In an article By Anthony DiComo of MLB.com he talks about how Mets prospect Lucas Duda could play a pivotal role for the Mets in Right Field. What is of particular interest is what Collins has to say regarding Duda. He says,
“I’m hoping like mad that Carlos Beltran can be out there quite a bit,” Collins said. “But if something happens, this guy has shown this spring that his bat’s dangerous, so I need to find a place for him if that happens.”
When you add to that that today Lucas Duda a left fielder started the game playing right field. You have to wonder if the Mets are already looking into seeing if Duda’s bat can fill in for what power the Mets lose if Beltran indeed ends up missing considerable time?
12 comments
Bryan
3/9/2011-11:21pm at 11:21 pm (UTC -4)
It is tempting, because Duda has done well this spring, and he has serious power. I have reservations about whether he can play RF, but if Terry is going to keep playing him there this spring we’ll find out, but still, Citi Field is really spacious.
stickguy
3/9/2011-11:26pm at 11:26 pm (UTC -4)
only way to see is to play him out there. He might not be particularly fast, but if he can make the routine plays, the bat (if he is hitting) can make up for it.
kistics
3/10/2011-8:48am at 8:48 am (UTC -4)
hey your dream come true!
oleosmirf
3/10/2011-1:07am at 1:07 am (UTC -4)
there is no way Duda can play RF.
TRS86
3/10/2011-8:46am at 8:46 am (UTC -4)
Sorry, but I just find comments like this funny. We base our decisions on about 6 innings of what we have seen. Same with Murphy at 2B. If Lance Berkman at 106 can play RF then Duda can. The question is not can he play RF, it’s can he hit well enough to make up for any defensive decencies. IF you are Stick you would say yes. However, most of us would say uh.. well… uh… maybe? Keep in mind that Frenchy and Werth’s range were some of the worst for RF in baseball but they made up for it with an accurate arm. So just because Duda might look clumsy in the field what we should look at would be his potential WAR averaging in both offense and defense.
Example, Frenchy’s was .5 which was barely above replacement level which is technically what Duda should be.
kistics
3/10/2011-8:52am at 8:52 am (UTC -4)
I agree. I simply think that we haven’t seen enough of him defensively to say that he’s a liability in RF. Does have the make up of Adam Dunn and/or any other bad defensive OF? Maybe. But just because he’s a big buy, that doesn’t mean you should label him as a liability. He’s young and to me, he has been rather quick in the OF than I thought.
But also on the offensive side, I haven’t seen him enough to determine what type of hitter he is. Sure he had one good season at AAA with lots of power. But how would that translate into the majors? Who knows.
metsfan4decades
3/10/2011-7:41am at 7:41 am (UTC -4)
I don’t see what it hurts to have Duda playing RF this ST to get a look. Sure would be nice to have that bat in the lineup. I’m thinking though if Beltran goes on the DL, FMart will be first called up.
kingman 26
3/10/2011-9:30am at 9:30 am (UTC -4)
Duda over a healthy FMart?
Nah.
I sincerely hope FMart wins the RF job and Beltran limps away never to be seen again.
stickguy
3/10/2011-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
my guess is they are more concerned about F Mart being ready to hit in the majors, right now, than Duda. Largely from lack of ABs (and frankly success) last year. Especially when you factor in plate discipline issues (OBP, K/BB rate, etc).
Now, if F Mart had put up a full, healthy, productive year last year like Duda did, I don’t think we are having this conversation! So that is why I think they would be more likely to start F Mart in the minors, to make sure he has taken the step.
TRS86
3/10/2011-10:44am at 10:44 am (UTC -4)
Hard to say on this one. Fmart has really not even been given a chance to be healthy and be successful at AAA. I think I too would rather give that opportunity to Duda and let Fmart rip it up in AAA.
wannybackstra
3/10/2011-4:28pm at 4:28 pm (UTC -4)
More “negativity:”
http://proxy.espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/16491/scouts-raving-about-duda
metsfan4decades
3/10/2011-4:44pm at 4:44 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t mind admitting that I’m in the camp of not caring for some of Rubin’s comments concerning the Mets. He just comes off ‘snarky’ to me – especially in his weekly chats.
However, I believe in giving credit where credit is due and of all the Met beat writers he’s tops in covering everything and getting the information out there, many times before the pack. I remember him commenting somewhere along the way that working for ESPN allows him to cover more stories as they’ve got a staff of ‘go-to-type’ employees who handle everything else. Said in his last gig, he had to do it all from soup to nuts.