Daniel Murphy is nearing 400 plate appearances since his last home run. Incredibly, the Mets second baseman, whowent 1-for-4 in the team’s 3-1 loss to the Reds yesterday, has not homered yet this season, a total of 259 atbats and 277 plate appearances — both teamhighs.
Murphy’s last homer was back on last July 16 — he has gone 338 at-bats and 364 plate appearances since going deep, which is absolutely staggering.
“Just not centering the ball enough,” Murphy said.
Murphy also took the blame for the Mets’ slumping offense.
“We’ve got really good pitching and, offensively, you don’t have to look any further than this locker,’’ he said. “I am not swinging the bat very well right now. I’ve gotta get better. It’s a big hole in the lineup right now.”
* Before Friday night, Jason Bay’s last concussion was on July 23, 2010, and after playing two more games, he didn’t see the field again that year. Doesmanager Terry Collins think that Bay could be done for the season now that he’s suffered his second concussion, this one on June 15?
“Anything’s possible,” Collins said, although he cautioned he’s not a doctor. “There’s always a possibility that he just doesn’t bounce back fromit.”
Asked if the Mets would consider parting ways with Bay for his own sake, Collins replied: “You just don’t give guys away. That’s not our business.” Bay is signed through next year.
* Eli Manning threw out yesterday’s first pitch at Citi Field, representing a Pampers promotion for “Most Valuable Dads.”
Holding his infant daughter Ava and sporting a Mets No. 10 jersey with MANNING on the back of it, the star quarterback lobbed in the pitch to Giants fan David Wright.
Manning recalled he played high school baseball, primarily second base. “I could turn the double play pretty well,” he said.
* Ruben Tejada (strained quad) will start a rehab assignment tonight for TripleA Buffalo . . . RHP Jenrry Mejia had his second relief outing for Buffalo yesterday, allowing a run on two hits andawalk in a third of an inning. Mejia is on a twoweek bullpen plan as he transitions to a relief role.
—Additional reporting by David Satriano