Results tagged ‘ Jerry Manuel ’
Murphy’s Law and other musings
After a few days away, it’s good to back in the swing of things. Speaking of swings, Jerry Manuel took a big one yesterday, and you can say that it’s straight out of left field. It appears young Daniel Murphy won’t be platooning after all but has been anointed by the manager as the starting left fielder.
As with anything associated with these Mets, there’s potential for greatness of for peril. Daniel Murphy has played all of 49 major league games so this is quite a bit of faith that Manuel is putting in him. However Murph has the look of a gamer and a professional hitter even at this young stage. Inevitably if he starts slow and lets the pressure get to him, the Manny rants will begin again in earnest. Jerry also stated that he thinks that Murphy is a more consistent left handed hitter than Ryan Church, which could be perceived as a slap to Church. It’s obvious based on how he finished and what’s happened in his career thus far`that Ryan still has a lot to prove. I personally think he’ll do well. He handled NY better that I thought coming here for the first time after playing in much smaller markets. He was arguably the Met MVP in April and May until he collided with Yunel Escobar of the Braves trying to bust up a double play. After that and being sidelined with a concussion he wasn’t the same player upon is return. What this potential move also does is move Fernando
Tatis into more of a super sub role off the bench. A role in which he could excel. Tatis is in his mid 30′s and a reduced role could increase his effectiveness and most certainly strengthen the bench. Expect Tatis to see time spelling David Wright at third, Carlos Delgado at first, along with subbing at both corner outfield positions. This announcement seems to go hand in hand with all of Manuel’s team first mantra that’s been preached so far this spring.
Speaking of spring, every article I’ve read seems to rave about the camp that Jerry and is staff are running. There’s a looseness that wasn’t seen in the Willie Randolph-led camps. While getting their work done, the guys seem more relaxed and having more fun. Whether this translates into a few more wins in September is anyone’s guess, but I guess it couldn’t hurt.
Didn’t that guy Ruth hit 3rd also?
Jerry’s thinking out loud again. At his first group press outing, he said that he was comtemplating batting Luis Castillo leadoff and putting Jose, Jose, Jose Reyes in the 3 hole.
I personally don’t know how I feel about that. Managers and players say all kinds of things during spring training. I wonder if this might not be a good idea. Beltran in the 2-hole. Mr. Wright/ Delgado 4 or 5 depending on the pitching matchup. Church 6, Tatis/Murphy 7. Lengthens the lineup more and allows for more of a lefty/righty mix from 1-8 depending on the matchup that day. The only thing is that Reyes’ speed is such a weapon from the leadoff spot, it would take a lot of guts to mess with it. You’d also have to be banking on a resurgence from Castillo. The slap hiting and bunting he does is more of a weapon higher in the lineup and he shows patience at the plate. If he’s in shape and his legs healthy, the leadoff spot might resuscitate his career.If not, Jerry can always change it back. Lineups can be fluid, completely subject to change. Might be worth looking into
The main thing Jerry was preaching it seems is that this might be a move that helps the team.
It might become another step in the maturation of Jose, Jose, Jose. Reyes takes, in my opinion, entirely too much flack for his enthusiasm and the dancing and stuff, but his energy is vital for this club. When he plays well, he sometimes looks like a future MVP. When he doesn’t he can look unfocused and lazy. This might force him to apply himself even more diligently and help him take a more aggressive step towards being a team leader. To have any shot at beating the Phils, a team will have to have a strong sense of team. The Phils have a bunch of gamers. The Mets will have to look at ways of extracting every ounce of team spirit and leadership possible. Maybe that’s what Jerry’s thinking. On a practical level, Reyes’ speed, increased patience, and extra base power seems to point to a future 3-hole guy. Maybe the future starts now. Either that or Jerry went to Duffy’s and had a few too many.
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