2nd Base 2011: Who do you PREDICT?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Andy Martino speculates on the Mets 2011 second baseman in the Daily News this morning. (see below)

Who do you THINK it will be? (There's a separate poll for who you WANT it to be.)

Although Tejada has struggled with the bat, he remains the leading candidate to replace Luis Castillo in 2011 - and the Mets have made clear in recent weeks that they do not consider the veteran a part of their future. When Tejada failed to produce after an August call-up, the Mets turned to Triple-A infielder Luis Hernandez, a clear sign of Castillo's status. Although the Mets have tried in the past to trade Castillo - who is owed more than $6 million next season - they seem likely this time to somehow finalize the divorce that both sides clearly want. The Mets may not have any choice but to turn to Tejada, who is batting just .206. The second base free agent class is weak this offseason, highlighted by 32-year-olds Orlando Hudson and Cristian Guzman. Reese Havens, the Mets' first-round choice in 2008, missed most of this year with oblique and back injuries. Daniel Murphy, who will work at second base and other positions while playing in the Dominican Republic this winter, is too limited defensively to become a middle infielder. Jerry Manuel suspects it will take more than one winter for Tejada to develop. "That would depend basically on the bat," Manuel said. "I think if you see he has significant improvement in the bat between now and the start of next season, you'd definitely have to consider him as a guy that has a chance to be a starter." Asked if he thought Tejada could make that leap before next spring, Manuel admitted it was unlikely. "It will probably take a little while for him," he said.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think Tejada's certainly the leader right now, but looking ahead to when the smoke clears from whatever offseason restructuring happens, I'll throw a guess vote to Daniel Murphy. Maybe the new guys are willing to gamble with offense over defense at second.

The caveat is that, if the new guy is Wally Backman, maybe not, especially looking at Murphy's reconstructed knee. It's altogether possible that the new manager releases Castillo from the doghouse. Wouldn't that be something? Castillo certainly has a Backman-like skill set.

[MFS62]

If he keeps progressing, I don't know how they will keep Tejada from the starting spot.
If Wally is the manager, he might remember the successful 2B platoon of the teams on which he played. Tejada (defense) and Murphy (offense) could be this generation's Backman and Teuffel.

Later

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I like the idea of a Murphy/Tejada thing, too.

I'm kind of curious, though, as to why Turner has been chewed up and crapped out by two different organizations, when he's hit (albeit somewhat powerlessly) and played credible defense at a couple of positions whereever he's gone in the high minors, and been not-altogether-terrible in criminally-short stints in the Show.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Neither Backman nor Teufel were very good defenders. Backman was average and Teufel barely fair. They were both offensive players --- Backman for his OBP and speed and Teufel for his extra-base power. Murphy plus Tejada might work, but it wouldn't be very similar to Backman and Teufel.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

So, then, they were the Davey version of an offense-defense platoon? (More like "he won't embarrass you out there"/"he MAY just embarrass you out there, and pretty badly.")

[Benjamin Grimm]

Davey was always willing to sacrifice defense for offense. When he became manager, he quickly turned away from the glove types like Brian Giles and Jose Oquendo (who would later become a better hitter after he left the Mets) and towards guys he saw as having better bats, like Backman and Gardenhire and Kelvin Chapman. Under Davey, we saw him try guys like Howard Johnson, Hubie Brooks, and Kevin Mitchell at shortstop. I really think that if Davey were running the 2011 Mets, and Daniel Murphy was healthy, that he'd be the guy at second base.

[Guest Edgy DC]

They wre simply a lefty/righty platoon.

Offense-defense was more typical at short, with Johnson-Mitchell/Santana, and later Johnson/Elster, with the sluggers typically playing when there was a pitcher on the mound who elicited strikeouts and flyouts, and they were typically pulled (or moved to third) after seven when the team was leading.

[HahnSolo]

I'm going with Tejada, but in previous Septembers, Castillo rode the bench watching guys like Ramon Martinez get important starts. Yet he still keeps coming back. I'm not so quick to assume that just because Hernandez is getting playing time that Castillo will not be back next year, especially on the final year of his contract.

My fear is that he'll get dealt for "somebody else's headache", and the team will be saddled with an even worse contract (I'm looking at you, Chone Figgins).

[MFS62]

Edgy DC wrote: They wre simply a lefty/righty platoon. Offense-defense was more typical at short, with Johnson-Mitchell/Santana, and later Johnson/Elster, with the sluggers typically playing when there was a pitcher on the mound who elicited strikeouts and flyouts, and they were typically pulled (or moved to third) after seven when the team was leading.

I remember that he did that when El Sid was on the mound. He produced large quantities of both.

Later

[G-Fafif]

When this poll was conducted in September 1978, Kelvin Chapman received minimal support, yet there he was, starting on Opening Day 1979 at Wrigley Field. Everybody was on the Fred Andrews bandwagon then.

Especially Mary Andrews.

[Guest Edgy DC]

="Boston Globe"]Daniel Murphy, 2B, Mets � The second base experiment with Murphy is a work-in-progress but �heading in the right direction,�� according to a scout who spent a lot of time watching Murphy in the Dominican the past two weeks. �He�s a good enough athlete where he can pull it off,�� said the scout, �but it will take time just to learn all the nuances of the position. I can see their thinking. He can hit. A sound player. This would be a nice conversion [from 1B/OF] for them at a position they need help at.��

[metsmarathon]

good. i like murphy a lot. i'm certainly rooting for him.

plus, i've got me one of them sweet green t-shirts with his name on the back.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Problem is that this report may have been filed before his mandatory five-day vacation to rest his leg.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: Problem is that this report may have been filed before his mandatory five-day vacation to rest his leg.

I have to imagine that was somewhat expected right? As part of a rest cycle in the rehab from surgery?