Other than the obvious answer of "because he could", I watch that and wonder why he would even try that. There are so many other bad places that ball could have gone.

Did the ball bounce off his foot originally?

I think the ball bounced off of first base.

Hit the base.

Doing that was the only way to make the play with the way his momentum was taking him.

I think the ball bounced off of first base.

Yep. I think you're right. Good for Murphy. For once we're laughing WITH him!

I originally heard the play on the radio. Now seeing it, I'm amazed.

Now I will defend Murphy against the wrath of BTFers everywhere.

Now I will defend Murphy against the wrath of BTFers everywhere.

Well, if he's going to be a first baseman who hits .241/.310/.353 he better make a play like that every night

I thought it was a pretty lucky play, its certainly not the highlight of the year.

I'm pretty sure Loretta was safe.

He sure looked safe. I wonder if the excitement of the play makes it more like that the runner would be called out.

Even a blind sow finds an acorn occasionally.

-- MWE

SNY slowed it down on replay.

Pretty clear he was safe, but:
- Ball was entering the glove as Loretta was arriving, and looks he hit stepped on the base a millisecond before Parnell "gains possession" of the ball.
- Did you see the play?!!

;)

Mark Loretta is one of the slower middle infielders around.

Speaking of Murphy, has anyone checked on Sam M. lately?

There are so many other bad places that ball could have gone.

Like where? He kinda lollipopped it. Even if he completely missed the target it wasn't going to roll very far beyond first base, and I'm assuming the catcher probably wasn't too far away. I doubt Loretta would have been able to advance.

Wow. That video quality is incredible for YouTube. I thought that MLB was really strict on taking its product off of YouTube, though. I often click on links to MLB videos and get the "this video has been removed at the request of the blah blah blah" screen. Is there a change, or is it just a matter of time before this is wiped out, too?

Hoax. Nice CGI though.

I agree with #15 - the ball was lobbed to the pitcher - it probably would've died in the foul ground grass, maybe five feet from the bag. If the catcher was there, same thing. It's a great play...but probably won't be the "Web Gem of the Year" or something.

Growing up, when an outfielder would climb on top of the wall padding in LF at Tiger Stadium, and take away a HR - I think that would be "Web Gem" worthy. Also, at least three plays a week that Ozzie would make at SS could be the play of the year in 2009...

I have been calling Murphy awkward and unathletic about once a week this season, but that play was really awesome.

He made an awesome play in leftfield early in the season, so he has a bit of flair in him, but it was bookended by the horrifying defensive play that got him moved off the position.

I'm with 15 and 18 in that the ball as he threw it couldn't have gone far, but #1 brings up a decent point: Awesome as that play was, it wasn't far from being another entry on ESPN's Top 10 anti-Web Gems, in which Murphy must lead the league.

That said, he really hasn't been nearly as bad at first as he was in the outfield. He's made several awful plays but also several great ones, and I don't know that he ever made a great play in left. I rarely trust my eyes this much, but Murphy appears to be much, much more comfortable in the infield. It's like he has a better sense of the rhythm there or something. Of course, it'd be nicer if he was hitting, naturally.

I think the key to Murphy's development with the bat is to let him develop his glove. He has been moved around 4 different positions in the last calender year. Given time to concentrate on and learn a position, I fully expect Murphy's bat to come around (as he'll eventually be able to dedicate proper time to his hitting skills, instead of constantly trying to learn a new position).

Or, if the Mets just keep it up, we'll have a really torpid Chone Figgins.

While I don't normally leave games early, I was attending the game with my 60-something mom and Ollie "No Strike" Perez had made it so that it was 9:50 at the end of the 6th. So we left. And I missed the play. Karma.

I'm pretty sure Loretta was safe.

He wasn't even in the same zip code.

Well, if he's going to be a first baseman who hits .241/.310/.353 he better make a play like that every night

Hey that's .246/.313/.364 to you. He had a good night last night, 2 for 4, 2 doubles.

#15, #18 and #20 are assuming only a change in direction, but not a change in velocity. If there was a change in velocity and direction, then the ball could have gone down the right field line and Loretta could have advanced.

He may even have been able to toss it to another zip code..

Mark Loretta is one of the slower middle infielders around.

The fact that he was able to stop two steps past the base to plead his case makes him seem especially slow. Sprint hard through the base; that's the ticket.

After the game, Mark Loretta kvetched to any reporters who would listen that first-base umpire Marty Foster told him that the flip had beaten him to the bag, which was why he was called out, and, oh, wait, never mind....

After the game, Mark Loretta kvetched to any reporters who would listen that first-base umpire Marty Foster told him that the flip had beaten him to the bag, which was why he was called out, and, oh, wait, never mind....

Nah, Loretta never argues with umps...

You have to look at plays like that in a vacuum. It should be no different coming from a gold or iron glove. Murphy thus should get full credit because the play speaks for itself. We don't need to extrapolate anything from it other than defense can be random, too.

4.9 seconds to 1b, that is one sorry lard-ass. I've timed Nyjer Morgan in 3.9

I think Mike Cameron robbing Nate Schierholtz is the play of the year thus far...