Written by Ian Casselberry at Bloguin
The most valuable player of the World Series isn’t always an expected name. Sometimes, the one who wins MVP honors isn’t the team’s best player, so much as the one who came through in that moment. David Freese and Edgar Renteria may not be the names immediately associated with the 2011 Cardinals or 2010 Giants, but they were the MVPs of those World Series.
Will a similarly unexpected player emerge to be the difference in this year’s Fall Classic. Or will a star assert himself in this year’s series and affirm his greatness, such as Madison Bumgarner did for San Francisco last year? The Mets arguably have more star power and headline names, but the Royals have been in this situation before and have several guys who could step up in key moments.
When the World Series is finally decided, one of these eight names is likely to be holding up an individual award to go with that championship trophy in a champagne-drenched clubhouse.
Daniel Murphy, Mets
This is the easy one, right? Murphy has been an improbable postseason dynamo, putting up numbers that stack him alongside sluggers like Barry Bonds, Carlos Beltran and Nelson Cruz. He’s the one Mets hitter that no team wants to face right now. Pitch him low and inside, and he golfs it out with a quick, short swing. Throw gas up in the strike zone and he extends his arms to launch the ball out of the park.
Given his success thus far through the postseason — .421 average, 1.462 OPS, seven homers, 11 RBI — it’s possible that the Royals won’t give Murphy a chance to continue his heroics. But he’s also the Mets’ only consistent offensive threat, which may mean Kansas City pitchers will risk pitching to him with the bases empty. Can Murphy maintain his timing and production after a five-day layoff?
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