Daniel Murphy went through an unusual routine during spring training thanks to injuring his hamstring.
He did not play after March 19 when he injured his hamstring in a game against the Cardinals in Jupiter, although he did play in minor league games and took extra at-bats in order to try and be ready for the regular season.
Murphy was able to be ready for Opening Day, but he’s gotten off to a sluggish start this season, going just 2-for-18 over the season’s first five games.
On Sunday, Terry Collins said Murphy is suffering from general fatigue and stiffness, so he decided to give him the afternoon off.
Collins said Murphy hasn’t had a reoccurrence of the hamstring injury, but did say the idea is to avoid, a “two-week or two-month thing,” according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York.
The last part of that is interesting, because that would suggest something is in fact wrong with Murphy, whether it’s the hamstring or something else.
Whatever the case is, it’s clear Murphy is off at the plate to start the year. Perhaps the unusual camp he had in the second half played a role and he’s rusty, hurt, or both. Whatever the case is, it probably isn’t the worst thing in the world to have him sit and hit the reset button, although he is 5-for-11 in his career against Braves starter Alex Wood.
Just Mets 