Daniel Murphy burst on to the major league scene rather quickly. He went from decent prospect to top rookie last season, as he had some very good splits (.313/.397/.473) in his first 131 major league at-bats.Manager Jerry Manuel thinks so highly of him that the original plan to have him platoon with Fernando Tatis in left field has been scrapped. Murphy has impressed so much that the left field job is now his to lose.
"I don't want him to get into a strictly platoon situation," Manuel said of Murphy. "I think he's a little better player than that. And with Church being a left-handed hitter, I kind of see Murphy being a better hitter right now at this time. So Tatis could [play in right field]. It all depends on how they're doing. If they're not getting hits, then they're not going to play - development or whatever. They've got to perform."The big loser in all this, as Manuel seemed to hint, might be Ryan Church, as the search for extra at-bats for Tatis begins.
"He's the right fielder that I hope not to pinch-hit for," Manuel said of Church. "But if you're not performing, then I have to make some adjustments. I can't just give you 162 games and say, `You're my right fielder.'Considering he's basically given Murphy 162 games and has virtually said "You're my left fielder", the writing on the wall isn't good for Church (and it's in big red ink, too). I'm not sure if Manuel is trying to light a fire under him or not. It's not like it was lackadaisical play that put Church on the down slope last season (more like two concussions). While I don't necessarily disagree with the statements by Manuel, I'm not sure the motivation in making them is correct. In any event, Church had better hope for the same kind of start as last season (if not better) if he hopes to stay in the lineup past June.
More Coverage: Fantasy Baseball Mets Preview
