5/8/14

Ernest Dove - Let the Wilmer Flores Era Begin.



  Well, it looks like the time has come..... again......

  We got a glimpse of the young prospect last year.  The young, hotshot prospect, with a solid bat, and no position to play.  Mets universe was contemplating whether or not to trade away Daniel Murphy, so that Flores could have a position.  Then, Murphy continued to do what he always does..... hit..... and David Wright found himself on the DL, so on went Flores to third base. 
  It was during this time that a little bit of magic seemed to happen.  Be it a hit, a sac fly, or even a ground out, the 22 year old 'career top 10 Mets prospect' obtained RBI after RBI.  And then, as seems the case so often in Mets land, he immediately comes up lame, on, of all things, a running of the bases. I guess, it seems more like twisted irony, that the kid with 'Frankenstein speed' would actually have an injury to his lower body (ankles).  And so ended the excitement of a new position player.

  The Mets, and their fans alike, have enjoyed (the most we can after so many losing seasons) the consecutive years of excitement and anticipation that has come with the arrival of new pitching, in the form of Harvey and Wheeler. And even now, in 2014, all anyone wants to talk about is when Thor, Montero, deGrom, Vic Black and company will arrive. 

  Yes, you win with pitching and defense.  The Mets starting pitching, overall, has been a positive.  The defense, with a healthy CY and Lagares roaming the outfield, has done well overall. And yes, even as manager Terry Collins has pointed out, during the current losing streak, this team has also won some games that they shouldn't have.  That's because, sometimes, you can get some timely homers, or hits, and win 4-3, 3-2, etc.  However, what can also happen, is what just happened at the end the series with the Florida Marlins.  This is when you end up watching your starters go 6+ quality innings, with 'Johan Santana' like support from your 8 position players in the lineup, and you watch as the strong pitching and defensive team loses.

  So, in comes Wilmer Flores.  Now, don't get me wrong, nobody around the league will be comparing this call up to have a Mike Trout/Bryce Harper type impact on this team.  In fact, unless I'm wrong, with Flores now being the shortstop this time around, there seems to be no other option (like a Tejada or Q) to bat 8th.   And with the guy behind him being one of number of pitchers who have combined to go 0 for the season at this point, Flores will have to be very careful to avoid swinging at terrible pitches, and take the walks as they come.

  Wilmer Flores is like the most veteran 22yr old rookie I can remember.  He's been with this organization since 2007, when he was signed....... wait for it....... as a shortstop....... However, life happens.  And, I guess, so does biology, DNA, and genetics.  And, according to Science, and the human body, it was apparently decided that Wilmer Flores could no longer play the position.  The hot corner seemed like the perfect position to hide his perceived lack of range.  And the potential to hit 15+ homers, and drive in runs, would project as being enough to handle the position.  Right up until the Mets signed their captain, and franchise, to what amounts to a lifetime contract.  So the still young Wilmer then was forced to begin playing second base, and first base.  Funny thing happened along the way.  While Wilmer Flores has been busy hitting homers, batting over .290, and adequately fielding his positions at second base, and first base, the Mets kept resigning Daniel Murphy, and somehow managed to carry 2, and even 3 first basemen to start the 2014 season.  So now what?  Hey, I've got a great idea, why not play him where he was supposed to play in the first place. 

  Great, right?  Well, here's the catch.  He gets to re-learn the position, in the Nevada desert.  Not exactly the perfect place to field ground balls, or even breathe properly in that hot air.  But, here we are.  After a very slow offensive start, and questions about the change in position possibly effecting his offense, Flores has recently been on fire out there in the PCL.  It seemed like he was hitting around .200 forever, even though it was only a few weeks, because we all kept hoping.  And, sure enough, you look up, on May 8th, and the kid is doing what he has always done in the minors, produce.  You look up, and Flores is hitting over .300, 5 homer, and 25 RBI's in only 29 games
  And we are now (depending on Terry Collins preference), about 24 + hours away from taking the field, to restart his once, and always projected, successful career.   Maybe he will bat 8th.  Maybe he steal 0 bases this year.  Maybe he will make errors, and botch a few double plays. Maybe, when we look up in September, he will also have 15 homer, 75 RBIs, a .275+ BA, and a propensity to put the ball in play, rather then strikeout, and bring in runs.
  I, for one, will be watching, with eager anticipation.   

4 comments:

That Adam Smith said...

Please, please, please don't hit the kid 8th.

IBfromWhitePlains said...

If he hits 8th at least D'arnaud will get something to hit for a change. and if D'arnaud starts hitting maybe the 6 hole starts hitting. Tejada had to come out of the lineup.

bill metsiac said...

Like most rookies, he will probably start off hitting 8th, since he's not promising (yet) as a leadoff hitter or a middle-of-the order power bat. Duda is ABSOLUTELY NOT a #8 hitter. He's a power hitter who has a good eye and draws a lot of walks. He also isn't blessed with speed. He's not someone you want pitched around and walked, and potentially thrown out at 2B on a sac attempt. If he's not worthy of a 4-5-6 spot in the order, he's not worth keeping at all.

Mack Ade said...

Welcome back, Bill