What’s the Curse of Roberto Alomar? I just made it up. The Mets’ second-base position has been riddled with injuries, instability, ineffectiveness and Luis Castillo since Alomar displaced Edgardo Alfonzo in the Mets’ middle infield in the 2002 season so, you know, I’ll call it a curse. (It should be noted that the Mets got one nice season out of Jose Valentin in 2006 before the curse claimed him too.)
Yeah, maybe it’s less of a curse and more of an insistence on stocking the position with players past their primes, committing at-bats to Miguel Cairo and handing a long contract to Castillo and everything. But whatever. My point is Daniel Murphy got hurt last night in the very first game of Project Murph-to-Second 2.0, and Luis Castillo’s probably bound for the disabled list.
The small bright side is that it all probably means we’ll get to see more of Ruben Tejada, a prospect always more exceptional for his youth than his production, but a nonetheless impressive defender. The underreported downside is that it almost guarantees the option on Alex Cora’s contract will vest, because Alex Cora is a warrior who will play in 80 games even if they have to cut both his thumbs off.
It is certainly way, way too early to suggest this and probably a flavor-of-the-moment idea, but there’s got to be a non-zero chance Reese Havens will be starting games at second in Flushing by the end of the season. Havens has played all of nine games above Single-A, mind you, plus this is his first season as a second baseman and he’s struggled with injuries in his young career. I’m really only reminded of him now because he hit two home runs last night.
But Havens has always been a patient hitter, and was lauded for his maturity and labeled a potential quick-mover when the Mets drafted him in the first round in 2008. He’s hardly a baby at 23 years old, and if he continues to torch Double-A pitching, it could at some point become clear that the Mets have no better option for the position. I haven’t heard much one way or the other about his defense at second base, but assuming the transition from shortstop doesn’t prove too difficult for him, Havens is probably worth keeping an eye on.
Tedquarters 
I suggested that to Toby Hyde last night on Twitter; about the prospect of bring up Havens and he said it was a bad idea.
Here are why I think we should consider it:
-his age
-he’s a lefty
-either Tejada or him will mostly likely bat 8th at first
-it could inspire him to get better the way sprnig training did for Davis and Tejada
-Tejada came up never batting in AAA this season.
-what have we got to lose as they are both defensively equal?
-Tejada has been playing SS this season.
I dunno, seems like they should consider it especially as he is the heir apparent there anyway. Plus it will infuse some excitement int his weekend’s home series.
Minaya once talked about how he brought Pudge up from AA straight tot he bigs so why not Havens? No one is going to expect much anyway like they did with Davis.
Havens has played 23 games at second base in his life. He made two errors (well, one error and one mental lapse) on Monday, costing the B-Mets the game. I think his bat is ready (or really close to ready) for the majors, but he still needs work in the field.
Ted, with the exception of Alfonso, I believe this curse goes back to when Jeff Kent bitterly left the Mets. I’m certain he put that curse on as a farewell to New York and us fans. Holy Mike Hampton, Let’s blame the New York school systems and how bad they are (yes Hampton did say that) for the lack of decent second baseman.