By Joe Rini
Daniel Murphy of the Mets had had a storybook postseason as the veteran infielder hit homeruns in six consecutive postseason game as he powered the Mets to the World Series.
Whether it is the law of averages or the Royals advanced scouting, the Murph has cooled off in the World Series, batting a mere .176 through four games, and the closest he has come to hitting a homerun is watching David Wright hit one from the on-deck-circle in Game 3.
Then with the Mets on the verge of tying the Royals two games apiece in the World Series before a frenzied Halloween crowd at Citi Field, his error in the field in the eighth inning of Game 4 opened the door to the Royals comeback and now the Mets stand on the precipice of elimination.
Considering the Mets would probably have been in their dens watching the World Series on TV if not for Murphy, it’s a shame for Murphy if this becomes the moment Mets fans remember most. Barring a miraculous comeback from down 3-1, which would disinfect any of the current disappointment of the fans, I hope the fans give Murphy the standing ovation he deserves tonight.
On a historical note, back in 1941 when my Dad was a teenager, the team he rooted for, the Brooklyn Dodgers, returned to the World Series after a quarter century absence and when on the verge of tying the World Series 2-2 against the Yankees, Dodger catcher Mickey Owen dropped a third strike for a passed ball that would have ended Game 4 and the Yankees subsequently staged an improbable winning rally and took a commanding 3 games to 1 advantage on their way to a championship. The good news for Mets fans is the Dodgers eventually recovered and won a World Series…the less than good news is that it took 14 years to win it in 1955.