NEW YORK -- A few hours before the Mets advanced to the National League Championship Series on Wednesday, Daniel Murphy, a key member of the last Mets team to go to the World Series in 2015, threw out the first pitch and was given a loud ovation from the 44,103 fans in attendance at Citi Field.
Murphy became a legend in the Big Apple that year because he had a postseason for the ages. In the National League Division Series and NL Championship Series, Murphy went a combined 16-for-38 (.421) with seven home runs and 11 RBIs. He hit a home run in six consecutive games, a postseason record. Four of those homers came in the NLCS against the Cubs, leading Murphy to earn Most Valuable Player honors for that series. Murphy credited then-Mets hitting coach Kevin Long, who told him to use his legs more at the plate. It helped him find power during the postseason.
âItâs still humbling,â Murphy said about being remembered for his postseason heroics. âTo see just how much Mets fans get up for this time of year and to think that our family made some memories for them -- I wouldnât say along the lines of Pete Alonso bringing them back from the dead against the Brewers -- but we had some memories that we made in â15. Iâm really thankful that it is so well received. It was such a fun run, and I love being in New York. I loved my teammates and loved my fans.â
Murphy sees similarities between the â15 team to this yearâs version of the Mets. Energy is the key to success, and he believes New York, which will open the NLCS on the road against the Dodgers or Padres on Sunday, can capture a World Series title.
âThey can win the whole thing," Murphy said. âThe starting pitching right now has been [great]. Sean Manaea goes out -- you donât see seven innings like that anymore, not to say that you saw it when I played. Seven innings in the postseason, itâs the absolute ringer for doing it.â
Murphy is also impressed by the job manager Carlos Mendoza has done with the team. He credits Mendoza for staying calm when the team was at its worst earlier in the season.
"The Mets could have been buried at least once after May, which wouldnât be unreasonable, and then they came out of the gates, 0-5," Murphy said. "But he has been a steady presence leading them through this entire campaign. He has been the right voice for [general manager] David Stearns in their first year.â
Not only did Murphy throw out the first pitch on Wednesday, but he was also part of SNYâs broadcast booth for two regular season games and had fun talking about baseball with play-by-play broadcaster Gary Cohen and game analysts Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling.
âI like baseball and stayed pretty close to it,â Murphy said. âI coach my boys. I wander around Jacksonville and show up to different high schools from time to time. Itâs all about ball. So if the Mets will have me back to do another game or two on SNY in the future, I would certainly be up for it."