Ruben Tejada went 3-for-4 last night with a pair of doubles, including a walk-off job against Brewers closer John Axford. It looked like this:
Since I wrote the epic post titled, “I don’t think Ruben Tejada is as bad at hitting as everyone else does,” the diminutive infielder has rewarded my faith by posting a .333/.394/.500 line across the tiny 30 at-bat sample, raising his OPS for the season to a still-bad .577.
There was a discussion on the post-game show last night over whether the Mets should enter Spring Training penciling in Tejada as their starting second baseman. Bob Ojeda said they shouldn’t even give Tejada the slightest inkling that he’d be considered for the job, and that, though maybe he could compete for a spot in Spring Training, he certainly hasn’t earned anything.
Ojeda’s right, of course. Tejada still needs to improve before he should play regularly at the Major League level for a team with any aspirations at contention, especially at second base (as compared to shortstop, where a .577 OPS is ever-so-slightly more palatable).
If the decision-makers for the 2011 Mets decide the team is unlikely to contend, and that Tejada is a real part of the team’s future and his development doesn’t stand to be hindered by his playing at the Major League level, then, sure, let him compete for a job.
It seems to me that the best and safest route, though, would be to sign a Major League stopgap like the ever-frustrating Felipe Lopez to a one-year deal and let Tejada, Daniel Murphy, Justin Turner, Reese Havens, Josh Satin and whoever else I’m missing battle to eventually unseat him.
After the departure of Alex Cora and with the team reportedly finally ready to cut bait on Luis Castillo, the Mets will need middle infielders anyway, so they might as well sign someone with some sort of reasonable track record while the younger players work to prove their merits in Spring Training and then Triple-A. In other words, let one of those guys force his way into the lineup instead of forcing one of those guys into the lineup.
Tedquarters 
Every time I see writers and even a fan base get on players for not producing right away, I always want to ask them the question and remind them “What were you doing when you were 20 years old?”
This even applies to minor league players. Even going back to Lastings Milledge, the kid wasn’t even old enough to get a drink and he was getting blasted as if he were a veteran.