12
2012
Will Tejada and Murphy Be Our Middle Infield Combo Again In 2013?
An article by 
Ruben Tejada ranks fourth in the majors with a .404 (19-for-47) batting average on Sundays (min. 40 at-bats).
Tejada has at least one hit in 15 of his last 16 games, and is hitting .352 (25-for-71) over these 16 games.
Tejada’s .321 batting average is the highest among all major league shortstops (min. 280 at-bats) and his .368 on-base percentage is the highest among all major league shortstops.
Daniel Murphy has the fourth-highest batting average (.360, 50-139) in the majors since June 27 (min. 128 plate appearances). He is tied for the most doubles (15) during that span.
The Mets second baseman has scored 19 runs, collected two triples, four home runs and driven in 21 runs RBI during that same 38 game span.
Overall, Murphy is tied for seventh in the majors with 33 doubles and his career-high was 38 doubles in 2010. He will undoubtedly smash his previous high.
Do you think we will open the 2013 season with Tejada and Murphy as our middle infield combination once again?
Do you agree that it’s the right way to go?
The way the front office loaded up on shortstops in the last two drafts, especially in 2012 with the top pick, it doesn’t seem they are as enamored with Ruben Tejada you might think. They completely overlooked a high-ceiling outfielder to grab Gavin Cecchini which seemed like an odd play considering the lack of quality depth at outfield - especially the power plus speed variety.
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 | 24 | 18 | .571 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 20 | .535 | 1.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 23 | .465 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 32 | .256 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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I think tejada is a no brainer , we have to wait about murph , as you mentioned if he not improves , especially on defense , young guns are in the system
Nothing would surprise me regarding this Front Office..The more Bizarre and dumb looking the move, the more likely they seem to want to do it!
I say Murphy has earned his 2B job for the forseeable future. His glove has not been bad at all and his hitting has not been affected by playing there.
Tejada may not ever be a power hitter but he plays a great SS and the only thing you can knock him for is he has become a little gun shy with runners bearing down on him and he has made some throwing errors as a result.
A lot of what happenes depends on what Ike does the rest of the way. If he gets back to hitting more for average then Murphy will stay at 2B, if not Murphy will go to 1B, Tejada to 2B and most likely will sit around waiting for Flores to come up and play SS.
He hasn’t been as good at it as Tejada has but since when has that mattered to this Front Office?
Flores’ days as a SS are over.
From an Aug. 9 post I made. Little has changed:
Murphy has twice the doubles of Tejada and his defense has improved a lot. So why would Sandy and Terry, who wanted Murphy to play originally for his offense, now be playing Tejada and sitting Murphy?
This season Murphy has .303/.347/.431 with 33 2B, 3 triples, 4 HR, and 7SB and 2CS
This season Tejada has .321/.369/.391, with 16 2B, no triples, 1 HR and 1SB and 2CS
In the area of bat discipline, Murphy has a K/BB ration of 1.93, while Ruben has a poorer 2.58.
On defense, Murphy has committed 11 errors in 425 chances for a .972 Fld%
On defense, Tejada has committed 9 errors in 271 chances for a .967 Fld%
Both Murphy and Tejada have below league average Range Factors with Murphy the poorer.
(Last night Tejada had another throwing error.)
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Ruben’s 2012 play, but I’ve also been pleased with Murphy’s.
Ruben Tejada ranks fourth in the majors with a .404 (19-for-47) batting average on Sundays (min. 40 at-bats).
lol , speak of a useless stat
Come on Angelo. Sunday is a very important day in my family. A rich and hearty meat sauce poured over a fresh bowl of rigatoni pasta, and then oh my god the sausage and meatballs. Then just when you think it’s over the smell of espresso and a tray of cannoli in the center of the table. Pass me the Sambuca.
lol, actually , after reading your comment , i will make myself some food now
Yes both earned their way back. Cedeno will get back to the 2 million he earned in 2011,but not from Sandy. Spin is transitioning well in the outfield. I’d like to see right handed batting infielders Turner, Satin and Lutz given a shot at playing outfield.
Satin seems to be putting together a nice full season at AAA could he or Havens be in play for 2B come next Spring?
Satin wass terrible at 2B. He could be part of a 1B platoon though, if Ike proves to not be capable of hitting LHP. First I’d like to see Ike handle RHP. lol
Thx for the info Fonzie. I saw that he has played mostly 2B and of late was playing 2B again but wasn’t aware of how good or bad defensively he was at the position.
Can never cultivate enough talented players, regardless of position. You do not know which guys will pan out (Havens) or which guys can fit in somewhere (valdespin, murphy) or which gs step up (tejada).
Merized is hatin today? Who is writing these stories? U think sandy doesnt believe in tejada because he drafted a ss #1 this year? Really? By the time cechinni is MLB ready tejada will be due a big contract. Then we have depth and can either resign him or use cechinni in a trade piece in the future when we r hopefully perennial contenders. Patience is a virtue and everyone is freaking out after less than 2 years into the rebuilding process! It doesn’t happen overnight when u have to gut your system and start over! 3-4 years of rebuilding! Different sport but look what the Hoosiers did in basketball! Tom crean had to gut his team down to two walk ons 4 years ago at Indiana! People freaked out in year two and three and then bam!!! Year four they go to the sweet 16, have all 5 starters returning and a top 5 recruiting class coming in! That’s depth and that’s a good way to size up rebuilding done the right way! It doesn’t happen over night guys! Calm your tits!
I just looked into my crystal ball and this is the future. Murph gets traded to an American league team where is mostly a DH. Tejeda stays but is moved to second base.
Then who is the shortstop?
Tejada/Murphy or Tejada/Valdespin are going to be ok for next year.
Murphy is only passable at second. never mind less errors there are a lot of balls he is not getting to. As far as who is the short stop, Gavin Cecchini or one of the other stock piled short stops we have. I’m thinking 2014 folks. 2013 I am not even thinking about. Hence the use of the term crystal ball, as in looking into the future. Also I think they trade Murphy while he has some value and bring back (hopefully) some good relief pitchers, a starter or could we hope for a young power hitting outfield prospect who actually is an outfielder and not some converted infielder. Then Mets have so many converted position players you would think they were running a cult and not a baseball team.
Valdespin should be in the Outfield. Murphy & Tejada are a combo,Murphy was great in the field tonight again. We need outfield hitters with pop.
The Mets have no choice but to leave their infield in tact and I have absolutely no problem with that at all.
The problem is the bullpen and especially the OF. The Mets OF is a disaster and I don’t see how they can fix that in one offseason unless the homegrown guys can turn into something good…
I say we should try Valentino Pascucci or Lucas Duda at second base, they cant be any worse than Daniel Murphy defensively. But at least we have a real shortstop and second baseman in Ruben Tejada. Too bad we didn’t have Jose Reyes and Ruben Tejada in the middle the way it should have been, but don’t worry these guys in the front office especially DePodesta has a great handle on drafting. His long resume of MLB all stars is as long as the numbers of years it’s been since Alderson last had a winning season.
Really, what is this FO thinking when they don’t draft any OF, a big need?
I don’t trust them because in the end they are here to make sure the Wilpons don’t go over a financial cliff and jeopardize the Met franchise.
Who knows what they are thinking up there in the glass house.
Tejada has played good but he doesn’t have the range or arm that Jose had plus he might be hitting for avg but his extra base numbers are lacking.
Murph has looked better at 2B this season, especially turning the DP ball plus he has a strong arm.
He too has lacked extra base power other than doubles.
I say bring em back because you need a steady infield unless you trade Murph and put Spin at 2B who does not have the arm to play CF or RF if, as mentioned, Mets plan to play Duda in LF over Bay.