Feb
25
2013

Mets Lose To Nats 6-4; Den Dekker Flashes Leather; Cowgill’s Got Game

An article by John Delcos

Collin Cowgill is making gritty fashionable again for the Mets.

Lucas Duda did not start tonight’s 6-4 exhibition game loss against Washington, and won’t be in the lineup tomorrow. Look for him Wednesday or Thursday.

In his first two games, Duda went 0-for-7 with six strikeouts, and told reporters today, “we’re not going to hit the panic just yet.’’

The Mets will opt for extra work in the batting cage instead.Duda, who underwent wrist surgery in the offseason, began to swing the bat in late January rather than December, and has been limited so far this spring, and manager Terry Collins attributes that to his early problems.

This is a good tact to take with Duda, who is being heavily counted on this year to fill voids in left field and power production.

Collins said this is not a demotion and doesn’t want to embarrass Duda, and believes this is the best way to restore his confidence, which can’t be too high right about now.

As of now, Duda is penciled in as the left fielder, but center appears to be a platoon between Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Collin Cowgill. The platoon will include the leadoff spot.

Nieuwenhuis will get the first chance to win the job, but the Mets are concerned about his high strikeouts ratio. He struck out 98 times with 25 walks in 282 at-bats. He did hit seven homers, but who knows what his power potential can be? For the amount of times he strikes out, he would need to hit a lot more homers.

Cowgill started tonight in center and at leadoff. It has only been a couple of games, but Cowgill has made a good first impression with his hustle.

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Nationals got to Collin McHugh for three runs in 2.1 innings to beat the Mets tonight in Port St. Lucie. Bright spots were Ike Davis’ homer and a homer robbing catch by Matt den Dekker. David Wright got his first hit of the spring with an opposite field single in the sixth inning. Travis d’Arnaud went 1-for-2 with a single in the ninth.

SANTANA UPDATE: The Mets said today Johan Santana looks stronger after throwing off flat ground, which is only slightly more important than saying his uniform fits nicely.

Santana was pushed back because of a lack of arm strength and the Mets are saying his pitches in an exhibition game by March 10 or 11, he’ll need only four spring training starts to be ready by Opening Day.

I don’t know the reason for the rush on Santana. He’s clearly not physically ready and whether he’s on the roster Opening Day or April 15 or May 1 will make no difference. Let’s face it, Santana is fragile property and rushing him will backfire.

METS NOTEBOOK: Ruben Tejada was scratched from tonight’s game with a strained right quad. Tejada was replaced by Brandon Hicks and will not play Tuesday against Miami. … Frank Francisco threw on flat ground today, but there’s no timetable for when he’ll get in a game. In the interim, the Mets will use Bobby Parnell as the closer. Considering Parnell represents the future and Francisco does not, they should use the latter in a set-up or situational role.

About the Author: John Delcos

I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.

17 Comments + Add Comment

Mr North Jersey February 25, 2013 at 10:55 pm

I can imagine how it must be tough to have to face a pitcher like Burke in only the 3rd game of Spring Training. Talk about unfair.
Mr North Jersey February 25, 2013 at 10:58 pm

By the way here is den Dekker’s great catch.

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=25622789&source=MLB&gid=2013_02_25_wasmlb_nynmlb_1
- Mr North Jersey February 25, 2013 at 11:03 pm
  
  I should of just added this link instead. It has the video highlights to tonight’s game.
  
  http://mlb.mlb.com/search/media.jsp?game_pk=363008
- K Maxx February 25, 2013 at 11:09 pm
  
  Great catch, actually just came home and missed the game. Hopefully his bat gets as good as his glove, then we might have another Jim Edmonds or Andy Van Slyke.
Just-Da-Damaja February 26, 2013 at 5:21 am

side note: i notice metsblog had no mention of fernando martinez hitting a HR off Matt Harvey the other day…

I wonder if the Astros are as high on the 23 year old OF they picked up for nothing as we are with some of our prospects
- Hitman February 26, 2013 at 12:16 pm
  
  Really? Wonder what PEDs he took prior to that AB…
ronbo February 26, 2013 at 6:50 am

nice play by DenDekker he probably is the best defensive outfielder the Mets have coming up at least we know that if Duda does not work out in left there are options open that they can consider.
Alex68 February 26, 2013 at 8:07 am

One thing i’ll say, about duda i am not worry because it’s ST, he needs to adjust and see what’s comfortable for him, we’ve seen he can hit major league pitching, however, can we pump the breaks a bit about cowgill? i mean, it is ST after all and this guy’s track record is nothing one can be too hype about. I get the whole gritty player type thing, but those are needed on a team that’s actually good, we need talented players who can play before we get excited about gritty players who will hit 240-250, relax a little bit with him ok. Sounds like the same sh** we were saying about eamus 2 years ago..
- HarryDoyle February 26, 2013 at 11:02 am
  
  Going into last season Cowgill was ranked anywhere from 7-12 for the A’s on all the prospect lists. He’s gotta be more than just grit. I’ll take the over on that 240-250 average since he’ll mostly face lefties.
- Alex68 February 26, 2013 at 11:09 am
  
  You’ll take the over? Fine, give me the number of at bats you’d think he gets and how he’d fare, i do like to see what your prediction is on this guy who most likely be a PO’s imho.
  - Hitman February 26, 2013 at 11:12 am
    
    Keep your words soft and sweet, because you may have to eat them later.
  - TRS86 February 26, 2013 at 11:13 am
    
    How about you set the line and then we can say over or under.
  - Alex68 February 26, 2013 at 12:26 pm
    
    Ok, his avg is 240 – 260 at best, with little to no power (No more than 5 HR) and less than 15 SB…. There, those are actually PO’s numbers, but since he’s not making that much and sandy brought him, i am sure some people around here will find those numbers marvelous…
    - TRS86 February 26, 2013 at 12:30 pm
      
      So you are saying .250 with 5 HR and 15 SB.
      
      That’s not an outlandish projection.
      
      I will take the over on BA, push on HR and over on SB.
      
      I will say .270, 4 HR and 21 SB.
      
      Again, as the other poster said it really depends on how much playing time he gets. If he hits in the .240′s with a bad OBP as well then chances are he’s not gonna get the PA for many SB or HR… he would most likely be in AAA.
      - TRS86 February 26, 2013 at 12:31 pm
        
        Also good thing Kirk managed 7 HR last year because the rest of his numbers would put him in POS territory as well. I thought you were decently high on him?
    - Hitman February 26, 2013 at 12:35 pm
      
      “Ok, his avg is 240 – 260 at best, with little to no power (No more than 5 HR) and less than 15 SB…. There, those are actually PO’s numbers”
      
      And yet you are riding Jordany Valdespin’s coattails.
      
      Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big Valdespin fan too, but you need to stay impartial.
      - TRS86 February 26, 2013 at 12:37 pm
        
        Nope, he had 3 more HR. We all know that’s all it takes to elevate above POS standards.

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