With another crucial error in yesterday’s game, is it time to move on from Wilmer Flores at shortstop?
Flores botched a potential double play in the 4th inning, which allowed the Nationals take a 3-2 lead. The error was Flores’ 6th of the season, third most in the National League.
Kristie Ackert of the Daily News says that Flores’ latest misplay could cost him his job.
“Twenty-three games into this experiment and the honeymoon is definitely over for Wilmer Flores. Fresh off committing his sixth error of the season in the top of the inning, the Mets embattled starting shortstop walked to the plate in the bottom of the fourth and the small crowd at Citi Field booed him loudly.”
“Flores leads the team in home runs, he has three, and was hitting .254 with a single in the second inning. His errors have been costly, but so too has been his and Murphy’s inability to turn double plays. That is a huge Achilles Heel for a team built on pitching.”
Prior to the game, Collins spoke confidently about his double play combination of Daniel Murphy and Flores.
“All we have ever asked of them is what we have seen,” the Mets manager said before Thursday night’s game. “The ball is hit to you, catch it and get an out. Neither guy is going to be those quick, shortstop-second base guys with huge range.”
However after the game and specifically addressing Wilmer Flores, Collins said:
“We decided he was going to be the shortstop, we realized there might be a couple rough spots,” Collins said. “But you realize the minute you jerk him out of the lineup because he is not good enough to play shortstop, you might as well just put him someplace else, because those days are over playing shortstop.”
“You look at the way the Nationals are playing right now, their shortstop (Desmond) is off to one of the worst starts of anybody,” the Mets manager said. “But he is still playing shortstop and they are playing good.”
Thoughts:
Simply put, this experiment, if you want to call it that, has been a failure after one month of the season. Starting both Flores and Murphy was a bad idea right from the start. The Mets sacrificed too much defense for offense, and it’s coming back to haunt them.
To make the problem worse, both players aren’t hitting enough to cover up their flaws in the field. Flores had a .699 OPS coming into yesterday’s game while Murphy’s average is still hovering around the Mendoza line.
If the team is truly serious about the playoffs, then it is essential that they address this situation.
All offseason long, Sandy Alderson called Flores the best available option – better than anyone available in trade or in free agency.
Top prospect Dilson Herrera was called up last night, but the Mets could also look outside the organization for more help.
Yesterday on MMO, Rob Piersall suggested a trade for Milwaukee’s shortstop Jean Segura, who is quicker and has more range than Flores.
Are there any other trade options that might work, or will the Mets be forced to find a solution in-house? Can Mets afford to keep playing Flores at shortstop? Let us know in the comments.
(Photo credit: AP)
