Since his first season in rookie ball, Tejada has also eschewed the walk. He didn’t hit average walk rates in Single-, Double- or Triple-A. He also had a career ISO of .075 in the minor leagues (and flyball rate that fell as he advanced, which seems to predict little future power), so he kind of looks like a younger Castillo without the walks and a little better defense. The defense is the reason management thinks he is best candidate for this year, but the offense will limit him to a backup most likely. If only he walked more, or even had the exciting speed of Arias, he would have a secondary skill beyond defense and upside for more value.

– Eno Sarris, Fangraphs.com.

Eno does a really nice job running down the Mets’ second-base situation, but I’m not sure he gives Tejada an entirely fair shake by saying he “has also eschewed the walk,” lumping him in with Joaquin Arias.

First of all, Arias walked in only about 4.3% of his Minor League plate appearances and Tejada walked in about 7.9%, a pretty big difference. But the major distinction is that Tejada did all his damage while always very young for his level — often the youngest player at his level, and a full year younger than Arias was as he progressed through the Minors.

Clearly Tejada’s not about to go all Alex Rodriguez on the Major Leagues or anything, but I’m just not ready to give up on him and say he won’t be a regular Major League middle infielder someday.

I don’t think that’s what Eno’s doing, but it seems like way too many Mets fans are willing to write Tejada off entirely just because the team has advanced him at a very young age to a level at which he cannot yet succeed. That’s not really his fault.

Plus, and not for nothing, it’s not like he’s completely embarrassing himself. Yes, he’s got a .188 average and no power to speak of. But he’s also suffering from a very low .221 batting average on balls in play, suggesting he has been victimized by a bit of bad luck. Plus, for whatever it’s worth, he’s still getting on base at a higher clip than three guys who were in the Mets’ hilarious Opening Day lineup (and just below two others).

And look: I don’t know that Ruben Tejada will ever turn into a productive Major League hitter or anything like that. I’m just saying that 200 plate appearances at age 20 mean absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things. If he were in Double-A right now, where he’d still be young for the level, we’d probably be salivating over the kid and wondering why he wasn’t considered a bigger prospect.

But at the risk of disagreeing with Ted Berg, something I try never to do, I believe the 5-6 starts Mejia makes between now and October should be at least somewhat determinative as to whether the Mets go after a starter this offseason.

Consider that all reports have the Mets with very little money to spend this offseason. So should Mejia, say, dominate in a similar way to his Monday start in Buffalo, or even approach that from a peripheral standpoint, the Mets should really spend the money it would take to bring in a starting pitcher when they have a returning five of a (hypothetically) dominant Mejia, Dickey, Niese, Santana and Pelfrey? When the team has no second baseman, one outfielder whose production can be counted on, no backup plans at catcher or first base, and no bullpen?

– Howard Megdal, New York Baseball Digest.

Well dammit, Howard, try harder.

Seriously, though, this is an easier point to contend with now that Mejia looked unspectacular in his first start on Saturday, but even if he goes out and dominates his next four outings I’ll still likely argue that he should start next season in Triple-A.

If Mejia pitches every fifth game for the rest of the season and throws a complete game in each outing (which probably won’t happen), he’ll barely have thrown 100 innings this season. The Mets will be wise to limit him in 2011, and bringing him along slowly in the Minor Leagues — allowing him to better his control and secondary arsenal — seems like as good a way as any to do that. Then, if he succeeds in Triple-A, unleash him on the National League. Let him force his way into the Majors, rather than the other way around.

Dillon Gee’s nice start provides some optimism that the Mets can fill out their pitching staff from within regardless of whether Mejia is ready, but I’d still argue that the team should pursue rotation depth this offseason. Assuming Dickey, Santana, Pelfrey and Niese all stay healthy and pitch this well again in 2011, with no contingency plan, could burn the team.

Of course, as Howard points out, pitching is hardly the team’s only need and the wisdom of all offseason moves is dictated by the cost.

Yes, the Mets will need to find some way to better their offense, though I think they can actually safely assume something of a return to form from Jason Bay and some improvement from Ike Davis, and that simply not having Jeff Francoeur suck up 400 at-bats in a corner outfield spot will benefit the team immensely.

These are concerns for the offseason, of course.

The important thing is that the Mets are still playing baseball, and that with Mejia taking the mound tonight against the full-strength Phillies, there’s actually something interesting to watch.