ST. LOUIS (AP) -The New York Mets love Daniel Murphy’s bat. Manager Jerry Manuel is confident the glove will come around.
Murphy was batting .320 with a home run and five RBIs entering Wednesday night’s game against the Cardinals, with a pair of three-hit performances. But he has made two errors in left field, and his defense has cost the Mets in two games.
The latest misplay was Tuesday night when he slipped and fell on Brendan Ryan’s liner that ended up as a leadoff triple to start St. Louis’ eighth-inning rally in a 6-4 victory. Murphy also dropped a fly ball that led to both Marlins runs in a 2-1 victory on April 12.
“Last year I thought we saw an adequate left fielder, I really did,” Manuel said. “It wouldn’t have been a concern of mine.
“I still feel very confident he can do it because he did it last year.”
o was batting second Wednesday, in the lineup.
Murphy batted .313 with two homers and 17 RBIs in 49 games last year as a rookie. He was an infielder in the minor leagues.
“You keep putting him out there,” Manuel said. “You keep giving him an opportunity to play.”
Manuel noted other young players have gotten over struggles in the field, including Cardinals left fielder Chris Duncan and the Astros’ Carlos Lee, who had fits at third base when he came up with the White Sox. He thinks all that’s needed is for Murphy to have a few routine games in the field.
“Just a couple clean games. Catch the ball, get it in, throw to the right bases, those types of things,” Manuel said. “And he’ll be fine.”
Manuel said Murphy is doing all he can to clean up his defense.
“You have to put in the time, and he’s doing it,” the manager said. “He’s working to get better.”
Add A Comment