Murphy’s Gold Glove moment

I’m watching the Mets game — which can be a dangerous thing, as we all know — and things have been going well. As an example, take the seventh-inning play by first-baseman Daniel Murphy. The youngster, who the Mets view as a potentially important offensive cog, has proven himself to be a man without a position (anyone remember Gregg Jeffries?). He failed miserably as a left fielder and has looked like a deer in the headlights at first.

But tonight, he turned in one of those rare plays, one destined for the late-night highlight reel.

Mark Loretta of the Dodgers pokes the ball down the first-base line, hitting the bag and popping the ball up and toward the infield. Murphy comes racing in, grabs the ball barehanded and flicks it behind his back to pitcher Bobby Parnell who was covering. Parnell turned in a nice stretch to collect the throw and Loretta was out (the instant replay was inconclusive — it was close, but the Mets deserve a break).

Ron Darling, I think, compared him to Jason Kidd and the Mets dugout bowed in his direction.

All I can say is “sweet” (to quote my nephews).

Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie. View all posts by hankkalet