While Lucas Duda applauded the addition of Michael Cuddyer, he understands that he could lose playing time to him against lefthanded pitching.
And despite struggling against lefties in the last two seasons, batting just .180 off them in 2014, Duda believes he can still be proficient against southpaws. That said, Duda, who is coming off a breakthrough season, is perfectly fine if Terry Collins decides to platoon him.
“I feel like in the past I’ve hit lefties a little bit better than I’ve shown or I’ve had the confidence to,” Duda said. “But again if he has to spell me at first base against lefties then whatever is good for the team. Whatever will help us win, I’m all for. I’ll come off the bench or come in late in the game. Whatever it is. Anything to help us win, I think, that’s our main goal and we’ve got to accomplish it this year.”
First off, I am a huge fan of Lucas Duda. When considering the question about platooning Duda, I have to ask myself a different question: Do the Mets have a better chance of winning with Duda in the lineup against left-handed pitching?
As much as I want to see him get as many at-bats as possible, the answer to that question is still an overwhelming, NO. Even if Duda becomes serviceable versus lefties, he will never be the same hitter that he is against righties.
Duda hit 30 home runs this past season, and did virtually nothing against southpaws, just two in 125 plate appearances. It also looked like it negatively impacted his production against right-handed pitching when Terry Collins started to give him more playing time against later in the season. He was so focused on trying to go the other way against LHP, that he went into a month long slump against righties. Additionally, he seemed to wear down a bit playing everyday and looked like he benefited with those occasional nights off.
What is the advantage of playing Duda against lefties? So he can hit 32 homers instead of 30 but at the expense of about 130 unproductive at-bats? Wouldn’t the team be much better off having a RH batter that crushes lefties playing those games instead? What if we find a platoon partner that hits 10 or more home runs in those at-bats with a .300 or better batting average? Suddenly we have 40 homer, 40 double, 125 RBI production from our first base position. You think that could put more of those one-run losses into our win column?
Having a platoon partner with Duda would not only improve the lineup against guys like Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and Mike Minor, but just think of match-up problems it would cause when the opposing manager goes to the bullpen? We have Lucas Duda chomping at the bit to get in the batters box as soon as a right handed reliever enters the game. Even if the opposing manager immediately takes out the righty and brings in a lefty specialist, you still made them burn two relief pitchers to get one guy out. So it’s not like Duda wouldn’t play during most of those games he starts on the bench.
Duda turns 29 in February, at this age you are what you are…
This is not about the name on the back of the jersey, it’s about the name on the front. And all the evidence points to increased production from first base with Lucas Duda in a platoon.
(Updated 12/4)
