1/30/14

UPDATE - Sandy on Flores Playing SS


“I don’t think we’d rule it out. Why should we? I think we have to see how Spring Training plays out for him — is there going to be a spot for him in the lineup? Is there not? Is he going to be a bench player for us? Is he going to go to Las Vegas?”


Sometimes I think if you ask Alderson a question about, let's say, Zack Wheeler, working as a flipper of hamburgers, he would say,  'hey, we don't rule out anything... "

Nothing against Flores, but he proved over a three year period that his legs were too slow to play shortstop. That was in A-ball. Why would the major league level be easier than that.

God, I wish the season would start.


17 comments:

David L. Whitman said...

Mack-So Wilmer back at SS again, eh? Sandy is really trying raise his trade value isn't he?

Reese Kaplan said...

Raising his trade value is based upon him getting ABs and showing how well he can hit. Let the trade partner worry about where he would play.

Jeff C said...

Sandy must be talking to Scott Boras because now he is starting to sound like him. "Stephen Drew is open to playing multiple positions", "Wilmer Flores can play both corner infield spots, 2B, and SS". Actually, it's too bad Flores can't play SS because that would solve a huge problem. What was his issue at the position?

Mack Ade said...

Jeff -

Simply put, he's too slow.

I'm an old 3Bman... the top (and fastest) talent play SS... have to be able to cover twice the area and still gun it to first...

Flores legs get in his way... he's even worse on the base paths.

Anonymous said...

@Jeff

He's too slow/doesn't possess that quick first step needed to play SS. Not having these two things limits his range to the point where he's borderline unable to play 2B.

David L. Whitman said...

If they're going to attempt this foolish experiment. Hell, they'd be better off reacquainting Lagares with SS, moving Grandy to CF and throwing Wilmer out in LF! Lol

Jeff C said...

Mack:

Did you just label yourself as slow? I'm guessing the scouting report on you said, "exceptional reflexes, strong arm, intelligent, ... better suited to the hot corner than SS"

Question: would you rather have a Stephen Drew - average to above average on D and O, or a guy like Rey Ordonez that excelled on one side of the ball with his D, but was very below average with the stick?

Anonymous said...

I will take above average defense and average offense over Hall of Fame defense and little league offense any day of the week.

So
Drew > Ordonez

Mack Ade said...

Jeff -

shortstop are better athletes than third baseman; however, third baseman usually have better reflex time.

'We' get two kinds of ground balls... ones we can cut off going to short at a slow pace, or one being shot out of a cannon at our throat.

Also, shortstops have better arms.

Many third baseman share the same lack of defensive skills as first basemen; however, have much more pop than mid-field infielders

David L. Whitman said...

Jeff-It depends upon the rest of team's offense really. If you have enough hitting and have a lot pitchers who pitch to contact then you can afford to carry a gloveman/light stick at short.

In the Mets case at SS they need a consistent glove who has some pop with the bat or someone who can get on base and create some runs with their legs. At the moment they have neither.

Ernest Dove said...

I think the HOF defender with .225-.250 BA only really works if surrounded by some .300 hitters and 20+ homer guys.........
The 2014 Mets have plenty of guys who can "project" out to 20+ homers, plus Davkd Wright and Daniel Murphy. ............but like Mack always says, I'll go by their actual 2013 stats, and not simply expect everyone in this expected 2014 lineup to be a whole lot better then that....at least not until we see it with our own eyes during the actual season.

Anonymous said...

@Ernest.

We were lucky if Rey ever hit above the Mendoza line lol.

TP said...

Media member x: "Sandy, any chance of Recker playing SS?"
Sandy: "Well, he has been working on his mobility this winter, chasing deer in the wild, so, we'll take a look at him in St. Lucie. I can't rule anything out."

Seattle Steve said...

If Kevin Mitchell can play SS for us in 86, Wilmer can play there for us.

Ernest Dove said...

How is it that Justin Turner can play shortstop, but Flores cant?
I still have no idea what the hell WAR is when projecting a players value. With that being said, if Wilmer Flores can hit .275+ with 15+ homers and 75+ RBIs, then I can accept 20 errors, especially with the Mets future rotation. But what the f@$k do I know.

Mack Ade said...

Ernest... Seattle...

Can you just trust me here?

I was there for three years.

Wilmer FLores can't play SS.

TP said...

Mack,
I trust you.

Seattle,
Davey J. played 747 at SS as a goof when the Mets were up by a million games. You'll notice that essentially never happened again in his career, and it was with good reason.