[外電] Miguel Tejada's Future On the move?

看板Orioles作者Liandh時間18年前 (2007/09/21 17:30)推噓9(9推 0噓 6→)

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這文太長了，看原本的網站可能比較舒服。 http://0rz.tw/3a33Z Miguel Tejada's Future On the move? If Tejada isn't traded, he could be shifting from short to third By Jeff Zrebiec Sun reporter September 21, 2007 Arlington, Texas - As the Orioles head into the final days of the season, they also are moving closer to having to make a tough decision on their most accomplished player, Miguel Tejada, whose future in Baltimore and at shortstop remains unsettled. Though no Orioles executive will say it publicly, there's plenty of sentiment in the front office that if Tejada returns, it should be at another position. Tejada has struggled defensively this season at the only position he has ever played, making 15 errors and compiling a .969 fielding percentage, which would be his worst since he became an everyday player for the Oakland Athletics in 1998. "He doesn't move real well," said Orioles third base and infield coach Juan Samuel. "I don't know how we can [fix] it. He's not overweight. People say that he's in better shape this year than he was last year. I don't know if he's tired, or if all those games in a row [1,152 before a June injury] are catching up to him. I can't put my finger on it. He just really hasn't been consistent." Tejada's future as an Oriole might depend on his willingness to accept a position change, something he has been reluctant to do in the past. He was not in the starting lineup last night against the Texas Rangers, and didn't complain. But last week, a seemingly irritated Tejada responded to a question about rookie Luis Hernandez playing shortstop and his getting a rare night off by saying, "It would be nice. Then I can go somewhere else next year. They have somebody that can play short." A day later, he clarified his comments, saying he didn't want to be traded and was glad the Orioles were giving Hernandez an opportunity. He then expressed more frustration with the Orioles' continued losing, which is what led him to demand a trade after the 2005 season. Since sitting out that Sept. 13 night, Tejada was 2-for-23 before his game-tying pinch single in the ninth inning last night. He hasn't homered in 18 September games after hitting 10 in August. The club will undoubtedly listen to trade offers again this offseason, but Tejada remains its most feared hitter, a player whose offense will be difficult to replace, especially in a thin free-agent class. Hitting or defense? Therein lies the decision for Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, who has been preaching about the importance of strong defense up the middle since he was hired. However, he also realizes the Orioles need more offense to compete , and subtracting Tejada, who is hitting .298 with 17 home runs and 76 RBIs, would make for an even bigger hole in the middle of the lineup. "I've been very impressed with Miguel," MacPhail said. "Obviously, he's a very good hitter. He's hit with power, and one of the things that has impressed me is he never gives up on an at-bat. It doesn't matter what the score is. He approaches every at-bat the same way, [whether] it is 2-2 or 12-2. And he wants to win. Those are important traits. I'm sure they are traits that the rest of the clubs feel are important or attractive as well." MacPhail said earlier this month that there haven't been formal discussions about asking Tejada, 31, to change positions, but that "the team has an obligation to explore whatever avenues help make [us] better going forward." Orioles manager Dave Trembley also was diplomatic, saying: "I think we have to do what's best to improve our ballclub. If that means Miggy or somebody else has to move to another position, we might have to do that." It's an issue the Orioles will have to address carefully. They know how proud and sensitive Tejada is, and about how he grew up, idolizing Dominican shortstops such as Alfredo Griffin and Tony Fernandez, and maintaining the belief that shortstop was the position that he was destined to play throughout his career. When it became public last year that the Orioles and Los Angeles Angels were in serious discussions about Tejada, he said he had no desire to play third for the Angels, who had Orlando Cabrera entrenched at shortstop, or for any other team. Tejada said recently that nothing has changed, though he maintained that he wants the Orioles to become winners, and if that meant his moving to third base, he would at least consider it. He also acknowledged that it's not his decision to make, as he is under contract with the Orioles through the 2009 season and still has $26 million remaining on the deal. "One day, if they think I should move to third base, I'll move to third base," Tejada said. "But right now, I feel like I'm fine. I can play short. I don't think it's something that I need to do. I still can play a good shortstop. "Everybody makes errors in this game, even [Derek] Jeter, and he's the best shortstop. Why do people not say anything negative about him? He's supposed to be the best. He wins Gold Gloves. I don't win any Gold Gloves. I'm not supposed to be that good." The 15 errors by Tejada, who had an extended stay on the disabled list with a fractured left wrist this season, are two fewer than Yankees captain Jeter, who has won a Gold Glove the past three seasons. Among American League qualifiers, only Los Angeles' Cabrera (11) has fewer errors than Tejada. However, the statistic is largely deceiving because Tejada has played in at least 20 fewer games than most of the qualifiers and 34 fewer than the Seattle Mariners' Yuniesky Betancourt. Tejada's fielding percentage is sixth-best among qualifying AL shortstops, but his critics - and there are plenty - point to Tejada's range and the balls that he doesn't get to or the ones that he doesn't charge and arrives at too late. "His arm is still a plus, but his range is very limited," said one scout, who has watched Tejada closely throughout his career. (Because of potential tampering violations, the scout asked to remain anonymous.) "He's really gone backward in terms of first-step quickness and his range. Really, I think most people think that he should be playing third base. I've been saying this since last year. Almost every game, there are one or two balls that he's not getting to that he used to field." To his credit, Tejada shrugs off the criticism and frequently takes extra infield practice before games. "In this game, everybody has a tough time - fielding, hitting, running the bases," Tejada said. "It's hard to be good the whole time. Before, I had a tough time hitting the ball out of the park. Now, I'm having a tough time [catching] the ball. That's baseball." If the Orioles wanted Tejada to change positions, third base would appear to be his likely destination, and that's where veteran Melvin Mora currently resides. Mora has extensive experience playing the outfield, however. The Orioles would likely notify both players of their plans shortly to give them at least the opportunity to practice their new positions in the offseason. Tejada, who said he has no plans to play winter ball, has never played third base. Mora hasn't played the outfield since 2003. "If they come to me, it's something that I'd have to talk to my agent about and discuss it," said Mora, who has a blanket no-trade clause. "That's not easy after several years at third. But everything is possible. Sometimes, you want to make the team better, you have to try a different position. But I don't think that's the problem here. I think the problem is getting a couple of more guys in the bullpen to help the starting pitching." Several executives from other teams said the Orioles would have traded Tejada before the deadline in July, but his long stint on the disabled list made that virtually impossible. As it is, his trade value, thanks to declining power numbers and defensive questions, is down from last year. Before the 2006 trade deadline, the Orioles nearly moved him to the Angels for pitcher Ervin Santana and infielder Erick Aybar, and then to the Houston Astros for a package that included ace Roy Oswalt. Trade bait Two baseball executives said the Orioles could probably land one or two high-ceiling prospects. However, they doubted that Tejada could fetch a top-of-the-rotation pitcher or a proven young bat. The Orioles will have to decide whether that warrants trading Tejada, whose likely replacement would be Hernandez, 23, who hit .242 this season in 92 games at Double-A. "I know there has been some talk about maybe exploring another position or DH'ing more. I understand all that, and I'm sure Miggy does, too," Trembley said. "But I fully expect him to be a part of this team next year, and knowing Tejada as I know him, I think he'll do whatever he can do help us win. I really believe that about him." Tejada said he plans to take his wife and children on vacation when the season ends and then head to his native Dominican Republic to spend time with his father. Meanwhile, many miles away, his future will be one of the biggest questions for the Orioles front office. "I just want to play baseball," he said. "If I stay here or they let me go, I'm still going to be playing baseball. I want to stay here. I don't want to go anywhere. But I just work here. If I go, that's baseball. It's a business. Whatever they do, that's what they think is good for the team. I'll accept it. "I don't know where I'm going to be, but believe me, next year is going to be a big year for me. I really want to see this team win. I want to be a part of this, and I think if we're a contending team, my energy is going to be even higher." -- 總之就是有人認為Tejada的守備不夠好，所以想把Tejada從SS移到3B，Mora移到外野，再把Luis Hernandez or sb else放到SS去，然後Tejada跟Mora可能有點不甘願這樣.. 另外還有一個選擇就是交易掉他，但是他們不確定慢慢退化中的Tejada能換回他們想要的東西.. btw..有沒有在地的新聞媒體都很八卦的八卦? -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 61.223.251.118