22
2011
Regardless Of The Reyes Situation, Ruben Tejada Is A Keeper
An article by 
In a 7-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves last weekend, Ruben Tejada filled in for Jose Reyes both at shortstop and in the leadoff spot. Tejada reached base three times (walk, double, single), stole a base and drove in four runs. His two-out, three-run double in the fourth inning broke a 1-1 tie and his two-out, RBI single in the eighth inning gave the Mets a 6-5 lead, a lead they never relinquished.
Ruben Tejada was once viewed as a light-hitting, slick-fielding middle infielder, similar to Rey Ordoñez, although not as flashy. However, this season he has shown that he can handle the bat better than anyone expected him to, and has handled pressure situations like an established veteran.
Tejada has been a model of consistency at the plate, hitting .281 vs. RHP and .276 vs. LHP. He is also hitting .272 at Citi Field and .287 on the road. His .356 on-base percentage ranks second on the team behind Jose Reyes for players currently on the active roster. Tejada has also struck out only 47 times in 339 plate appearances.
But what sets him apart from the Tejada we saw in 2010 is his ability to hit under pressure and in RBI spots. This year, Tejada is batting .304 with men on base and has a .377 OBP in those situations. With runners in scoring position, Tejada is a .286 hitter, but has reached base at a .383 clip. But those numbers are nothing compared to what he does when there is a runner 90 feet away from scoring.
In all situations when he has stepped to the plate with a runner on third base, Tejada is hitting .375 and has a .425 OBP. These numbers improve when Tejada bats with the bases loaded. In yesterday’s game, Tejada came up to bat twice with the bags full. He cleared the bases when he doubled in the fourth and drove in another run with a bases-loaded single in the eighth, with a potential fifth RBI cut down at the plate on a fine throw by Jason Heyward. Therefore, with his 2-for-2 performance in bases loaded situations yesterday, Tejada is now hitting .500 this season with the bags full and has a .538 OBP.
Clearly, the stat sheet proves that Tejada is quite valuable as a hitter. Although he doesn’t hit for power, he collects base hits as a consistent pace and picks them up with more regularity when the Mets are close to scoring a run. There is one thing that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet that Tejada is also good at. He’s a master at working the count and making the opposing pitcher throw numerous pitches.
Take yesterday’s game, for example. In the first inning, Tejada flied out, but did so on the sixth pitch of his at-bat. In the third inning, Tejada worked out a walk on the tenth pitch of the at-bat. By seeing 16 pitches from Braves’ starter Brandon Beachy in his first two plate appearances, Tejada saw his opponent’s entire repertoire and was able to make adjustments the third time he faced him. Sure enough, Tejada hit a long double in the fourth inning off Beachy, driving in three runs.
Ruben Tejada will never produce the numbers that Jose Reyes does when he’s healthy. In addition, no one will ever confuse the professional Tejada for the effervescent Reyes. But don’t say that Tejada can’t be a key member of this team.
In only his second year on the Mets, Tejada has improved by leaps and bounds. He makes up for his lack of power by working counts and making the pitcher throw him his pitch. He’s a fantastic situational hitter and amps up his game in tight spots. (Did I mention Tejada’s a .310 hitter when he comes to bat in a tie game? In case you were watching football and not the Mets game, yesterday’s two bases-loaded hits by Tejada came when the score was 1-1 and 5-5.)
Simply put, Ruben Tejada knows how to play the game and plays the game to win. At the young age of 21, he has played like a ten-year veteran. With continued development and the opportunity to play, there’s no reason to think that he can’t become one. Even if Jose Reyes isn’t a Met in 2012, Ruben Tejada has proven that he belongs on this team.
About the Author: Ed Leyro
Ed Leyro was hatched in the Bronx, but spent most of his youth in Queens at Shea Stadium. Apparently, all that time spent at Mets games paid off as Ed met his wife (The Coop) for the first time at Citi Field during its inaugural season. Guess the 2009 season was good for something after all. In addition to his work at Mets Merized Online, Ed also owns, operates and is head janitor at Studious Metsimus, where he shares blogging duties with Joey Beartran. For those not in the know, Joey is a teddy bear dressed in a Mets hoodie. Clearly, Studious Metsimus is not your typical Mets blog.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 28 | .600 | - |
| Nationals | 34 | 35 | .493 | 7.5 |
| Phillies | 34 | 37 | .479 | 8.5 |
| Mets | 25 | 40 | .385 | 14.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 47 | .319 | 19.5 |
Last updated: 06/18/2013
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I still think Tejada’s best position is 2nd base.
I don’t disagree but if Reyes goes, won’t shortstop be his position? He has matured this year and is coming into his own. You know our farm system ain’t all that bad.
I agree completely, He is not the player at SS he is at 2B. Not right now anyway.
I was glad to see Ruben ditch that bat wrapped around his neck stance he had last year and he has hit well enough to prove he belongs up here for good. Earlier in the year I thought he was getting squeezed at bat for whatever reason. Very noticeable. Not sure what was behind that but it seems to have stopped. Maybe he barked at the blues and they put him in his place, who knows but he’s proven he has the eye I haven’t noticed him getting squeezed since he’s back up.
Ruben is the first of Minaya’s IFA’s to get up here and contribute. Signed in July 2006 it has taken him 5 years to get up here and establish himself. That’s about as quick as it gets and that’s one reason the fans should hold Wilpon and Alderson’s feet to the fire on this issue.
International free agency costs absolutely nothing other than scouting and signing bonuses. That’s it. No draft choices, no slot guidelines no limits on quantity or quality. You can sign as many guys as you want and reap the benefits 5-10 years down the road.
This year we signed one top rated IFA. Jose Garcia the #3 rated catching prospect (about 25th overall) for $750,000 and even that price was kept hidden for some reason (MLB?) Cubs (Malave #1 and #8) and Padres (Ruiz, #2 and #9) signed the top rated catchers for 2M and 1.5 M respectively. That is cab fare for a MLB franchise in NYC and doesn’t cost a draft choice or one blessed other thing. In 2006 we signed Pena for 750,000 while Montero signed with the NYY for 1.6) Five years later it’s the same old story. “who are we going to get to play catcher this year?” Why didn’t we sign them both in 2006 and all three this year? And Sanchez too in 2009 for another 3 M. Montero, Malave, Ruiz and Sanchez would have cost this franchise about 6.5 M more total. That is nothing. About one year of Luis Castillo to have 4 additional great chances to finally get a catcher in here and have something to trade for a Halliday or Lee.
KC, Rangers, Seattle, even Oakland spent 5-15 million over the last two years. Why can’t we especially after cheaping out in the draft every year for the last 15 years.
Even this years draft where we finally spent some money wasn’t expensive in comparison to other teams spending. We spent a lot more than usual because we not only kept our pick, but we had a supplemental round pick as well. In addition the draft was DEEP. A late 2nd round pick was comprable to most supplemental round selections. Still and all we spent about 21st out of 30. We left a couple of guys we drafted on the table. We could have spread around another 3M in IFA and the draft and 5-10 years from now not going ugh! Are those the only free agents available this off season?
Ruben Tejada is why you go out and sign and draft those guys. So 5-10 years down the road your not enie meanie minnie moing the free agent list for 5-10 positions. You’ve already assembled the nucleus of your team that will be here before and during their prime and afford you the payroll relief that allows you to buy three front line aces from your excess or in free agency so you can not only have everyday players in their prime, you can also have great starting pitching at the same time.
If we hadn’t signed Tejada we’d be totally hosed at SS if Reyes signs elsewhere and looking at some combination of Murphy/Turner/Valdespin/Havens at 2B over the next 5 years isn’t all that appealing from an all around perspective. You can’t count on just one guy like Valdespin for example and Havens injury woes aren’t necessarily over the minute he gets up here. Turner and Murphy have questionable defense so it’s great to have a young guy step up who can tie it all together. Clearly he wasn’t ready last year. You could see the good eye, hit well against LHP and he wasn’t overwhelmed, but you could also see him not getting on top of the ball, being overmatched at times, clearly not yet ready physically or experience level wise. Now he’s ready to help win games. Hope he plays 2B next year.
Geez, my fallback position was Nick Evans at second. It could happen.
t a. Good research cuz. Really enjoyed your post.
tlagee, How you doing cuz?
I got to tell you this one. I have a friend in Sydney who was out last last month and he was telling us how he gets all the American and European sports out there. Baseball, football, soccer, Irish sports the whole thing.
I told him about this website and a Met Fan from who lives in Sydney who’s got almost the same name as me (and the same favorite obviously) and he went nuts telling me I knew a Met fan every where just in case I had to pick up and leave some day, like an ex-pat.
It was a good laugh and and a whole bunch of us were toasting you a few times over his visit.
Slainte’/cheers tlagee
Good on ya, mate.
So now the Mets could have signed Jesus Montero too? I guess so should have the Orioles too, right? Or the Padres? Maybe they could have signed Montereo?
t agee may I suggest writing the Mets and see if you can work for them scouting the IFA market this way we won’t have to read you second guessing the draft years later saying the Mets should have signed all these guys. What about the 28 other teams outside of the Mets and the team that signed the FA, they all had chances to sign these guys too? Or is it only the Mets could have?
Of course they could have signed him. He was an international free agent. Anyone could have signed him.
Man your slow on the uptake.
What about the other 28 teams that could have and didn’t sign Montero, Sanchez, Malave and Ruiz?
I’m glad they didn’t sign them. See I want us to sign the best players, not someone else.
That’s not too hard to understand is it?
This is such a problem. With talents like Valdespin and Havens in the minors, who do we go with? I’m curious about Havens and Jordany @ 2B, but Tejada’s glove and skill sets in the middle of the infield are incredible. He is an elite defender. Valdespin and Reese are tremendous bats, but I’m not sure how good they can be up the middle. Makes you wonder what the Mets will do. There’s great depth around the infield down in the minors. How many teams sport up the middle defenders in the minors who whack the ball like Havens and Valdespin? Tough choices coming up.
One thing is for sure. No matter how good three are, neither should be considered a replacement for Jose Reyes. You pair one of these three WITH Reyes.
We can pair Reyes up with that gold glover that’s on the DL…Daniel Murphy! You remember Murphy right? The one that was annointed the best 2B on this team by lots of rose colored glasses weares on this blog. He of the brick hands and no defensive position or base running IQ. Just wanted to take one more shot at him before he is back to his rightful spot on this team next year. That is perrenial splinter puller from his culo on the bench. The Mets are loaded with second baseman coming up through the minors. It was nice knowing you stone hands.
lmao…. MetsR1 is monday man.. relax.. lmao///
Couldn’t resist. I miss Murphy. He was good for a laugh or two a game.
Dumbest player I’ve ever seen is Murph with Pagan running a close 2nd.
Funny I don’t remember anyone saying he was the best 2b on the team ever.
I do remember many saying, he’s a good hitter but that’s about it.
People have funny memories.
I don’t buy the hands of stone theory. I simply think Murphy is a guy who belongs @ 3B. If we trade him to a team that needs a 3B, we better get something valuable for him. He can hit. That’s without a doubt. Hopefully, we get to keep Murphy and find a spot for him to play.
Yes Murhpy can play third base with the Mets. Wright has so much more value. We could trade him for pitching help.
Trade Wright and play Murphy at 3B? I’m too miffed to even come back on that one.
Murphy can hit! His defense at third was accepible. For Wrights money, we could pay 28 Murpheys.
So save the money, trade a declining Wright and some pitching, or a premier catcher.
So playing an acceptable 3B is good enough now. David Wright is no Brooks Robinson, but Murphy is a hack anywhere you play him. Mommy and Daddy should have bought him a glove too when he was kid and stop dropping him off at batting cages. Everything I’ve read about next years plan include moving in the fences which hopefully will get Wright’s mind back. He seems to have lost it. They would be wise to trade Murphy to an AL team in need of a DH.
I do agree with one thing you’re alluding to…Wrights value is higher than Murphy. That one is simple. Murphy can’t field and Wright can.
Murph in left field was really tough to watch. He couldn’t read the ball of the bat. In the corners it mostly reaction, he has made some great plays and lots of mental blunders. If an AL team wants Murph for a DH Sandy will listen.
Hey who are kidding this team can not compete with the Phillies We don’t have the pitching. 2013 will be like 1984 lots of excitment and hope. Till then save the money.
Havens and Valdespin should be good offensive players but both are below average defenders.
reyes at SS and tejada at 2B gives the NY METS ORG the best middle infield defense since the ordonez/alfonso days in the late 90′s.. pair them up with ike at 1B it gives us a good enough defense to allowed our pitchers to throw strikes.. knowing your defense is good behind you gives you more confident to throw strikes, god knows our staff needs as much confidence as possible..
ppl complain about Fmart being hurt all the time, well guess what, before we give havens a HOF jacket shouldn’t he play a full season yet in the minors?? isn’t that what ppl cry about here about fmart?? let him play a full season before annointing him the 2B of the future ok..
also, the mets org needs to do something about the ppl that take care of these players, hire competent ppl who will help us stay healthy!!!!!!!!!! is a f’ing trend that mets players all around the org can’t stya healthy.. wTF is this?? is not only the majors, but in the minors as well.. jeez, take a look into that you know..
Catcher is a big part of your pitching staff and if you can’t bounce 0-1 and 0-2 pitches in the dirt, your staff will never be all they can be.
That situation has to be addressed before we go anywhere.
It’ll have to be addressed via trade for immediate fixing. Otherwise, it’s going to be more platoon mishmashes until a catcher of note hits FA.
Even addressing it through free agency is no guarantee and if it’s a plan A free agent, then he’s gone if 5 years just when your # 1 draft choice would have been coming up here. Plan B’s are just that and at 30-40 aren’t going to be getting any better but probably will get worse and pitching to a different catcher every year just ensures that your staff will never reach their full potential.
I’m in favor of making a trade for a very good young catcher, either in AAA now or with a year or two already in the majors because of the young pitching on the way. I don’t want to see them pitching to Thole and a different plan B every year while they try to establish themselves.
yeah, thole does nothing for me.
Everybody on the planet is in favor of making a trade for a good young catcher. You DO realize that it’s going to cost you if you do that and YOU do realize that you’re going to have to give up a draft pick too possibly.
In t agee’s crazed fantasy world the Mets will be making moves giving up no draft picks, no good draft picks (as if you know NOW how that player will turn out) and building a team with NO players above 29 years of age and ALL home grown. In the real world that’s NOT going to happen. You need veterans and good, solid veteran leadership and in this particular case it may serve the Mets well by signing a veteran catcher.
Giving up draft picks is part of building a GOOD team, there is NO WAY around it.
In your crazed fantasy world, draft picks are tradeable commodities.
The Mets have extended the careers of many veteren players by signing them as free agents to be role players. They had to do this because of depleated minor league teams. It hasn’t worked well.
In ’69 and ’86 we won with lots of home grow talent.
Yes when those teams were close to competeing, we brought in some veterans who knew how to win. Our current team leaders have only known epic defeat.
EARTH TO BAYONNE………COME IN PLEASE. Draft picks can’t be traded.
And giving up draft picks is NOT part of building a good team. A good team gets built and THEN you add to it with a FA or two.
You don’t build with the free agent first or you wind up with more losing seasons than winning one’s. Like us for instance. Always trying to build a team through free agency only to have eleven losing seasons over a twenty year period.
Monkeyball has never worked here and will never work here.
Time to kiss it good bye.
EARTH TO t agee!
i know draft picks can’t be traded but if you want to get a very good young catcher you may have to give up a talented player that may COST you a draft pick – read again. And I see the other guy thought i meant trading draft picks, too – sigh
I never said you’re supposed to build with a free agent first and what are you talking about with this monkeyball?
Man you really coming to these conclusions about what i said.
Building a good team it going to take a combination of ALL OF THOSE things and you may have to include giving up draft picks in the process because you going to have to make TOUGH decisions and take risks because sometimes another team can have exactly what you need and that guy just may happen to be available via trade..OR FA and sorry to say but at some time you going to have to come face to face with giving up a draft pick, that’s a fact.
An insane obsession with draft picks can’t cloud a GMs thinking when it comes to making certain moves.
At some point or another EVERY SINGLE ONE of those variables come into play.
Last year was Ike and Niese, so far this year we hopefully have three pieces of the puzzle in Duda, Gee and Tejada for next year. It gives us a pretty decent infield if Davis comes back to how he started this year and we resign Reyes. We might have to worry about catching and CF. You always worry about having enough pitching with injuries and such.
Having a surplus of competent players is always a plus. I just hope we don’t have to worry about Tejada being the starting SS…
Where’s Des regarding this post? He only surfaces when Tejada goes through a slump
Once he see’s that I’ve bashed his guy, Daniel Murphy, he’ll appear. A combonation of Ruben Tejada being aces and his man crush on a DL’d Murphy, must have his head spinning.
Moneyball logic says that Tejada will be the shortstop next yr as the Mets wont pay Reyes. Considering there is always one team that offers crazy money I would say there is a 75% chance this will be the case.
sounds like human logic. Sounds like a decision based on baseball and not a book.
Decisions like this have been made thousands of times before a book ever came out.
I don’t think that Chuck is basing his opinion on the book. He is speaking about Alderson’s moneyball philosophy. Sadly, he is probably right.
Tejada does not have the range of a big league starting shortstop and I don’t think the arm, either. He quickly gets overexposed.
He’s best at second base but for him to stick long-term, he’s going to need to add another level to his game to compensate for lack of home run power. He’s going to need to be gap-to-gap line drive hitter who drives the ball, and a stolen base threat. He should concentrate this offseason in getting stronger – sport specific for baseball – and getting faster and more explosive in his first few steps, and base to base.
He’ll get there. He’s only 21.
Anyone who thinks Moneyball is a good reason for letting Jose Reyes go is a complete buffoon.
it would not be moneyball. It would be either lack of money, or an absultely insane offer from elsewhere (which would be a simple cost/benefit analysis).
moneyball is supposed to mean finding undervalued assets. Not being broke!
Who said that? All that is somewhat being pointed out is, that those “moneyball” GM’s believe in finding low pay, high on-base guys that score lots of runs. Reyes is going to get big bucks from somebody, whether it’s the Mets or somebody else. History tells us that most “moneyballers” don’t like spending big money at any one spot. If the Mets let Reyes walk, I for one will be pissed.
http://sigroup.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/brad-pitt-on-the-cover-of-this-week%E2%80%99s-sports-illustrated/
from the CORE to all my “MONEYBALLERS”
You’re welcome!!!
something to keep in mind when people start talking about reyes getting carl crawford money. This is from a Sox fan on ESPN:
left field (they’ll need to replace that waiver-wire claim they have starting right now … what’s that? That’s Carl Crawford, and he’s got six years and $122 million left on his contract? Oh dear).
BDD already has a countodwn clock for when his contract expires. They hate him there.
..Tejada is a keeper as a sub..he’s not a keeper on the yanks or phils ..if Reyes fleas im totally ok w him until better options but he’s a reserve player or send him to the Royals,,we need to stop falling in love w the farm, if he comes close to being a Robinson Cano then he’s a keeper otherwise, reserve..unless that whats you meant by keeper
The most surprising player on the team this season.
Great defender, and when it comes to, dare I say it, baseball instincts he is the anti Pagan.
Earned a guaranteed spot next season.
Trade Tejada for Felix Hernandez.