accustomed

Newcomer Daniel Murphy says Rockies are built to win now

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Accustomed to the postseason, Daniel Murphy built his free agent checklist around playoff contenders.

When the ascendant Colorado Rockies showed as much interest in Murphy as he had in them, working out the details of a two-year, $24 million contract was no big deal.

''When you get to a point in your career where I am at, there's a lot more baseball behind me than in front of me,'' said Murphy, who reported this week for the Rockies. ''Being fortunate enough to play in the postseason the last four seasons, it is something that I want to do, and this organization is built to do that. This is a team built to win now.''

The Rockies achieved a franchise first by making consecutive playoff appearances, in the NL wild card game in 2017 and the NLDS in 2018, and Murphy sees no reason to believe the progression will slow.

''Hopefully I can be part of a ball club that goes deeper than that,'' Murphy said. ''The pitching staff is really underrated. What they were able to do at altitude last year was very impressive. I think the lineup is deep and dangerous.''

The move also seems a good fit for the Rockies, who will play Murphy at first base and move Ian Desmond to center field.

Murphy played in only 91 games between Washington and the Cubs last season after being delayed because of offseason micro-fracture surgery on his right knee, but in the five previous seasons he averaged 40 doubles, 15 homers and 78 RBIs with a .302 batting average and .464 slugging percentage.

That type of production could help invigorate an offense that hit .256, had a .322 on-base percentage and will be without departed free agents DJ LeMahieu and Carlos Gonzalez. That batting average was the lowest in franchise history, and the on-base percentage was second-lowest.

''He's going to help our guys in a lot of ways,'' Colorado manager Bud Black said. ''Love the experience. Love the playoff experience. He's been with winning teams. He's played well in the postseason. This guy is a tough, tough player. What he does through an at-bat - the lower strikeout, controls the strike zone. That's an at-bat that everybody watches, And his ball talk is great.''

A career .299 hitter in 10 seasons, Murphy has done even more in high-leverage situations. He has hit .309 in 25 playoff games, starting with a memorable 2015 postseason in which he hit three homers for the Mets in the NLDS victory over the Dodgers and four more in an NLCS victory over the Cubs. He has a career .327 batting average with runners in scoring position.

''One of the big things that I try to accomplish with runners in scoring position is being a little more aware of when I get a good pitch to hit to put a good swing on it and not miss it,'' he said. ''So maybe take fewer chances and try to ensure that I am going to center the baseball. Contact can kind of cover over a lack of power.''

Murphy also has had great success at Coors Field, hitting .330 with 10 doubles and 19 RBIs in 26 games there.

''I don't think it is necessarily a ballpark built for more homers, but it is a ballpark that is built for more offensive production,'' Murphy said. ''It is a place that if you are able to make contact, there are rewards for that. And making contact is one of the few skills that I possess in this game.''

Murphy, 33, has spent most of his career at second base and has not played first base regularly since playing 97 games there in 2009 and 46 in 2011 with the Mets.

Both he and the Rockies see a short re-acclimation period.

''He knows at this point in his career that it is best for him and best for the team he is on,'' Black said. ''He's a natural infielder.''

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Historical Potpourri: Lincoln County farm sold and family gets accustomed to living in Texas

Polly E. Chavez, Historical Potpourri Published 6:00 a.m. MT Feb. 19, 2019 | Updated 8:24 a.m. MT Feb. 19, 2019

Polly Chavez (Photo11: Courtesy)

Column readers learned in my previous column that my uncle Reynaldo’s family arrived in Texas and experienced border adventures. This column, according to his account, he tells more about border incidents and moving closer to San Elizario. This is what he had to say from his recollections:

I remember the time when our palomino horse got lost. It was one of the best saddle horses we had and the most gentle of the lot. My brother, Antonio happened to be in Juarez, Mexico a few days later when he saw a horse just like ours. He got a little closer and saw that the brand on it was ours.

When Antonio came home that evening he told Dad what he had seen. Dad wanted to know who was riding the horse. Antonio told him he didn’t recognize him but that he looked like an officer. Dad went to Guadalupe, Mexico the next morning to talk to tio Rendo. This is what we called my uncle Randolph Reynolds who was once married to Paublita Padilla, my grandmother’s sister. Dad told him about the horse and who was riding him.

“Caramba,” tio Rendo said. “I think I know who that man is. He is known as El Charrro. I will go to Juarez tomorrow and talk to him. If it’s the same man, I am sure I can get your horse back.”

A few days later tio Rendo sent his son, Rendito, to our place with the palomino horse, returning it to us.

One day we were in Guadalupe, Mexico visiting tio Rendo. The people of that town were celebrating the independence of Mexico, which is the 16 of September. As we were sitting on the patio that evening one of my uncle’s boys came running and told us that the Villistas were coming.

Tio Rendo told Dad to take his horses to an old shack about a half-mile away. He said the Villistas might confiscate them for their use in the revolution. They never came close to the house. We went for our horses that night and left the following morning without further incidents.

After two years of living on the farm we moved closer to San Elizario. Dad rented a farm about a mile out of town and we still had our farm animals. I liked San Elizario a lot. We had close neighbors here so that meant kids to play with. I was about 13-years-old now. I had lots of friends.

Dad also sent us to school again. The school building where we went to school is called “Los Portales” (the porches).

Sometime in December of that year Dad found a buyer for the ranch in Glencoe in Lincoln County, New Mexico. He had to go back to New Mexico so mother, my youngest sister Seldonia, two of my brothers and I went along. We went by covered wagon again, (this time to take care of business).

I remember we had to camp between El Paso and Newman for the night. It was cloudy and cold but we were lucky to find an old shack to stay in for the night. That night we had a heavy snow fall, we could not go on so Dad decided to stay near that old shack for a day. We spent two days there before we could move on. Why Dad picked the middle of winter to go to New Mexico I will never know.

We finally arrived at the ranch in Glencoe and you could tell mother was happy to see her old home again. Dad sold the ranch, the rest of the stock and the old covered wagon. Then he bought a new light wagon and two nice horses for the trip back to Texas.

After we returned to San Elizario Dad bought a Model-T Ford. My brother Sipio was the only one who could drive it.

Next column: Reynaldo, now 13-years-old, gets adjusted to Texas school life; a sister and a brother pass away and another sister marries a San Elizario boyfriend.

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Drivers urged to be careful as they get accustomed to new AWPR stretch

Drivers are being urged to take extra care this morning as they head along the new, final stretch of the Aberdeen bypass.

The long-awaited four-and-a-half mile stretch crossing over the Don will open this morning, completing the £745million project.

It links southern Craibstone to Stonehaven and Charleston with the Parkhill to Blackdog section in the north.

Throughout the night, workers were busy removing signs and updating road markings to ensure the road was ready for this morning’s rush-hour.

However, drivers heading along the stretch for the first time are being urged to take care.

Transport Scotland’s Douglas Laird, who is project manager for the AWPR project, said: “This new section of road between Craibstone and Parkhill will bring a range of benefits to road users, including reduced congestion, improved journey time reliability and enhanced safety.

“However, we would like to remind road users to drive with caution for their own safety and to consider the safety of other road users as there are a number of changes to road layout to become accustomed to.

“There may be a degree of uncertainty amongst some drivers and all drivers should be prepared to react appropriately to ensure journeys can be completed safely.”

Chief Inspector Stewart Mackie, added: “As with previous sections, I would urge motorists to take time to familiarize themselves with the layout.

“The final section is elevated and provides good views across the airport and north of the city.

“I would urge motorist to remain focused on the road ahead and not be distracted.”

Mobile speed cameras will be out on the road regularly.