Daniel Murphy has become very familiar with recovering from knee injuries. Now, the Mets second baseman will try to learn how to avoid them.
In 2010, his season ended when a collision at second base resulted in a torn right MCL. Last year, his season was cut short after tearing his left MCL on another play around the base.
Murphy is set to be the starting second baseman again this year, and he will work extensively with new infield coach Tim Teufel to prevent the same results.
“I know I’ve got to get better at everything around the bag at second base,” Murphy said. “And [Teufel] has told me he’s watched film of me, but he’s also seen with his own eyes what I need to do and how to attack it.”
Teufel takes over for Chip Hale, who left to be Bob Melvin’s bench coach in Oakland. Last spring training, as the manager of Triple-A Buffalo, Teufel sought out Murphy to get him to improve his defense.
“He took quite a bit of time to help me out last spring and I think that’s going to pay off, because now he knows what I do well and what I don’t do well,” said Murphy, who spent yesterday afternoon visiting kids at Cohen Children’s Hospital in New Hyde Park and will be honored tonight at the Thurman Munson Awards Dinner in Midtown.
Murphy’s unfamiliarity with the double-play pivot led directly to both injuries and although he was able to avoid surgery each time, that will be a main focus when he gets to Port St. Lucie on Feb. 10.
“I talked to Tim at fantasy camp in Florida a couple of weeks ago about a game-plan for what I have to do to get more comfortable there, so we’re already getting things going,” said Murphy. “We were always at different levels when I was coming up through the system, but I know how good a player he was, especially defensively.”
As for the lack of off-season signings, Murphy said: “I trust this organization . . . Only time will tell how it turns out.”