To earn a spot on the field under Milwaukee Brewers skipper Pat Murphy, executing the fundamental details is non-negotiable. This standard is a primary factor behind the Brewers constantly outperforming predictions, even though they seldom boast the most talented roster on paper.
Regrettably, first-year shortstop Cooper Pratt received a harsh lesson regarding this rule on Tuesday evening.
Murphy pulled Pratt from the game in the middle of an inning because the newcomer did not hustle on a pop fly that fell safely among three Mets defenders. The incident took place during the fifth frame of Milwaukee’s eventual 3-2 defeat against New York.
Having jammed himself and lofted a weak fly ball, Pratt paused briefly near the batter’s box before starting his run to first. Although the ball fell just inside fair territory along the first-base line, Pratt’s stay at first base proved to be short-lived.
While occupying first base, Pratt suddenly discovered that pinch runner David Hamilton was coming out to replace him.
In his postgame comments, Murphy confirmed that the benching was due to Pratt’s lack of effort. The manager also noted that Pratt failed to execute a bunt earlier in the matchup, which had already tested the skipper’s patience.
“He is still learning,” Murphy remarked. “We wanted him to lay down a bunt, but he took a strike. … His initial effort was solid. On the next pitch, however, he took a strike right down the center of the plate.
“Then, in his subsequent plate appearance, he hit a high fly to right field and just stood there. Once the ball hit the ground and remained in play, he could have effortlessly reached second. What might have occurred next is anyone’s guess. However, a player simply must recognize that situation.
“I understand his character. He is a wonderful young man. This isn’t about him being lazy. But your mind must be fully invested. … To compete at this level, your focus has to be absolute. I am optimistic this serves as a valuable lesson for him.”
When questioned if the nature of Pratt’s swing contributed to his sluggish start from the plate, Murphy indicated he had yet to review the video footage of the sequence.
Following the final out, Pratt owned up to his lapses in concentration and vowed that such mistakes would not be repeated.
While Murphy’s stern lesson may yield the desired outcome for Pratt, the decision ultimately might have cost Milwaukee the victory.
During extra innings with the bases full and a single out, Christopher Morel hit a grounder to Hamilton at third base. An accurate throw home would have retired the lead runner to keep the score level, but Hamilton’s throw went astray, letting the Mets drive in the decisive run.
During his initial stint in the major leagues, the 22-year-old infielder has held his own offensively. Before Wednesday’s matchup, Pratt possessed a slash line of .259/.333/.347. Although these numbers fall under league norms, his defensive prowess at a premium position allows him to remain a highly valuable asset.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Murphy has a history of pulling prospects from games, having previously utilized this teaching method on Sal Frelick, Caleb Durbin, and Tobias Myers.
Even though substituting a developing player mid-game carries inherent risks, Murphy has built up enough credibility to justify his strategic choices. Though this particular move might have contributed to Tuesday’s loss, the manager is counting on his message helping Pratt grow in the long run.
