He’ll be going down to work on both of those positions and be ready to come up if he gets the call.

We’re slowly but surely getting some youth in AAA as backups in Gee, Tejada, Duda, Murphy if he goes back down, Fern. A much better idea than stashing a bunch of guys down there that really cannot play up here.

Thome was never even a part-time player. certainly not for four years. In ’91 he was a september call up. in ’92 he started in the minors, got called up, sucked, and then went back down. In ’93 he started in the minors, raked, and then got called up to start. In ’94 he made the team as the starting 3B. Four years of part-time work? really?? where do you get this stuff?

I swear every day you give us more and more reasons why you would be the worst GM on the planet. Prospects that just had a 1.000 OPS in AAA don’t make teams out of spring training to sit on the bench and be pinch hitters man. It doesn’t happen. anywhere. ever. holy moly. and you claim to actually know about this game?

“You have absolutely no idea if he needs to play everyday and neither do I.”

wrong, dude, everyone does. you seem to be the only one with no idea.

And hairston probably does not impact Duda. Duda if he makes the team most likely it is at the expense of harris.

a bench of Paulino, Hu, (emaus/turner) Hairston and Duda (assuming Murphy is starting 2b or platooning with the emaus/turner winner) actually looks pretty strong.

I don’t particularly care for harris anyway. I do like Evans though.

none of these roles are set in stone.

You have to go North with the best 25 that give you the best chance to win. Period. If Duda blows away Evans, Harris, & Hairston, or anybody else then he HAS to come north as the 4th guy and the Sandy has to eat the 1 million paid to Hairston.

I don’t believe in a guy HAS to go to AAA in order to come back and start. Maybe going back HURTS him, it’s possible and it’s not the first time going back can hinder someone.

The list is endless and endless, of the guys who played w/the big club for a few seasons as part timers and then blossomed into stars or even Hall Of Famers! Or just good players.

Killebrew, McCovey, Werth, Hal McRae….oh geez…just google any name and you’ll find tons. McCovey and Jim Thome each had 4 seasons of part time work before establishing themselves. There’s probably 1000s.
Or maybe Duda might be an Oscar Gamble type. If he’s one of the best 25 players in ST – bring him up.

I was thinking kevin mitchell, but he actually got close to 400 ABs in 1986.

Keith hernandez got 41 Abs his 1st year, and 200 abs (64 games) his 2nd, before becoming a regular.

I think Duda should play every day more to get the defense part of the game improved. Not that it is going to keep him from ever being productive offensively.

He also does not seem to fit the profile of a 4th OF (such as not being a defensive replacement or being able to handle CF).

but unless our starters go down injured, we won’t know. he’s not getting those at bats any other way. it worked for pagan, so i won’t rule it out.

also, is he at risk of running out of options if he starts in the bigs and gets sent down ? i really don’t know how that works, just asking.

a team trying to contend can’t sit through having a rookie batting .205 through june. it just won’t happen.

If he shows he’s better than Hairston and Harris (which is definitely possible) then he should be brought up,4th OF or not.
We have to win games and if he makes us a better team coming off the bench, 4th OF, spot starter and he’s better than Hairston, Harris, or anybody else he competes with then bring him up and let the chips fall wherever. It’s nothing new.

I don’t think he is guaranteed anything but a shot in ST and a ticket to Buffalo.

I do agree though that Duda likely starts in AAa to play every day, unless pagan or Beltran is hurt/traded.