Voluntary workouts have begun for the Mets and pitchers and catchers officially report in just three days. One player who is not down in Florida yet: Ruben Tejada.
Tejada, along with Lucas Duda, Wilmer Flores and Juan Lagares attended a fitness camp in Michigan over the offseason. The goal of this was to get these guys in shape for spring training and the 2014 season. It was widely reported last year that Sandy Alderson was not happy with the way Tejada came to camp last year and how he looked during the season.
Then there was the saga that was the shortstop pursuit over the winter. Alderson said at length that the team was looking to upgrade at shortstop via trade or free agency. They missed out on Jhonny Peralta and weren’t able to pull off a trade for one of the known available shortstops. We all know the Stephen Drew ordeal, and there could be a way he still ends up on the Mets before the season begins.
But, for Tejada, this was a chance to show he was committed to coming to camp and putting the work in. Lucas Duda, who also attended the camp, is already at camp and working out in order to be the starting first baseman. Tejada isn’t showing that drive to be the starting shortstop.
Very easily, Alderson could call up Scott Boras and make Drew an offer. Stephen Drew, within ten minutes could replace Tejada on the depth charts.
Now, Tejada could show up to camp tomorrow and be in the best shape of his life, and look like the shortstop Mets fans want him to be. But it’s about the impression he gives off. A not caring attitude will get you shipped out of town, no matter who it is. Coming to camp with the right attitude and mindset is a crucial part of having a good season.
The shortstop position is a work in progress. It could be Ruben Tejada. It could be Stephen Drew. For right now, it’s Tejada’s spot and he’s not putting him in a good position. Now, the on the field stuff is what matters at the end of the day. If he comes out and plays well, this doesn’t matter. But if the Ruben Tejada of last year rears its ugly head, the media and fans are going to have a field day with him not coming to camp early.
For everyone’s sake, let’s hope the good Ruben Tejada appears.
Two years ago Ruben Tejada showed up to Spring Training on time and had a solid year.
Last year, Tejada showed up early and had a rotten year.
Showing up early gets you face time with the boss. What else does it do for you? He’s not learning a new position and he’s not taking up switch-hitting. He’s not going to get in shape by showing up to Florida early. What they do in early ST is hardly intense workouts.
As long as he shows up by the collectively bargained time, I don’t care when he arrives in Spring Training.
I agree. Honestly, people make too big of a deal of what players do in the offseason getting to camp early. There’s a date to report for a reason. Besides, he already went to the fitness camp in the offseason. Do some fans just want all ballplayers to never go home and just work out at the spring training facility the day after the World Series ends?
Jeter’s last year ! Now the yanks will be very active looking for a S/S even from next years free agent S/S… So! Mets, if your planning on a free agent S/S, plan on what is left over. Right now, it’s either Tejada or Drew, there may not be anything better for the taking next year?
What’s the point? If the guy hits 280 and plays average defense everybody is happy and not showing up a week early doesn’t matter. If he hits 240 or less and plays below average defense he’s gone (maybe, this is the Mets after all).
He still may be in michigan
Alderson said Wilmer Flores and Juan Lagares remain at the fitness and nutrition camp in Michigan and are due to depart Friday.
As I suspected.
Oops, withdraw that. I thought someone was still at fat camp, but looks like Tejada left. Apologies.
Maybe he is attending to a sick aunt. Who cares. His job is to come to camp on time and be in shape. It is Tejada’s choice, not the fans and not Terry Collins either. For all of you readers that have been in unions, would you show up early for your job if your union negotiated a later starting time? It is strictly a protected personal preference.
terrible post
if you’re gonna troll, try harder
Sorry but trying to impress Met management? Why? Is Terry Collins in camp? Totally irrelevant. Impress them when you are scheduled to report by being in shape, playing solid defense and getting on base consistently.
I think the key to becoming a multi-millionaire player in the baseball business is to work harder than the next guy. Baseball is not a 9 to 5 job and showing up early to camp does count. The club has shown interest in replacing him, so he should get down there, stake out his territory and defend it.