Can Mets Survive With Tejada At SS If Reyes Bolts?

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• Bayonne Mets Fan October 18, 2011 at 3:38 pm

  If Reyes bolts and I hope he doesn’t either way Tejada will become the SS even though I like him best at 2B and this team is best with a Reyes/Tejada combo.

  Tejada has made it and I highly doubt he’s going back to the minors ever again.

  But in the unfortunate event that Reyes does bolt and the Mets decide to hold onto Wright instead (which is the wrong way to go in my opinion) then it’s a complete restructuring of the team which is nothing new because If Im not mistaken during the Mets most successful pennant winning years the SS wasn’t the prime run producer.

  Harrelson
  Ordonez
  Santana

  Those are the 3 guys that manned SS during the Mets most successful runs in their history. It can be done
  • K Maxx October 18, 2011 at 3:54 pm

    Those days are gone. Every team gets offense out of SS today. Plus we already have poor production at C, LF and CF.
    • Bayonne Mets Fan October 18, 2011 at 3:58 pm

      Well that’s my point, it would take a full restructuring of the team. Naturally you are going to have to change the dynamic of the production of the team and get it else where if the SS isn’t the prime run producer. And he’s not exactly a weak hitter you know, and he’s only 21.

      That’s why I don’t see why the Mets can’t resign Reyes and keep Tejada at 2B. If the Mets resign Reyes for a 5 year contract than Tejada will be all of 26 by the time that contract is done! He’ll still be more than young enough to start a new career at SS! And if the Mets do that then you won’t have to spend/trade as much to restructure if they were to do it now.
    • Donal October 18, 2011 at 4:15 pm

      Actually, position is what makes guys like Reyes most valuable. You really still don’t see a lot of offensive production out of SS.
      • jessep October 18, 2011 at 4:19 pm

        Right, that is what I’m saying. SS is a spot you don’t often see a lot of offensive production in today’s game so if you can keep him, keep him. But if he walks, replacing him with defensive minded guy doesn’t make you necessarily weaker than other teams so long as your corners are competitive
    • jessep October 18, 2011 at 4:05 pm

      I actually disagree here KMaxx. Most teams get their offensive production from the corner spots. RF/LF 1B/3B.

      OPS .750+ in 2011

      1B: Miggy, Prince, AGone, Votto, Morse, Pujols, Konerko, Helton, Tex, Howard, Pena, Murphy, Kotchman, Hosmer, Freeman, Sanchez, Lee, Trumbo, Loney

      3B: Sandoval, Beltre, Aramis, Longo, Youk, ARod, Chipper, Reynolds, Zimmerman, Headley, Wright, Roberts

      2B: Cano, Pedroia, Kinsler, Zobrist, Weeks, Phillips, Kendrick, Utley, Ackley, Uggla, J. Weeks

      SS: Tulo, Reyes, Perlata, Hardy, Asdrubal, Yunel, Scutaro, Starlin, Bonifacio

      IF Reyes were to leave, putting Tejada at SS isn’t the worst thing in the world if he can handle the glove and throw. Many teams rely on defensive minded SS’s in today’s game *IF* they have the corner spots filled with producers.
• Squidoo October 18, 2011 at 3:43 pm

  You see you can make good points when you try. Just kidding, I agree with all your points especially your last one.
• Donal October 18, 2011 at 4:02 pm

  Can Tejada play short stop at he major league level? I suppose. His hitting made tremendous advances. While I’m not sold on his defense, he has earned the chance to prove it for 2012, provided Reyes does leave.

  I think the biggest problem there would be if people looked at him to be the next Jose Reyes. That ain’t happening. If Tejada does turn out to be a reliable everyday SS, and he’s certainly trending that way, I think that will be fine.
  • jessep October 18, 2011 at 4:07 pm

    I think if Reyes left, the Mets would try to kinda do what the Indians did and bring in a vet guy like say Orlando Cabrera. Just somebody that can be a roleplayer/veteran type that can still play but doesn’t require an everyday starting job to sign with you.
    • Donal October 18, 2011 at 4:19 pm

      This is wear Luis Castillo came in handy. Yes, his contract was awful and he was old and crippled and couldn’t play anymore, but he worked with the young guys. He taught them the nuances and such.

      Unfortunately, I don’t think the Mets are in a position to burn a roster spot on a guy like that. Maybe Teufel or someone can work with him. Maybe bring in a coach for all the middle infielders.
• clancee October 18, 2011 at 4:07 pm

  Short answer; Not a chance.
  • tlagee October 18, 2011 at 11:48 pm

    Even shorter answer – NO!
• Metfan October 18, 2011 at 4:50 pm

  It is given that Tejada will probably play short if Reyes walks, BUT you not only lost a guy with the batting title BUT probably the BEST leadoff hitter in baseball. Who tries to fill that GIGANTIC hole?
  • Steve from Norfolk October 18, 2011 at 8:14 pm

    Pagan is the only other option for leadoff. He doesn’t like it because he thinks he’s a power hitter, but he does it well. He’s almost as fast as Reyes and can hit for average when he stops swinging for the fences. The main thing that worries me are his all too frequent brain farts.
• Shamsky October 18, 2011 at 5:37 pm

  Love Tejada, but no to your question.
• NJstuckinTX October 18, 2011 at 8:44 pm

  The answer if he can fill Reyes’ shoes is a no, but honestly, he can’t be expected to. If you can get average to above average play from him, which is where I would peg him to be, you take the Reyes money and improve other areas. The Reyes to Tejada comparison is a no win, but you just hope that the minus Reyes is a wash for the Tejada + whomever they get additionally. Overall, I don’t expect it to be a wash.
• srt October 18, 2011 at 10:17 pm

  Survive is a good description. Tejada at SS wouldn’t be totally incompetent. But as others have pointed out, he ain’t no Jose.

  If Reyes does walk, at least Tejada gives them some time and flexibility for a long term overall solution, whether it’s making up for Jose’s bat at another position or looking for a closer-to-Jose solution at SS.

  We’ve had worse replacements there when Reyes was on the DL in ’09 and survived. I’d like to seem them do quite a bit more than survive though.
  • Bayonne Mets Fan October 18, 2011 at 10:25 pm

    Obviously you didn’t read my response that the Mets can and have won with a lesser impact bat at SS.

    Three times in their history. In fact all three times the Mets have had their best runs their SS were Harrelson, Santana, & Ordonez.

    It has EVERYTHING to do with the make up of a team and LESS to do with individual stats. I know that’s hard for you to comprehend. Heck, i think the concept of a team sport environment totally eludes you.

    I’m not saying I want Jose gone either because I don’t but with a different type of team and power distributed elsewhere they can win with a SS like Tejada.

    And he’s MORE than temporary fill in or a stop gap. He’s a full time starting SS or 2B (although I prefer 2B at this time) for a winning baseball team. And he’s only 21.
    • any October 18, 2011 at 10:35 pm

      and that would be the point about buying time to figure out how to make up for his bat elsewhere.

      Last I checked, the teams that won with weak sticks at SS had either the best SP in the league (69), or a top bat at C. Until the Mets have a couple of dominant bats at normally weak hitting positions, they are going to have trouble carrying a no power singles hitter at any position. Especially since he is an OK SS, but cnot exactly GG out there.

      Will tejada develop into a legit quality starting SS (as in, someone considered when you discuss the better ones in the league)? Maybe. Is he now? No. do an honest assessment of all the SSs in the league, and see where he falls. And he is not close to adding what Jose does.
    • NJstuckinTX October 18, 2011 at 10:58 pm

      They did win with a lesser bat at SS. Unforutnately they weren’t counting on that SS bat to be a major catalyst to the lineup during those times… Having Santana as SS while sporting Carter, Hernandez, Straw and the likes vs. having Reyes part of the Wright, Davis, uh… Reyes… yeah, therein lies the crux.
  • Bayonne Mets Fan October 18, 2011 at 10:28 pm

    I believe the middle infield for those famous mid to late 80s Mets teams was:

    Santana, Backman, & Teufel.

    My, how statistically unfriendly. But that was during a time when they didn’t bother with such NONSENSE and built teams however was the best way to win ballgames.
    • any October 18, 2011 at 10:48 pm

      actually, they did the best they could to have top players where they could, and filled in the gaps with role players. Just like every other team does.

      of course you want guys that fill their role, and do the job required, hustle, all those team related stuff. But sure as hell if they had a chance to replace Santana with someone that could play like an AS on both sides of the ball, they would have.

      Davey played Kevin Mitchell at SS on occasion. ANd Hojo. And that wasn’t to get a beter glove on the field!

      They sure as hell paid attention to statistics. And did the best with what they had.
    • NJstuckinTX October 18, 2011 at 11:53 pm

      Yeah, and they didn’t have a hole in LF, CF, C… Had a starting rotation that would make most drool with envy, a BP that was stacked… Apples and bowling balls… Apples and bowling balls.
      • Bayonne Mets Fan October 19, 2011 at 6:27 pm

        But if you read my original point that was what i was alluding to.

        sigh….one more time…smh…

        If Reyes bolts and Tejada is made the starting SS then they are going to have to restructure the type of team they have.
• alex68 October 19, 2011 at 7:41 am

  all offseason we will be wondering all types of if.. on this one, tejada is a bright young kid, has very good baseball skills, but i think he’s best suited for 2B, and that is because for this team the best option at SS is jose reyes. them 2 as our middle infielders will save a lot of run for a pitching staff that needs as much help as they can…
  No to your question, but NOT because tejada can’t handle SS, but because as a 2B he will give us better chance to win ballgames
• Metstheory22 October 19, 2011 at 9:50 am

  Off subject… Both times we have won WS. The MVP had # 22, the shortstop had #3.
  • metsaddict77 October 19, 2011 at 11:07 am

    NO, NO AND NO!!!!!!!!!
    • Metstheory22 October 19, 2011 at 11:16 am

      Not sure what the no’s are for since it’s a fact on both.
• Metsie October 19, 2011 at 11:56 am

  Hey HoJo I Know Hale said that and not you…

  But it does beg the question (and I don’t expect you to be able to answer this for Hale)

  Is GETTING BY really what we should be trying to do here?

  I mean we GOT BY with Rafael Santana so I suppose it’s not impossible to say you CAN…GET BY!

  You have to wonder when someone says we can GET BY….GET BY WHAT?
  The NL East?
  The Press?
  The Fans?
  The Braves or Phillies?
  The Buffalo Bisons?

  What are we getting by?
  other than the chance and ability to build a championship here?

  I’m an engineer which encompasses the art of what will “GET BY” in bad circumstances as the show is on the air, But the GOAL of the engineer and the skill is to make sure you cover as many bases and design the system so that those situations do not happen in the first place!

  When I hear another engineer say this isn’t the BEST way to do it but it will GET US BY, I make sure he never gets hired again and tell him to go back and do it the PROPER way to ensure we don’t need the bandaid to get BY!

  And from all the talk around here about 2014 it would appear to me there are a lot of people who are more interested in a Vacation from baseball(perhaps they have other things to do the next two summers) instead of constantly working to improve the team and make each eason count for something!

  And it is these folks who would prefer to sell off the talent, GET BY with players they themselves think little of in the hopes that 2014 will make all of this GET BYing go away!

  Anyone who suggests GETTING BY is smart is too lazy or not smart enough to actually know what it takes to make something better, How to build properly, nor care if their method works or not!
  All it is really to me is waiting for something good to happen that you didn’t actually make happen on your own!

  Like throwing the dice and hoping it comes up Double Sixes!
  It not a well thought out plan if you ask me!

  Sure we can GET BY with Tejada at SS!
  We could get by with Turner at SS too!

  If we could GET BY with them what could we do if we had the batting champ there?