Mets GM makes parallels between Wilmer Flores and Cal Ripken Jr.
As the start of spring training nears, it appears the Mets are no longer looking to make an upgrade at shortstop and will give Wilmer Flores the chance to win the starting job.
The Mets stopped using Flores as a shortstop in the minors in 2011 before moving him back to the position last season because of a need at the position. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson seems confident Flores could be a better shortstop this time around.
"In looking at Cal Ripken's career, you know he didn't play shortstop until he got to the major leagues," Alderson said, per ESPN. "There's been a lot of conversation about Wilmer Flores and whether he can play the position. Cal Ripken didn't play shortstop professionally until he got to Baltimore. He had been a shortstop when he was signed as a high school player, was moved off of shortstop almost immediately to third base, came up to Baltimore having played the vast majority of his games at third base, and it was [manager Earl] Weaver that moved him to shortstop, I think, a few months into his major-league career.
"So shortstops are often questioned as to their ability to play the position -- and even the greats like Cal Ripken, who's not a prototypical shortstop of, say, the Mark Belanger variety, whom he replaced in Baltimore. It happens with a lot of players, so maybe that's a good sign for somebody like Wilmer Flores."
