o make Daniel Murphy the everyday left fielder, while turning right field into a platoon of Fernando Tatis and Ryan Church. Jerry never said outright that he was going to turn right field into a platoon. Per The New York Times on Sunday:“I don’t want him to get into a strictly platoon situation,” Manuel said of Murphy. “I think he’s a little better player than that. Also, with Church being a left-handed hitter, I kind of see Murphy being a better hitter right now at this time. It all depends on how well they’re doing. If they’re not getting hits, they’re not going to play.”
I personally took Manuel's words as a confidence booster to Murphy while simultaneously challenging Church to step it up a bit (hence the mere blurb yesterday). This isn't the first time the skipper has sent a message through the media this spring training. My hunch was correct, as everything was clarified by Ryan after yesterday's split squad game. Per The New York Times:
As the Mets stretched Monday morning, Manager Jerry Manuel sidled over to Ryan Church wearing a wide smile. “He said, ‘You’re getting ready to be the right fielder for the New York Mets,’ ” Church said. “I said, ‘I knew that.’ ”
All Jerry meant to say was that Murphy is showing him that he doesn't need to be in a platoon situation. This means that Tatis will not only sub in left field, but also in right field and the corner infield positions. He'll be used to spell the regulars and as the right handed bat off the bench, instead of as a strict platoon partner. Nothing to worry about in Port St. Lively folks. Lets not turn it into Port St. Languid.
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