9/9/09

A Future Look At: SS




AAA: Luis Rivera: .274/.314/.314/.628 combined A+/AAA


Angel Berroa: .301/.350/.438/.788 – combined low-A/AAA


Wilson Valdez .247/.301/268/.589


AA: Ruben Tejada: .289/.351/.381/.732


A+: Reece Havens .247/.361/.422/.784 14-HR, 52-RBI


Jacob Egsti .235/.293/.292/.585 – combined A/A+/AA/low-A


A: Wilmer Flores .264/.305/.332/.637


Low-A: Luis Nieves .189/.211/.227//438 combined low-A/A+/K-Port


Robbie Shields .178/.273/.267/.540


K-Port: Ryan Mollica .287/.368/.365/.734


Gered Mochizuki .270/.351/.358/.708


GCL: Miquel Tejada .141/.235/.197/.432


DSL: Randoll Santana .281/.353/.383/.736


VSL: Jose Bellorin .287/.343/.450/.792


Ismael Tijerna .276/.347/350/.698



We have joked around for the last couple of years in these end-of-the-year recaps that it really didn’t matter what any of the minor league shortstops did; that no one was going to take away the job of Jose Reyes. Well, I truly believe that hasn’t changed, but there is a confrontation that’s going to develop at the end of 2010, which is quite interesting.


20-year old Ruben Tejada looks like the real deal on shortstop and is running out of minor league teams to play for. Tejada had more putouts and participated in more double-plays than any other player in his league. That’s a serious amount of ground balls for a 20-year old at the AA-level. He also had more hits than Josh Thole and was ranked 8th in the league.


The other interesting fact is, after the 2010 season, which looks like a full year for Tejada in Buffalo, Reyes’ option year comes up.


Hmm…


Past Tejada is Reece Havens, who really is in the shits. He had a sub-par year, has Tejada ahead of him, and super-prospect Wilmer Flores biting up his ass behind him. Flores did okay for a young kid playing A-ball, but he’ll have to step it up in 2010. He also projects out as either a first baseman or corner outfielder, and it will be interesting to see what position he plays in winter ball.


Same with Havens. He doesn’t seem to have the range for short, had 21 errors in 97 games, and rumors continue to fly that he will be moved to either second base or catcher.


Past these guys… Shields has been a major disappointment, and Molica and Mochizuki have showed early promise.

Promoted To Mets: No one


On The Way Out: M. Tejada, Nieves, Berroa, Eigsti


Current 2010 Projection:


AAA: R. Tejada
AA: Havens
A+: Flores
A: Mollica or Shields
Low-A: Mochizuki
K-Port: Bellorin
GCL: Santana
DSL: Open
VSL: Open

In Summary:

As I’ve said, everything will calm down about Reyes as soon as bats first again in Queens. Remember… “as Jose goes, so goes the Mets”, but on the other side, you can’t trade this guy off an injured season. No, Reyes will play short for the Mets in 2010, and if Tejada aces AAA, look for a post-ASG trade for pitching help. If Tejada stalls out, the Mets will pick up Jose’s option for 2011. As for Havens and Flores, Wilmer is years away and Reece isn’t showing me the money. I’m sorry, but I still think this was a bad draft pick.

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