Queens:
It makes sense for the Mets to keep Daniel Murphy as their starting first baseman. He’ll be just 25 years old, cost effective, and someone to look for improvement. Yes, his brief Major League career has yielded an on base percentage similar to Jeff Francoeur. There is a difference. Murphy is younger and showing that his power is developing. Perhaps, as he gains experience and has less of a tumultuous beginning, it will raise. He is a bit of an unknown. With Francoeur, one knows exactly what to expect. Murphy still needs a chance to prove his development. The Mets rushed him this season (he would’ve benefitted from playing a full season at triple-A) and must not rush him back out of the lineup.
Although the Mets need power, they can get it from the outfield spots, the healthy return of Beltran, and a return to form from David Wright. The team can afford a non-homerun hitting first baseman. Can Murphy produce along the lines of Keith Hernandez (.290 with 13 homeruns and 80 RBI per season sans the .384 OBP) or even Nick Johnson? If he continues his development, the answer is “quite possibly”. But, the Mets have to allow that to happen rather than make Murphy a scapegoat for a season gone awry by injuries and poor front office decisions. The talent is there; the numbers suggest improvement. It is way too early to give up. The Mets have bigger issues to address, which will likely become costly. A young, developing player capable of hitting .290/.330/.450 with 35 doubles, 15 homeruns and 80 RBI makes sense at first base, especially in Citi Field.
http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/armida_mets_cant_afford_to_make_another_mistake_with_murphy
World Cup:
For the U.S., Thursday’s 5-3 victory means the Americans have a 12-game World Cup winning streak. Already having clinched a spot in Sunday’s championship game, Team USA also got a leg up on its probable opponent in that game by beating the Cubans, long an international power.
The Americans took an early 4-0 lead on an RBI double in the first by Ike Davis (Mets) and a two-run homer by Terry Tiffee (Phillies) in the third off losing pitcher Maikel Folch. The fourth run came off reliever Yadier Pedroso, as Pedro Alvarez (Pirates) walked, moved to second on a single by Josh Kroeger and scored on a single by Jason Castro (Astros).
The Americans got an insurance run in the eighth off Pedroso, who was generally excellent for Cuba, striking out seven in 4 2/3 innings. Kroeger got his third single of the game, moved to second on Castro’s sacrifice and scored on Buck Coats’ two-out RBI single.
Team USA plays the Netherlands on Friday in its final scheduled third-round game, with lefthander Kasey Kiker scheduled to start. The Netherlands lost to Canada 11-5 on Thursday, while Puerto Rico beat Taiwan 8-2, and Venezuela beat Australia 9-4 in a meaningless tilt.
Canada pounded 14 hits, scored seven runs in the seventh and eighth to come back from a 5-4 deficit, and got homers by Mets farmhands Shawn Bowman and Jonathan Malo to deal the Dutch a crucial defeat. Bowman’s homer was a two-run shot in the seventh that scored Malo and gave Canada a 6-5 lead. Brett Lawrie (Brewers) and Adam Loewen (Blue Jays) keyed the five-run eighth with a triple and double that greeted reliever Juan Carlos Sulberan (Reds).
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=6611
Canada 11 Netherlands 5
Canada clinched the number two spot in the Group 2 Division. The Netherlands dropped their second game in a row and are now 3-3. They have to hope that Canada can beat Cuba and they upset the United States tomorrow in order to even have a chance for the gold medal round. The Netherlands had jumped to a 4-0 lead, Hanley Statia getting an RBI double off Brooks McNiven for the key hit. The Netherlands could do little more on offense after that. Jonathan Malo clubbed a 2-run homer in the third to halve the lead 4-2. After Netherlands scored a run in the fifth to go ahead 5-2, Canada erupted for nine runs in the last three innings to cruise to victory. Shawn Bowman hit a 2-run homer in the seventh to put Canada ahead for good
Puerto Rico kept their hopes alive for a gold medal match with an 8-2 win. They have to hope for a Canada upset over Cuba and the United States downing the Netherlands to leave a three way tie for first and they advance as a result of the tie breaker. Taiwan’s best hope is a third place game. Ruben Gotay drove in four runs and hit one of two homeruns for Puerto Rico. The other homerun was hit by Jose Valentin. After Puerto Rico had jumped to an 8-0 lead Taiwan put themselves on the scoreboard with a solo shot by Tai-Yung Kuo. Luis Atilano went the distance and got his third win, tossing a little over 100 pitches
http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?m=200909
It makes sense for the Mets to keep Daniel Murphy as their starting first baseman. He’ll be just 25 years old, cost effective, and someone to look for improvement. Yes, his brief Major League career has yielded an on base percentage similar to Jeff Francoeur. There is a difference. Murphy is younger and showing that his power is developing. Perhaps, as he gains experience and has less of a tumultuous beginning, it will raise. He is a bit of an unknown. With Francoeur, one knows exactly what to expect. Murphy still needs a chance to prove his development. The Mets rushed him this season (he would’ve benefitted from playing a full season at triple-A) and must not rush him back out of the lineup.
Although the Mets need power, they can get it from the outfield spots, the healthy return of Beltran, and a return to form from David Wright. The team can afford a non-homerun hitting first baseman. Can Murphy produce along the lines of Keith Hernandez (.290 with 13 homeruns and 80 RBI per season sans the .384 OBP) or even Nick Johnson? If he continues his development, the answer is “quite possibly”. But, the Mets have to allow that to happen rather than make Murphy a scapegoat for a season gone awry by injuries and poor front office decisions. The talent is there; the numbers suggest improvement. It is way too early to give up. The Mets have bigger issues to address, which will likely become costly. A young, developing player capable of hitting .290/.330/.450 with 35 doubles, 15 homeruns and 80 RBI makes sense at first base, especially in Citi Field.
http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/armida_mets_cant_afford_to_make_another_mistake_with_murphy
World Cup:
For the U.S., Thursday’s 5-3 victory means the Americans have a 12-game World Cup winning streak. Already having clinched a spot in Sunday’s championship game, Team USA also got a leg up on its probable opponent in that game by beating the Cubans, long an international power.
The Americans took an early 4-0 lead on an RBI double in the first by Ike Davis (Mets) and a two-run homer by Terry Tiffee (Phillies) in the third off losing pitcher Maikel Folch. The fourth run came off reliever Yadier Pedroso, as Pedro Alvarez (Pirates) walked, moved to second on a single by Josh Kroeger and scored on a single by Jason Castro (Astros).
The Americans got an insurance run in the eighth off Pedroso, who was generally excellent for Cuba, striking out seven in 4 2/3 innings. Kroeger got his third single of the game, moved to second on Castro’s sacrifice and scored on Buck Coats’ two-out RBI single.
Team USA plays the Netherlands on Friday in its final scheduled third-round game, with lefthander Kasey Kiker scheduled to start. The Netherlands lost to Canada 11-5 on Thursday, while Puerto Rico beat Taiwan 8-2, and Venezuela beat Australia 9-4 in a meaningless tilt.
Canada pounded 14 hits, scored seven runs in the seventh and eighth to come back from a 5-4 deficit, and got homers by Mets farmhands Shawn Bowman and Jonathan Malo to deal the Dutch a crucial defeat. Bowman’s homer was a two-run shot in the seventh that scored Malo and gave Canada a 6-5 lead. Brett Lawrie (Brewers) and Adam Loewen (Blue Jays) keyed the five-run eighth with a triple and double that greeted reliever Juan Carlos Sulberan (Reds).
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=6611
Canada 11 Netherlands 5
Canada clinched the number two spot in the Group 2 Division. The Netherlands dropped their second game in a row and are now 3-3. They have to hope that Canada can beat Cuba and they upset the United States tomorrow in order to even have a chance for the gold medal round. The Netherlands had jumped to a 4-0 lead, Hanley Statia getting an RBI double off Brooks McNiven for the key hit. The Netherlands could do little more on offense after that. Jonathan Malo clubbed a 2-run homer in the third to halve the lead 4-2. After Netherlands scored a run in the fifth to go ahead 5-2, Canada erupted for nine runs in the last three innings to cruise to victory. Shawn Bowman hit a 2-run homer in the seventh to put Canada ahead for good
Puerto Rico kept their hopes alive for a gold medal match with an 8-2 win. They have to hope for a Canada upset over Cuba and the United States downing the Netherlands to leave a three way tie for first and they advance as a result of the tie breaker. Taiwan’s best hope is a third place game. Ruben Gotay drove in four runs and hit one of two homeruns for Puerto Rico. The other homerun was hit by Jose Valentin. After Puerto Rico had jumped to an 8-0 lead Taiwan put themselves on the scoreboard with a solo shot by Tai-Yung Kuo. Luis Atilano went the distance and got his third win, tossing a little over 100 pitches
http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?m=200909
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