Murphy may break record – a good one!

Daniel Murphy is having quite a year. Beginning the season as the starting left fielder, he couldn’t field well enough to stick in that position.

Moving to first, he’s shown some immaturity at the position. But at the plate, he leads the team in home runs (not a huge feat) and could possibly break a Mets team record.

Murphy currently has 36 doubles. The team record is 44, held by Bernard Gilkey from 1996. It’s a stretch with 10 games remaining, but he has a shot.

Closer in reach, notes David Waldstein, is the doubles hit by a first baseman record. John Olerud currently holds the record with 39.

The most amazing thing about this is Olerud hit 39 doubles in 160 games. Murphy has hit 32 in only 94.

For the full story, head over to The NY Times.

I’ve been complaining that Murphy doesn’t hit well enough (or field well enough) to be the team’s first baseman next year unless they seriously upgrade at other positions.

Murphy, in my mind, will be dangled as trade bait this winter. The Mets have Nick Evans waiting in the wings to show what he can do and, to me, they are very similar players. The Mets could gamble and send one away, hoping the one they retain is the one that performs.