MLB: Mets: Jerry Manuel’s Q and A

Amazingly, Jerry Manuel makes it through this extensive interview without being fired even once.

Q. Given that you need to sign a No. 1 catcher, probably a starting pitcher, a left fielder, does it stand to reason that Murphy is probably the first baseman? And given other teams get a lot of power out of first base, is that concerning because you have to off set somewhere else?

JERRY MANUEL: Well, that’s the thing for us, is how do we get all of these pieces to fit. So with a guy like Daniel Murphy, we know that we don’t come in expecting or anticipating, because of the history has showed that he does not have that kind of power.

But what he did show is good defense, and it’s the first time him playing over there. He hit a number of doubles and extra base hits. He showed that he can make the adjustments.

But you’re right. We are going to have to supplement that throughout the lineup at some point, someplace, to have at least a threat of consistent power in other spots. And hopefully David, even Jose, Carlos Beltran, Francoeur, the left field could possibly have places where we could implement and get a little bit more power.

Q. A long ways to April, but based on the other holes you need to fill, does it stand to reason that he is most likely the first baseman?

JERRY MANUEL: Well, at this point, I would have to say yeah. We can leave in five minutes and that can change, but right now he’s the first baseman and look to improve him defensively. Thought he did a good job in that area. He showed that he can make some adjustments.

I think the latter part of the year you saw some of the power, some of the doubles that he hit. So right now, I’m looking for him to progress to the next level, but not possibly be in the category with Pujols, Derrek Lee, and these types of guys, but get that from other parts of the team.