WHAT BACK TO THE FUTURE DIDN'T PREDICT: THE RISE OF DANIEL MURPHY

When my daughter was around 7 or 8, she chose her team; the New York Mets and her favorite player, Daniel Murphy, the new director of the hit Daniel Murphy Post Season Show.  Daniel Murphy, the guy who has hit home runs in five consecutive post season games, tying an MLB record. Yes, that Daniel Murphy.  And all I have to say is Wow.  Today is Back to the Future Day; the day where Marty McFly travels to October 21, 2015, to save his children, yet to be born in “Back to the Future’s” 1985.  Yes, that day.  And although Chicago born director Robert Zemeckis predicted many things, which have yet to come true, many are holding their breath to see if the Cubs can make us believers.  The only problem is that Zemeckis didn't predict Murphy and quite frankly neither did the Mets.

"Murphy has shifted around a lot defensively over the years, but his offensive production has been pretty consistent and before the quadriceps injury (in June) he was having a typical season hitting .283 with four homers and a .749 OPS in 55 games," reported NBC Sports in late June.  And reports this week state that with Murphy entering the free-agency market in 2016, the Mets won't be bringing him back. According to ESPN, "The Mets would be wise to let Murphy walk and not be seduced by his hot streak. The New York Daily News reported Sunday that team sources said the club doesn't intend to bring Murphy back. But do the Mets at least give Murphy a qualifying offer, which is set at $15.8 million this offseason? If the Mets offer that, Murphy becomes less attractive to teams who would lose a draft pick if they sign him."

To say that Murphy has exceeded the Mets expectations would be an understatement.  Although consistent throughout the years, Murph has battled hard and played with passion, something we have been missing across the river, particularly with the absence of Derek Jeter this season.  “He’s about as locked in as I’ve ever seen him,” David Wright said of his teammate. “To be able to have that kind of series shows you how well he’s seeing the ball and just how good he can be when he’s locked in," according to the NY Post last week.  Besides having the most memorable stolen base in Mets' history against Dodger pitcher Zack Greinke, Murphy definitely plays gritty; you see it in his face and you witness it in his hustle.

As for predictions for Murph's future, many see him playing for an American League club as a utility player and designated hitter.  To make that kind of prediction on Back to the Future Day would be sort of superstitious. So, I'm just not going to do it because as a Yankee fan, "I ain't got no time for that!"

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
BYB Hot Stove Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof



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