Mack’s Morning Report – 3-16-16 – Ruben Tejada, David Wright

Good morning.

The news of Ruben Tejada being placed on waivers caught me off guard yesterday. I mean you have a wounded Astrubal Cabrera in camp, leaving your possibilities of opening day infielders to Wilmer Flores, Neil Walker, T.J. Rivera, and Matt Reynolds.

Or is there a bigger plan here. Is this how you wind up with a backup catcher or an additional middle reliever?

Mike Puma ‏@NYPost_Mets - Tejada is indeed on waivers; there was some wonderment in the Mets clubhouse why a proven veteran would be discarded by team trying to win.

And what if the team you close a deal with is the Dodgers. Do you play Tejada next to Chase Utley? (Bad joke)

I don’t like this move. Tejada represents someone I can predict. I still don’t see any definitive road to the majors for Rivera or Reynolds, especially since I feel the future Mets shortstop will someday be Amed Rosario.

There also seems to be some degree of certainty that the injury to Cabrera is coming to the full-heal stage.

Still, hate to see Tejada leave.

(one thing that will be interesting is watching how the last ‘utility infielder’ works out. I t seems to me that Tom Brennan wins either way here… T.J. Rivera or Matt Reynolds)

  

Going into Tuesday’s game, the pitching WHIP leaders were:

          Henderson          0.25

          Lugo                    0.60

          Reed                    1.00

          Ynoa                    1.05

          Harvey                1.14

The Mets will have a rare spring day off on Wednesday, giving all the starters (especially DeGrom) another day to rest.

Going into Tuesday’s game, wOBA leaders were:

          Flores                  .551

          Taijeron              .470

          De Aza                .435

          Lagares               .434

          Campbell            .429

Going into Tuesday’s game, Alejandro De Aza has the second best batting average among qualified NL batters this Spring. Travis Taijeron is tied for seventh

Mets send Gsellman, Lugo, Ynoa, Walters, Smoker, Herrera, Nimmo, Below, Pimentel, Cecchini, Smith, Krauss, Taijeron to minor league camp.

Mack – No surprises here though I’m sure Taijeron is upset after what he has accomplished in Port St. Lucie. He easily could be the first outfielder back if something changes.

Surviving the cuts: Ashley, Kelly, Rivera, Muno, Bernadina, Carlyle, Thornton

Erik Goeddel threw from a mound for the second time. Expects to have one more mound session before possibly getting into an exhibition game.

Royals have added righty Dillon Gee to their 40-man roster:

Zack Wheeler took another step in his rehab by throwing from the rubber for the first time since his Tommy John surgery

Vic Black had successful arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder.

David Wright took batting practice against Josh Edgin in Port St. Lucie. Wright will speak to Terry Collins about next step.

I still haven’t signed off on this approach the Mets are using this spring with  David Wright

        I would have expected Wright to be in a little more ‘game-ready’ shape before showing up for camp.

        Look, stenosis doesn’t go away folks. I have it. It’s something you learn to live with and not inflame.

        I’ve written about this a number of times. I can’t imagine trying to play major league caliber baseball with what Wright has… and I give him all the credit in the world of trying to work his way into whatever shape he can get in… but playing your first, sort of, game on March 14^th,  and not playing the field is, is nowhere near ready for opening day.

        And yet… Astrubel Cabrera is hurt, Gavin Cecchini’s hammy isn’t fully healed, and you would think the best move right now would have been to keep playing Wilmer Flores on third and keep Ruben Tejada around.

        Something’s rotten in Denmark here. We’re just not getting the whole story told to us at this point.

 I can just feel it.