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After A Long Absence, Flores Felt Great At Shortstop Again

By Fan Shot

March 11, 2014 No comments

Wilmer-Flores-400x279

 

Update: 11:06 pm

Adam Rubin of ESPN NY reported that after today’s game Flores felt good about playing shortstop again, “It’s been a long time, but I felt great,” said Flores. “I felt great moving to my right side, left side. And it was fun. … There’s nothing new. It’s just a different angle from second base. I just have to play a little bit more.”

Flores did fumble a first-inning grounder while trying to exchange the ball to his throwing hand, but other than that it was an uneventful day at shortstop. He did fair well at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a walk.

Collins said Flores will get “more” opportunities to play shortstop during spring training.

Hopefully that part is true, because you can’t determine what Flores can or can not do in one game. So Collins has about three weeks to allow him to start at shortstop to prove that he can handle the position just as well as anyone else in big league camp.

Ruben Tejada is still the man to beat out for the job and according to Collins, he will start him the next two Grapefruit League games at shortstop.

Collins did share with the media that he did not know exactly when Flores would play shortstop next.

“You guys are asking me what’s going to happen in four days, and I don’t know what’s going to happen at 9 o’clock tonight,” said the skipper.

Flores was asked if he felt he would get a shot to start at shortstop again, he said: “I definitely can play. I can’t control that. What I can control is just to go out there and give 100 percent.”

Original Post: 12:03 pm

Wilmer Flores will start at shortstop today when the Mets take on the Cardinals in Jupiter, FL. The game will start at 1:05PM ET and will be aired on MLB Network.

It will be his first start at the position since 2011. Sandy Alderson and co. will certainly be watching, especially with reports of the Mariners beefing up their scouting presence in anticipation of a potential trade discussion involving Nick Franklin.

(Photo credit: Julio Cortez/Associated Press)

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