METS' ALEX CORA SAYS GAME IS ABOUT MORE THAN STATS

PORT ST. LUCIE — Veteran infielder Alex Cora will be the first one to admit if the statistical analysis theories are a basis for determining roles within a team, he probably is not the guy the New York Mets are looking for as an everyday shortstop.

But with Jose Reyes likely out for the start of the season because of an overactive thyroid, Cora still believes he is the right candidate for the job.

Manager Jerry Manuel agrees — in the short term. He said Thursday that Cora is the first choice to replace Reyes, then in the next breath added that is assuming his star shortstop returns before the summer months hit. Cora has more confidence in his abilities.

“There’s a few questions, I guess, defensively,” Cora said. “People are talking about age and that I’ve slowed down defensively. There is some statistical analysis out there that says I am losing my range. I will just try to work on a few things, but if that’s something I can improve, I will just keep working on it.

“It’s one of those things where if you believe in it, I guess I am not the right guy because the stats say so, but if you see me play everyday, I still think I can do it. Let’s put it this way: I have been in the big leagues for 12 years and it’s not because I hit .300.”

The 34-year-old hit .251 with 18 RBI and one home run in 82 games last season — his first with the Mets. The club liked Cora, who owns a .246 career batting average, enough to re-sign him for $2 million during the offseason, despite the fact he was coming off two surgeries to repair ligaments in both thumbs — an injury Cora played through for almost two months last year.

When news about Reyes’ health surfaced last week, general manager Omar Minaya spoke highly of 20-year-old prospect Ruben Tejada as a possibility to replace Reyes. However, Manuel said Thursday it is still to be determined whether Tejada, who has never played above Double-A, is ready to make the jump to the majors. Should the Mets include him on the opening day roster, Tejada would need to be brought along slowly, Manuel indicated.

“If you happen to take a young player you’d have to find the right spots you think the guy would have a chance to have success and after that comes confidence and after that you let him go,” Manuel said.

“I haven’t seen enough (of Tejada),” Manuel added. “I think when you get down to that last week when the pitchers are kind of on top of their game, the position players are close to being ready, that will probably give us a better feel as to whether this will benefit us one way or the other.”

Tejada, who played with the St. Lucie Mets in 2008, signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Panama in July 2006 and spent last season in Binghamton as the youngest position player at that level.

He batted .289 with five homers, 46 RBI and 19 stolen bases.

Regarded as the organization’s best defensive infielder, Tejada is an “interesting player” to Manuel, and the manager said he would still consider him an option to make the team.

“He has some tremendous instincts to play,” Manuel said. “I like him a lot.”

For now, Manuel is still hoping Reyes, who is expected to be out another 1-7 weeks, returns in time to be ready for the start of the season, though that window is quickly closing with just over two weeks left in spring training.

“I am still holding out,” Manuel said. “I am still believing he will show up here in parking lot No. 7 any day.”



(tcpalm.com)