qualify for the league lead, but they needed somebody. I seem to recall Dave Kingman and Neil Allen seeming like legit candidates, albeit to my starry 18-year-old eyes.

[batmagadanleadoff]

G-Fafif wrote: Benitez in '03 was super token.

I should've remembered. That was the year Benitez kind of imploded at the end of his Mets run. I was at one of AB's last games as a Met, where he walked four batters and threw a wild pitch all in the 9th inning to blow a save against the MFY's. The Mets lost that one. I felt bad for the guy, watching that meltdown.

[G-Fafif]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: G-Fafif wrote: Benitez in '03 was super token. I should've remembered. That was the year Benitez kind of imploded at the end of his Mets run. I was at one of AB's last games as a Met, where he walked four batters and threw a wild pitch all in the 9th inning to blow a save against the MFY's. The Mets lost that one. I felt bad for the guy, watching that meltdown.

Mrs. Fafif was experiencing a stress-induced indigestion issue that took her out of bed and into the living room to sit up for the conclusion of that game. Through discomfort that would lead us to the emergency room a few hours hence, she watched the scene you describe and earnestly asked, "Why don't they just get rid of him already?"

I'm not convinced her brief hospitalization and Benitez's Subway Series swan song were wholly unrelated.

[Edgy MD]

The thing about Youngblood was that he was hurt much of the first half, so that batting average was at least partially an illusion. The second half began (and the strike ended) with the All Star Game, and Youngblood was presumably healthy enough for his pinch-hit appearance, but he went down again a few days later and his season was over.

If there indeed was anything to that .350 / .398 / .531 // .929 line he walked away with, he might have made a difference down the stretch.

[Ceetar]

Good for him.

Other acceptable choices:

Duda (as DH), The Mets best hitter.

Granderson: Also has a better wRC+ and wOBA than Murphy. Different position obviously, but is a star and has been All-Star level since May.

Wright: Face of MLB, Captain, consistently great player, etc etc. Perhaps not deserving it strictly on this year's stats, but we know that has nothing to do with it.

Jon Niese: Having a very good year. Perhaps not one of the best 10-15 pitchers but he's up there so far. Of course, hurt etc but still could've selected him.

[Frayed Knot]

Muffy was the one and only logical choice - especially with Niese now DL'd

[batmagadanleadoff]

The Mets are overloaded with all-stars this season.

[G-Fafif]

Oakland Athletic Jeff Samardzija gets to go the All-Star Game as a National Leaguer, but not as a Cub despite making it as a Cub.

Here�s an odd one: The newest A�s pitcher, Jeff Samardzija � who already has a win under his belt with Oakland � will wear a general �National League� jersey as a non-participating member of the NL team at the All-Star Game in Minneapolis a week from today, an MLB official tells me. MLB already has discussed the matter with Samardzija. Samardzija will not pitch for the NL, but he will be in the awkward situation of rooting against the team whose jersey he is wearing, given that he�s playing for AL West leading A�s and home-field advantage in the World Series is at stake in the game. The only way in which Samardzija would wear an A�s uniform and play in the game is if he is chosen as an injury replacement, but given that the Final Vote candidate will add another pitcher to the AL All-Star squad, that seems a little unlikely. Carlos Beltran was named an NL injury replacement in 2004 after being traded from the Royals to the Astros.

[seawolf17]

There's always a dozen guys who rivera and beg out of the game. Just add him and let him feckin' play.

[ashie62]

Good luck Muffy..

He can break up the Orioles Nats game

[batmagadanleadoff]

Most career hits for the Mets among players who never appeared in a World Series as a Met.

The first time this list was posted, in 2012, Murph wasn't in the top 10.

1. David Wright 1648
2. Jos� Reyes 1300
3. Carlos Beltran 878
4. Kevin McReynolds 791
5. Daniel Murphy 761
6. Rey Ord��ez 720
7. John Stearns 695
8. Hubie Brooks 640
9. Todd Hundley 612
10. Dave Magadan 610
11. George Foster 602
12. John Olerud 524
.
.
.
.

29. Ruben Tejada 369
.
.
31. Ike Davis 365
.
.
.
36. Lucas Duda 337

[Elster88]

Cool list. Reminded me of the Sporcle game I posted. I hadn't updated it since the end of 2009. Next update to come in November 2019.

http://www.sporcle.com/games/Bombs/met_hit_leaders

Love the UMDB (cited at the bottom).

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I got all but 4 (and deserve 5 for getting Howard Johnson when I was actually guessing Lance Johnson).

[Elster88]

This one didn't need updating except to add a guy to the bottom of the list. I cut it off at 50 wins.

http://www.sporcle.com/games/Bombs/met_win_leaders