24
2012
Let Ruben Tejada Be Ruben Tejada, Whatever That Is
An article by 
Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger had a good read this morning on Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. In it he points out that Tejada should simply focus his game on getting on base. He compares Tejada to Jose Reyes at the same age.
Compared with his predecessor, Tejada is smaller, slower, more placid, a possessor of a more down-tuned personality. But he remains, as hitting coach Dave Hudgens said earlier this spring, “a good solid player.” His instincts are advanced, and his fielding is solid. His swing is compact.
In 96 games last season, Tejada impressed his front office by embracing their offensive philosophy and cobbling together a .360 on-base percentage. When Reyes was 21, he played just 53 big-league games and posted a measly .271 on-base percentage. That statistical comparison, of course, does not mean team officials expect Tejada to out-perform Reyes this season. But they understand the asset they have.
“I really concentrated last year on taking my pitch and trying to hit the ball to middle every time,” Tejada said. “For me, that was the key.”
In McCullough’s article, Dave Hudgens is also quoted as saying that he hopes Tejada can become “a player like Phillies infielder Placido Polanco.” If Tejada could ultimately mirror the career of a player like Polanco, I think we’d all be very happy with that.
There’s a lot of comparisons being made to Tejada ever since Jose Reyes joined the Marlins. Most of these comparisons seem unfair and in some cases unwarranted as well.
Two weeks ago, I saw a couple of our readers comparing Ruben Tejada to former Met and three-time Gold Glover, Rey Ordonez. Sorry, but I just don’t see that and I have to wonder if some fans forgot just how special Rey Ordonez was.
Defensively, Ordonez was much flashier, had greater range, and he possessed the best instincts I ever saw in a shortstop – and he had the arm to go with it.
In addition to his spectacular plays, Ordonez always made the routine plays effortlessly and in fact he set the Major League record for shortstops by playing 101 consecutive games without committing an error. Think about that for a minute. Ordonez was absolutely sublime.
Tejada has made some flashy defensive plays at shortstop and he seems to have that Derek Jeter jump-throw down pat, but I’ve also seen Tejada muff far too many routine plays to dare mention him in the same breath as Ordonez. Now don’t get me wrong… I’m not saying that Tejada won’t improve or get better, but lets hold off on the Ordonez comparisons until that happens.
Look… Here’s the way I see it… Ruben Tejada is not Jose Reyes, or Placido Polanco, or Rey Ordonez. Tejada is simply a 22-year old shortstop that was never a highly regarded prospect, who is being asked to step into the shoes of a giant.
Time will tell how Tejada handles that, but if I were able to give him some good advice, I’d tell him to simply focus on being Ruben Tejada – whatever that ends up being. And as for us Mets fans, lets simply see how this season plays out for Tejada, after which we’ll learn if he is indeed our shortstop of the future or merely the shortstop of the present.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 30 | .583 | - |
| Phillies | 35 | 37 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Nationals | 34 | 36 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 40 | .403 | 12.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 48 | .314 | 19.0 |
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Well said.
I’ve always been a fan of Tejada going back to his early days in the system. From what I’ve seen of him so far this spring, I have been very impressed. He is maturing physically now, has just added 10 lbs of solid muscle in the off-season, and looks thicker in his top half. His swing which has always been compact and up the middle, showed off a new dimension the other day when he tore into a fastball, and crushed a Grapefruit league HR to left-center. Windblown? A little, but he really put a beautiful swing on that pitch. It was nice to see.
If we have to depend on him to be our leadoff hitter we are in alot of trouble.
I think it will put to much pressure on him that he will not be able to handle. Plus everyone will be comparing him to Reyes.
Not that their the same but the former Met that Tejada more closely resembles is Melvin Mora. Mora couldn’t handle SS and Tejada won’t have the HR’s (some of which were aided by Camden Yards.)
But he is exactly the kind of steady heady competent starting player that fills a vital need. The kind of guy who can be a starter in his prime for many years to come, the kind we’ve religously avoided producing or getting the prime portion of their career.
Hope his range proves adequate at SS but I’m confident .280/.360/.350 is well within his range offensively in his first full year.
We can only hope that Tejada becomes a consistent, solid player. He’ll never be the (GREAT!) gloveman Ordonez was or the electric on-base guy Reyes is. But hopefully, he gives us enough.
We have won with Rafael Santana folks. All he has to do is catch and throw solidly and hit a little. I can see .270ish. Let the rest of the pick up the hitting and speed slack we will miss from Reyes not being here..
Good points. You don’t need a superstar SS to win. Look back at the years the Mets were most successful: 1969 & 1973 Bud Harrelson was their SS, 1986 it was Rafael Santana, 1988 it was Kevin Elster, 2000 it was Rey Ordonez (then Mike Bordick after Ordonez got hurt). The only time the Mets have made the playoffs with a star SS was 2006 with Jose Reyes.
Hopefully, Tejeda doesn’t try to replace Reyes and just plays his game. And with luck that would be solid, to above average defense, and .265-.275 BA with a .340-360 OBP. That would be a very solid season in my opinion.
IF you really want to compare tejada to ordonez you need to take the bat into consideration as well!
What Ordonez did with the glove was amazing but he was at best a .250 high K low OBP Hitter.
Tejada has much more bat than that and while he won’t be flashy with the glove he will make the plays he needs to make and when he can’t at least help get the runs back at the plate!
My only worry is if they try and throw him into the 1 or 2 hole of the lineup.
I think he may eventually be a decent #2 hitter but I do not feel he is ready yet for that role.
He needs to get comfortable and concentrate on the hitting not what sign was flashed, who might steal on first forcing him to protect, hitting and running and taking pitches he wouldn’t normally take because of the base runner.
Put him before or after Bay for another year before you start throwing all the #2 hitter crap at him. Just let him work on maintaining his average and maybe even improving it!
SCREW YOU JOE D!!! I say Tejada is going to be the next Barry Larkin and to hell with anyone that doesn’t agree!
LOL I can only imagine the number of people that will not resist clicking on this when they see it opening with what it does.
I got you a few more hits Joe D and your welcome.
Have a nice weekend.
Like you said Joe D, Rubin Tejada can’t try and be another Reyes, the second coming of Ordonez, or try and be Barry Larkin. Rubin Tejada should try and be the first Rubin Tejada and the best damn Rubin Tejada he can be.
And I realize now I butchered his name.
I think Valdespin is ready now to be paired with Tejada. He’s the one that should be getting the reps there not Murph.
Mets can do whatever they want w/Murph & Wright but imo Valdespin should be getting the work at 2B with Tejada right now in preparation to go north. Isn’t that more of a plan for the future? Murph is not the future at 2B I don’t think he’ll last past April at 2B.
Aren’t you often ranting about ‘spin’s attitude and how you want nothing to do with him?
Ruben Tejada will be a solid shortstop and should hit . 270 or better. He will have a good eye at the plate and score some runs depending on where in the batting order he ends up hitting. As long as he does not try to be Jose Reyes he will be fine. For fans to expect him to be anything more than he is would be foolish….but you can count on that to happen!