All David Murphy ever wanted was a chance to be an everyday player in the big leagues. Before this season, the Baylor-ex had been a big part of the Texas Rangers lineup, but as a fourth outfielder.
This season with Josh Hamilton moving back to being an everyday centerfielder, Murphy has been given the chance to be an everyday player in left field, and so far, he's taken the opportunity and run with it.
Through five games this season, Murphy is 8-for-15 with a home run, a double and two RBIs, including Tuesday night's lone RBI of the night on an infield single in the second inning.
It seems as if getting to play every day is helping Murphy settle in and have a more comfortable role with the team, as he's a notorious slow starter in previous seasons. But there's still work for Murphy to do to become an all-star caliber player.
Murphy has struggled so far this season in left field with one error and a couple of other dingy plays that made you wonder if the Rangers could be better off with their late-game alignment on the field the majority of the time.
When the Rangers have had the lead after the seventh inning this season, Ron Washington has lifted Murphy from the game to move Hamilton to left and put Craig Gentry into the game in center. Gentry is a fine defensive centerfielder, and Hamilton is an above-average defensive leftfielder. But Gentry struggles at the plate, and you'd have to think as long as Murphy is doing what he's doing, there will be no threat for his starting gig.
