Don't Get Hurt, Ruben

[G-Fafif]

Flores optioned to make room for Lagares. Tejada the only SS to speak of, save for cameos from Wright and Campbell (minors).

[Edgy MD]

EY probably somewheres on the depth chart, too. but probably on the bottom of it.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

What a shame for Flores. What a comeback for Roobey.

[MFS62]

I blame Jeff Wilpon.

Later

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Well, hey, that stinks for Wilmer, but at least he had his sho-- oh, sorry, we'll have to get back to that in a minute; I've been handed a "Ruben Tejada Reflection" to read by a white-haired dude who looks like the grandpa on "King of the Hill."

Edited June 26, 2014 by Guest

[bmfc1]

So we get to see Tejada, who (I feel) has little talent and no future as an everyday major leaguer, play every single frigging game, hitting .230 at best, instead of someone that played SS better than anyone expected who might have a major league bat. I guess that the plethora of OFers is rectified with an Abreau deadline deal (if Sandy can be bothered).

Consider this: if Tejada was DFA'd, would any team want him? If so, would it be as a starter? Bench guy? AAA insurance? The Cardinals released Pete Kozma and I don't know if he's any worse than Tejada.

[nymr83]

bmfc1 wrote: So we get to see Tejada, who (I feel) has little talent and no future as an everyday major leaguer, play every single frigging game, hitting .230 at best, instead of someone that played SS better than anyone expected who might have a major league bat. I guess that the plethora of OFers is rectified with an Abreau deadline deal (if Sandy can be bothered). Consider this: if Tejada was DFA'd, would any team want him? If so, would it be as a starter? Bench guy? AAA insurance? The Cardinals released Pete Kozma and I don't know if he's any worse than Tejada.

I'm guessing 20+ teams would put a claim in, he'd be the backup MI for most teams (do they still carry those with all the damn bullpens?), not his fault that the Mets have no depth and he is starting.

[bmfc1]

Certainly not his fault--it's his good fortune! I think that he'd clear waivers because no one would claim him but we'll never know because he's all ours.

[Ceetar]

bmfc1 wrote: So we get to see Tejada, who (I feel) has little talent and no future as an everyday major leaguer, play every single frigging game, hitting .230 at best, instead of someone that played SS better than anyone expected who might have a major league bat.

He played SS better than expected in what, 15 games? that's hardly "oh, he can play."

Also, until that 'might' have a major league bat is more than might he's hurting the team.

[bmfc1]

Perhaps, but how does Tejada help the team? I believe that Tejada is a waste of time and a cardboard cutout of Bud Harrelson would be almost as good. I don't know what Flores is and I'd like to find out what he's got.

[Edgy MD]

Teams with Most Frequently Appearing Shortstops Getting Out-OPS'd by Ruben Tejada




...

...and...

...

[Ceetar]

bmfc1 wrote: Perhaps, but how does Tejada help the team? I believe that Tejada is a waste of time and a cardboard cutout of Bud Harrelson would be almost as good. I don't know what Flores is and I'd like to find out what he's got.

I would too. Maybe he'll hit enough in Las Vegas to deserve another shot.

Ruben Tejada makes out less often than major league average and plays a roughly average SS defensively. So at the very least he keeps the line moving.

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, he'd get picked up pretty fast (not always to start) and likely wouldn't have to change cities if he didn't want to as the Yanx would scoop him up in a New York second.

In the meantime, this doesn't mean that the Mets have dubbed Ruben as their long-term solution to SS, only that he's hot right now (his version of hot anyway - OBA over .350 since the end of April as compared to Flores's .250) and that if you're going to have an ersatz SS backing up your main guy then you might as well have the ersatz one who's hitting right now (Campbell) while letting the younger one who's not get regular ABs in Vegas.

[bmfc1]

Nice to see that Tejada has some supporters. I'm not one of them. I hope I'm wrong but even the GM agreed with me not too long ago.
(FK: props for using "ersatz")
Also, doesn't sending Flores down impede the progress of Matt Reynolds who was just promoted to LV?

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: Teams with Most Frequently Appearing Shortstops Getting Out-OPS'd by Ruben Tejada San Diego, Cincinnati, Pittsbugh, Seattle, Milwaukee, Miami, Oakland, Atlanta, Houston, Detroit, Tampa Bay... ...Yankees.

I'm shocked that this list finds Milwaukee with Segura and Atlanta/Simmons on it even though I figured going in that there'd be a number of clubs getting worse production than the Mets are getting out of Tejada as there just aren't a lot of hitting SSs in MLB right now.

[Frayed Knot]

bmfc1 wrote: Also, doesn't sending Flores down impede the progress of Matt Reynolds who was just promoted to LV?

Doesn't mean Flores has to play SS while down there.
Look, I don't think either Tejada or Flores are long-term solutions to the SS position (ideally one's a backup and the other is an emergency SS at best who plays elsewhere the majority of the time), but for the present situation I can understand this move.

[nymr83]

Frayed Knot wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Teams with Most Frequently Appearing Shortstops Getting Out-OPS'd by Ruben Tejada San Diego, Cincinnati, Pittsbugh, Seattle, Milwaukee, Miami, Oakland, Atlanta, Houston, Detroit, Tampa Bay... ...Yankees. I'm shocked that this list finds Milwaukee with Segura and Atlanta/Simmons on it even though I figured going in that there'd be a number of clubs getting worse production than the Mets are getting out of Tejada as there just aren't a lot of hitting SSs in MLB right now.

Simmons is the second coming of Ozzie Smith with Shawon Dunston's arm thrown in, I wouldnt worry about his OPS too much.

[Edgy MD]

I'm certainly not worried about Atlanta's shortstop's lack of production. Just trying to respond to the question laid out there. I'd be happy to try and find guys Tejada is statistically out-fielding or out WAR/27-ing.

I'm not sure what the preferred move would be. It was a hard call, and kudos to Chris Young for finding his stick while there was an axe swinging at him. Maybe he can play some shortstop.

[Frayed Knot]

Oh I'm not saying I think Atlanta or Milwaukee would dump their guys in favor of Tejada - it's just that I was surprised to find both Simmons & Segura w/OBAs so low that even their power edge wasn't enough to make up the gap.
But what it does mean for right now (and, again, this is only a right now kind of move and not an endorsement of Ruben as SS for the remainder of the decade) is that over 1/3 of the league is employing SSs who make outs at a greater rate than our guy, and that the one thing we don't need right now is making outs at a greater rate.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Unquestionably a small sample. But does anybody regret not signing Drew?


NAME GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS OWAR
Stephen Drew 14 49 1 6 2 0 0 1 8 2 13 1 .122 .157 .163 .320 -0.6

[Ceetar]

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: Unquestionably a small sample. But does anybody regret not signing Drew? NAME GP AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS OWAR Stephen Drew 14 49 1 6 2 0 0 1 8 2 13 1 .122 .157 .163 .320 -0.6

A little still, I suspect if he'd been signed and had a full spring training he might be doing just fine.

[Edgy MD]

Maybe. But just fine for him is still not $14 million good.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Maybe. But just fine for him is still not $14 million good.

Not really worried about the $/win ratio.

[metsmarathon]

Edgy MD wrote: Teams with Most Frequently Appearing Shortstops Getting Out-OPS'd by Ruben Tejada ...Yankees.

told ya so...

[Edgy MD]

All in a day's work here at the Grass Is Greener Project.

[ashie62]

I feel pretty good that Tejada will be at least steady from here on... Hopefully Wilmer will get a true shot soon...

[Frayed Knot]

Or we could use the best hitter we have with experience at the SS position ... Jacob deGrom!

[Edgy MD]

Wilmer uppage. Niewenhuis downage.

We have a shortstop. Of sorts.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Wilmer uppage. Niewenhuis downage. We have a shortstop. Of sorts.

batting 7th.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I guess Neuiwy was the only guy to go but too bad.

I confess I'm much gayer for him than for Recker.