Glass Half Awesome: Minor Leaguers To Watch

The Mets of Queens may not be in a pennant race but that doesn't mean that the franchise is without playoff drama. Johan Santana, the Met ace has been rushing back through rehab to aid the team in our hour of need.

Just as we expected, Santana DID make it back in time to help our team in a playoff run. Brooklyn, Savannah and Port St. Lucie all in playoff races there is still plenty of playoff juice. He's been shipped to Savannah where he will be helping the Sand Gnats to fend off elimination. Some interesting things to note about his start.

• He is the only Cy Young winner to be featured in the SAL playoffs
• He is the oldest player on either roster
  
• He makes more than every single player and coach combined in the entire SAL league

I have to feel for Augusta a little. Imagine you are 22, you've played all year against other guys around the same age and now this 32 year old lefty who you'd probably like to get an autograph from is going to be facing off against you. He only has to prove he's healthy... you have to prove you're worthy. I don't envy that position.

I'm glad that Johan made it back in time to make a playoff impact for ONE of the Met teams. Perhaps next year he could make an impact with one in Citi Field. For all you glass half empty people, pour yourselves a nice tall glass of Watkins Pain Relieving Liniment and drink your worries away. (Please Note: Watkins Liniment is not intended for consumption.)

What Do We Do With This Kid?

Question: Will Ruben Tejada ever hit 30 HRs in a season?

Answer: No.

Question: Will Ruben Tejada ever steal 30 bases in a season?

Answer: No.

Question: Will he ever score 100 runs or drive in 100 RBIs in a season?

Answer: Probably not.

Question: So, what do we do with Ruben Tejada?

The easiest way to the majors for a middle infielder, is through his defense. That's how Ruben emerged as a replacement to an injured Jose Reyes when he was still 20. The issue with a player like Ruben is that beyond the fielding... it's hard to find him time to play. Check out the ranks for our top 6 MI people based on Defense, Offense, Running and Power:

Defense:
Reyes > Tejada > Valdespin > Havens > Turner > Murphy

Offense:
Reyes > Murphy > Havens > Turner > Valdespin > Tejada

Running:
Reyes > Valdespin > Tejada > Turner > Havens > Murphy

Power:
Murphy > Havens > Valdespin > Turner > Reyes > Tejada

Top Options:
1. Jose Reyes
2. Jordany Valdespin
3. Reese Havens
4. Daniel Murphy
5. Justin Turner
6. Ruben Tejada

Out of the six options... Ruben is the worst overall. Wait... he's also the youngest. PLUS, he's hit for average... that's worth something, right?

I've heard Keith Hernandez talk about the importance of defense up the middle enough that I sometimes long for the dulcet tones and ridiculous bias of John Sterling. Ruben Tejada's defense is important... but I can not give a player a starting job on the MLB club when there ARE superior options at our disposal.

The Glass Half Empty: This September, Jordany will get a shot to prove he can cut it in the pros. It's not a make or break opportunity but he'll get the opportunity to preview his skills. Likewise, Joshua Satin (who I didn't list) and MAYBE Reese Havens (Probably going to AFL instead) will get some swings. In the end... There is only one way that Ruben Tejada ever starts for the New York Mets. If Jose Reyes does not return... Tejada is the starting SS. Otherwise... he's a very young bench player who has PEAKED... as a bench player.

The Glass Half Full: In a perfect world... maybe Ruben Tejada could be a new version of Fernando Vina or Placido Polanco. I think Ruben could be that good (better if you consider he plays SS too) and these guys were and are (in Polanco's case) legit starters.

Zippity Duda

Is it just me, or does Lucas look almost dainty in this picture? I mean... it's like he's a Southern Belle drifting out of the batters box in a giant hoop skirt for his cotillion. Really? Just me? Well that figures. I've decided to take a moment to address the positive side of the Met's recent abysmal play and the likely swan song to the 2011 season.

Before the season I read reports telling me that scouts were making an about-face on Lucas Duda. He wasn't an all power/no patience pinch hitter... at least if he could learn to push the ball the other way and hit the breaking ball. Lucas failed to shine in his early auditions with the club and was relegated to AAA where together with Lutz, Nieuwenhuis and Evans he proceeded to clobber the baseball.

With the departure of Carlos Beltran and injury to Captain Kirk, Lucas gets another opportunity in the bigs. The results have not been EARTH SHATTERING but he does look like a major-league corner outfielder. His average has been okay, his power is definitely visible, and he's even managed a respectable 1:2 BB:K ratio.

If the Mets were to have kept Betran and played for a playoff birth... well... Duda might still be in AAA. Sure, Murphy could have still gotten hurt and Beltran is brittle too, but Duda got his chance because Alderson realized that 2011 is a BUILDING year. To that effect the Mets should see plenty of Duda, Evans, Tejada, Turner, Thole and... down the road Satin, Valdespin, Thayer and Schwinden.

Stop focusing on the negative. It will be there without your help. Focus on the positive and the fact that we might be getting a glimpse at some diamonds in the rough who could pave the way to a bright new future.