Although they are not mathematically out of the playoff race, the Mets have a very slim chance of reaching the post season. Tonight, the Mets are wrapping up a series against the Colorado Rockies, and they will face the Washington Nationals in a four game home series starting tomorrow. As of today, the Nationals and Braves are the only team that the Mets will face for the remainder of the season that holds a place in the playoff picture. Therefore, the team will not have many chances to play spoiler in 2014. That said, there is something else the Mets can do in the remaining days of September: ready themselves for 2015.
Dilson Herrera has done himself good since he was called up on August 29. So far, his job has been to fill in for the injured Daniel Murphy (the Mets starting second baseman). Herrera has gotten his fair share of hits so far, which has led to a batting average of .267. He has had his ups and downs on defense, but has been solid for the most part with that as well. Clearly, he has shown that he is not a superstar, but he does have the tools and features to keep him in the majors in 2015. The only problem with him staying, however, is that he plays second base.
As one of the most consistent players on the Mets’ major league roster the past few seasons, Murphy has guaranteed himself a job with the Mets as their starting second baseman. Despite the rumors of him being traded, Murphy will probably, and hopefully, remain with Mets for the remainder of his contract and then some. Therefore, if Hererra wants to keep his position with the Mets as a starting position player, it may be in the best interest for him to learn to play shortstop and, with not much to look forward to this September, the Mets might as well start now.
Not including tonight, the Mets have 16 games left to play this September, and their elimination numbers are running low. That said, there is no excuse for the Mets not to experiment with Herrera playing shortstop. Right now, Wilmer Flores is the starting shortstop for the ball club, but he could easily sit a few games to allow Herrera to play the position. This may end up being a bust, but it also might not. For all we know, Herrera is a natural shortstop that has just been placed at the second base position.
This offseason, the Mets’ biggest problem to address will be their shortstop situation. Usually, a team would take this time to look at the upcoming free agent market and figure out whom they want to sign. However, the Mets will certainly have company this offseason concerning the shortstop market, as the Yankees will be looking to replace iconic legend Derek Jeter, and the Dodgers may have to replace Hanley Ramirez. Therefore, it would be helpful and beneficial for the Mets to move Herrera to shortstop for the remaining days of the 2014 season to see whether or not he can be an asset in 2015.
Herrera has only played 27 minor league games at SS. I think if he had shown some skill there at some point he would still be playing there.
Compare that to Wilmer Flores who has played 485 games at SS in the minors.
If you compare Herrera and Flores you find that neither of them is a shortstop. A shortstop is typically the best athlete in the infield, a quick guy with a strong arm and lots of range. Flores has the arm, but his range is very poor. Herrera doesn’t have the arm, and his range is good for 2nd but not adequate for short. Right now there is only one shortstop on the Mets’ roster, and that is Ruben Tejada, who is having a good year. He is young, and if he continues to perform the way he has this year, he’ll be a decent shortstop. If Herrera is at 2nd, they will make a fine middle infield. Herrera, by the way, if one of those ;guys with intangible assets. I think he will become a star.
Herrera hasn’t shown himself to be anything one way or the other – he’s been here for two weeks. WIlmer needs to play short the rest of the way, and go into 2015 as aour starting SS, hitting in the 7 spot. Herrera is 20, still has options, and there is no harm in him playing some games in Vegas next year, assuming Murphy is still here. If Murphy gets traded or hurt or has to switch positions to cover for an injury, then Herrera will be ready.
If Wilmer Flores plays the vast majority of games the rest of the way and then goes into 2015 as the team’s starting SS — what would you place the over/under on for his 2015 end of season OPS?
Brian I think I would place it right around .675. Since August 2nd it’s been .620 and in the last 14 games he’s played it’s been .711. He’s only 23 and I expect his walks to come up.
Also, since he most recent call up at the end of July, he only has 8 Ks in over 120 ABs. Clearly he has a very good eye. His BABIP in that timeframe is also an abnormally low .232, so I think that should come up as well and easily clear over .675 OPS next season.
Thanks for going on the record with your thoughts.
Flores had a 9-game span where the hits were falling in and he produced like his supporters envisioned. Unfortunately, since that time he’s 0-14. It’s great that he doesn’t strike out but it would be better if he hit the ball with authority on a consistent basis. I don’t believe his swing will deliver great over the fence power but he’s got to do better than 12 XBH in 213 PA.
I think a good point to look at Flores is since he started playing full time on August 7. Since then he has a .229/.269/.324 line for a .592 OPS in 113 PA. Now, anything can happen in 100 PA so we shouldn’t overreact one way or another. But his production has been no better than the 100 PA that came directly before that, which was only slightly better than his first 100 PA.
You can point to his BABIP and rationally conclude that it will go up. I won’t argue that point but I would also suggest that MLB hitters as a group have a BABIP of around .300 and at some point — and we’re not there yet — the possibility that Flores isn’t an MLB quality hitter should enter our mind.
There’s no reason not to play him right now. He should get the majority of playing time through the end of the season. That’s somewhere in the neighborhood of 55 PA to pad his final totals. But if he still has a sub .600 OPS from August 7th until the end of the year, that should be a red flag.
First off, let me begin by saying Murphy has been more than I ever expected him to be…given that, and the fact that his stock is higher now than ever..I’m from he camp that says we use him and possibly a Gee or Neise to get the LF hitter needed for next season…I like Herrara at 2B and Flores at SS for 2015..and beyond….my 2 cents..
I like good discussion with reasonable speculation but this constant moving of players around as if any MLB player can play any position is wasted discussion. Herrera is a 2B. He’s not going to ever be a SS.
I know we all want Murph to stay (so we are desperate to find another position for Dilson)… Murph’s hard nosed and an all-time favorite Met. But there’s no room for him once Herrera is ready. If Sandy gets a good offer for Murph this fall (straight up or in a package then great) or let Herrera get seasoned at LV and ride Murph till the deadline and the trade him to an AL team who is desperate for his bat and hopefully we get a player to fill in some gap that we need for our own playoff run. This would be no disrespect to Murph as he would get to be in a playoff race for the 2.5 months before he hits free agency and if he plays well he’ll write his own ticket. Can anyone say, “Carlos Beltran!”
Theres no financial room for Murph. Basically, the predictions from Aldersons words and no what Buster Olney projects is that the Mets will be right around 89M$ next year too. That said, I simply dont see Murphs arb salary fitting in with the near 35+M$ due to Wright and Grandy alone. I home we bundle him, find him a home on a competitive team, and get someone decent in return.
Id love to do bizz with Boston to get Cespedes somehow.
I think they got him to keep him, to play with Castillo. LA and Boston have become Little Cuba.
If the deal on Tomas is right, I’d go in that direction. From scouting reports he seems like a 20 HR, potential platoon bat, with a .245/.320/450 in that role.His rumored deal is around the lesser numbers of Cubans, Arruebarruena-like, in the $6MM range.
I like to keep options open, but it looks like this might be the way to go. I don’t see Herrera successfully moving to SS, but who knows.
The Mets have decided to move Murphy to third in place of Wright, play Herrera at second base and keep Flores at SS.
The Mets must find a way, going out side of the organization, to upgrade at SS in the off season.
If Murphy is with the team in 2015, then he will be the second baseman and Herrera will be in AAA. (where they could try him at SS)
Flores is not a shortstop, and is out of options in 2015. He projects as the backup 2B, 3B and SS. Tejada’s days are numbered if the new SS is acquired.
If Murphy is traded, then Herrera seems to have a better shot at the starting second base position over Flores or Campbell in 2015.
I can not see the Mets competing in 2015 “for a playoff spot” without some type of upgrade and stability at SS.
The Mets have effectively benched Tejada. I don’t see a world where he pulls a Lazarus.
I think we are seeing that Flores can physically play the position of SS. He’s fluid, makes all the throws, is sure handed, and can turn the DP. He will never have the range, though.
His hitting will be the question, and Bobby O’s breakdown before the game was telling. Here’s the thing – people would say he needs to produce Peralta numbers and that’s completely wrong. He needs to *eventually* produce that and show the possibility of growing into that bat.
I think he can produce it. We’ll see.