Jun
24
2012
24
2012
Mets News: Valdespin Is Out As Mets Activate Tejada From DL
An article by Hojo's Mojo
In somewhat of a surprise, the Mets have announced that Jordany Valdespin has been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo to make room for shortstop Ruben Tejada who was activated from the disabled list and is batting second in tonight’s lineup.
The Mets have also activated Ramon Ramirez from the 15-day disabled list, but have yet to announce a corresponding move.
I was a little taken back to see the Mets option Valdespin instead of Omar Quintanilla. Spin was batting .300 in 30 at-bats in his last ten games after a slow start and brought a little bit of excitement to the lineup.
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Very surprised at this – maybe part of a ‘tude adjustment? Maybe they just want to reward Quintanilla for playing so well lately and they know Spin will be back anyway?
Bayonne — Spin may be back this season, maybe even real soon. I think he will but time will tell us. He is flamboyant and swings so hard he can replace a heavy duty air conditioner.
What does Keith Law say about Spin? Law is a senior baseball writer for ESPN.com and ESPN Scouts. He was formerly a writer for Baseball Prospectus and worked in the front office for the Toronto Blue Jays. To the question, “What is Valdespin’s ceiling?” Law said: “Unless he overhauls his swing and approach I see no role for him.”
He really needs an attitude adjustment because he is immature and seeks attention in a team game where rookies traditionally have been treated as a newbies. When the Mets entered their clubhouse recently after a win, Spin was the first one in and he let out a loud sheik for the TV camera. It had “notice me” written all over it. Another time he was once again the first one in and this time he did a sort of brief end zone celebration. But really, these types of behavior would be easily tolerated if he did some outsized production on the field. So far he’s been pretty good but he’s still got a way to go.
Des May 29, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Try doing what I do. Ignore him.
If you hadn’t been reading on the Mets website as well as on Adam Rubin’s twitter, the Mets didn’t want to risk losing Quin because he has no more options and would have had to pass through waivers.
Ahh it makes a little more sense, but it still makes the team weaker IMO.
Hmm odd choice if you ask me. He played 2B and OF and with Ruben back who needs Q when you have Cedeno?
Very true! The only other point I see in this is as Bayonne said, “a tude adjustment” but also that maybe they feel he needs to play every day instead of riding the pine. He does need to develop some more discipline..
because Murphy is the starting 2B so the Mets need at least one capable LH PH on the bench at all times and Valdespin is a god awful PH (unless of course you leave a fastball down the middle)
This. Valdespin needs more work at the plate. Has some nice pop to his bat but he’s still a hacker yet.
Hopefully Wally can work some magic with him down there.
But Murphy isn’t a real starting 2Bman. I would not classify Murph as a guy who’s job is safe – he’s far from a real actual starting 2Bman. Valdy is more of a real second baseman and i’m sure the Mets are grooming him for the job.
As for the other people who “read a book” and think it’s easy to magically change a hacker into a patient hitter.
Nope. Not gonna happen.
Valdespin as he gets older may make some adjustments and maybe not but he will ALWAYS be a hacker. Maybe not as drastic as he is now but that will never change.
That’s for the ridiculous comment by the person who “read a book” and think it applies to everybody in baseball.
You CANNOT change a hacker. And hackers have been great hitters in baseball history too.
If he’s seeing the ball well and his EYES are good than he can hit from his knees. It’s a ridiculous and unreal notion that you can magically change a hacker.
And i personally think Valdy is not going to change much so you either take him as he is, let him develop in his own way or you move him..and he’s too talented to be moved just because he likes to swing the bat a lot. So stupid with these people who “read a book” and think they understand baseball.
Knew you would say that about Murphy. When he gets hbis bat started, he will be a good 2nd baseman but what can I expect from you. Murphy can do no right by you..
You’re wrong and don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m always in here praising Murphy’s offense. I think this is not the real Murphy he’s MUCH better than this.
So you’re wrong that i never give him credit for anything. You just never EVER talk about any other ballplayer in here. It has never happened.
He’s just not a good fielder but has exceeded not only mine but MOST people’s expectations far beyond anything we could have imagined as a fielder.
But he’s still not good enough defensively and his baseball IQ still is very questionable. He’s not going to remain a Mets second baseman.
the problem is Valdespin is a hacker, that doesn’t hit very well, at least for now. Send him to AAA, have Wally in his ear 24/7 to keep on top of him and then bring him back in September and see if he has improved.
I definitely agree that Murphy is only a short-term option at 2B and that Valdespin could be the 2B of the future, I’m just not sure he’s talented enough to be an everyday player with such a poor work ethic and overall demeanor.
Guys from Ernie Lombardi to Yogi Berra to Manny Sanguillen to Petey Guerrero were all hackers. They were hackers in the minors, they were hackers in the majors and just like any other hitter i wouldn’t be surprised if their numbers early weren’t good.
But they are talented major league hitters and they developed into outstanding and in some cases HOF hitters – as HACKERS.
Valdy is NOT gonna change. Sure he may make some adjustments but i bet his success is simply going to be as gets older, gets more familiar and just becomes a better hitter because he is exceptionally talented. It that’s the way he SEES the ball he’s not going to change.
Don’t know about Petey Guerrero but I know that Vlad Guerrero is the picture of HACKER! I agree that Jordany may be a much better fit as a n everyday second baseman. I’m not sure how much better Murph can be while I feel Valdespin just has a much bigger upside. The guy is a pure athlete. He’s got a little Cano in him.
except Vald batted .330 every year. Cano is a hacker as well, but those guys are such great hitters that they can get away with it.
I just don’t know if Valdespin has the bat (or ever will have the bat) to compensate for his lack of discipline…
you may very well be right, but all those players I’m sure were dedicated to being the best baseball players they could and were highly motivated to be the best player they can be.
Valdespin ALREADY thinks he’s an all-star in the making and that his game is perfectly polished. This kid told Wally Backman that he’s too good for batting practice in AAA. That’s the problem…
yes i’m with you guys there.
While the Mets can use a little of that ‘tude instead of what the ‘face’ of the franchise brings now – his attitude like i said before, if not held in check can also be the reason for this kid’s downfall.
Bayonne — You’re a riot. You lambast fans who read about baseball. You keep saying that your experience is all you need to ‘know’ who is a real player and books don’t help. But you mention Ernie Lombard as a hacker. Lombardi last played in 1947, at which time you were probably 25 years away from being born. How do you know Lombardi was a hacker? Did you see him play?
Lombardi hit .377 in 1928 as a 20 years old kid. That was for Oakland in the PCL. He followed it with years of .366 and .370. He was a full time catcher and played 430 games in those three years. Yeah, he was some hacker.
You’re saying NOTHING. All you’re giving is the batting average and that alone says NOTHING if a guy is a wild free swinger or has a great eye.
hey folks! Here’s a batting AVG – .354. Now tell me if this guy was a hacker or walked a lot.
It is beyond comprehension just how DUMB you are. I really think you must have had to have psychiatric help in your life, i truly do.
The most walks Lombardi had in a full season was 40.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lombaer01.shtml
Des May 29, 2012 at 2:41 pm. Try doing what I do. Ignore him.
Just go please go away and travel in your own ignorant circles.
Des May 29, 2012 at 2:41 pm. Try doing what I do. Ignore him.
Bayonne — I thought you would have seen Ernie Lombardi since you don’t believe in books. When did you see him?
Wait, what? What’s wrong with reading baseball books? I read baseball books all the time, most recently Buddy Harrelson’s “Turning Two”. So you’re contending that reading baseball books is stupid, and not reading them would make one as smart as you? (Which isn’t very smart, BTW) Do you know you are legendary for being a mongoloid apeman? Shaddap and get your own beer you ignorant, uneducated tool.
Oh yes, because book reading certainly tells one that a batter is a hacker….
RME and SMH.
Yeah he gives a hoot about actual game experience, who gives a hoot about the opinions of people who have actually worked with young high school aged hitters for years. Who gives a hoot about people who have actually thrown tons of pitches during batting practice, had whole practices working on a tee, soft tossing, etc.
Christ these people are amazing and have a big set of you know what too – go get me a beer and shaddup
You are a sad little man.
Don’t let him get to you srt, he can’t help it, he’s stoned all the time. What the heck does he know about baseball, reading or girls?
http://www.tommygunvideo.com/1leaf-spin.gif
Yeah, I doubt I’m not the only one who justs LOL.
Great to have Ruben back!
I have yet to read the details but I read somewhere that Don Q would have to clear waivers to send him back down to AAA. If that is indeed the case I doubt the Mets would put him on waivers and risk a good chance of losing him and the depth he has provided the team at SS.
Welcome back Tejada.
Not a surprise at all. The kid has a bad attitude, has options and is batting under .250
Would have much rather seen Hampson (or even Beato) instead of Ramirez, but the Mets are going to hope the BP changes on its own I guess
That will also allow Valdespin to play every day.
Q had no more options. If he gets sent down, the Mets will lose him.
And now that FF is on the DL, just who exactly is the closer?
This is going to be fun with this BP.
Tunner, Cedeno, Quintanilla and Rottino are on the Bench. Lutz, Havens and Flores also are on the 40 man roster. Is it time to trade Cedeno to make room on the 40 man roster? I don’t see Cedeno getting an offer after the season.
It’s not so much that he is a hacker but I get the feeling he is a bit un-coachable. I really hope he matures because he has some exciting tools.
Think I would have sent Rottino down over Spin.
Rottino got sent down, too.
Too bad Q don’t play 2B cause Cedeno might have been sent down.
Spin is a hacker in the new, modern day style of many up and coming players as evidenced by the increase in K’ s and swinging hard at all times vs shortening up when down 2 strikes.
Maybe Wally can get him to shorten up with 2 strikes but it is an epidemic around baseball now and it is swing hard all the time.
Met’s only “real” closer was FF so now we have to rely on Bobby cause there are no other options, I would not let Rauch anywhere near a closing situation for the near future, till AS break at least, cause he is on record to lose more games out of BP than anyone I can remember in Mets history, me thinks!
It’s not surprising at all that Valdespin went down, The only other option was Quintinilla and he’s out of options. No way he passes waivers and with the deadline coming up it makes a ton of sense to carry him on the roster as a potential trade chip.
Valdespin was not going to play everyday unless he played LF a lot so it makes a ton of sense to send him down and keep him playing everyday until the trade deadline has passed and roster room is made for him.
Valde will be back before you know it.