Terry Collins was on WFAN earlier this week talking about his starting staff. He mentioned how it’s a group that throws strikes, and if the defense catches the ball the Mets should be competitive. Remembering that quote gives me reason to believe that defense will trump offense at second base, thus giving Luis Hernandez a legitimate shot to earn the job.

Last season the Mets staff was below the league average in strikeouts per nine innings (6.9 versus 7.4). Their current ace – Mike Pelfrey- needs good infield defense since he relies on a high groundball rate. Fangraphs has the Mets total team UZR/150 at 3.5, good for eighth in all of baseball. Despite losing Carlos Beltran, Johan Santana, and Jason Bay last season they still were able to win 79 games. Defense probably had something to do with it.

I believe it will come down to whether Brad Emaus or Luis Hernandez gets the job. Emaus is a JP Ricciardi favorite, and someone that could be a solution at the position long term. That’s great, but you can’t clog up a 25 man roster spot all year for a prospect. If he’s that desirable work out a deal with Toronto, and get him more time in the minors. The reports of Collins favoring Luis Hernandez aren’t outrageous, since he may be the best defense second baseman in camp. I also can’t take Daniel Murphy seriously at the position. If he really wants to be a second baseman perhaps extended time in Triple-A is necessary.

For as much as we want Emaus to win the job, he still hasn’t shown much on either side of the ball. Yes, every player is a victim of small sample size right now, but you can still evaluate and project based on skills. None of that is going to change in the next three weeks. This is more about projecting the future than making a decision on a few at bats.

Also think about the staff. Those guys are concerned about winning ballgames, not development. One pitcher I talked to last week questioned whether the team could hand the job over to someone without any major league experience. Outside of Luis Castillo, Hernandez has the most experience at the position. Up the middle defense is so critical to the success of the team. A porous second baseman impacts the team not only on groundballs, but turning double plays. Even the best teams can’t win giving 4-5 outs per inning. That type of scenario is even more of a death knell to a team with a small margin of error.

The offensive upside of an Emaus, Murphy, or even Justin Turner just doesn’t seem to warrant the defensive tradeoff. I suspect that is what is behind Terry Collins favoring Hernandez, and I am beginning to agree with him.

By the way, in case you are wondering, the team that led the league in UZR/150 was the World Champion San Francisco Giants.

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com

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Tags: Brad Emaus, Daniel Murphy, Justin Turner, Luis Castillo, Luis Hernandez, New York Mets