17
2011
If Duda Can Gain Some More Confidence, Watch Out!
An article by 
Yesterday I wrote about how Lucas Duda made what was a poor draft for the Mets in 2007, into a pretty good draft class for the Amazins. You can read about that below this updated commentary.
Today, in an article by John Harper of the Daily News, a Mets official shares some insight on Lucas Duda that I thought was worth noting:
“I’ve never seen a player of his ability who has had such a hard time getting comfortable in the big leagues,” says one person in the Mets organization. “It’s one thing to be quiet. With Lucas, it’s like he didn’t feel worthy of being there. That makes me wonder if he can realize his potential. But as he has gotten more comfortable the talent is just starting to ooze out of him. It’s a great sign.”
That’s not the first time I heard that about Duda. It seems like the one thing that has been holding Duda back has been his own confidence level. The kid simply has no idea of just how good he is.
I look at Duda and I see a bona fide middle of the order slugger with outstanding offensive skills and a great approach at the plate for someone as young as he is. But when you read or hear some of the things that Terry Collins, Justin Turner and R.A. Dickey have said about Duda, he doesn’t say much, is very subdued and is a little too hard on himself.
It’s pretty odd from a fans point of view such as mine, that Duda would feel that he doesn’t belong, because as I see it, he’s probably the second best run producer on this team right now after David Wright.
Trust me Duda, you belong.
Original Post: Lucas Duda Is The Steal Of The Mets 2007 Draft Class
I’ve always considered the 2007 First Year Player Draft to be one of the worst in Omar Minaya’s time with the Mets, mostly because it never bore any fruit. Their top pick Eddie Kunz turned out to a big-time bust as did Nathan Vineyard, Scott Moviel and Brant Rustich. That’s not intended to be a knock on Omar Minaya, just the plain fact that our 2007 Draft selection were pretty bad, and yes that could happen to any team.
That said, a few of the mid-round selections are really starting to make noise and upon further review the 2007 draft could end up netting the Mets two, maybe three key players for the Mets. That’s usually that all any team could ask from any one draft class.
Dillon Gee, who was selected in the 21st round is already among the best rookie pitchers of this season and has proven to be more than capable enough of giving the Mets quality innings and keeping his team in the games. Definitely not cut out of the same cloth as other prospects like Matt Harvey, but Gee has been as effective as any of the other Mets pitchers and arguably better than Chris Capuano and Mike Pelfrey. If you give him a lead, chances are he’ll hold it for you.
But another player from the Mets’ 2007 draft class that really has me salivating is outfielder-first baseman Lucas Duda. The more we see of him, the more there is to like.
Duda had another big game for the Mets last night with three more hits including his second homer in as many days – another long blast to rightfield. On Sunday, Duda launched a 435-foot shot off Aaron Harang that still hasn’t landed. This kid’s power is scary good.
Terry Collins is so taken by his new slugger that he is already in 2012 mode and wanting to get Duda back in rightfield as soon as possible because that’s what Collin’s called ”his future role with the Mets.”
Since being re-called from Buffalo back in June, Duda is batting a robust .310 with five home runs and 30 RBI in 154 at- bats. He has been on fire in August.
I don’t do this for many players, but I caught myself doing this on Sunday… While leaving for the kitchen to go refill my drink, I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard Duda mentioned as next player up… That home run was worth the wait!
Duda has evolved into that left-handed middle of the order power hitter that the Mets have been searching for all season long, and the best part is that his evolution is far from complete.
He is a towering and intimidating presence at the plate. At 6 feet, 4 inches and 254 pounds, an opposing pitcher has to think twice before throwing a heater his way – what’s that old saying… 95 miles per hour coming in, 105 miles per hour going out – that’s Lucas Duda for you.
Silent, but deadly, like a Trident Class Submarine. This kid is a masher.
I don’t about you, but I’m kind of excited about the possibility of a lethal left-handed 1-2 punch of Lucas Duda and Ike Davis next season.
He is by far the break-through player of the season for the Mets, and in my opinion Duda has swept past Dillon Gee as the season’s top Mets rookie.
He has single-handedly turned what was a terrible 2007 draft class, into a surprisingly good one.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 30 | .583 | - |
| Phillies | 35 | 37 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Nationals | 34 | 36 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 40 | .403 | 12.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 48 | .314 | 19.0 |
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so far, i am impressed with him.. let’s hope he continues to do well this season and for years to come..
in case of doubt, no hay duda mas!!!!
Nice post.
Really looking forward to paring Duda & Davis with Wright & Bay, provided the latter two can start carrying their weight in crucial situations. Havens appears to be making a move, also. Our line-up could look something like this:
Reyes
Pagan
Davis
Wright
Duda
Bay
Havens/Turner
Thole/Paulino
Keep Murphy in the fold for spot starts at 3rd, 2nd & 1st & a great bat off the bench.
Bench: Turner, Murphy, Tejada, Paulino & Pridie
The line-up is solid (not overwhelming, mind you) and the bench is deep. I like that players can be rotated so that the starters can get rested & pace themselves while the reserves can be kept fresh.
Terry Collins uses his entire team, to his credit.
Have Pagan DFA’d/Traded, move Havens/Turner/Murphy to the 2nd spot and slot Ankiel in the 7th spot
Obviously the offseason and FA pickups play a roll in shaping the team, but what you propose is just that: Solid lineup.
TOMMY, WRIGHT IS NO CLWEANUP HITTER; BUT MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLES A #3 & I BELIEVE PAGAN’S DAYS IN FLUSHUING ARE DWINDLING LIKE “THE SANDS OF AN HOURGLASS, HAVENS STILL WON’T HAVE LOGGED ENOUGH MiLB EXPERIENCE TO WARRANT A ROSTER SPOT AS HIS GAMES PLAYED AS A PRO BELIES THE IRONMAN QUALITY HIS GAMRCOCK CAREER PRESENTED AS OF NOW HE’S ONLY MANAGED TO PLAY IN 170 GAMES DURING HIS 3 “FULL” SEASONS IN OUR SYSTEM;…
2009 – 97G
2010 – 32G
2011 – 46G(YTD)
MORE LIKELY IN MY ESTIMATION THE POTENTIAL LINEUP WILL RESEMBLE:
REYES(SS)
TURNER/MURPHY(2B)
WRIGHT(3B)
DAVIS(1B)
BAY(LF)
DUDA(RF)
CF
C
P
FOR AN NL TEAM, THAT PRESENTS A STRONGLY BEATING HEART OF THE ORDER AWAITING THE LIFE’S BLOOD STRONG PITCHING PRESENTLY FERMENTING IN BINGHAMTON & PSL
I’M QUITE BUOYANT ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF THAT STILL RELATIVELY YOUTHFUL LINEUP BACKING THE POTENTIAL ’14 PITCHING STAFF I PROJECT SIMILARLY AS
1) NIESE (YOUNG VET FOR STABILITY)
2) HARVEY
3) WHEELER
4) FAMILIA
5) GEE* OR TBD AMONG LESSER NAMES CURRENTLY ON FARM
CL) PARNELL OR MEJIA
LOOGEY) GORSKI(PSL) Vs LHH: 1.04 ERA,.789 WHIP!!!!!!
*QUESTIONABLE AS HE’S MANAGING AN EXISTING SHOULDER INJURY SINCE CALLUP
THAT MY FRIEND IS A PROMISE I CAN BELIEVE IN, I CAN IMAGINE BAY BENEFITTING FROM THAT PLACEMENT SIMILARLY TO WERTH’;S IN PHL BET HOWARD & IBANEZ.
CERTAINLY THE WRIGHT HR #s SHOULD BE DE-EMPHASIZED AS TO REDUCE TYHE NEED TO PRESS FOR 30HR, A LUXURY FROM A #3(SEE MEX STATS)
Silent but deadly? Never heard that phrase used in baseball terms before, lol.
i’d be thrilled if him and davis become our delgado’s.. powerfull left handed bats..
davis was already doing it this year until the freak injury took him down.
really hope he heals over the winter and can continue his development next year.
but duda is not some Jacobian hacker waiting to get exposed. Even in the minors, he showed a good eye, plate coverage, usage of the entire field, and good situational hitting.
Keith and Ralph also raved about his approach and swing, and I put a lot of faith in their opinions.
and he can hit the ball a long way.
He has been good, but I am not ready to call him the “steal of the draft”. Gee, a 10 game winner so far, has been more crucial to the Mets level of success they’ve had in 2011.
I’d call him the 2nd best to come out of the draft, but Gee, drafted in the 21st round becoming a successful big league starter is quite a steal.
Hey if I wanted your opinion I would’ve asked you for it! lol, just kidding, I’m a big Gee fan, and I’m just glad we may have two solid major leaguers come out of the 2007 draft. It could be three depending on Lutz and Carson.
any time you can get a real player (not just a spare part or bench guy) in the 20+ round, you have to consider it a steal. Especially if it was a college guy, not a raw HS kid that takes 8 years to develop.
I know it does not happen too often, but wasn’t Mike Piazza well over 20+?
he was real late. round 60 maybe? basically in undrafted FA territory.
and certainly one of the biggest steals ever out of the ML draft.
Ya, Piazza was a very late round, something like 1390 over all. It was done as a favor because Lasorda was friends with his grandfather.
I believe he was drafted in the 62nd round not because of pure skill but because his was a family friend of someone in the Dodgers orginization. That is one of the biggest steals in baseball history.
Haha I see how it is Joe lol. But seriously, that is true, I think Carson might be a better chance than Lutz do to his lackluster D.
JOE, SHORTLY AFTER GEE’S ’11 DEBUT IN ATL, THE BOOTH MENTIONED AN EXISTING INJURY THAT REQUIRES A SPEWCIAL WARMUP PROGRAM AS A PRECAUTUION. HAVE U HEARS ANY FURTHER MENTION AS TO HIS ULTIMATE PROGNOSIS?
AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, IT’S BEEN DROPPED TO OUTA SIGHT OUTA MIND. I’M CURIOUS AS TO WHETHER IT’S CONTRIBUTING TO HIS DEMINISHED RETURNS OF LATE.
It was Carlos Delgado who gave this kid the seal of approval. He said he had a chance to make it as a big time player, as long as he believed in himself. Hope the kid continues to grow. You DON’T find lefty power hitters too often. They are a rare breed.
This is why it’s ridiculous to pass judgement on Omar Minaya’s 2008-1010 drafts because only now is the 2007 draft, 4 years ago, showing how good it is. We will also have to wait intil 2015-2016 to se how good Alderson’s first draft will be.
i couldn’t help but notice, but this is the first article i’ve seen, in which EVERYBODY got a like thumbs up response from the others.. glad to see everyone in this blog having to write a comment without someone called them stupid, uneducated, fool or tell them to go learn english…
I took one for the team and got a negative. Got to balance out the positive energy, right?
or a Loser…………..
I’m so glad that Lucas Duda is a Met, I’m even more pleased that he will be one of Terry Collins players. Terry will be a big help to him and I bet that Lucas blossoms under his tutelage.
Wow – something to look forward to at Citi Field -
JOE D: is it safe to say that lucas duda is your favorite met? and if not now, soon it will be??
Duda, so far , seems to be adjusting to lefties a little faster than Ike did but as with all players, pitchers will adapt then it will be up to Duda to adjust also.
Hope he continues his development in RF and Mets find someone to wk with him on positioning and running to spots in the OF, playing balls off the wall, throwing to cut off, right base, etc.
SARGE, UNFORTUNATELY U CAN’T TEACH FOOTSPEED A REQUIRED BY ONE OF THE MOST VAST & COMPLICATRED TO PLAY RF IN MLB. I FEAR TOO MANY INSTANCES NAME & #21 WILL BE IN FULL VIEW OF FANS SITTING ADHJACENT TO INFIELD. HW WAS CERTAINLY SERVICABLE IN LF AS A BAY REPLACEMENT IN ‘LATE ’10; HOWEVER I CAN’T HELP; BUT RECALL A DIRE SCOUTS PRONOUNCEMENT OF DUDA’S CARRYING TWO GLOVES AS REDUNDANTLY LUDICROUS AS HE STATED ONE GLOVE TO BE A WASTED INVESTMENT.
ALL IN ALL, I LOVE THE “BIG LIGER”!
Maybe Bay can move to RF, he has more speed, good but not great arm and move Duda to LF, just saying.
You can’t teach bat speed. El Dudarino!
It’s not his bat speed as much as his foot speed & lumbering that concerns me in the “MO ZONE”. I fear it turns into the Twilight Zone(Rod Serling not Vampires)
Here’s my take on Duda’s confidence issues. He was always a big gangly guy, a caterpillar, and now that he is blossoming into a butterfly, he doesn’t recognize himself anymore. I think he has surprised himself, just as much as he is surprising us. And although the talent was always there, he just never realized how good he really was, or could be. There is still a world of untapped potential there in the big Dude, and as it comes out, he will convince the skeptics and the unbelievers, even if he too may be one of them.