12
2010
Who Will Be The Starting Second Baseman In 2011?
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I got an interesting email from a reader named Kevin who I immediately liked because he said he’s been following MMO for six years which I thought was very, very cool considering we’ve only been Mets Merized Online for five years. 
Before that we were strictly just Mets Merized and operated on MySpace since March of 2005.
Anyway, Kevin wanted to know who I thought would be the starting second baseman next season.
It’s actually pretty difficult to give an accurate response given how much could transpire between now and opening day, but I thought I’d give it my best shot.
First let’s look at who all the possible candidates could be that are already in the organization. They include the veteran Luis Castillo, second base prospect Ruben Tejada, minor leaguer Justin Turner, and the often forgotten Daniel Murphy who’s learning the trade in the Dominican Winter League as we speak. 2008 first round draft pick Reese Havens, could also be an option down the line if he can stay healthy and dominate in AAA next season, but I don’t see him entering the picture until 2012 at the soonest. realistically, I don’t see Justin Turner as an option unless he is called into service due to injuries at the major league level.
Let me begin by saying that I do not believe Luis Castillo is long for this team. He’s had a great carer and has been one of the best as far as getting on base is concerned, and used to be one of the better fielding second basemen in the league. However, those days are now behind him, and he has unfairly drawn the ire of the fan base for the four year deal he signed before the 2008 season. Of course that wasn’t Castillo’s fault, but he got the brunt of the anger anyway. If Alderson can’t unload him in the winter, he may just be released outright or they may just keep him but in a utility role which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
Ruben Tejada had an interesting rookie year last season, and for a time he was the youngest player in baseball. He did show some marvelous range in the infield, but his footwork and glove work could have been better. I loved his Jeter-esque flip and throw to first base when ranging for balls hit deep in the hole.
Defensively, this kid is gonna shine. However, the Mets need to score runs, and lots of them. Tejada could probably benefit from at least another half season in AAA where he can work on hitting offspeed stuff and driving the ball into the gaps, but I’m thinking that won’t happen and that he will be on the opening day roster, especially if Castillo is gone.
Tejada batted .213 last season in 216 at-bats with a .305 on-base percentage. But if we look at his splits against left handed pitching, there is plenty to smile about. Tejada batted a robust .296 in 54 at-bats with a .377 OBP. Those are numbers any major league manager would love to have in their lineup, which leads me to this.
What if we can play Tejada as part of a platoon at second base, and bring in a left handed hitting second baseman to platoon with him?
Enter Daniel Murphy.
I know Murphy is still a work in progress, but one thing we’ve all learned from Murph is that he is dedicated to his craft and is a quick study. He wants to play and will do anything to get back into the Mets lineup.
We already know the kid can hit, and we’ve seen how quickly he adapted to first base in 2009 when Delgado went on the shelf and Murphy stepped in as the emergency fill-in, eventually taking over the position for the rest of the season. If not for an injury, the plan was for Murphy to be the everyday first baseman to start the season in 2010.
Currently, Murphy is doing very well playing in the Dominican Winter League and batting well over .300 while spraying the ball to all fields. He has the perfect swing for Citi Field and I believe he can perform adequately at second base next season.
According to Mike Francesa, J.P. Ricciardi has already warmed up to the idea, and as you can tell, so have I.
In 535 career at-bats, Murphy has batted .282 against right handed pitching with a .340 OBP. But here is what really caught my attention, he also had 68 extra-base hits which included 47 doubles, 7 triples and 14 home runs. That’s some pretty amazing production if you ask me.
I believe that platooning Ruben Tejada and Daniel Murphy next season is a slam dunk.
Not only would I expect tremendous production from the second base position, but it will come at less than $1 million dollars in payroll.
The experience will help Tejada stay in the majors and play a vital role, while keeping Murphy’s bat on the roster and molding him to be a premier utility man who can play four different positions.
That’s what I’m betting on so far, and I expect that’s what we will see in 2011 barring any unforeseen traded or signings.
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About the Author: Joe DeCaro
Went to my first Mets game, a Mayors Trophy game at Shea, in '73. We beat the Yankees 8-4 and I was hooked. I marched in two Banner Day parades, and before the Grand Slam single, there was the "Hendu Can Do" grand slam - I was there. I've collected Mets memorabilia all my life and started Mets Merized Online to feed my addiction.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 26 | 17 | .605 | - |
| Nationals | 25 | 17 | .595 | 0.5 |
| Marlins | 23 | 19 | .548 | 2.5 |
| Mets | 22 | 20 | .524 | 3.5 |
| Phillies | 21 | 22 | .488 | 5.0 |
Last updated: 05/22/2012
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Joe, you pose an interesting lineup with Murphy and Tejada. We know Murphy can hit and we know Tejada has a nice swing. It would be a real plus if your projection about the Mets lineup comes to pass.
Tejada needs to develop his wrists and forearms and get around on high fastballs. The kid is a dream defensively.
Murphy seems to be spraying a lot of opposite field hits in the Domincan Winter league. Here’s hoping he can stay healthy.
I would be happy with this since I think Murphy IS a hitter and when not playing would be a good bat off the bench. Tejada could slowly get at-bats and spell Reyes if needed.
2nd base is not a good free agent class as it is.
I am also a Murphy rooter. In winter ball he is hitting lefties better than right handed pitcher ( somewhat like Ike Davis did this year).IN 2009 Murphy hit right handed pitchers better. So he can now play every day at 2nd base. The Aguiles team has him playing both 1st and 2nd to get his bat in each game.They are getting another lst baseman as they had better hitters who played 2nd base. That will allow him to play more 2nd base. In the 2011 lineup he will help us go to the WS.
I keep reading about the Mets talking about Wally Backman and Tim Teufel…I figured they were going to be brought in to platoon at second. They both are experienced major league second basemen, seems like a good fit…as opposed to being a major league manager, where neither one has ANY experience!
Their manager is probably going to be Der Professor, Casey Stengel.
Sandy can stop looking for a manager now. Casey has plenty of experience.
Claps.
I think its Murphy’s job to lose. Too many reasons for him to have the job.
He’s cheap has a good OPS. Plus seeing the Kevin Burkhart interview with Alderson,had me thinking about Murphy when Sandy was talking about Jeter. As long as in spring training he shows he can make the simple play? Tejada will be a great defensive replacement,and could give Reyes and Murphy days off?
I would like to see Tejada working on his game in the minors next year. So, Turner could be the other half of the platoon.
Last year, in 99 AAA ABs against lefties, he hit .379 with a .421 OBP and 1.037 OPS (7 HRs).
I am guessing that he is an OK hitter vs. LHP.
he can also serve as the BU MI.
assuming Murphy can play an OK 2B, that could be a very productive platoon. And they give a lot of flexibility with coverage elsewhere on the diamond. Murphy can back up 1B, and OF in a pinch. And Turner has played SS, 3B and even some OF in addition to 2B.
That’s some hitting line. Is he capable defensively? I havent heard too much about him. If he can pick it, I would be all for giving Tejada more time in the minors and giving Turner a shot.
he seems to be fine with the glove. Can play SS too.
Go Big Murph!
stalker. heehee
Just spreading the word. Plus there are too many Dog avatars going around at the moment.
I would prefer Tejada not be in the majors next year. Kelly Johnson should be the second baseman.
Really enjoyed reading your opinion and I agree. I do wonder if there was a reason why you brushed Turner off though as stick showed he is actually better against LHP than Tejada. If that’s the case, why not use him instead?
At least Murphy can hit pitchers in Winter ball. He’s going to be our second baseman? What a disaster 2011 is going to be.
Daniel Murphy hit a ninth inning homer for Aguilas Cibaenas in the DWL. He is now batting an even .300. He’s on a six game hitting streak and has hits in nine of his last ten games, during which he’s hitting at a .342 clip.
To Greg Pomes. Murphy is no disaster happening in 2011. He can play 2nd base,and his bat in the lineup will strengthen the team (We need a bat at 2nd base that can hit, he had a triple yesterday and HR today. We havent had that in a while at 2nd base.He will work hard to get the job in Spring training.Hesa team guy who said is aid is to get the Mets to the World Series.
Maybe the Mets should sign the top 10 hitters in every winter league. LoL. Do you resally think hitting any amount in the Dominican means much? Of course you do.
Just negative Greg popping in.
I guess they would not go after Uggla. But he would juice up the lineup. And apparently this group does not value defense as highly as other organizations do,
Correction. I thougt Uggla was a FA. He is in his final year of arb.
To HarryC. Last year Nick Evans played in winter league and they sent him home because he was hitting under 200. Murphy has a major league record for hitting and his winter hitting bears it out. The Dominicans are very passionate about their games and want only the best players to stay.The other go home.
Harry you jackass IF Murphy wasn’t injured last year he wouldn’t be playing winter ball. So maybe you should take your head out of your ass and listen to what Jerry M,SAID??? Look at it in a different perpective if he didn’t get hurt in spring training,and went out and hit 280 with 20 homers and 70 rbis we wouldn’t have seen IKE?? But trust us next year when you have a 2nd baseman hit 280 with 20 homers and 75 rbis you’ll be glad he did his work in the Dominican.
Add 4 stolen bases not caught in 20 games to Daniel Murphy.Who thought he could steal bases, even Ike only stole 1 in 2010.I think he is faster than Ike.
Excluding catchers and possibly pitchers, Ike is the slowest guy on the team. With his callup, Lucas Duda removed that stigma from Ike.
There was a short blurb in a New York sports page during 2008 or 2009 spring training that Murphy, Wright and another Mets player whose name I don’t remember, ran some competitive wind sprints. The fastest guy — Murphy.
Of course that was just straight ahead running, not base running and sliding, but it did show pure foot speed.