Read: Daniel Murphy isn’t Good Enough
In a post his blog for ESPN.com, Rob Neyer gets right to the point and explains why, “Daniel Murphy isn’t good enough to play regularly. He doesn’t field well enough to play second base, and he doesn’t hit well enough to play one of the corner positions. He just doesn’t.”
Brandon Tierney of 1050 ESPN Radio disagrees, writing to Twitter, “I still believe in Murphy… Keep him at first, upgrade left-field and catcher, and he’ll hit .290, .300 with 40+ doubles and 15-20 HR’s next season. He WILL learn to pull the inside heat.”
According to MLB Trade Rumors, ‘The free-agent market for first baseman is lacking a monster bat, but there are some interesting names,” such as Nick Johnson, Hank Blalock and Adam LaRoche.
…i agree with tierney… i think, with protection in the lineup, and a more stable season, using what he’s learned and lived through this year, murphy can hit above .280 with at least 30 doubles… but, like i think what neyer is saying, it’s a waste to go with just 15 HR at first when there are opportunities all around the game to get more power from your first baseman…
…i still feel it’s about allocation… it’s about scoring runs, first, and then how you allocate them is just a matter of contracts and sorting it all out… so, if the Mets get a 40–HR slugger for left field, it could be more than enough production with murphy at first to score the necessary amount of runs to win baseball games… but, to rob’s point, if i understand it right, it might be easier to acquire that power bat for first base as opposed to left field… and, why make life more difficult than it needs to be…
…that may be, but, looking at MLBTR’s list, if the Mets plan to get the power they crave from first base, it will need to come in the form of a trade because that free-agent market is pretty weak… at least in terms of power for Citi Field…
However, Buster Olney of ESPN.com believes the Padres will not trade 1B Adrian Gonzalez this off season.
…similarly, there is buzz in Milwaukee suggesting the Brewers could look to trade Prince Fielder, but, if they do, it will be for a top, young, front-end starting pitcher, the likes of which i don’t think the Mets have…
…this is why, regardless of what you think of murphy, it might be easier to get instant offense in left field, from a free-agent market that will offer Jason Bay and Matt Holliday, not to mention possible options via trade…
