It hasn’t taken very long for Jordany Valdespin to announce his presence with the Las Vegas 51s in the PCL. Since being demoted a couple weeks ago from the big leagues and making a stink about it in the clubhouse, he’s hit .406/.486/.656 with two home runs and 15 RBIs in 32 at-bats (eight games played). That’s a ridiculous stat line, but is it too late for Valdespin to prove anything with the Mets organization?
Valdespin’s skills have been labeled as exciting at the big league level, and there were numerous occasions where Terry Collins did everything he could to insert JV1 into the lineup. Prior to Eric Young, Jr. being acquired, Valdespin was the most speed and excitement the skipper had at his disposal. However, as time continues to pass, it seems unlikely the infielder/outfielder has any kind of future with the team moving forward.
In 133 major league at-bats this season, Valdespin is hitting .188/.250/.316 with four home runs and 16 RBIs. Most of that production came at the beginning of the season; he hit .255/.293/.382 in April, but has hit on the interstate each month since. When Ike Davis was demoted to Triple-A, New York decided to give Valdy a week of playing time at second base to see what kind of value they had in him. Daniel Murphy was shifted to first base for the time being, and the move was anything but successful. JV1 was barely productive at the plate, while Murph looked uncomfortable at first.
Since that failed experiment, he was relegated to the bench in a pinch-hitting role. Over the past two seasons, Valdespin has clubbed six pinch-hit home runs in 71 at-bats, which makes it tempting for Collins to use him in a big spot late in the game. However, in 35 plate appearances (29 at-bats) in 2013, he’s hitting just .103/.257/.207 with one homer as a pinch hitter. So, when it came time to make a roster move, it was no surprise for fans to hear he had been optioned to Triple-A, making room for Scott Atchison.
In my opinion, it doesn’t matter what he does in Las Vegas the rest of the season; the hissy fit he threw in the clubhouse sounds like the last straw for management. They’ve dealt with his issues because of his raw ability was something the roster lacked, but that’s not the case anymore, and his uneven performance (albeit, with uneven playing time as well) has left the organization disenchanted.
In an online chat with fans yesterday, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York was asked when Valdespin would get recalled from Triple-A. He answered by saying he wouldn’t be surprised if he stayed in the minors the rest of the year, not even getting called up in September when rosters expand.
The stigma Valdespin seems to have within the organization reminds me a bit of Lastings Milledge. We all know how well that worked out for both sides. At this point, it seems as though things are starting to come together for New York on the field and in the clubhouse. Having a personality on the big league roster that may disrupt that is not needed.
So, even though Valdespin is tearing the cover off the ball since being optioned back to the minors, I don’t think he’ll be seeing the big leagues again this season. I don’t think he should, either.
Do you think JV1 will make it back to Flushing before the year is over?
I am not surprised that Valdespin went down and is doing well but what I have struggled all season in trying to determine how much of what a player does is the player and how much is a product of the environment they are playing in. This is a league that saw Ike Davis who has been a shell of the player many thought he could be go down there and be named player of the week only to come back and look like he never improved for the most part.
While I agree with you on the PCL inflating numbers, I think there’s more to it in Valdespin’s case. I think his attitude is part of it. I think a lack of consistent playing time at the MLB level has something to do with it also. While I don’t think Valdespin is ever going to be an impact bat, I think he’s better than we’ve seen so far. It’s hard for a player to develop when his playing time is sporadic. Knowing that if you go 0-fer in two straight games you’ll be benched in the third game can lead to pressing.
The Lastings Milledge comparison is interesting. For all his hype and supposed tools, whiere is he now? Japan?
Matt, you say Collins did everything he could to get Valdespin in the lineup. Can you please expand on that? In the two seasons, I only remember those four games when Murphy moved to first early in June. Was there another stretch I don’t recall, or some other attempt?
Hey Texas, thanks for reading. I didn’t mean Collins was trying to find ways to get him in as a starter, but more so as a pinch hitter. I should have made that a little clearer. I thought it was pretty obvious he’d hold into Valdespin for that late-game situation where they could really use a HR.
He is indeed in Japan. He hit 20+ HR last season and I think he just signed a two or three year deal out there.
Sometimes teams and players can both profit from a break. Regardless of his potential, Jordanny has worn out his welcome with the Mets. His attitude over several years leaves much to be desired and his learning curve regarding what it takes to get along in a professional baseball clubhouse seems abnormally slow. That’s not to say in a different environment, Jordanny can’t get it together. I’m hoping for his sake and for the Mets sake the team cuts the guy loose in some capacity. Both would benefit with a fresh start.
Matt, don’t you think that’s completely counterproductive to a players development? Sending a young player to the plate exclusively when you’re looking for a homerun?
Absolutely, I don’t think it’s smart at all. It’s better that he’s playing everyday in Triple-A and should just stay there.
I agree 100%
Lol@TexasGusCC
I was going to ask the same thing….If anything ///collins did everything in his power NOT to play Valdespin.
It’s going to be pretty hard to argue with a .513 batting average. I know he can’t keep that up, but he really is looking as if he wants to get back to the majors ASAP. Valdespin should at least get one more shot with the big club, probably at second base. However, Daniel Murphy has started to hit like he used to, so maybe try him at shortstop? It seems to me his problems are more mental than physical. Anyway, the Mets have to make some aggressive moves if they want to contend next year, and they shouldn’t dismiss Jordany out of hand, even if Wilmer Flores is ready to go.
No way Spin sees Flushing again. But if he continues to tear up the PCL, i bet he becomes a somewhat interesting trade bait piece. Texas anyone? In a deal that nets us Profar: d’Anaud, Montero, Murphy, Valdespin for Profar Brinson (and in my dreams also Nick Williams).
I thought it was shocking and scandalous how Terry Collins handled Valdespin. I agree with those who believe that he did not get a fair chance. But also I’m sure you recall how Collins calculatedly hung him out to dry against Pittsburgh the night after he did his happy home run routine. Sending him up to get stuck in the ribs is how you treat a young player?
The kid in my opinion has a skill set similar to Rickey Henderson’s, with a competitive personality to match. When Collins goes, Valdespin will come out.
I’d like to believe you, but they will re-up Collins and trade Valdespin for a bag of balls. To use another un-choir boy comparison, he could haunt them as the next Kevin Mitchell (or Jeff Kent or Greg Jefferies). They’d rather have a group of yes-men regardless of their lack of talent instead of cultivating someone with a rare power and speed combination. However, they want the little old man to feel like he’s got the biggest one in the clubhouse. Apparently if this organization had Manny Ramirez on the team, he would be shown the door, too, since there was no room for Manny being Manny.