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Thursday, July 09, 2009

CStB: Mets’ Murphy In Genuine Defensive Highlight Shocker

This is more shocking than “Chocolate Soup For Diabetics Vol II” winning the Macedonian Radio Oktomvri award!

Daniel Murphy’s behind-the-back-flip to Bobby Parnell in the Mets’ 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers is being described as “the Web Gem Of The Year” on ESPN. In light of young Mr. Murphy’s struggles in left field earlier this season, such an achievement (however flukey) provides ample encouragement for hopefuls in so many other fields ; Tom Sizemore thanking the Academy for his Best Actor Oscar? Sure thing. Isiah Thomas as Division I Men’s Coach Of The Year? No problem. Oliver Perez winning his first Cy Young Award? OK, that’s crazy talk.

Repoz Posted: July 09, 2009 at 12:43 PM | 31 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: awards, mets

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1. bfan Posted: July 09, 2009 at 01:06 PM (#3247034)

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.

2. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: July 09, 2009 at 01:10 PM (#3247039)

Did the ball bounce off his foot originally?

3. bfan Posted: July 09, 2009 at 01:14 PM (#3247041)

I think the ball bounced off of first base.

4. AJM Posted: July 09, 2009 at 01:15 PM (#3247044)

Hit the base.

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

5. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: July 09, 2009 at 01:16 PM (#3247045)

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!

6. Raskolnikov Posted: July 09, 2009 at 01:16 PM (#3247048)

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.

7. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: July 09, 2009 at 01:19 PM (#3247053)

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

8. Rants Mulliniks (formerly Cold Prosimian) Posted: July 09, 2009 at 01:23 PM (#3247058)

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

9. Sam Hutcheson is the Rickey Henderson of... Posted: July 09, 2009 at 01:33 PM (#3247067)

I'm pretty sure Loretta was safe.

10. OPS+ Posted: July 09, 2009 at 01:38 PM (#3247073)

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

11. Mike Emeigh

Posted: July 09, 2009 at 01:38 PM (#3247074)

Even a blind sow finds an acorn occasionally.

-- MWE

12. Howie Menckel Posted: July 09, 2009 at 01:41 PM (#3247077)

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?!!

;)

13. Tricky Dick Posted: July 09, 2009 at 01:43 PM (#3247079)

Mark Loretta is one of the slower middle infielders around.

14. Famous Original Joe C Posted: July 09, 2009 at 01:56 PM (#3247101)

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

15. Shredder Posted: July 09, 2009 at 02:01 PM (#3247109)

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.

16. deputydrew Posted: July 09, 2009 at 02:21 PM (#3247136)

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?

17. Gamingboy Posted: July 09, 2009 at 02:32 PM (#3247149)

Hoax. Nice CGI though.

18. Steve Balboni's Personal Trainer Posted: July 09, 2009 at 02:36 PM (#3247153)

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...

19. PreservedFish Posted: July 09, 2009 at 02:37 PM (#3247156)

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.

20. TedBerg

Posted: July 09, 2009 at 03:18 PM (#3247221)

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.

21. Heinie Mantush (Krusty) Posted: July 09, 2009 at 03:43 PM (#3247272)

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.

22. Liver of blaspheming 'zop Posted: July 09, 2009 at 03:49 PM (#3247288)

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.

23. Guapo Posted: July 09, 2009 at 03:56 PM (#3247298)

I'm pretty sure Loretta was safe.

He wasn't even in the same zip code.

24. Swoboda is freedom Posted: July 09, 2009 at 04:14 PM (#3247322)

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.

25. DK near DC Posted: July 09, 2009 at 04:16 PM (#3247328)

#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..

26. esseff Posted: July 09, 2009 at 04:31 PM (#3247361)

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.

27. JE

Posted: July 09, 2009 at 05:16 PM (#3247440)

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....

28. Jim P Posted: July 09, 2009 at 06:20 PM (#3247536)

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...

29. MSalfino Posted: July 09, 2009 at 06:32 PM (#3247559)

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.

30. StillFlash Posted: July 10, 2009 at 12:00 AM (#3248055)

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

31. Alex_Lewis Posted: July 10, 2009 at 02:20 AM (#3248334)

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

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CStB: Mets’ Murphy In Genuine Defensive Highlight Shocker

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