Murphy, Evans Mets feature

By Brian Moritz
Press & Sun-Bulletin
FLUSHING - Let the setting tell the story.
It's the bottom of the ninth at Shea Stadium. The game's tied, 6-6. The New York
Mets are battling the Chicago Cubs in a critical late-season game, trying to st
ay alive in the National League playoff hunt. What remains of the announced crow
d of 54.416 fans starts to stand and cheer - the ones in the bleachers waving wh
ite towels.
Standing in the on-deck circle, waiting to lead off the inning, is Daniel Murphy
.
Standing a few feet away, watching his longtime friend, roommate and teammate, i
s Nick Evans.
Set aside, just for a second, the result that follows, the Mets' brutal extra-in
ning loss.
Instead, look at Murphy and Evans. Barely six months ago, they arrived in Bingha
mton to begin their first Double-A seasons with the Binghamton Mets. They had ne
ver played a day of pro ball above Single-A.
"I just knew I was going to play as quality baseball as I could, and (let) the c
hips fall where they may," Murphy said.
Now, here they are. In the thick of a big-league pennant race.
"It never even crossed my mind that I would be here in this situation," Evans sa
id. "I'm thankful for it, but I'm not taking it for granted. It's definitely the
most fun I've ever had playing baseball."
Both Murphy and Evans are more than holding their own with the big-league club.
Murphy, who was called up to New York after spending one day in Triple-A in earl
y August, is playing like a burgeoning star. He's hitting .339 with two home run
s and 17 RBI in his first 45 major-league games. Evans, who was called up from t
he B-Mets on July 10, is batting .262 with two home runs and nine RBI in 49 game
s.
"They have both played extremely well for us," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "
We know what they are able to do at the major-league level. They are a reason wh
y we are where we are."
Getting quality at-bats
Wednesday night, Murphy came 90 feet from being the guy to bolster the Mets play
off hopes. After falling behind in the count 0-2 to Cubs reliever Bobby Howry, h
e lined a lead-off triple to right-center field, diving head-first into third.
The Mets never brought him home and eventually lost the game, 9-6. But the close
st thing to a clutch hit the Metsgot that night came from a 23-year-old rookie.
"He's been getting big hits for us since he was called up," Mets third baseman (
and former B-Met) David Wright said. "He's got a good approach and he's got a go
od feel for it. When he gets a big hit, nobody's surprised in the dugout."
Few people who watched Murphy with the B-Mets this season would be surprised. Mu
rphy hit .308 with 13 home runs and 67 RBI and was an Eastern League All-Star.
In New York, he's shown the same patient, disciplined approach that made him one
of the Eastern League's top hitting prospects. On Wednesday, he drew a two-out
walk off Carlos Zambrano, setting the table for Carlos Delgado's grand slam.
"He's not afraid to work a count," Manuel said. "He's able to see a lot of pitch
es, and that can lead to (the opposing starter) having a high pitch count."
For Murphy, it all comes down to the mantra he's always had at the plate: Qualit
y at-bats
"It's what I try to do five times a night - give Jerry the best (at-bat) I can,"
Murphy said. "Have a good approach and put good swings. The more times I'm able
to do that, the more success I'll be able to have."
Murphy's had plenty of success in the big leagues already. He has 10 multi-hit g
ames and is batting .429 with runners in scoring position.
But like he did in Binghamton - where he always credited his success to his spot
in the lineup hitting around Evans, Fernando Martinez, Mike Carp and Caleb Stew
art - Murphy is quick to credit his big-league success to hitting in between Jos
e Reyes, Wright, Delgado and Carlos Beltran.
"Any success I have is because of the people around me," Murphy said. "Great lin
eup. Great coaching staff."
Second-time around
Of the two, Evans is the grizzled big-league veteran.
Evans, 22, was first called up to New York from the B-Mets in May. He had three
doubles in his major-league debut in Colorado, but had just one hit in his next
eight games before returning to the B-Mets.
He came back to the big leagues for good in July.
"The second time up, you're a little more aware of what's going on," Evans said.
"You're not trying to feel your way around as much."
Evans, who hit .311 with 14 home runs and 53 RBI in 75 games for the B-Mets, has
n't been an every day player in the big leagues. Of his 45 big-league games, 22
have come in a pinch-hitting or pinch-running role. He's hitting .293 since Aug.
5, including his first big-league home run on Aug. 31.
He struck out on Wednesday in his lone at bat, when he pinch hit for catcher Bri
an Schneider.
"I feel good out there," Evans said. "When you get limited playing time, you wan
t to do something and help contribute. But you don't want to try to do too much.
You just want to do the little things, help contribute, do something every time
you get the chance."
Both players are works in progress. Evans is concentrating on his day-to-day con
sistency at the plate. Murphy's focus is on improving his defense - he's schedul
ed to play in the Arizona Fall League, where he'll play second base, as opposed
to playing the outfield like he has in the big leagues.
For the time, though, the two are enjoying this ride in the majors together.
Evans and Murphy lived together in Binghamton, sharing an apartment just off of
Main Street in downtown. Now, they share a room at the Holiday Inn that's visibl
e from the Shea Stadium parking lot.
"Like I said, I don't take a day of it for granted," Evans said. "There are guys
who play their whole careers and do not get to be in the position that I'm luck
y enough to be a part of in my first year. I'm enjoying every minute of it and j
ust trying to make the playoffs."