PORT ST. LUCIE — If the Mets are going to win those 90 games that are their Holy Grail, they are going to have to tighten up their defense, among other things.
The Cardinals, a team that won 97 games last season, and the Mets finished in a 5-5 tie Friday at Tradition Field. The Mets committed three errors, one by struggling shortstop Ruben Tejada that led to a run. Tejada could have been charged with another error, but there was some generous scoring.
Tejada, who has had a hamstring issue cost him a week of playing time, did not move well on Friday and continues to be a major problem for the Mets.
Stephen Drew’s value appears to be rising, but the Mets seemingly are not going to go there as Scott Boras’ shortstop remains on ice.
Terry Collins said he will give Wilmer Flores a start at shortstop soon for a game, but the Mets don’t view Flores as a shortstop solution at this point so they remain caught in the same shortstop vise that has been a problem since Jose Reyes left as a free agent.
Flores at least deserves a shot at shortstop and let the chips fall where they may. The Mets have nothing to lose. Flores certainly deserves that chance, but the essential problem is that the Mets have undervalued shortstop defense since Reyes left.
It’s much like the Knicks undervaluing the point guard position. If the Mets make the same mistake again this season, 2014 will be another disaster.
Long after the game Sandy Alderson, Fred Wilpon and Collins met in the manager’s office for about 15 minutes. You have to figure the shortstop situation was a topic of conversation.
“Sure the Mets can win 90 games,’’ one snarky scout said before Friday’s defensive meltdown, “but they would have to play 220 games to do that.’’
Second baseman Daniel Murphy, making his first start of the spring, and left fielder Andrew Brown also made errors. None of that sat well with Collins. He did give his fielders a pass, saying: “Those are plays you’ve seen all those guys make before, but it does go to show you that catching the baseball is important, it changes the whole game if we limit outs. That’s where we were so good in the second half last season, catching the ball.
“Defense is huge. You’re looking up in the sixth inning and it’s not 4-0, it’s maybe 2-0. You’re still right in it. Today was tough with the wind and hardening the field up early, but we have to catch the ball. That’s something we pride ourselves on, we spend every single day working on defensive stuff.’’
Collins will put the 6-foot-3, 203-pound Flores at shortstop for a game and take a look.
“I want to play him at third one of these days too,’’ Collins said. “If we think he is a fit on this team it’s going to be playing in different positions, but I do want to see him play a game at short.’’
Translated, that means the Mets don’t really view Flores as a shortstop. When asked if Flores is any quicker this year, Collins hesitated and then said: “Yeah, I’ve seen some improvement. Then again due to his size, he never going to be that short, quick water bug you like to see running around out there. The other day he made a nice play on a slow roller, so I’m going to take a look at him for a game.’’
Flores had an RBI single in the ninth.
“That’s what he does,’’ Collins said. “His whole minor league career he drives in runs. That’s why you have to take a look. You gotta think his bat might play for you — even if it’s off the bench.’’
Flores deserves a chance, if he can’t cut it at short the Mets will have to hope that somehow Tejada gets it together or Drew falls into their financial lap.
New season, same old shortstop problem