Daily Archives: August 8, 2008
On Tuesday at Shea Stadium, I was 
able to catch up for a quick talk with 23–year-old Mets OF Dan Murphy, who is batting .455 in four games since being promoted from Triple-A New Orleans.
Murphy comes across as a serious guy. He looks focused and means business. He has a look in his eye that says, ‘I’m in the major leagues, and I’m not going back to the minors,’ all of which I like to see.
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Matthew Cerrone:
So, you spent the one day in New Orleans, tell me a little about that, and did you get a chance to hang out on Bourbon Street, or do anything fun like that? I love that place.
Dan Murphy:
No, I actually showed up and went straight to the ballpark, was in the lineup, played and then I got the call at the end of the game. So, I got my stuff together, made about 20 phone calls, then went home to try and get some sleep to get ready for the next day.
Matthew Cerrone:
When you got the news, who was the first person you called?
Dan Murphy:
Oh, my mom and dad. I got a hold of my family and told them I needed to be in Houston the next day and they didn’t really believe me at first, but it was exciting giving them that phone call.
Matthew Cerrone:
I bet. They played a big role, I would assume, in helping you develop as a player…
Dan Murphy:
More or less, they developed me as a human being and hopefully as I am up here I’ll be able to be the kind of person that I feel they raised, that’s all I can do.
Matthew Cerrone:
Growing up, who were some of your favorite players, and why?
Dan Murphy:
I really enjoyed watching Tony Gwynn. He could hit, so, you know, he was one of my favorite guys to watch. The Braves were always on TV, so, you now, Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine, I watched those guys a lot.
Matthew Cerrone:
Be careful, as a Mets fan, hearing you talk about the Braves, I mean, you know (laughing)…
Dan Murphy:
Yeah, well, (laughing), but TBS, that was the Southeast, they were always on, and the Chicago Cubs were always on too because they were on WGN, so…
Matthew Cerrone:
I got it. So, moving from third to second to left field has got to be a crazy adjustment. Honestly, how has that been, and what do you think about playing the position in Shea?
Dan Murphy:
Well, I can’t say enough about the coaching staff here, from Oberkfell to Jerry and Sandy, they’ve all put me in a great position to succeed. Every day they work with me and they put me in the right spot. Then, during the game, I look over and Beltran is moving me around and it seems like three or four pitches later that’s where the ball is, and I can’t say enough about how much help he has been to me out there.
Matthew Cerrone:
That’s great. So, I assume in terms of leadership the guys here have all been good, every one has been good?
Dan Murphy:
Oh, they’ve all been first class to me the whole way. This entire team is first class, it’s a good ballclub, we’re playing well, and hopefully I can just help them get some W’s.
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To watch a portion of my interview with Murphy, as well as Ted Berg’s interview with Eddie Kunz, with a special-guest appearance by Oliver Perez, click play below:
For more on Murphy, check out Yes Joe, It’s Toasted, where Toasty Joe writes, “Murphy has the potential to be the Greatest Dan To Ever Put On A Met Uniform.”
Yesterday was David Wright’s first walk-off home run, ever, including T-Ball, Little League and High School, as he pointed out to reporters following the game.
“I’m always celebrating everyone
else’s, but to be the one that jumps into the pile at home plate is pretty fun.”
…as Brooklyn Met Fan points out, maybe the reason people give wright a pass for night’s like he had on Wednesday, is because he comes right back for a day like Thursday…
Yesterday was the 354th walk-off win in team history, and their sixth of the 2008 season.
For more walk-off information, such as, ‘That was Wright’s seventh career walk-off RBI, tied for second in Mets history with Rusty Staub,’ go to the incomparable Mets Walk-Offs.
In the second inning of yesterday’s game, Fernando Tatis was spiked in the right shin by Argenis Reyes when the two players ran in to one another while chasing a fly ball off the infield.
Though Tatis limped off the field, he finished the game.
Later, Ramon Castro left the game following the fourth inning with a sore right ankle.
He later told reporters that the ankle has been sore all week, and he does not consider it to be serious.
As Adam Rubin points out on his blog for the Daily News, it is the same ankle Castro injured on Saturday in Houston.
Castro played in just 14 games during August and September last season, and just 11 games during August and September in 2006.
Tagged Ramon Castro |
In yesterday’s series-win against the Padres, Johan Santana let up just two runs and four hits while striking out seven hitters, but Scott Schoeneweis let up a game-tying home run in the ninth inning meaning Santana would not get credit for the win.
Santana has allowed just five runs in his last 30 innings pitched, yet the team is just 2–2.
His 2.85 ERA is fifth-best in the National League, his 135 strike outs are good for seventh, and only two other pitchers have thrown more ‘quality starts,’ yet he is 21st in wins.
On six occasions this season, including yesterday, Santana has left the game with a lead, after which the bullpen gave it up.
Santana, regarding his performance and the team’s bullpen, while talking to reporters following yesterday’s win:
“I mean, there’s not much I can say. You know, I mean, really, there’s not much I can say. We won the game, and that’s what matters. I’m here to help this team in any way I can…I don’t try to impress anybody (statistically), I know what I’m capable of doing…It’s not about that, it’s about being consistent and doing my job, that’s all, that’s the way I approach the game…I’m just trying to be myself, and trying to help…I only have nine wins, that’s the reality. I don’t blame that on anybody. I don’t feel sorry for things that couldn’t happen, didn’t happen, that’s just the way it is. I’m a realistic man, and this is reality and that’s the way it goes and you learn from that…
“(I’ve learned that) you’ve got to be patient and never give up. I’m here for a reason and that’s why they brought me here, and I’m not trying to be a hero, I’m just trying to be myself and trying to help them in any way that I can. I stand behind my team 100 percent, and as long as we win the game that’s all that matters.”
…i have no idea how he keeps himself from screaming…frankly, he looked like he was going to wig out in the dugout after Scott Schoeneweis let up the game-tying home run in the ninth inning yesterday…that said, he said all the right things in the above quote, and i believe he means it…he sounds a bit frustrated, as he should, a) because i am sure he would like to get credit in the stat line, and b) because i think he knows there are fans and media-types who will only see that he has nine wins, when in reality he is pitching very well and the team is winning, which is all that matters, but which nobody will notice…
…added to by Regis Courtemanche…
…i understand why jerry manuel wouldn’t want to wear santana out, but i think he could stretch him a bit further in games…four of santana’s last five games have been no decisions, and with wagner out, i don’t see any problem with santana closing out the game himself…with the likes of a john maine who has only pitched more than seven innings once this year i understand pulling him, but i say let johan play…
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