Quick Q&A: Francesa, Murphy and Power in Left Field
Brad, a reader of MetsBlog, sent me the following e-mail: Mike Francesa on WFAN just went off on a caller about how if you expect Daniel Murphy to be your every day first baseman next year, and you are the GM of the Mets, he is going to get you fired.
I believe Francesa is 100 percent right on this… First base is a power position. Anyone who honestly thinks we would be better off with a power-hitter in left and Murphy at first base, than a power hitter at first and Angel Pagan in left, is oblivious and knows nothing about the game of baseball.
Matthew Cerrone: First of all, can we please pause and enjoy the fact that while the Jets and Giants are 3–0, and the Yankees are about to begin a playoff series, Francesa is getting three-hours worth of calls about the Mets and Murphy, who have 92 losses and are in fourth place.
I love it. People can argue with me about whether New York is a Mets town, Yankees, town, etc., but there is no question about whether Mets fans are the most passionate fans in the city… nobody cares like we do.
Anyway, I agree with you and Francesa, ONLY if Murphy is surrounded by other weak hitters. I mean, if Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Jeff Francoeur and a new left fielder are each hitting 30 home runs, the Mets are more than fine with Murphy hitting .275 with 20 HR at first base, so long as he plays good defense and continues to develop as a hitter.
I never understand why so many Mets fans want home-grown players, but then aren’t willing to wait it and out and let the young player grow?
Now, if you think Murphy will never be better than he is, I can understand the argument. However, I think it’s unfair to make that judgment since he just finished playing his first full year of big-league ball.
So, basically, in Francesa’s opinion, he would have cut Tino Martinez in his rookie season, which was identical to Murphy’s, simply because everyone else’s first base hit more home runs?
Brad: So, would you rather have Pagan and a power hitter at first, or a power guy in left, and Murphy at first.
Matthew Cerrone: I want the team that scores the most runs.
If that means having seven guys who hit .350 with five home runs each, and one guy who hits .200 with 100 home runs, or it means having Adrian Gonzalez at first base and Pagan in left, or Murphy at first base and Holliday in left, it doesn’t matter to me, as I am only concerned with the group of players who score… how they score, or what their individual stats are, mean nothing to me.
I realize it is typically easier to find a first baseman who hits for power, than it might be to find a left fielder who hits for power – but that is a supply and demand issue, not a team production and allocation issue.
Realistically, though, I think the Mets have the better chance of signing a hitter for left field this season, than trading for a bat at first.
