Just Mets

Navigating in uncharted territories was bound to affect Ruben Tejada at some point.

Tejada committed his first two errors at third base on Thursday night, one of which came from Derek Norris in the first inning when he bounced a ground ball to third. Tejada decided to play a tougher hop on the back hand, and the ball went by him.

That error was the difference between having two outs and nobody on, and a runner at first and one out. And, as the infield errors usually do, it cost Dillon Gee and the Mets dearly.

Two unearned runs ensued from Tejada’s error, putting the Mets in an immediate hole they would stay in all night long.

His next error came leading off the third inning, when Norris again grounded one in Tejada’s direction. He made a wide throw to first base and Norris reached base. Fortunately for Tejada and the Mets, Gee was able to work around the mistake.

But the two errors and the runs ultimately allowed as a result are representative of the bigger problem facing the Mets. They arguably have three players on the infield playing out of position, all of which have, are or eventually will expose each of their weaknesses.

“You have to make adjustments,” Tejada explained of his rough night in the field, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. “Tomorrow is another day and another opportunity.”

Terry Collins was more surprised by Tejada’s throwing error in the fifth inning.

“This guy has got as strong and accurate an arm as anybody we’ve got,” Collins said late Wednesday.

It’s not his fault. Thursday night marked the eighth game he’s ever played in the hardest position on the infield. As is the case with Wilmer Flores, and as was the case with Daniel Murphy, Tejada is being asked to learn a position on the fly in games that count.

What’s worse, being that he is one of three infielders out of position, his weaknesses and flaws are further exposed by the other’s deficiencies at their own spots on the infield.

Sandy Alderson said on Tuesday they are not ready make another change with the club’s infield alignment, as the consensus is making regular changes offers instability, which is not conducive for success.

Alderson suggested the next change on the infield could come when Dilson Herrera returns from the disabled list. He could be installed at second base, which means Murphy will likely shift to third, a position he is much stronger at.

Having said all of that, Tejada has generally exceeded expectations outside of Wednesday night’s blip. The thing is, what he showed on Wednesday is going to happen from time to time as he continues to learn the angles off the bat, the trajectory of the baseball, the depth perception from the position, and the longer throw across the diamond.

And, learning experiences, as has been the case in other positions on the field, typically have come at a cost of runs and wins for the Mets.

There is some good news for Tejada. He extended his hitting streak to six straight games with three more hits on Wednesday. He now has 13 hits in his last six games.

The now Mets third baseman is hitting .310 on the year.