Thoughts of 2016 are far off, as the Mets are making a run at what could and should be a very special season. The chorus of “next year” actually has to wait until next year for a change. So it’s not really worth delving into where Daniel Murphy might land after he becomes a free agent. What matters is how he is playing this year, and it is pretty damn good.
For the season Murphy is doing his typical thing, hitting .283/.327/.432 with 10 home runs, 30 doubles, 42 runs scored, and 56 runs batted in. In less starts than he’s had since 2011, Murphy nonetheless has a chance to set career highs in both home runs and RBI. Those are two very important stats to a ball player going into free agency. Since coming back from a DL stint on June 30th, his slugging percentage has been .449 and his wRC+ has been 107. Since August, those numbers rise drastically to .544 and 143 respectively. And he’s doing so with a .309 BABIP. Those are incredible numbers for someone who’s jumping around the diamond nearly every night.
His numbers were not bad before the DL either. From Opening Day to June 4th, Murphy hit .283/.335/.414. It’s just that in August alone Murphy has hit as many home runs (4) as he did in the first two months of the season. Does having a legitimately dangerous lineup around him help matters? It’s certainly hard to argue that Curtis Granderson ahead of him, and Yoenis Cespedes behind him is hurting. No longer does Murphy need to hit like a number three to help this team. He can just join the barrage.
Murphy has been immensely vital in his play on the field too, filling in for the injured David Wright at third, and now for Lucas Duda at first. He’s actually played those two positions in more combined games this year than he has second base. That’s the first time he’s done that in more than five years. It is no exaggeration to say that if Murphy hadn’t been here all year, we might not be looking at our first playoffs since 2006. And this is the same guy who 62% of Mets360 writers predicted would be traded during the season, including your’s truly.
This is just a continuation of the great production Murphy has given the Mets year in and year out since he debuted in 2008. Before the 2015 season is over, Murphy will likely rank 20th all-time in Mets history for career bWAR for position players. He’s already 15th in oWAR, eighth in batting average (ahead of Wally Backman and Carlos Beltran), 23rd in slugging (Gary Carter is 30th), will likely rank 15th in games played (he needs just five more to pass Keith Hernandez and Wayne Garrett), he just passed Lee Mazzilli and Kevin McReynolds for 13th in runs scored, and would need just 59 more hits to to reach 1000 as a Met, ranking 10th in club history. That last one seems just a bit out of reach, unfortunately. He also just needs five more doubles to have the second-most in team history behind Wright, and surprisingly only 14 more RBI to rank 12th in that category. For a guy that had to learn three new positions before he finally found a home, he’s provided the Mets with one of their most productive bats over the last decade, and he’s been a blue collar fan-favorite whilst doing so.
This sounds like a fond farewell, because reality suggests it is. Murphy will be due an increase in pay in 2016, and the Mets aren’t likely to be the ones doing the paying. But it’s important to remember just how valuable Murphy has been over the past few years. Especially when considering how bad the Mets were. In Murphy’s eight years in Flushing, the team finished fourth four times, third once, and second twice. This phenomenal season could culminate in the best one Murphy’s every experienced. It would be a fantastic way to say goodbye to one of the best Mets we fans have ever seen. Let’s hope the team can finish what they’ve started and bring a smile to some well deserved franchise faces.
He’s been absolutely fabulous, and his ability to fill in at 3B and 1B has been huge.
There are fans who really loathe Murphy for his boneheaded plays.
I am not one of them.
Moreover, I love that he plays with emotion, passion. This is a great teammate and a great Met who has never played better.
Long ago in the corporate world, I had a boss who was wise & successful. He once told me that you have to “accept the whole man.” That was his business philosophy. You can’t pick and choose what you like and don’t like. We all have strengths and weaknesses. The important thing is to maximize those strengths and understand the weaknesses. I think he’s absolutely correct — in love, in life, in the workplace and on the ballfield. If all a fan sees is the stupid things that Murphy does, if he focuses only on Murphy’s flaws, then that person is missing one hell of a ballplayer.
Agree completely.
I’m glad Murphy is going to get to experience the playoffs with the Mets. He’s earned that with all he’s been through with the team.
Hope he gets those 59 hits and 12 RBI’s Would likely mean we clinch our division.
Murphy would have to hit .476 for the remaining 31 games.
OK, I understand that it’s easy for a 6.5 game lead to make us feel all warm and fuzzy, but I think “all-time great” is a little strong, even for a franchise that has not known too many great offensive players over the years.
Among the similar batters to Murph, according to baseball-reference: Tony Boeckel, Sammy Hale, Les Bell, Roy Weatherly, Vance Coulier, and Jeff Keppinger.
Full disclosure: I made up one of those names, but I bet you couldn’t tell me which one without doing some research. So not exactly a roster of all-time greats is my point…
I appreciate what he’s done for the Mets over the years, but I won’t shed actual tears when we’re no longer living the Daniel Murphy lifestyle.
Aaron Gleeman once spent a winter listing the 50 all-time greatest Twins. He used a lot of stats, WAR, etc, and gave a really thoughtful analysis. The key was what they did while on the Twins. I always wanted to see that done with the Mets. It would be a long project. My guess is that Murphy would easily make the top 20.
Correction: Maybe top 40 when you factor in all the pitchers.
Actually surprised me that he comes in at number 20, but look at the games played. Beltran played in about 40 games less and has more than double the WAR. As Name says below, Murphy was a good Met based on accumulation and he represented the team well.
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=220&type=8&season=2015&month=0&season1=1962&ind=0&team=25&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0
Yeah. My line used to be “he’s not even the best second baseman named Dan Murphy.” There was a similarly named bloke who played long ago and was eventually supplanted by Eddie Collins on the old Philly A’s.
But Murph has won me over, and I embrace him with all his faults, because he cares, he plays hard, and he is a dangerous hitter when riding a hot streak. Thanks, Daniel.
Murphy is the epitome of offensive consistancy. He has worn the orange and blue with dignity and pride. He deserves and has earned a shot at the post season.
I’ll miss Murph but he’ll do just fine. Maybe the Yanks sign him to play second and he can benefit from playing between two fine fielders, surrounded by sluggers in the lineup with a short right field porch. Maybe a smart team like the Cardinals or Giants signs him to a be the Ben Zobrist type player he was meant to be. Whoever gets him will find great value. I think his bat, versatility and fire make him worth a 3-year, $36 mil contract or thereabouts. He just doesn’t fit into our plans going forward. Duda, Dilson, Tejada, Wright with Cuddyer, Flores and maybe Uribe or Johnson filling in next year. Unfortunately, we have to enjoy Murph now and hope he can go out with a bang. He’s this team’s Ray Knight.
Patrick, like Murphy but cannot call him an all-time great Met. Is he more productive than Dykstra was or Magadan or Jeffieries for their respective positions? I can’t say a definitive yes, but I would put him in that scale. Probably rank under John Stearns, a perennial all-star caliber catcher, or just about even with Lee Mazzilli at best.
James may be right, in that he is a top 40 player in Mets history. Would love to do the homework on that.
At the very least, Murphy deserves an “all-time” designation simply because he’s been here for a long, long time.
How long you ask?
Long enough to be 17th on the games played list, and likely finishing the year at 15th once get plays 5 more games. and long enough to be 12th in ABs
Fourth in doubles!
Will almost assuredly be second in doubles by October.
Had to look up some all-time Mets numbers for Murphy:
Games: 17th
AB: 12th
OPS: 34th
BA: 8th
RBI: 15th
Runs: 12th
SB: 22nd
2B: 4th
With 5 more doubles, he’d be second all-time on the list.
The missing piece, since WAR is only a contributing measure of greatness, is the intangibles and that other factor, “winning.” He needs some meaningful performances in high-pressure games to bring his name up a few slots. I’d love to see him get that shot.
I am satisfied to say that he is an all-time great Met.
I suppose he is, and that says more about the Mets than it does about Daniel Murphy.
Just considering the last twenty years, how many second basemen can you name who are clearly superior to Murph? A bunch, that’s how many, including guys who played not far from Daniel’s back yard, places such as Philadelphia, Boston, the Bronx. Stretch back thirty years and you find yourself comparing him with the likes of Whitaker, Frank White, Molitor, Kent, Biggio. Is he a superior player to Branden Phillips? May be, by now, I don’t know, but not over the course of their respective careers. How about the stars of tomorrow, Brian Dozier or Anthony Rendon, say?
I like Murphy, but my liking him does not require that I imagine him into something more than he is. He is a good offensive player, an all right defensive player who gains points for versatility and spirit — as opposed to focus, which he has lacked at times. It’s a good package, period.
I don’t think it takes imagination to realize that Murphy is one of the top five second basemen in Mets history.
If you want to compare him to Hall of Famers from 30 years ago, that’s fine and well. Nobody is claiming that he’s at the level of Whitaker, Biggio, etc. If you want to compare him to Cano, Utley, and Pedroia that’s your right — and of course he falls short there, too.
But that’s really the point of the reflection. No, he may never have been a star, but when you look back on his Mets career, he’s right there among the all-time leaders in many offensive categories, while mostly playing a middle infield position. It’s not nothing.
Just giving the man his due at a time when, yes, some of us will feel a little wistful to see him go.
+1
+2
Top 5…(while with the Mets, so leaving out Kent, Baerga, and Alomar since their success came elsewhere)
Alfonzo
Backman
Ron Hunt
Felix Milan
Murphy
?? Heck, he might be only really exceeded (offensively) by Alfonzo.
Daniel Murphy is an all time great Met. His top 10 and 20 offensive statistics don’t lie. They certainly should silence his critics that have always so unfairly insulted by considering him a super sub. He will be greatly missed next year and he will go where he is appreciated, unlike the NY cruel press and fans that excel at love to hate. Very few Met players get due respect and this is especially true of Murphy. No doubt, all existing pitching talent should and will leave once they reach free agency. How unfortunate the Mets have and always will live in the shadows of the Yankees. It won’t happen, but Mets should leave NY much like the Dodgers and Giants who say it was the best decision they ever made. Their World Series successes after moving to California says it all. Just wait and see 3 years from now Met fans will be eating crow, but have too much pride to admit letting Murphy get away is one of their all-time 5 greatest mistakes. Daniel Murphy has too much talent and class to hold a grudge against his critics. Daniel, you are great, respected and many of us Met fans will always appreciate you. Too bad you didn’t play where the most knowledgeable baseball fans would have nothing but praise for you.
Editor’s Note – Please do not capitalize words in your post, as that is a violation of our Comment Policy
Strawberry, Gooden, Seaver, Stash, Staub, Piazza, Kid, Wright, Reyes, Koosman, Cone, Hojo, Hundley, Cleon, Agee, Grote, Dykstra, Matlack, Stearns, Delgado…. I’m at 20………. easily!!! There are more who are/were better. He’s not an All Time Met Great!
He’s a nice, 1 dimensional player—certainly Lovable—warts and all!!!…and not worth a big contract.
Beltran, Harrelson, Alfonzo, Backman, Beltran, McReynolds…..
Sid, Santana, Matlack, Tug, …. should I stop?
You’re comparing hitters and pitchers together, and you’re not basing this on anything other than your opinion as far as I can tell. His numbers suggest Murphy could and should be in the Mets HOF someday.
Patrick, I agree 100% with you. I’ll add that Murphy’s future void will be even greater than the loss of Reyes. Mets tried replacing .290 hitters with < .240 lifetime players and we see the impact that had. Simply, the authors title says it all.
Also, the Editor's note I have no clue where I violated any capitalization rule. If I did I apologize to all.
..a bigger loss than Reyes!!!!!!???>?>
Ha..Insane!!!!
That was quite outlandish Old Timer.
can only wonder how much better he would be with a better hitting coaching staff.
Generally, the coaches get better when they get better players…truth.
..Olerud, Gilkey, Kingman, Millan…. Don Hahn (JK!!!!)
Patrick, I have about 10 pitchers and 25-30 ED Guys.
I love Murph…he’s flawed. Love him….not an All-Timer
Both standard and advanced statistics say he is roughly the 20th best offensive player the Mets have had. I could quibble down to maybe 25th, but that’s still 25th best out of the 884 players that have had one AB for the Mets. That means he’s in the top three percent. That’s an A+ baby!
Also have to factor in his offensive production relative to his position. A raw listing doesn’t do that. This is primarily a second baseman with the 8th highest career BA on the Mets. A middle infielder who will likely be 2nd all-time in doubles.
Like I surmised, I think he makes that Top 50 list. If not, it’s close.
He is an all-timer. You easily named 30 guys. You could probably name another ten, not quite so easily. But I don’t think you can make a strong statistical argument that Kingman, Millan, or Gilkey had better careers in a Mets uniform.
Longevity is part of it.
Kingman had 6 years with the team, 5 with an OBP under .290. He was a selfish player and a brutal defender. I think he hit under .220 a few times. Millan was a nice player, but about a .650 OPS with Mets. And slow. Gilkey had one sensational season, then a disappointing one, and then a disastrous one . . . and gone.
OTOH, in my opinion, Ed Kranepool is an all-time great Met . . . even if he was never great.
Eraff, Look at the last line of your last statement. You made my point in my initial posting. Some Met fans love to hate. Yep, you compliment then body slam Murphy. Too funny! Reminds me of a friend talking about his mother-in-law when he said, she is beautiful but lord she is ugly….Name 25 more former players for no reason just for the heck of it….
Old Timer—I don’t “Body Slam” Murph by calling him a One Dimensional Player—and I don’t hate him because of what he “Is”. It’s totally unfair to establish player value based only on what they cannot do… I believe Jim P made the point well.
Murph has been one of my favorite Mets…i do believe he could be a better player by embracing the entire game and the mental situations better. However, “as is—warts and all”, he’s a nice Major League Hitter!!!
I don’t consider Top 50/Top 100 Mets as “all Time List Worthy”…and so I don’t place Murph on the “Greatest All Time Mets List “.
As for another suggestion that Murph would be “missed more than Reyes”— I’d take that to be an entirely personal reflection that probably would not account for their actual baseball worthiness. This is akin to “missing” Joe McEwing more than Frankie Rodriguez. Otherwise, that statement has absolutely no chance of defense regarding the baseball worthiness of the two players–specifically, Reyes versus Murphy.
For those interested — and Brian, I think you’d find this interesting — here’s an article from Gleeman about the Twins Top 50. It goes into some of the factors he considered while compiling the list. This isn’t a guy who is simply ticking names off his fingers; he did the homework and has the facts to support what is ultimately opinion. The Twins have had a lot of great players since 1961, but the surprising thing was how seemingly ordinary the guys who made slots 35-50, which is around where I see Murphy coming in.
Again, I think this would be a cool winter project for the right, SABR-minded, statistically-oriented blog. Make it Top 100, add well-written profiles, and I’d buy it in paperback.
http://sabr.org/research/top-50-players-minnesota-twins-history
Don Hahn, Dave Schneck…. but, seriously folks!!!!— does Joel Youngblood get a sniff?
ok—-if Top 50 is an “all Time Great Met”……..
All time great mets?? Please..