Daniel Murphy
In a postseason where the Mets have been slaying demons, there is one Phillie left. In the NLDS, the Mets dispatched with Jimmy Rollins and the dirty and cowardly Chase Utley. There is one member of that 2007-2008 Phillies team left: Ryan Madson. He may not garner the same reaction as Utley and Rollins, but he was still a large part of those Phillies teams.
Just like 2008, Madson is a key set-up man on the Royals. After not appearing on a major league roster for four years, he resurfaced and had his typically good season. He went 1-2 with a 2.13 ERA, 0.963 WHIP, and a 8.2 K/9. This postseason he’s been hittable in the 5.1 innings he’s pitched. He’s got a 2.25 WHIP and a 8.44 ERA.
He’s gone from major strength to liability. It may just be a short sample size. It may be his four year layoff out of the major leagues. Hopefully, it’s the latter because he’s been good against the Mets. In 61 games (1 start), he has a 2.87 ERA with a 1.149 WHIP and a 7.6 K/9.
I’m not sure all of that matters. The only Mets remaining from that time are David Wright and Daniel Murphy, who is playing on a different level. With that said, it probably matters to the fans more. And yes, I care. I want that World Series. I don’t like the idea of another 2007-2008 Phillie standing in the way.
It’s time for those Phillies to go away for good.
Sandy Alderson became the Mets GM prior to the 2011 season. He knew a change at second base was needed. He jettisoned Mets fans Public Enemy No. 1, Luis Castillo, and used a Rule 5 pick on Brad Emaus, who would be named the Opening Day starting second baseman.
Emaus was not good. He only hit .162/.262/.162 in 14 games. To Alderson’s credit, he cut bait when Emaus showed he couldn’t hack it. The other players that got playing time at secon that year was Justin Turner and Chin-lung Hu. That year Daniel Murphy was not part of the second base rotation. He did play 109 games that year, mostly at first, due to a season ending ankle injury to Ike Davis.
The next season, despite a decent year from Turner, the Mets went with Murphy as the starting second baseman. They have ever since. Despite a multitude of trade rumors (can be fully searched here), the Mets never traded Murphy. Despite not being an “Alderson player,” the Mets have kept him. Seemingly, they’ve grown to appreciate what he can provide to a team.
The Mets struck out on their top second base choice, and they have stuck by Murphy. He’s rewarded them with this offseason. In the end, it’s funny to think none of this would’ve been possible if Brad Emaus played better.
Sometimes it’s better to go with your second option.
There are times when something is so obvious and compelling that it just had to happen. Right? This year it seems like the Mets and Blue Jays are destined to meet in the World Series. Here’s why:
1985 ALCS
Did you ever see those Abraham Lincoln-JFK assassination similarities lists? On face value, it’s eery, but at the end of the day, they’re an amazing set of coincidences. It reminds me of the 1985 and the 2015 ALCS:
The players are all different. The front offices and managers are different, and yet, so far, the 2015 ALCS is following a similar script. If this is omen rather than coincidence, the Blue Jays win.
The Daniel Murphy Factor
By and large, the NL Cy Young voting is predicted to have Zack Greinke–Clayton Kershaw–Jake Arrieta finish 1-3 in some order. Daniel Murphy has homered off of all of them. Between the Royals and the Blue Jays, there is only one Cy Young candidate: David Price.
With the way Murphy has been playing this Murphtober, doesn’t it seem like he’s destined to homer off of another Cy Young caliber pitcher?
Referendum on the R.A. Dickey Trade
Look, no matter how you slice or dice it, the R.A. Dickey trade has been enormously successful for the Mets. Two of the biggest parts of this Mets team have been Noah Syndergaard and Travis d’Arnaud. That also doesn’t include Wullmer Becerra, who is starting to become a real prospect.
However, for the Blue Jays, the trade was always about winning the World Series. It doesn’t matter is he’s the fourth starter. It doesn’t matter if he hasn’t pitched well in the playoffs. It doesn’t matter if Thor is better now. All that matters now is if the Blue Jays win the World Series.
If they do meet up, it’ll be a great story. Just ask Dickey:
Dickey: “What a script… If I could face Syndergaard in Game 7, wouldn’t that be something? … Great narrative.”
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) October 19, 2015
Conclusion
Now that I’ve wasted all that time explaining why it’ll happen, we now know the Royals will win Game 6 or 7. It doesn’t matter to me who the Mets face so long as they win the World Series.
My favorite Mets team was the 1999 team. I loved everything about that team from Bobby V to Mike Piazza to Edgardo Alfonzo to Robin Ventura to John Olerud. It was my first real taste of a pennant race and the playoffs. I was lucky to be there for Pratt’s All Folks and the Grand Slam Single. I look back on the year with melancoly because of this:
In 2000, the Mets got Mike Hampton. The season became World Series or bust. A strange feeling for a Mets fan. Hampton would deliver. He was the NLCS MVP. The Mets then had to face the Yankees in the World Series. It was a cruel series with Todd Zeile‘s ball landing on the wall and falling back into play. Timo Perez didn’t run and didn’t score. Roger Clemens threw a bat at Piazza and wasn’t ejected. The series then ended in the most heartbreaking way possible:
The Mets would be terrible for the next few years, but everything came together in 2006. Our homegrown stars, Jose Reyes and David Wright, we’re becoming superstars. They were joined by the two Carloses: Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado. It was a team that ran roughshod over the National League. Beltran was the best baseball player on the planet that year (who somehow didn’t win the MVP). The Mets had momentum in Game Seven with Endy Chavez’s catch. Here’s how that season ended:
In 2007, the Mets reloaded and were primed to go back to the World Series. They were up 7 with 17 to play. On the final game of the season, they sent future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine to the mound with his 300 wins. He wouldn’t be devastated when he got out of the first, but we would:
In 2008, the Mets diagnosed their problem, and much like 2000, they went out to get it. The Mets brought in Johan Santana, and he delivered. they needed him in a strange year that saw Wille Randolph fired after a win on the first game of a west coast trip. The interim manager threatened to cut Reyes if he didn’t come off the field after pulling up lame, and people acted like it was a good thing. Through all of that, the Mets were collapsing again, and yet an injured Santana took the ball on three days rest. He saved the season, but only for a day:
The last three were the most difficult for me because I was there. It got more difficult because Citi Field was initially a disappointment. It got worse because the product on the field was bad.
Then Matt Harvey came up and was an All Star. Jacob deGrom came from seemingly nowhere to become a Rookie of the Year and an All Star. They were joined by Noah Syndergaard. The Mets made a flurry of trades including one for Yoenis Cespedes. Daniel Murphy had an out of body experience. Then this happened:
All that pain. All that suffering. We know what it’s like to be Mets fans. There’s pain and suffering. However, there are moments of pure joy. It’s all the losing that makes nights like last night all the more special.
We’re Mets fans. We were there for all of this. There are older fans who experienced more pain, but also more joy. There are younger fans who only know losing. Now, we’re all Pennant Winners. It’s like the 80’s again when the Mets are the best team of baseball. We’re “Back in the New York groove!”
The Mets came out tonight and made sure they were going to quash any notion they were going to blow a 3-0 series lead. The opening salvo came off the bat of Lucas Duda:
Travis d’Arnaud finished the inning off by going back-to-back, apple-to-apple:
The Mets batted around in the first and had a 4-0 lead. This series, nay postseason, has belonged to NLCS MVP Daniel Murphy, but tonight belonged to Duda. Duda came alive in this game. In addition to the three run homer, he would hit a two run RBI double in the second. It would be a record tying hit:
Mets with 5 RBI in postseason game
Rusty Staub(1973)
Edgardo Alfonzo (1999)
Carlos Delgado (2006)
Curtis Granderson (2015)
Lucas Duda (2015)— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 22, 2015
It was all the Mets pitchers need. Steven Matz no-hit the Cubs through three. However, he allowed a run in the fourth, and he got in trouble in the fifth prompting Terry Collins to replace him with two outs in the inning. Bartolo Colon came in and struck out Kris Bryant with runners on first and second.
Colon would pitch a clean sixth before being lifted for Addison Reed. Because Matz couldn’t get out of the fifth, Colon earned the win. It’s strange that the 42 year old Colin would get the pennant clinching win on a team with all of this dominant young pitching. The answer to the trivia question is Jeurys Familia struck out Dexter Fowler.
As for Murphy? He had an off night only going 3-4 with a double and a run scored in the first seven innings. In the eighth with his streak on the line he did this:
HISTORY FOR MURPHY! Daniel Murphy sets MLB record with his 6 straight postseason game with a HR. pic.twitter.com/pIniutM4da
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 22, 2015
Overall, the Cubs had some fight in them, but it wasn’t enough. They lost 8-3 tonight. The only damage inflicted was Yoenis Cespedes leaving the game early with a sore shoulder. Hopefully, it’s not series because he’ll be needed in the WORLD SERIES!
The Mets swept the Cubs. The Cuba never had a lead in the series. It is the first time the Mets have ever swept a best of seven series. I can’t believe I’m writing this, but the Mets are going to the World Series! There’s no way to describe this amazing feeling. There may be only one way to describe this:
Today is widely known as Back to Future Day because this was the day Marty McFly went to 2015:
Watching Back to the Future Part II in theaters, I remember thinking 2015 was so far away. I remember watching the Mets during this year, I thought the World Series was so far away. Let’s travel back to see the Mets starting lineups:
April 21, 2015 Mets 7 – Braves 1
- Curtis Granderson RF
- Juan Lagares CF
- Lucas Duda 1B
- Michael Cuddyer LF
- Daniel Murphy 2B
- Eric Campbell 3B
- Kevin Plawecki C
- Wilmer Flores SS
- Jon Niese P
May 21, 2015 Mets 5 – Cardinals 0
- Juan Lagares CF
- Wilmer Flores SS
- Lucas Duda 1B
- Michael Cuddyer LF
- Daniel Murphy 2B
- John Mayberry, Jr. RF
- Eric Campbell 3B
- Kevin Plawecki C
- Jacob deGrom P
June 21, 2015 Braves 1 – Mets 0
- Curtis Granderson RF
- Juan Lagares CF
- Lucas Duda 1B
- Michael Cuddyer LF
- Wilmer Flores SS
- Kevin Plawecki C
- Dilson Herrera 2B
- Eric Campbell 3B
- Matt Harvey P
July 21, 2015 Mets 7 – Nationals 2
- Curtis Granderson RF
- Ruben Tejada SS
- Lucas Duda 1B
- Daniel Murphy 3B
- Wilmer Flores 2B
- Kirk Nieuwenhuis LF
- Kevin Plawecki C
- Jacob deGrom P
- Juan Lagares CF
August 21, 2015 Mets 14 – Rockies 9
- Curtis Granderson RF
- Daniel Murphy 3B
- Yoenis Cespedes CF
- Lucas Duda 1B
- Wilmer Flores SS
- Kelly Johnson 2B
- Travis d’Arnaud C
- Michael Conforto LF
- Bartolo Colon P
September 21, 2015 Mets 4 – Braves 0
- Curtis Granderson RF
- Daniel Murphy 3B
- Yoenis Cespedes CF
- Lucas Duda 1B
- Travis d’Arnaud C
- Kelly Johnson 2B
- Michael Conforto LF
- Wilmer Flores SS
- Jon Niese P
October 21, 2015 (estimated)
- Curtis Granderson RF
- David Wright 3B
- Daniel Murphy 2B
- Yoenis Cespedes CF
- Lucas Duda 1B
- Travis d’Arnaud
- Michael Conforto LF
- Wilmer Flores SS
- Steven Matz P
Looking over these lineups, it was not until August that anyone could believe the Mets had an offense that could be capable of winning in October. Now, Mets fans believe this team can’t be beat. I hoping that’s the case tonight.
I want to see the Mets Back to the World Series.
My favorite part of the postseason so far has been the Mets on the verge of going to the World Series. My favorite off the field part has been the David Wright–Jacob deGrom–Daniel Murphy postgame press conferences.
After Game One of the NLDS, we got “Yowsa!”
They were put together again last night and more hijinx ensued:
— SNY (@SNYtv) October 21, 2015
deGrom fixes murphys mic pic.twitter.com/o9PSS734hg
— jenny ? (@AHotMetss) October 21, 2015
#DavidWright says Daniel Murphy has been ridiculous. #MetsWIN #Mets #LGM pic.twitter.com/nIHYwMnPYd
— New York Mets (@Mets) October 21, 2015
Wright, deGrom and Murphy after the game https://t.co/6nE01Idlmo pic.twitter.com/UYQDV6umc2
— SNY (@SNYtv) October 21, 2015
There were more, but not all have been screen capped. I love seeing this team loose when they’re on the verge of the World Series. The pressures not getting to them and that’s why they’re winning.
I can’t wait to see another press conference with these three because it’s been fun. More importantly, it means something good has happened again.
Normally, if I said to you there was a run scored on an out, you’d assume a fielder’s choice or a sacrifice fly. You’d see the occasional suicide squeeze. In this strange postseason where you don’t have to touch a base to be safe and Daniel Murphy became Babe Ruth, the Mets scored the go-ahead run on a two out strikeout.
In the sixth, Yoenis Cespedes lead off with a single, and he moved to second on a Lucas Duda sac bunt. I thought he was going for a hit against the shift, but they awarded him with a sac bunt. Cespedes would steal third. Michael Conforto came up with two outs and would strike out:
.@ynscspds and @mconforto8 proved three strikes doesn't necessarily mean you're out: https://t.co/Jj12nYEGnV pic.twitter.com/9jj0tMhPzW
— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 21, 2015
Then the inning got strange. Wilmer Flores went the other way and hit a sinking line drive to right. It went under the glove of Jorge Soler. Conforto was already around third by the time the ball disappeared in the ivy.
The common joke all over the place was Bartolo Colon could’ve scored on the play if he hit it. However, because of ground rules written in 1912, it was ruled a groundrule double. No runs scored. Conforto to third and Flores to second. They would be stranded, but the Mets escaped with a 3-2 lead.
That lead would expand in the seventh. Cespedes knocked in David Wright, who had a great game, with a single off of Kyle Schwarber‘s glove. For the second time this series, Schwarber’s inexperience in the outfield cost the Cubs a run. Later in the inning, Murphy would score on a Duda groundout.
On the mound, Jacob deGrom finally had a good start in Wrigley Field. His final line was 7.0 innings, two earned, one walk, and seven strikeouts. Tyler Clippard held down the eighth, and well Jeurys Familia got the save again.
In other news, we care about from this game, Murphy did this in the third inning:
He’s now the Mets all time and single postseason homerun leader with six. He also tied a major league record by hitting a homerun in five straight postseason games.
Wright was terrific. He went 3-4 with two runs, a walk, and a double. Duda snapped out of his funk a bit by going 1-3 with an RBI and no strikeouts. There something else I’m forgetting.
Oh yeah, after the 5-2 win, the Mets are now one win away from the World Series. I can’t believe it. I can’t wait for tomorrow.
With all of Daniel Murphy‘s heroics, everyone is questioning whether the Mets will re-sign him. As the Mets entered the playoffs, the same question surrounded Yoenis Cespedes.
They are just two of the pending free agents on the Mets roster. The full list:
- Daniel Murphy
- Yoenis Cespedes
- Kelly Johnson
- Juan Uribe
- Bartolo Colon
- Tyler Clippard
Six free agents. On the one hand, we can all safely assume they’re all gone. They very well might. Their departures may hurt for different reasons. Personally, I’ll miss Murphy most of all.
However, I’m not focused on that number six. I’m focused on the six wins the Mets need to win the World Series. What happens after that, happens. There’s no control over that. The only thing we can control is our focus. I’m choosing to enjoy this now and worry later. Let’s celebrate first and deal with everything else later.
Lets Go Mets!
When my son woke up Saturday morning, all he wanted to do was talk baseball. He was excited for the game that night. I still feel bad I couldn’t take him (it was too cold).
Anyway, I asked him what he thought was going to happen during the game. He told me “Murphy homerun”
I asked him about Wright. His response was “No!” Duda? “No!” Murphy? “Homerun, yay!” I asked him what else was going to happen. His response was “Harvey pitch.” Pitch he did:
My son took his ever growing baseball knowledge and let me know what was going to happen. On Sunday, he wanted to make signs for the next Mets game.
The thing is I don’t have tickets for another game until Game Three of the World Series. Once again, he just might know something that I don’t know.
This kid is a baseball genius.