31
2011
From Left Field: Why Harris over Hairston and Duda?
An article by 
According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, Terry Collins prefers to use Willie Harris as the Mets’ Opening Day left fielder.
Jason Bay will begin the year on the disabled list and won’t return until April 9 at the earliest.
The Mets will carry young slugger Lucas Duda in Bay’s spot and will expect Duda to start most of the games in left field.
If so, why does it seem that Harris will get the Opening Day nod?
Harris has had a productive spring and rightfully earned a spot on the roster. He showed some pop over the last few weeks and should be a versatile member of the Mets’ bench.
Even so, you might still be asking why the Mets will start Harris when they want Duda to play every day.
The answer is simple: The Mets will be facing Florida Marlins’ ace Josh Johnson—one of the top pitchers in the game—on Opening Day.
Rather than have Duda start the season with a tough outing against Johnson that could crush his confidence, Collins can save Duda for Game 2 against Ricky Nolasco. Though Nolasco is no slouch, Johnson can be unhittable at times.
If the Mets do go with Harris on Opening Day like it seems, the lineup may look similar to this: Reyes, Thole, Wright, Beltran, Davis, Pagan, Harris, Emaus.
As Rubin reported, Collins may want to use Pagan as more of a run producer rather than a table-setter in Bay’s absence. This lineup could do some damage and has a nice combination of speed and power.
While Harris has done everything to earn the spot in the starting lineup, why is Scott Hairston not being considered?
Hairston had a monstrous spring training for the Mets. He hit .345 with four HR and 12 RBI in just 58 at-bats.
Though the games don’t matter, Hairston hit some clutch home runs this spring.
The one drawback from Hairston this spring has been his strikeouts. While he showed good power, he struck out 14 times.
Against a power pitcher in Josh Johnson, the Mets must focus on putting the ball in play and force the Marlins to make plays. The fish have been known to play shoddy defense, so the Mets must capitalize on their mistakes.
Harris is more of a contact threat than Hairston. He can use his speed to manufacture runs, which will be key against Johnson.
Additionally, having the power threat in Hairston available to pinch-hit late in the game can work to the Mets’ advantage. The Mets may need an extra base-hit to start a rally, and Hairston can provide that punch.
Though I’d like to see as much of Lucas Duda as possible the next week and a half, I agree with Collins’ logic here. Allowing Duda to not be overmatched in his first game of the season can go a long way in his development.
Another question you may be thinking about is the following: What happens if Duda absolutely rakes in Bay’s absence?
He would really have to show some good power and drive in a ton of runs early for the Mets to even consider keeping him with the big club. Still, no matter where he is, Duda needs to play every day, especially defensively, to continue improving.
Burying Duda on the Mets’ bench would do him no good. While Carlos Beltran won’t be expected to play every single game, Duda would still have to battle Harris and Hairston for playing time.
These questions and more should be answered as the season progresses.
I’m sure you’re as excited as I am for Opening Day tomorrow. Here’s to a lot of fun in 2011. Win or lose, it’s great to finally have baseball back.
Follow me on Twitter @JMMancari.
About the Author: Jim Mancari
Jim Mancari hails from Massapequa, N.Y. He recently earned a Master's degree in Journalism at Hofstra University. He is a devout Mets fan and takes pride in his team, despite their lack of success over the last few years. Like all Mets fans, Jim has plenty of hope. He also writes as the sports reporter for the Brooklyn Tablet newspaper and the senior editor of metroBASEBALL Magazine. Click my name to view my personal website.
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Willie Harris HAHAHAHAHA!!!! You guys aren’t even worth making fun of any more when you are starting a Nats reject. Pontificate all you want but there is only one fact… Willie Harris is only good enough to play for rotten teams. enjoy the loser era Mets fans!!!!!!!!!!!!
That would a lot more if Livan Hernandez wasn’t the Nats Opening Day starter.
Harris is starting because of an injury.
Hernandez is starting because he has a pulse.
Where the hell did this retard come from? I dont mind Mets fans being critical of the Mets, but if you are a Nats fan you got some set of balls coming here to rag on us.
DC Niner,
As bad as we might have been last year, guess who was looking up at us by 10 games.
2010 MLB Team Statistics and Standings
East Division
Tm W L W-L% GB
Philadelphia Phillies PHI 97 65 .599 —
Atlanta Braves ATL 91 71 .562 6.0
Florida Marlins FLA 80 82 .494 17.0
New York Mets NYM 79 83 .488 18.0
Washington Nationals WSN 69 93 .426 28.0
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Good luck with your rotation this year. And Werth is going to suck for you guys. Did you know hes their new 2 hole hitter? So good luck with the 95-100 loss season AGAIN
Let the veteran start, it’s enough for Duda just to be on the 25 opening day and he’ll be in LF till Bay gets back starting in game 2.
so, let me see if I got this straight.
Starting Duda against JJ, telling him he is the man, and that you have confidence in him, is going to “crush his confidence” (if he doesn’t have a big day against a Cy Young level pitcher).
But, telling him that he can’t start, because he isn’t capable of doing anything against JJ, is going to build up confidence?
Somehow, I don’t think so!
Yeah I dont agree with this either. Not starting him tomorrow just because JJ is pitching makes no sense. Since he made the team just start him from day 1.
Start Duda. It’s not like it’s his 1st game in majors. I am sure he played against the Marlins last Sept., maybe even hit against JJ.
Duda went 5-5 with a HR and 2 doubles for me last night against JJ on MLB The Show 11 =)
Unfortuantely, MLB banned the cheat codes back 2003.
Wow 1st game hasn’t started and we have controversy already, when there are no games we Met fans can find something to kill the time.
DC fan, you lost today with your #1 pitcher on the mound and Harris is here cause of his versatility not for his power numbers.
He can fill in any OF spot and 2b plus he can get on base though I was dumbfounde when SA signed him but am willing to see what he brings especially playing at Citi.
Duda will be ok in these games. I think that it being a new season, though he did play last year, the emotion and excitement of Opening Day and trying to replace Bay might be too much for him but I am glad he is playing Sat and Sun cause he brings some serious thunder with his bat.
Lets Go Mets!
that is not at all why Harris is starting over Duda. He’s starting because of his numbers against Johnson. And Hairston wasn’t considered because he is miserable against right-handers, let alone one of Josh Johnson’s caliber.
come on people. if you’re gonna follow the team, follow the team. Collins is making the right move here.
Willie Harris is hitting .267 with a .500 OBP and 7 walks in 22 career plate appearances against Marlins LHP Josh Johnson, which is why Terry Collins will bat him second tomorrow night
Could it be that with Harris in LF, Pagan can shade over to right, helping cover a lot of territory that Beltran can’t get to? With Duda in left and Beltran in right, Pagan would have to cover virtually the entire outfield.
That’s a good enough reason on its own for me but Harris also has a walk, single, double, triple and HR against Johnson last year in just 2 games.
If a bad opening day could possibly crush Duda’s confidence then he really shouldn’t be here!
I don’t see that as being a valid excuse. But I will say that Harris has more range and better fielding for a spot that many right handers are going to hit to.
I wouldn’t mind seeing a platoon until Duda or Harris wins the job outright.