By Steve Hunt
FOXSportsSouthwest.com
March 3, 2011
There's a Seinfeld episode where Jerry loses a 20-dollar bill and then finds another one in an old jacket to even things out. Basically, he was the even out guy. During his three years as a Texas Ranger, that label definitely fits versatile outfielder David Murphy.
The Baylor product comes off a 2010 where he hit .291 with 12 HR and 65 RBI. He posted those solid numbers in 419 at-bats, which is right around his average number of plate appearances for his three years in Arlington.
As a rookie in 2008, he hit .275 with 15 HR and 74 RBI in 415 at-bats. He followed that up in 2009 with a .269-17-37 season in 432 at-bats. So, if Ranger fans can count on anything this year, it's that David Murphy will get in the neighborhood of 400 at-bats and that when he's in there, he will definitely contribute.
Of course, much of his action last year came as a fill-in right fielder when 2009 all-star Nelson Cruz had several stints on the disabled list for a variety of hamstring issues. Ranger brass and fans both hope that Big Nellie's hammy are three words that are never uttered in 2011 but with 162 games, injuries are going to pop up and guys are going to need days off.
And that's exactly where Murph shows his value to this club. He has 270 games of big-league experience in left, 134 in right and 42 in center. So if Josh Hamilton, Julio Borbon or Cruz ever needs a breather, he's definitely ready to roll as Ron Washington's own super sub. David also has some solid value as a right-handed bat off the bench late in games and also as a defensive replacement who rarely makes mistakes no matter where he plays.
He also has 14 games of experience at DH. Now with Mike Napoli and Michael Young set to split at-bats in that role, it looks like Murphy might not have much of a chance to get many at-bats at that spot. But Napoli will split time with Mitch Moreland at first and Young has also been getting work there so far this spring. And who knows how many games Napoli will play behind the plate? So, there could be 10-15 games for Murph as the club's DH.
Right now, the Ranger outfield is set with Borbon in center, Hamilton in left and Cruz in right but as fans know, the chances of that trio remaining intact for the balance of the 2011 season are pretty slim. To quote the great Wash, that's just the way baseball go.
But that's why the Rangers need Murphy. Not only is he a great guy in the room and an engaging personality, but he's someone who epitomizes that clich
