Mets Game 69: Win Over Orioles
Mets 5 Orioles 0
Another day, another shutout.
Mets Game Notes
Johan Santana bounced back with a fairly strong start, shutting out the O’s through six on four hits and two walks, striking out five. Does this mean he’s out of the woods in regard to the no-hitter afterglow? Let’s hope so.
Nice to see three members of the bullpen not bungle the victory.
All of the firepower came from Lucas Duda and Jordany Valdespin. Even though Daniel Murphy also drove in a run, you have to wonder: shouldn’t Valdespin be given a shot to take the second base job? What has Murphy done through nearly 70 games to earn ownership of the position? What has he done lately to suggest he is the answer there? Though, I have just droppEd Murphy from my fantasy team, which means he is guaranteed to go on a hot streak and erase all doubts.
Next Mets Game
The Mets go for the sweep on Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m. Dillon Gee goes against Brian Matusz.
I’d fix it, but isn’t nice that Ed Murphy lives on ?
Say, how about letting Dickey close a game or two between starts?
It isn’t wise to make judgments when a player is playing extremely well or extremely bad. In Murphy’s case, history suggests that his bat will rebound some, and that he will eventually increase his HR rate above that of Luis Castillo. He also has great intangibles – stand up guy, hard worker, etc. However, it is clear to even my untrained eye that Valdespin has some tools that are in very short supply on this team – namely speed, defensive “potential” at 2B. Yes, he has a history of being immature, but he is not 20, and may be bright enough to know that this could be his “shot”. I say stick him at 2B for a couple of weeks without interruption and see how he does. He will make a few mistakes, but it is not like this is a team that doesn’t make mistakes.
Kid’s pretty quick…..as evidenced by a (more or less) bad bunt in the 1st inning of last night’s game. It went right back to the box, when he tried to push it a bit past the mound — but he still made it a pretty close play at 1B.
Like that he’s hungry, for now…..and just hope that he keeps at it.
They did get into a bit of what Backman had said to him upon landing back at Triple-A on the broadcast. I had read a month or so ago that Valdespin wasn’t happy at all with being optioned back earlier on in the season; and Backman gave him a talking-to.
Hopefully, that will stick with him……though, it’s far from the 1st time he’s been spoken to by people within the organization – having read this kind of thing attached to Valdespin’s prospect status since 2009 or so.
We’ll see what happens, but he’s obviously full of natural talent – while Murphy has to use every fiber of his being just to be mediocre without a defensive position.
Granted, Gotay was setting the batter’s box ablaze during his string of success – and fitting in very well with the winning team around him at the time…..but who knows w/Valdespin? He’s got some good assets, and seems to be very confident in himself.
The good thing about the situation is that Randolph isn’t around to mandate veterans be acquired, to play over “babies”.
So, at this point – we’ll find out.
The Mets got two runs from a fielding blunder.
V. can fill in for Bay. Let’s see how he does consistently playing before getting on his bandwagon. I’m fine with giving him an extended look. I think Bay won’t be back right away. I personally think it’s time for him to go.
If Murphy is in a slump, I don’t think just having him as a sub will do him any favors. His role might be as a DH, but this is the NL. If in trading season, someone offers something worthwhile, I’m open to trading him.
All this latest injury does is eliminate any kind of resurgence, in the hopes of moving him somewhere by the Trade Deadline. (I figured his days with the Mets were going to be numbered, anyway…..you’re not getting anything for him now; especially with a NTC he doesn’t have to waive.)
I had read some dumb comments from people wanting to release him on the spot, My question to any of those dolts is – how does dropping him now look any better than say, this off-season?
Or better yet – what does it accomplish?
It’s not like he’s a poster child for laziness, or where he’d become a problem within the club’s team element…..and on the 60-Day D.L. – he’s not blocking anyone from getting an opportunity to play LF.