Washington Nationals Reaction: Daniel Murphy Continues to Crush Mets Pitching

Murphy continues crushing Mets pitching

When the Nats signed Daniel Murphy to a three-year, $37.5 million deal over the winter, most people saw the signing as a pretty fair market-price for the seven-year veteran. As it turns out, Washington has been on the good end of perhaps the biggest bargain of the offseason.

Boasting a .346/.384/.580 slash line, Murphy leads the National League with 112 hits. While he has crushed pitchers no matter what team they’re on, the Nats second baseman has been an even more destructive force against his former team. Murphy has gone 17-for-40 (.425) with five home runs and 14 RBIs in ten games against the Mets so far this season, earning a loud showering of boos from the Citi Field faithful every time he steps up to the plate.

While Murphy has stated that he views games with New York as nothing more than a match up with a division rival, his performance at the plate tells otherwise. The Mets failed to make an attempt to resign their long-time fan favorite beyond the Qualifying Offer, even despite the seven home runs he hit during the playoffs. No one could blame Murphy for taking exception to the puzzling move by the Mets front office, even if he won’t admit it.

Regardless, the Nationals can count their lucky stars New York did what they did. Murphy wasn’t even the first player the they pursued to fill their hole at second base, nor was he even the second. It was only after losing out on Ben Zobrist and failing to convince Brandon Philips to waive his no-trade clause that Washington finally entered negotiations with Murphy. Seven months later, the infielder is batting third and leading their offense in a tight pennant race. Go figure.

Next: Nats-Mets rivalry proving to be one of the best in the sport