Play Valdespin at SS

[Centerfield]

Why not? They're not going anywhere this season. And Spin is one of the few guys that has the upside to be part of the future. If he can play decent defense at SS, he presents a much better option than Tejada (current OPS of .601, career OPS of .660).

I'd like to get Wilmer Flores up here as well and see what he can do. Let's give him some AB's at 2B. We know what Murphy is at this point.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I like your second idea better than your first. Not that I want to jettison Muffy but he's the kinda guy we could sacrifice for an outfielder or a pitcher in a trade and Valdy or Flores could step in. Plus when he's not hitting .330 the team really collapses around him.

[Edgy MD]

I don't agree that they're not going anywhere, but I'm fine with the notion of getting Valdespin time in the infield. Really, when you are not hitting, it seems to me that one of the most obvious moves, that folks nonetheless fear, is to move hitters into more challenging defensive positions and force the issue.

Regarding forcing the issue, though, it's not like Flores is doing that with is bat right now.

[metirish]

I was going to ask if Valdaspin ever played SS, and sure enough he did a lot in the minor leagues

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=valdes001jor

let's do it.....

[batmagadanleadoff]

They should play Rick Ankiel at SS.

[Ceetar]

metirish wrote: I was going to ask if Valdaspin ever played SS, and sure enough he did a lot in the minor leagues http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=valdes001jor let's do it.....

yes, and badly.

Tejada's a better SS, a better hitter, and probably has more upside. Murphy too. why would we play Jordany?

[seawolf17]

I'm in no rush to give up on Tejada yet. He's only 23. I would love to see if we could get a usable part for Murphy, though.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

I think folks got a bit spooked by the three errors he made in 18 innings at SS last season, including two in one inning in this debacle. Coincidentally, the inning ended with Parnell striking out Ankiel.

Is that enough to keep him from being tried there again? Of course not, but it didn't exactly keep him at the top of the list either. I agree with CF - if Tejada sits, throw him in there and let's see if he can handle it.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Ceetar wrote: I was going to ask if Valdaspin ever played SS, and sure enough he did a lot in the minor leagues http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=valdes001jor let's do it..... yes, and badly. Tejada's a better SS, a better hitter, and probably has more upside. Murphy too. why would we play Jordany?

I know you have a hate on for Valdespin, but saying Tejada is a better hitter is just making shit up.

[Ceetar]

Toby Hyde on Valdespin last February

Defensively, after mostly playing secondbase for various Mets affiliates since 2007, the Valdespin spent more time working at short (98 games) than at second (32 games) in 2011. I still have not met a scout who thought Valdespin could play shortstop everyday in the majors. The concerns vary from arm, hands to consistency. Valdespin committed 32 errors at short in 2011, or just about one every three games. So, he�s a second baseman who can play short in a pinch.

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar wrote: I was going to ask if Valdaspin ever played SS, and sure enough he did a lot in the minor leagues http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=valdes001jor let's do it..... yes, and badly. Tejada's a better SS, a better hitter, and probably has more upside. Murphy too. why would we play Jordany?

Because I don't think it's a closed issue at all whether Tejada's better hitter or has more upside.

It is clear that Valdespin has the defensive tools to play the infield but has been an error-prone disaster.

[Centerfield]

So let's give him 50 games at the major league level to see what he can do. He's young still.

[seawolf17]

Edgy MD wrote: Because I don't think it's a closed issue at all whether Tejada's better hitter or has more upside. It is clear that Valdespin has the defensive tools to play the infield but has been an error-prone disaster.

Valdespin -- walks aside -- brings more to the table offensively than Tejada does, and has at every level. I'm not saying Tejada can't get better, because he's still a bit younger, but right now, I'd much rather have JV1 offensively.

[Benjamin Grimm]

seawolf17 wrote: I'm in no rush to give up on Tejada yet. He's only 23. I would love to see if we could get a usable part for Murphy, though.

I don't know... I still think that Murphy is a pretty usable part.

[seawolf17]

Usable, yes, but not a cornerstone.

The Orioles, for example, are playing someone named Ryan Flaherty at second base. They've got a kid (Schoop) in the minors they like as a long-term replacement, but could you get an outfielder out of their system (LJ Hoes?) for Murphy? I'd think so.