8
2011
Could Duda Be An Everyday Player In 2012
An article by Former Writers
Ever since Lucas Duda was called up for his third stint in the majors, he has clearly shown that it was his time to earn a starting spot in 2012. Now the question is can he be the everyday outfielder the Mets need?
Well that could be debated, Terry Collins has made it clear that he expects to keep most of his roster into 2012.
In the month of August, Duda had a batting average of .319, 5 home runs, 20 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of .527. All of which rank either one or two on the team.
With these types of numbers. most fans would have no problem with Duda as their everyday right fielder. However, in Duda’s first two stints in the majors he was barley hitting the ball, and rarely contributed to the teams lineup. Since Duda came up from Buffalo his second time after starting the season in the majors, he shortened up his swing which has clearly contributed to the way he has been hitting.
Another solution to consider in right field is that the Mets could go about signing a free agent, one that has more than one reliable half season under his belt. Carlos Beltran has said that he would have no problem with considering a deal to return to the Mets next season. Im sure Sandy Alderson and the rest of the Mets organization would not mind having Beltran back on the roster, especially at the right price. Other players who the Mets could possibly sign are Lance Berkman, Ryan Ludwick, and even Pat Burrell. With Willie Harris and Scott Hairston both being free agents, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Mets added some outfielders over the off season. Another option would be too just keep working out of the minors and maybe even see Fernando Martinez play some games on the major league level.
At this point Duda is putting up the numbers to be one of the front runners in next years starting right field position. This would be the time for him to keep show that.
For more of my thoughts on the Mets, visit me at The Mets Insider /writing opportunities are available
About the Author: Former Writers
21 Comments + Add Comment
NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 25 | 18 | .581 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 21 | .523 | 2.5 |
| Phillies | 21 | 23 | .477 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 17 | 24 | .415 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 12 | 32 | .273 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/19/2013
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Welcome to the MMO crew Jake!
Duda shows what happens when you give a talented hitter some PAs and not have him coming into games cold off the bench.
Duda is so moneyball. He plays in 2012.
Yes he can.
Plus, I don’t quite agree that he did not contribute.
Just looking at last september and his current run (ignoring the one earlier this year since it was short, not many ABs and not starting IIRC) he has contributed.
What he did do both times is start slow. He did this last year too I believe in the minors. Seems it just takes him a bit to settle into a team and get going!
Last year, he started terrible (32ish ABs) but after that (60 Abs maybe?) he hit a ton, and the overall #s were OK for a rookie on his first sept. cup of coffee.
Same thing this stint. Started slow (and sporadic PT), but once he got going (mid July?) he has been a hitting machine. Again, his overall #s are now quite respectable (especially for a rookie), and if you take out the first few weeks as an acclimation period, he has really produced.
So I would love to see the Mets dump Bay and install him in LF for years to come. But if they insist (well, other teams insist!) on keeping bay, I can live with him in RF. Not real fast, but he has a very good arm.
Agreed once he got to mid July and then into August when he was money…. His stints before he was sent down quicker than every one thought because his hitting was not their yet
I think that was due mainly to him not getting PAs regularly. He was platooning and pinch hitting. Since coming back up, he’s been playing everyday and has gotten a chance to adjust to big league pitching.
Ludwick…Burrell… why?
These guys are at the end of their careers which were hardly inspiring. If Burrell didn’t play against the Mets his career numbers would be laughable.
Sure Berkman has had a good year, but at 34, he has been fading over the last few years.
I don’t know if Duda is legit or not, but he has significantly more upside over any of these players and almost no downside compared to them. And at a fraction of the price.
The biggest problem with Bay has not been how bad he has been thus far, but rather how they are stuck with him going forward. You don’t have that problem with a Duda; if he doesn’t work out you move on to the next prospect.
Couldn’t agree more John, the last thing this team needs is a cancer like Burrell or aging veterans like Ludwick or Berkman (we missed the wedding why get him for the funeral)
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The only question with Duda should be where to play him. His best position is probably left and if we do not trade J. Bay, Duda goes to right.
I say let him play LF and move Bay to RF cause he has more speed and is a better OF yet his arm is not strong for RF.
I would like to see Duda on team and in OF cause with his bat in the lineup either behind Ike or a batter down it gives Mets more length in lineup.
The question next year is will Ike be healthy along with Santana and can Mets avoid the injury but.
I have not seen or remember a stretch of years when Mets had so many injuries to 25 man club other than maybe in years after 1986 when rotation was hurt quite a bit.
I kind of like the line up as it is now, just with Ike hitting 5th. Wright is not a prototypical clean up hitter, but it breaks up the 2 lefties.
Assuming Ike comes back hitting like he was before the “accident” (humor me here!) and Duda keeps doing what he has been doing lately, then 1 strong RH bat to plug in between will really make it a tough middle of the order to pitch to. Damn, if Bay just was doing what he was signed to do!
2012 lineup.
Reyes
Pagan (I’m counting on some more production. He an reyes were a great 1,2 punch in 2010)
Davis (I think he has higher average potential then Duda)
Wright (I think he’ll be like 06 Wright with Davis/Duda protection)
Duda
Bay
Havens (Hopefully Havens is ready, my dark horse pick to make the team next year)
catcher (Keep our current catchers. No good upgrades on the market, plus they’re cheap)
This would make our 1-7 go Switch, Switch, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left. Nice an ballanced.
I can live with that, assuming of course we cant ditch Bay.
I don’t think we’ll see Havens until the middle of 2012.
Duda is an every day player in 2011 why wouldn’t he be an every day player in 2012?
Is the writer insinuating that the Mets “wrote off 2011″ and will be looking for a REAL major league right fielder in 2012?
Absolutely!!!! I also like DanB dark horse in Havens. But i dont think Reyes will be back,the team will take the 2 picks and spend the money on them. Leaving Tejada as the shortstop. But with a nice bench of Evans-Murphy-Turner-catcher and either Pridie fmart or captain Kirk.
Keep in mind that if a good team signs Reyes, like the Red Sox, Braves, Yankees or the Phillies, the Mets will be getting THAT teams 1st round draft pick, which might not be until the late twenties. Then with a sandwich pick you might be looking at say, the 26th pick and the 36th pick. That isn’t a very good return for Reyes.
Duda is a natural first baseman. The jury is still out whether Ike will be fully recovered. For that matter, Duda might be a better hitter than Ike. Either way I look at Duda as possibly being a Thole.
I really don’t comprehend your comparison of Duda to Thole? They are polar opposites as far as hitters go, Thole has hardly any power while Duda can pound the ball with the best of them.
Thome…I meant Thome.