Hernandez to tutor Mets’ Murphy at 1B
February 9, 2010
NEW YORK (AP)—Keith Hernandez has a new task for the New York Mets, movingdown from the broadcast booth to give Daniel Murphy(notes) lessons at first base.
Murphy started last season in left field and had never played first in themajor leagues before May 20, when the Mets made the abrupt shift followingCarlos Delgado’s(notes) hip injury. The 25-year-old made 10 errors in 101 games anddidn’t appear comfortable around the bag.
Hernandez, an 11-time Gold Glove first baseman, spent two hours Monday andTuesday instructing Murphy and Nick Evans(notes) at the Mets’ training complex in PortSt. Lucie, Fla. General manager Omar Minaya had called Hernandez last weekasking for his teaching skills.
“I have one of the best first basemen of all time that have played theposition there. It’s my job to get as much information out of him as I can,”Murphy said. “I want to be as athletic over there as Keith was. I want to bethe guy that, you know, gets the lead runner, that makes an aggressive play andputs his body in a good spot.”
Hernandez, who previously worked with Todd Zeile and John Olerud, thoughtMurphy did as well as he could when making the shift with little practice lastyear. Hernandez intends to speak with manager Jerry Manuel and probably willwork with Murphy at times during spring training.
Murphy said he was unsure at times last year when to go after balls hitbetween himself and second baseman Luis Castillo(notes).
“I think he needs to work on the footwork, getting comfortable around thebag when he’s playing back,” Hernandez said. “The bag becomes a part of you.It’s like an appendage. Everything is just you move, and it’s there. There’s acomfort zone with the bag, and that’s what he needs to get. And the only wayhe’s going to do it is to take advantage of all this time in spring trainingdoing the drills ‘til he gets better at it.”
NOTES: The Mets are having a line drawn across the center-field fence nearthe Home Run Apple at Citi Field, cutting the height for a home run in that areafrom 16 feet to about 10 feet, a Mets official said, speaking on condition ofanonymity because no decision was announced. Elements of the change were firstreported by the Daily News. … The Mets also are opening a McFadden’srestaurant in Citi Field for this season, the official said. There also is onein Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Previously, the Mets announced they wereconstructing a team Hall of Fame near the Jackie Robinson Rotunda behind homeplate. … OF Angel Pagan(notes) agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract, settlingthe Mets’ last arbitration case. He had asked for a raise from $625,000 to $1.8million and had been offered $1,275,000. Pagan can earn $187,500 in performancebonuses: $12,500 for 300 plate appearances, and $25,000 each for 350, 400, 450,500, 550, 600 and 650. … The Mets claimed OF Jason Pridie(notes) off waivers fromMinnesota and designated RHP Jack Egbert(notes) for assignment. The 26-year-old Pridiehit .265 with nine homers and 53 RBIs last year at Triple-A Rochester andappeared in one major league game, as a pinch runner.
Comments
Got something to say?
