Read: MetsBlog Interview with Dan Murphy
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.”
