25
2013
Slow Start Sends Duda to the Sidelines for a Few Days
An article by 
I expressed my concerns about Lucas Duda’s 0-7 start late last night, which you can read below. I was not surprised by what I predicted would be an avalanche of “it’s only two games” rebuttals. There they are for all of you to see. It seems like many readers chose to ignore that it was Terry Collins who referred to Duda as a “work in progress” and that those were his words and not mine.
But, that’s the way it goes when you post unpopular opinions these days. A beautiful lie is always better than a horrible truth.
Further validating much of what I said last night, is what Terry Collins told reporters today in Port St. Lucie.
“Lucas Duda will not play in any games for the next few days,” the Mets manager said.
“And, as you guys know, I’m not here to embarrass anybody. So when he’s ready to play, we’re going to get him back in there. I’m hoping by Wednesday or Thursday he’s back in the lineup.”
Collins says Duda is not hurt, is not in pain and his wrist if fine. He just needs more work, which was another point I brought up last night.
The Mets’ starting left fielder has been in camp longer than anyone else on the roster. Duda has been swinging and working exclusively with hitting coach Dave Hudgens ever since early January day in and day out. Only three days ago Duda said he felt great and his swing was great, MetsBlog said his swing looked great, crowds were gathering to see him hit, yada, yada, yada…
So does this new revelation come as a shock to me?
No, of course not, I expected this.
One look at him was all I needed to see something was awry. His swing looked awful. He hits like he has one foot in a bucket. I don’t need more than seven at-bats to see that – I’ve been watching this game for 40 years.
So Duda will get more work on his swing – the same swing he didn’t correct during a demotion to Buffalo – the same swing that led to an awful first half that got him demoted in the first place. Hopefully, this new attempt to fix him will breed better results.
Duda may be is 0-for-7 with six strikeouts over his first two Grapefruit League games, but that’s the least of his concerns right now.
The Mets need find a quick fix for him fast, or we may be begging for Jason Bay in left field by the time May rolls around. (Yes Donal and Taskmaster, that’s a joke.)
I will be on a conference call with Sandy Alderson on Wednesday. Looking forward to hearing what he has to say about the season and hearing his responses to our questions and concerns.
Original Post 09:00 AM
Mets left fielder Lucas Duda has become the center of attention for the Mets ever since free agent Michael Bourn decided to pitch his tent in Cleveland and sign with the Indians.
Despite never having started more than 150 games in the outfield during his three year career, Duda is in fact the most seasoned outfielder the Mes have on their roster. He’s the one everyone is counting on – the one everyone is banking on.
Last Spring, Sandy Alderson said that Duda would end up having a similar career to Jason Giambi because they had the same power with an excellent eye at the plate, and the Mets GM even likened Duda to Joey Votto. Manager Terry Collins made a similar analogy to Votto a few days later during an interview on WFAN.
Then the 2012 started… Let’s just say things didn’t work out the way Collins and Alderson thought they would.
The slugger with the excellent eye and tremendous power couldn’t hit a breaking ball to save his life and he loved chasing everything out of the strikezone. And even a trip to Buffalo did little to remedy the situation.
SNY broadcaster Keith Hernandez lamented the fact that there was no change to his swing when Duda returned from Buffalo. “That’s the same Lucas Duda who struggled in the first half,” Hernandez said. “Bad swing and all.”
Duda in fact batted .234 after he returned from the minors, and his on-base, slugging percentage, and OPS was significantly worse than before he was sent down – he did not improve one bit.
So my questions is, what exactly did he learn from being sent down? Or more importantly, where was the evidence he learned anything at all?
A few days ago, Michael Baron of MetsBlog was very encouraged after watching Duda in the batting cage. “While the hitch was apparent when I arrived here last week, it is noticeably absent when he swings the bat now, Baron wrote. “It all looks great now, and Duda put on an impressive display during his batting practice session.”
Even Duda himself admitted that he has made changes to his batting stance, saying “ I eliminated the toe-tap,: he told reporters last Thursday. “My hands in the past have been kind of crazy. It’s a lot quieter now.”
After striking out in each of his four at-bats on Sunday against the Astros, Duda, is now 0-for-7 with six strikeouts through his first two game.
Reason for concern? Of course it is considering how much is riding on him this season. Unlike the other hitters in camp who only arrived a week or two ago, Duda has been swinging and hacking away since early January – working closely with hitting coach Dave Hudgens. Duda’s been in the cage everyday learning how to work counts and being more patient. So this isn’t exactly a case of Duda shaking off three months worth of rust.
“He’s trying to change his stride a little bit so it’s not so much movement, and he’s just not getting himself in hitting position right now,” Terry Collins said after the game. “It’s a work in progress.”
And therein lies the problem… As Duda prepares to begin his fourth season in the majors, he’s still a work in progress.
Cue the “it’s only two spring training games” retorts.
That always makes everything better doesn’t it? Rave about the players who had a great first one or two games, and excuse the players with bad starts with a tried and tested spring training excuse.
Excuse me for saying I’m very concerned, or that Duda looks no different now than he did before his demotion to Buffalo.
Wouldn’t it be great if MLB would make a special ruling for the Mets that would allow Lucas Duda to face batting practice pitchers when it was his turn at the plate?
I have hunch he’d look just as good as Jason Giambi, Joey Votto, Carlos Beltran, and Giancarlo Stanton.
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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I hate getting on a guy after 2 games but I’d feel a lot better about the guy if he wasn’t such a plodding butcher with a glove.
If he was 5 for 8, he would still be a defensive nightmare.
Mets outfield starts with Cowgill,,Brown,,,,Den Dekker or they trade for one at the end spring training ,,i like Brantley..
I’d have to agree that I’d love Brantley, but since he’s a lefty, go for the other outfielder they could sell: Drew Stubbs.
i like Stubbs as well !
Hi Joe D.,
Yes, it is a concern to be worried about, more so because so much is weighing of Lucas’s shoulders which is less reflection of his potential talent as it is the lack of potential anywhere else in the outfield.
I like Duda and am rooting for him. He has given us glimpses of what he can do but then, there is a difference between potential and proven performance. We shall have to see for he is still young.
Just a theory but Duda’s best season was 2011 which was the season he had played the most games at first base at the major league level. I think his offensive woes are a residual effect of not being in his comfort zone by being forced to play the outfield. It’s creating mental havoc for him.
Actually I just checked fangraphs and his average in 2011 was the highest when he played first base and the lowest when he played left field.
There is no doubt Duda is better off as a 1B or a DH. But, the reality is he is with the Mets so the DH is out and a guy named Ike is pretty much cemented at 1B in the near future. Duda just better adapt to playing the OF if he wants to break camp with the big league team.
You know what, I am not a Duda fan but this theory makes sense..Thing is I think Ike will have a much better career than Duda. I say send Duds down to triple A Vegas to play first wherehe will rip it. Use him as trade bait later.
Here is the cue…it is only two games. This applies equally to the guys who are doing well and those not so well. It means absolutely nothing. Cowgill might go 0 for the rest of ST. Valdy might do something similar. And Duda might get it together and mash the ball. Nobody knows. That is why it is open competition out there.
As for Duda specifically, big deal he was swinging since the end of Jan. If they totally rebuilt his swing, it is going to take time for that to translate into success. To judge him on 8 ABs is insane but it is expected from the Met bashers.
Here is a unique idea but I think it is worth a shot. Why not wait until about the LAST week of ST to see who is doing well and who isnt? Judging anyone’s merits based upon two games is just flat out idiotic.
So this is a Mets hater piece? Joe D you Met hatin’ basterd, how dare you express a concern with a player. You made taskmaster spoil his pants.
Well if you’re concerned about Duda you’ve got to be ecstatic with the play of Cowgill who is batting 1.000 with 2 doubles, 2 rbis, 2 walks and 2 stolen bases in 2 games. We’re talking HOF trajectory here.
Or maybe we should wait a few more games before making any calls.
If it was March 24th, people might have a valid point.
It’s only two spring training games.
Hey Joe D, for whatever reason I just realized the title post was prefaced with “Early Warning Signs”. It should of read “Early Early Early Warning Signs of Early Warning Signs”.
It’s only two games…that’s the good news. The bad news is the Duda is supposed to be the only “unquestioned” starter in the OF. To be honest, I’d let ‘Spin get some reps and enter him into the equation. The top five OFers should break camp come opening day. I don’t mind mix and matching and platooning because it is the new market inefficiency. If you can’t have an OF of everyday players, you platoon. Putting guys only in roles where the excel (something great coaches do very well) is a way to boost production with the kind of cast we presently have.
It is just 2 games, but it’s also true that given his defense he not only has to hit, he has to hit a lot. Personally I think this organization overvalues power hitters and undervalues defense. I would have no problem with a superlative defensive alignment placing Den Dekker in center and Kirk, Baxter, Cowgill manning the corners. If your not going to hit you might as well be able to track them down, especially in a big field like ours with a team built around pitching … I think they’re hyping Duda with the hope that he can start the season with some success, showcase some power, and perhaps garner some trade value as a DH candidate.
If other clubs are aware that Duda has hit his best when he plays 1B, and I’m sure they are, than I bet any club that would want him in a deal will get him cheaply because he hasn’t proved it over the long haul and won’t get the chance to prove it over the long haul either.
So either way you look at it if Duda is ever moved he’ll probably be another body in a bigger deal or just or just moved for a couple of minor leaguers or if Mets are lucky they get a major league ready p/t player or something like that.
Or he winds up smashing the ball as a leftfielder but with his defense he better hit over 20 HRs, hit at least .270 and drive in at least 70
Duda is pretty bad at first base too if i recall, he’s pretty much a part time 1Bman DH, again, if he can hit, which has not been established. Duda’s biggest issue is the whole mental toughness problem. It’s all about confidence, always has been with Lucas.
Kind of like Bay without the glove.
Speaking of Bay I read somewhere that he said in so may words that he found his lost hitting stroke from 4 years ago. Talk about timing being everything. Why couldn’t he had found it say 3 years ago?
might have found his stroke at the beginning of ST, but he still has his aging eyes, and multi-concussion reflexes.
probably best to wait until the season starts and pitchers are in game mode, to see if he can catch up to high heat or read nasty sliders again!
It is early but I hope that the Mets play the hot hand. If Duda is cold at the end of March send him to Las Vegas.
Big difference between Bay and Duda….salary.
Bay didnt perform, he was still around. Duda has a bad ST, he is calling Wally skipper and addressing letters home using a Vegas Zip Code.
Lucas Duda is an American League DH, and a fringy one at that. First off, he’s being played out of position. For a player that lacks self-confidence that is a huge burden on him. His swing has been tinkered with, which you can see during the games.
I would rather see them send him to Vegas to tear it up and gain confidence…and then trade him for a bag of balls. He’s not a fit with this team in this park.
It seems to me that Duda still has that slight uppercut in his swing and he’s not keeping himself as leveled as he should. If Duda doesn’t come around within the next couple of weeks, I wonder if Mets management will reconsider Lucas Duda as a lock to be the starting LF and have him continue to work on his mechanics in Vegas, giving someone like say, Jordany Valdespin a shot at winning the job in LF. I believe that should be an option along with trading for a veteran OF at the end of ST like I mentioned last night.
I think it’s reasonable to think that if with say 2 weeks to go in camp Duda still just looks lost at the plate then considering that the only reason he would make the team was due to his bat potential then we may indeed see the chance that Duda doesn’t even come North with the team more of a real possibility.
Hitman,
I dont think Duda has a lock on the LF position. Sure he has the inside track but a poor showing this Spring will get him ticketed to Vegas (and might end his Met career). This is especially true if some of the other OFs in camp do well. Cowgill, Kirk, Baxter, and Valdy can all play LF.
He shouldn’t be a lock but management sees “upside” in him and already had him down as the starter way before camp began, which is why they kept him this past offseason, which in my eyes was/is a big mistake.
I would disagree that it was a big mistake to keep him for one simple reason: the Mets were not going to get much in return for him. The same ills we see are noticed by other teams. Nobody was going to give the Mets much for Lucas Duda until he proves himself.
Glad your onboard Joe D. If memory serves me right, I said the Dude should have been sent packing last year. If you listen to Daniel Murphy, Duda will be the man this year!!
I think this won’t surprise anyone but out of curiosity I checked and yes Duda’s 6 k’s leads all of MLB so far this Spring. Coming in at 2nd and 3rd with 4 k’s each is Jaff Kyle Decker of the Padres and Mike Olt of the Rangers.
No sweat, it’s the 24th of February.
I think if he was say 0 for 7 but minus the 6 K’s and rather ground or fly outs there would still be concern just maybe not as much. I’m speculating but I think it’s more about the 6 k’s than the 0 for. Speaking for myself I never want to see any Mets player struggle as I would think most fans do but just as I don’t read much into Spin hitting 2 HR’s or Mazzoni pitching well in his debut this Spring I can’t read to much into 7 at bats into a players Spring. That’s just me. The only I did like was the chance to have some fun at Joe D’s expense but if Duda is still struggling mid March I will definitely be concerned as well.
I’ve been concerned since the day Alderson decided Duda was his rightfielder. Moving him to left field doesn’t make it better. And I dont need 2 days, 2 games, 2 months, or 2 years to know he blows,.
I still think Sandy has an ace up his sleeve. No way Duda, Nieuwenhuis and Baxter are the starting outfield. Still time to swing a deal. In Sandy we trust.
Wait, Duda struck out six times in his first two ST games? Fire him, the season’s over. How can this be! Duda sucks. He’s the worst ever!!!
(Cue the bored sarcasm.)
If you were going to move someone to left or right field, why not Ike Davis who is more athletic and played outfield in high school and college? Wasn’t he an All-Pac10 outfielder twice and All-American rightfielder as well? His arm was a cannon too from what I remember.
Move Ike? As Consuela of The Family Guy would say, nooooo.
Or like Michael Scott would say….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31g0YE61PLQ
No need to make fun of me for suggesting a legitimate option. That clip was better served to the person responsible for the decision to give an outfield glove to the statue of liberty, Duda.
I’m just busting your balls, relax.
I never liked the idea of Duda in the OF at all, but there are some who still believe for some reason that a move to LF would make a difference that it would in RF, when it really won’t.
It can because the angle of picking up the ball differs from LF to RF and some people make better adjustments than others. Some can pick up the ball easily from CF but are lost picking up the ball from LF/RF perspectives.
While it is true for some people to make better adjustments than others, this is not the case for Lucas Duda, who is completely out of his element in the outfield.
Dont get me wrong, I’d rather not move Ike at all. But if given the choice between Duda or Ike wouldn’t you go with a two time Pac-10 right fielder? What about Duda made him the better choice?
I just would not want to move a player that I think is an above average defender at 1st and dare I say possible future Gold glove who for the last 5 years has played 1B to the outfield to replace him with a significant downgrade defensively at 1B for the chance that he may hit well if he plays 1B.
What makes you think he wouldn’t be a gold glove right fielder? He was selected twice among the best college players in the country as all-american in right field and two Pac10′s. He can throw 95 mph, off the bat he’d have the best arm in the game. I don’t get why everyone thinks this is outlandish. You should have more confidence in Davis, he was one of the best college players in the country and not solely for his play at first base. He’s not the clod Lucas Duda is, Davis is a true athlete in every sense of the word.
He hasn’t played the outfield in 5 years. On top of what I have already said I simply don’t think it is a good idea to subject Ike to moving to the Outfield for the chance that Duda will hit better simply because he is now playing 1st base. I understand that you seem to feel otherwise and that’s ok I just don’t agree.
This.
Plus, let’s not forget about that ankle injury of Ike’s. Word was that ankle would never be as strong as it was before the injury. So taking another slow footed guy, one with a potential weakened ankle and sticking in our OF b/c we’ve got no better options is just foolish – IMO.
Lets see, gold glove defense at 1B and a piss poor fielder in LF or below average defense at 1B and average at best defense in LF. Which one do I choose?
Besides, Davis is a clear solution and long-term player. Right now Duda isn’t. You don’t move proven’s to make room for maybe’s. See Reyes and Matsui.
Ike Davis is SLOOOOOWWW. The fact that he could cut it in college in the OF doesn´t mean that he can in a big RF in the majors.
It’s not the craziest idea out there. But Ike is incredibly slow…I don’t know if he qualifies as “a true athlete in every sense of the word”. His awards in college had more to do with his bat (and he was a good pitcher too) than just his glove in the OF. And its been several years since he’s played out there. I’m a bigger Duda fan than most, but he’s unlikely to be an above average defensive 1b. And then there is the issue of moving Ike around. He’s a pretty easy going guy but with all the drama of the past year or so with him with the ankle and the valley fever etc and him getting off to the horrid start, they probably want to keep his ST as easy and normal as possible.
And I think LF can work out better than RF for Duda. And he did hit well playing the OF late in the 2011 season…so I don’t think he needs to play 1b in order to hit well
What’s more ridiculous being worried about Duda who batted .239 last season, or Alderson calling him the next Jason Giambi and Joey Votto?
I find it amusing that many here say, “Don’t worry, it’s only two games,” as though Duda’s 2012 season never happened.
his 2011 happened too though.
The order matters. I hope he’s not trending toward being a flash in the pan player, many of whom have done more for longer yet still became flash in the pans all the same.
And is this because ST always proves an excellent bellwether of any team’s, or any given player’s, regular season performance? Or is it the first eight ABs that tell us all we need to know?
Never read anything as senseless to that in forty-plus years of following baseball.
I would agree that Duda’s probably a .240 hitter, who will hit 30-35 HRs if healthy for a whole season, and plays a lousy OF. But Ks in his first eight ST ABs…
Wow!
If the discussion about Duda was about how one part of our outfield has a question mark over it then this would be an interesting topic.
That Duda is the most seasoned Mets outfielder – and that we are almost forced into playing him – is pathetic.
Why more fans aren’t up in arms over how much this team has fallen since Sandy has taken over is beyond me.
As GM, how could he fail to address the problem of the outfield during the offseason?
The Mets haven’t had a winning season since 2008. How can you say they’ve only just fallen since Alderson took over?
Harry – would you say this current team is better or worse than two years ago. We had Reyes at shortstop, Beltran, Pagan and Francouer in the outfield and Dickey as a starting pitcher.
I would have thought its pretty obvious.
And now we have Wheeler, d’arnaud, Syndergaard, Matt Reynolds, Kevin Plawecki, Wilmer Becerra and 35 million dollars less in salary.
First of all, Francoeur sucked. And so did Bay and Castillo, both of whom were paid huge sums of money to suck.
Secondly, you’re right. It is obvious. This team is waaaaayyyyy better. It’s built to win for years. Your preferred team was built to lose for years.
First of all, Francoeur sucked. And so did Bay and Castillo, both of whom were paid huge sums of money to suck.”
Ok, and the team we have now suck, only difference is they’re doing it for cheap right? and because of it you’re content with that right? You are something else…..
Yeah what years are they built to win in?
I would like to mark them on my Calendar!
Way too early to worry. Spring training doesn’t mean anything. And even if these were games that mattered 0-6 is nothing to be worried about.
Duda was great last year in ST and it didn’t translate into the season. Plenty of guys have had blah STs and gone on to have good years. And it’s only 2 games
LOL I see the same names who bashed Justin Upton all hailing Lucas Duda.
Don’t worry about his two games in spring, you god forsaken idiots. Worry about his 139 games last year, you dumb shits.
I’m embarrassed to be in the same group as some of you at times. The Mets deserve a better class of fans and ones who aren’t so damn ignorant.
You all deserve Lucas Duda, Cowgill, Brown, and Byrd too. When did crap become so appealing to all of you? Was it when Alderson became GM, is that when it all went downhill for you and you embraced mediocrity?
Some of you disgust me. Go root for the Pirates.
THIS^^^^
Strong words coming from the genius that bashes the guy that finished 6th in MVP votes last year.
Wooohooooo, He finished 6th in the MVP vote woohoooooo!!!
Duda = head case and failed project..Put Valdespin in left..Send Duda back to where he belongs triple A. He will hit a ton in Vegas then he can be traded..Duda will not hit at the Major League level..
Agreed. He’s a big, scared oaf who won’t hit enough to play regularly.
I’m not so sure about that. I don’t care much for him either, doesn’t look like he’d be any fun to hang out with and not much of a personality & his D will never be that great but i think he’s gonna have some nice seasons ahead of him but most likely for another team. I think he can turn into like a Jeremy Burnitz-lite. I think Duda will be erratic in the future too but not before he’s sandwiched a couple of 20-30 HR seasons, hit around .260 – .290 driving in around70-90 RBIs
Maybe he’s not be a New York guy.
The truth is somewhere in the middle ( as always).
If a player does significant changes to his swing, odds are he’ll struggle at least initially in game action. And, obviously, it’s spring training where short sample stats are even less relevant than during the regular season where they at least count in some sort of way. Plus, keep in mind that breaking ones wrist also isn’t likely to help get you off to a hot start…
That said, Duda so far has exhibited a surprising lack of confidence as a major leaguer. So, the fact that his new sing doesn’t seem to be working right away in games could be a problem in this special case. If it gets to his head and he loses more confidence, it could get ugly. I’m afraid, Duda may be closer to Jeremy Giambi than to Jason Giambi talent wise. Without the off-field issues but less confidence too.
I’m quite certain that Duda won’t be part of the next Mets playoff team. Because if he struggles in this make or break season, he’s gone and if he does hit, he’ll probably be traded to an AL team.
Right now, his trade value is close to zero anyway. So, selling him this off-season would have been a case of selling very low. You can still DFA him in June if he still doesn’t hit enough by then and get nothing in return.
BTW WIlmer Flores hit I believe another home run today.
I live In Kissimmee FL near the Astro’s ST complex and seen Duda in 2011 play 1B , RF 2012 and now LF. During 2011 he was definitely better. He had the classic lefty high wrists uppercut. Now he has a lot of lethargic and wasted body motion
Even today during BP his swing mechanics were ok but not great. Once he faced game pitching I can see Duda have his mental doubts such as deciding to swing or not. In BP you just swing.
What’s funny here is that it was Terry Collins who expressed the most concern with Duda after yesterday’s game.
Anybody watch SNY last night? LOL
Somebody should tell Terry it’s only two games.
Poor Terry looked like his best friend died when he spoke about Duda. Let me see Cerrone put that video on MetsBlog!!! Come on Cerrone, I dare you!!!
Two games my ASS!!!!
Gosh, by this–ahem!–logic, it’s just astounding that the White Sox didn’t summarily execute Adam Dunn midway through the 2011 season.
However emotional TC got after watching Duda’s helplessness at the plate after TWO ST GAMES is no harbinger in any way, shape, or form as to how a mediocre power hitter–as Duda is–will perform for the rest of ST, the month of April, June, or September.
My God, Man, even you must be able to screw it on and get it, no?
You wanna talk about senseless… putting Duda and his measly 29 HRs in a discussion with a guy that has 400+ HRs is senseless. What is it about Duda exactly that would indicate he’ll hit 30+ HRs a year? To me, the indications (i.e. his 2012 season, not his 6 Ks in 7 ST ABs) point to Duda being a poor man’s Chris Duncan. I hope you’re right and I’m wrong though.
Duda looked terrible with the golden sombaro . That is an is an understatement.
The sword goes both ways with Terry who praused Cowgill. Not only did Cowgill and Valdespin looks good in the game but they looked great during BP as well. Valdespin bulked up and looks like Kevin Mitchell in appearance and the way he is driving the ball. Cowgill hits the ball to all fields. I would bat him 2nd as he at will can hit the ball the opposite field at will. Also he when he wants pull the ball. You can disregard me what I saw in person but he showed he can hit in AAA last year and looks like the real thing. When I saw him intentionally hitting singles and gap line drives in BP it impressed me. During the game besides former Met Lenny Dykstra he reiminds me of anther former Met, Jimmy Piersall (yes for one year he was a Met).
And if he was 5-8 would it matter now, Of Course not. But after after 0-7 we have to kill him right. Of course Just ask Joe D the expert
I have to wonder if when they say Quiet his swing they mean make sure it doesn’t make any noise via coming in contact with a basball….
Pulling Duda or keeping him in games I think 2 Spring Training games into camp won’t hurt either way. Duda is definitely on a short leash regardless. For me I will be more concerned how Duda looks as camp nears it’s final 2 weeks then it’s 1st 2 games.
I smell a trade coming.
trades are fun. Go for it.
plus, it is always interesting to see people that whined about not getting new players getting all upset about trading away someone they liked.
So no mention of Fernando Martinez hitting a HR off Matt Harvey?
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130224&content_id=41944840&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou
so?
it really has become insufferable trying to find intelligent comments here now that it has become 99% posts about the GM or making fun of other posters because of some perceived, yet bogus, slavish devotion to the GM.
You love Omar and all the fine things he did. We get it. You despise Sandy. We get that too. At this point, everyone who has ever visited this site knows it, so you really don’t have to say it over and over and over.
No,
I think it was very legitimate that JDD found that and brought it out here. Fernando Martinez hits a HR off Matt Harvey and nobody brings it up on this site?
Guess you’re really upset and i know why.
no, you don’t.
Harvey giving up a HR is nice to know, but pretty sure that was clearly mentioned in the summary of the game if there was one.
Martinez hitting it though is absolutely irrelevant.
It is absolutely NOT irrelevant. Not in the least bit and you KNOW it.
That’s a nice little side story and the very least. Fernando Martinez, a kid who spent years here, was questionably let go at such a young age when the Mets were in a financial bind and he hits a HR off of a potential Mets future ace?
That’s a ST story so it is NOT irrelevant at all. You just don’t like it cuz Alderson is the one who let Fernando go and you don’t like where that goes. That’s why it’s irrelevant to YOU.
Fact is that F-Mart’s homer off Harvey will be on every game recap tonight including ESPN, Mets.com, FOX, MB, MMO and probably RDMB. We always share game info as it happens here.
The fact he posted a current game link didn’t deserve a bashing, we do it all the time whether they are highlights or lowlights, whether it’s good news or bad.
Sooner or later this constant bickering and judging who’s a better fan than who has to stop, no?
My only question for Damaja is, was that to disparage Harvey or was it simply to point out the fact we released him with little to no outfield depth in the system at the time? And that he’d probably be an improvement over some of the outfielders in camp right now? Or at least offer more upside than Marlon Byrd?
To me it’s because of the latter. A young kid let go while the team needed depth, he was cheap and already here and he was like 22 (i think) when he was let go. To me the fun of the story is the potential for redemption for a player that is still very young.
“making fun of other posters because of some perceived, yet bogus, slavish devotion to the GM.”
I presume you were talking about yourself there since you then went onto talk about someone loving Omar when at best all they ever said was he was as good if not better than Sandy and his Records during the seasons says that already!
Good find,
I had no idea and I’m very, very surprised that none of the writers here mentioned it. Letting Fernando go could prove to be a gigantic mistake down the road. We will see and it’s def worth watching.
Everyone who did a recap did mention it. We don’t do recaps for grapefruit games, but you’re acting as though this was ignored and it really wasn’t.
Okay so after more checking MetsBlog did a recap and didn’t mention it, so there’s that. But everyone else did, why wouldn’t you? Former Met #1 prospect jacks one off a recent Mets #1 prospect. They should have mentioned it.
MetsBlog doesn’t mention that? Hilarious!
Regarding game recaps, it was always something we split up between the younger writers in the past. However effective immediately we are taking them more serious and John Delcos is now officially our own Mets beat writer.
Everything was all worked out this morning and finalized this afternoon with Jay Horwitz and several of his great staff. John is on his way to Mets camp and will be doing the same type of post game summaries as Adam Rubin has been doing. Adam also discussed things with John and was also very helpful today in charting our new course for MMO for the 2013 season.
May I also add that in the next two days we will be pleased to announce that a former Mets DSL scouting assistant under Omar Minaya has agreed to write for MMO. He also produced scouting videos for NYPL and will be a huge addition to our already impressive staff.
We are in the process of getting him set up and his father is one of the most respected journalists in the country with two NY Times Political Bestsellers that became blockbuster movies. And it was actually him that suggested to his son to write scouting reports for MMO when he was deciding between a few options. His father happens to be an avid reader of this site.
I had to warn him how he may get some vitriol considering who he worked for while with the Mets, but he’s a pro and doesn’t care about what comments he gets and is doing this to provide real insights rather than the usual know-it-all stuff you find on blogs.
Imagine the great debates this site would have if the threads weren’t hijacked by the daily Sandy vs Alderson brigade. That’s the real group that brings down the site. It’s not the Core or the Sandy Lovers, it’s the two of you combined that form the one group that makes it unbearable for the intellectual readers who would love to comment. We have baseball people, and Mets players who read our site daily but wouldn’t dare dive into the pool with some of you. For now I’m just grateful they enjoy our writers and our richness of opinions.
You mean Mets players are aware of what goes on in here? LOL. Do you know of any of them ever commenting on specific posters? Like one saying “who the hell is that Bayonne guy? lol
Seriously it’s good to see that this site has the potential to overtake MetsBlog as it should as it allows all sides to be heard loud and clear.
False argument. If you would actually enforce your stated policies of stopping people who hijack every single thread to attack anyone who doesn’t slavishly attack Alderson with insults and ridicule you would see it calm down in a heartbeat.
Rarely if ever do people come on here to defend Alderson. Rather, anyone who doesn’t reflexively attack him is labeled a sabergooner or an Alderson lover. Find me an example of someone acting that childishly regarding Omar.
I defy you to find any threads hijacked by people attacking Omar. It just doesn’t happen. Nobody makes names for their little clique accept the group that calls themselves the core.
But people do get tired of being attacked constantly and they will fight back. Particularly when you won’t even bother to enforce the policies you say exist.
Don’t make the false comparison that people who attack and those who fight back are the same. They aren’t.
Wow,
Now I do believe you really are new because reading your reply to Joe D…you definitely have not been around.
And i you did’t hijack threads and start crap with anyone who has a different opinion than how good Sandy’s sperm tastes there would be no problems either!
Boomer I’ve been doing this for over 10 years. Don’t speak out of your ass about things and situations you know nothing about. Don’t tell me how to run my site. You have no idea what I deal with here day in and day out. The shenanigans go on by both sides. BOTH SIDES! Just 20 minutes ago Van went after Damaja for posting a video. So please spare me your pearls of wisdom because you haven’t a clue. And if you don’t like it, nobody’s putting a gun to your head to stick around. There’s plenty of other good sites you can go to. Whether we get 17,999 readers a day or 18,000 doesn’t make a difference to me. When you’re in that terrain, nobody’s counting anymore. So please spare me the rhetoric and go look in the mirror. I’ve had enough sanctimonious bullshit than I can take today.
Deal. I’m out.
But if you want to keep your site as good as it could be and keep some of the more balanced commenters then stop acting like you actually give a damn about the tone when you let the same people attack and insult everyday while you pop in every so often to wag your finger and say everyone is at fault.
Good luck.
You have no idea how many people are banned and are back ten minutes later. You think I enjoy this bullshit? Trust me I don’t. And I didn’t throw you out, only said if you don’t like it nobody is forcing you to stay. You have no right painting me as someone who doesn’t give a shit about what happens on this site. This site will send me to my f***ing grave. And the constant back and forth by these two groups that are engaged in a battle for idiocy drives me crazy. Two groups, not one. Two groups that are more ignorant and ridiculous than the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s. Two groups that point fingers at each other and never at themselves. For the true Met fans, the unbiased and normal ones, we look at all of you and just shake out heads.
I know you didn’t throw me out, I’m leaving of my own accord. I found this site a couple weeks ago and thought it would be a fun place to talk about a team I’ve followed for a long time. I was wrong.
From practically my first comment I have been attacked by the same 4 or 5 guys with childish insults because I wasn’t part of the core and wouldn’t agree to refrain from talking baseball in favor of relentlessly slamming the current front office. I’ve been accused of being Jessep, a refuge from Metsblog and other childish, false things. It gets boring and ruins this place for me.
But you’re dead wrong when you say that there is some sort of equivalence to the crap that goes on. There is one group that comes here just to start fights rather than talk baseball and you know who they are.
No hard feelings. Your site, your rules. And I meant it, good luck.
*Michael Buffer voice*
LLLLLLLLEEEEEEETTTTTTTSSSSSSSS GET READY TO RUMBLLLLLLLEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
False argument, huh?
I looked at the top of the thread and wouldn’t you agree this was the first sign of trouble:
taskmaster4450 February 24, 2013 at 8:32 pm
Here is the cue…it is only two games. This applies equally to the guys who are doing well and those not so well. It means absolutely nothing. Cowgill might go 0 for the rest of ST. Valdy might do something similar. And Duda might get it together and mash the ball. Nobody knows. That is why it is open competition out there. As for Duda specifically, big deal he was swinging since the end of Jan. If they totally rebuilt his swing, it is going to take time for that to translate into success. To judge him on 8 ABs is insane but it is expected from the Met bashers.
Met bashers?
Then here is another unprovoked attempt at trouble from you right after that comment:
Boomer February 24, 2013 at 8:40 pm
Well if you’re concerned about Duda you’ve got to be ecstatic with the play of Cowgill who is batting 1.000 with 2 doubles, 2 rbis, 2 walks and 2 stolen bases in 2 games. We’re talking HOF trajectory here. Or maybe we should wait a few more games before making any calls.:
Turns out that Duda concerns were justified, weren’t they? Yet, instead of coming back to this thread where you tried to throw the writer under the bus, you claim false outrage?
Really? There is no false outrage, just outrage. And in this case it came from you. Just saying.
Awesome catch by Den Dekker. That was a big league catch.
Wow, Den Dekker just made an amazing play, robbed a home run.
Did you guys just see that catch????!!!!
Made it look routine. Just glided to the wall and picked it. I hope he gets it together at the plate.
The kid can just flat out go get it.
Sure did. The wow factor there.
d’Arnaud looks like he has a quick bat … goes down swinging though.
Burke with the wacky sidearm motion.
Lutz has a nice bat with righthanded power. Wonder if he edges out Turner? Would be a SHAME to send Lutz back to AAA.
With the Mets wanting to get rid of Turner, Lutz has a very good chance of making the team.
And now you all know why I’ve been pulling for Den Dekker all this time to be the starting CF.
DAT CATCH.
Dud Dud is done..
Let’s talk about Flores for a minute. For someone who’s projected as “slow” defensively, he didn’t look all that bad at 2nd base tonight, now did he?
When you talk to Alderson, if he mentions anything about winning seasons, can you please tell him this from the fans:
“Winning seasons? What winning seasons?”
Lets see where Duda is in 3 more weeks by then we will have a basic idea if all the will work he has put in changing his approach at the plate since the beginning of Jan.pan out,I believe his self confidence can be an issue here and every Met fan knows his defensive skills are not his best qualities.The only way he stays in the lineup is if he hits and I am sure he is well aware of that and is under the gun to get on track so lets pray he finds his swing for his sake and for all Mets fan as well.