The Replacement

RUBEN TEJADA - IF
2011 stats - .284 BA, 21 RBI, 7 2B, 328 AB

Welcome to the big show, Mr. Tejada.  Yes, over the last two seasons, you've been able to get some time and a decent amount of at bat with the big club.  You're familiar with the club house, how to play the game, how some of the pitchers pitch.  But this season is different.  It's all different.


As soon as Jose Reyes signed the dotted line with the Miami Marlins, everyone began to stare at Ruben Tejada, the replacement at shortstop.  Everyone is trying to protect the 22 year old by not putting to much pressure on him to be Jose Reyes.  The team says that they are different players.  Different skill set.  Different personality.  That's all true, but there is one similarity.  The position.  The position that had been Reyes' for the last seven seasons.


Manager Terry Collins is helping the pressure gauge by not having Tejada hit in the leadoff spot.  Instead he'll bat at the bottom of the order.  But Tejada is a great defensive player.  He's small and quick, with a strong, strong arm.  This spring, the most important item for Tejada is to work on chemistry with Daniel Murphy at second base and make sure they are comfortable turning the double play.


Tejada will not provide the electricity with his bat while he's at the plate.  He's not that type of hitter.  But he isn't a bad hitter.  He's more of a contact hitter who will look to put the ball in play and spread it around the diamond.  Last season he hit over .280 once he became a regular in the infield, thanks to injuries across the board.


Ruben Tejada has to be Ruben Tejada.  Nothing more, nothing less.