PORT ST. LUCIE — All last spring Sandy Alderson kept repeating it like a mantra: Wilmer Flores is our shortstop. The general manager answered every question about his infield with the line that Flores was the Mets' starting shortstop. Even after the Mets had moved Flores, citing the loss of David Wright, they continued to say he was a capable starting major-league shortstop.
They said it so many times, even Flores believed it.
So after playing shortstop for the Mets in the World Series, it was a bit of a blow to Flores when the Mets went out and signed veteran shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera this past winter.