Just wanted to say before you read this, this is just an idea I am tossing out for discussion, just something to chew on. I don’t necessarily think they should do this, just wondering what the community here thinks of it.
Last season the Mets were an abysmal defensive team, finishing dead last in the league in multiple defensive statistics. They finished nearly three points lower than the next nearest team in UZR/150, posting a horrifying -9.5 mark. For those who prefer more traditional stats such as errors, it doesn’t get much better as they were fourth to last, with 116.
This year that issue has the potential to become even worse, as the Mets will be putting out potential disaster Lucas Duda in right field. In a small sample size last season, he posted a horrendous -43.2 UZR/150. For reference, the worst qualified right fielder in baseball last year posted a -10.9, or 1/4th of what Duda has to this point.
Insert the “outside the box” portion of the post, why not move Ike Davis to right field? He has shown that he is an elite first base defender, and has great range, and an absolute cannon. Why waste those physical tools at first when he could be playing a position more suited to his strengths such as right field?
Ike played outfield in college, and is even listed by MiLB.com in his draft profile as an outfielder who’s arm “plays fine” for right field. He has shown great range and positioning at first base, two things that are crucial to playing well in the outfield.
On the flipside, does this mean that Duda will be able to fill in capably at first base? Last season, and again in a small sample size of only 323.1 innings, he posted a UZR/150 of -1. or basically average.
One objection, and this is one that I wrestled with while forming this idea, is the concept that one never takes one question mark and makes it into two. I feel as though because this season is going to be a transitional one, it would be the right time to try a move like this.
What do you guys think?
15 comments
Bryan
3/31/2012-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
Don’t really like the idea. “Plays fine” for right field isn’t exactly a glowing endorsement. Ike is an elite defensive first baseman and I think it’s silly to move him. He has good range and he prevents throwing errors from the other infielders. Plus, there’s more to right field than having a great arm. Also, there have been times when Ike has been able to throw out runners being overly aggressive because they either don’t realize he has such a great arm or because the first baseman’s arm strength isn’t highlighted on the scouting report. I don’t think Ike in right over Duda is much of an upgrade defensively, and Duda at first base is definitely a downgrade (no offense to Duda but just about anyone in the league is a downgrade compared to Ike). So, there’s really no reason to make the switch.
Ceetar
3/31/2012-10:13am at 10:13 am (UTC -4)
It’s not a bad thought..but.
We don’t know Duda can’t play RF. UZR is notoriously sloppy in small samples, even UZR/150. There’s a thought that you can’t really trust it unless it spans three years.
Also, Duda was new to RF last season. He’s now gotten a feel for the mistakes he can make out there, and has had the benefit of all Spring to work on them. There’s little use in solving theoretical problems before they are problems because you can’t predict what problems a change could make.
Gotta consider the slightly less OF space out there this year, although that’s really more of a Bay thing. RF isn’t getting that much smaller.
If Duda looks so completely bad out there and isn’t getting betting as the season progresses, it’s something to address. Some suggest he could move to LF if Bay gets traded this season or after it, but I’m not sure that actually solves range issues that much.
For now, let’s let him get his reps in, maybe position Torres a step towards RF, and let him try to play the position.
SpencerRealDirtyMets
3/31/2012-10:28am at 10:28 am (UTC -4)
Yeah the UZR sample is extremely small, I just thought it was worth putting in there instead of saying that hes looked awful.
I always feel like Ike’s arm and range are being wasted at 1st base.
MetsFan4Decades
3/31/2012-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
I know this has been mentioned before with some Met fans.
I don’t really care for the idea myself. First, Ike is a superior defender at first base. I believe he led the NL in those stats for first base two years ago, even though Pujols got the Gold Glove.
Duda has demonstrated he can certainly handle first but don’t know if he’d be as good as Ike there.
Second, Ike is slow. I’m not sure just who is slower….him or Duda. So not sure how much we’d gain by the two switching positions.
With Ike’s weakened ankle, I think he’s better off at first, all things considered.
Having said all that, I’m keeping my fingers crossed Duda can play a passable RF.
SpencerRealDirtyMets
3/31/2012-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
Ya that was the biggest thing for me, I didn’t want to create another question mark. Plus I love watching Ike play first base, he reminds me of Keith Hernandez defensively.
I don’t think they should/would do this, it was just me throwing out a “what if?” scenario?
jcb182
3/31/2012-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
My guess is the plan to only for Duda to play RF this year. Supposedly his best position (such as it is) defensively is LF, where he feels the most comfortable. Currenly they are saddled with the albatross that is the Jason Bay contract, so LF is unavailable but next year when there is only one year left on his deal they will undoubtedly try to trade him. That would free Duda to move to LF and they backfill RF with a better defender.
Hazmet
3/31/2012-1:01pm at 1:01 pm (UTC -4)
Not completely my nuclear option for embracing the horror that our D is going to be attrocious where I said: Move Duda to LF, Bay to CF, Wright to RF, Murphy to 3rd, under the premise of finding a place for Reese Havens at 2nd if he’d ever get healthy and getting Murphy away from second. Until Reese is ready play Turner at second.
The premise behind this, aside from fielding maybe the worst defensive squad in Mets history would also be to: Get Duda over to LF already, Get Wrights arm away from sidearming throws to first all day long as he gets older, Get Murphy away from having to turn the double play at second, hell we’re paying for Bay anyway throw him into CF and then rotate him out for a defensive replacement in center when/if we have a lead late in the game. Or rotate Bay to Left late in the game. Yes, I’m heartly laughing at myself for thinking such insanity, but again, embrace the horror of our D.
If Duda has actually improved on the ball in the gap playing RF then I have less concern with dude out there. Going to be a scary year defensively, but as you observe with the UZR rankings how much worse can we get. Well, my above suggestion could answer that.
Oh, welcome aboard – really enjoying your entries along with the other new authors.
MetsFan4Decades
3/31/2012-3:37pm at 3:37 pm (UTC -4)
IDK….that Wright’s arm is strong enough for RF either.
SpencerRealDirtyMets
3/31/2012-6:21pm at 6:21 pm (UTC -4)
Stole my comment ^^^
Hazmet
3/31/2012-8:15pm at 8:15 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve thought that also but I’m also concerned his lat’s not going to hold up having to keep making meaningful throws from third.
Reese
3/31/2012-5:31pm at 5:31 pm (UTC -4)
You forgot about Valdespin and went right to Havens. I am curious to see if they play Valdespin in the OF or the IF this year most of the time in AAA. If Havens plays 2nd and they already said they don’t like the way Valdespin plays SS, then the OF seems to be a better fit. Furthermore, after Nieuwenhuis there isn’t much of anyone there who would be blocked if Valdespin went to the OF.
Hazmet
3/31/2012-8:39pm at 8:39 pm (UTC -4)
I thought about Valdespin in the mix and I liked some of what I saw in presence at the plate, it look’s like he’s gotta a clue up there, but he just as quickly turned around and showed some lack of urgency on some throws and defense. I think Reese has more upside long term if he can stay healthy where I’m concerned Valdespin with some of his history could end up in the F-mart mode in terms of lack of focus. I’d love to see V-Spin get a shot if he continues to mature and not take plays off. Then again, I haven’t seen anything of Havens so in fairness I have nothing to compare V-Spin to.
Hazmet
3/31/2012-8:29pm at 8:29 pm (UTC -4)
Unrelated – What Ronnie Darling did on his winter vacation:
http://www.colonialspringsgolf.com/membership/index.html
Here hawking golf memberships with terrible audio at a really nice course on the island. Some of us locals here call it the boneyard since it’s built next to the Pinelawn cemetary tracts.
wanny
3/31/2012-11:00pm at 11:00 pm (UTC -4)
bad idea for a lot of reasons. but let’s start with the fact that Ike’s got a bum wheel and because of this the case should be closed.
in any event. i’m not sure i understand how his positioning at 1b or range at 1b relates to his ability to play rf. quick reflex movements in fielding grounders has no relation to running down flies in the gap or to reading flies off the bat.
Stickguy
4/1/2012-12:41pm at 12:41 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not in favor of moving ike to the OF at this point.
I am not that worried about Duda. The fancy stats in such a small sample of learning on the fly don’t mean much. it seems he has been looking a lot more comfortable in RF this spring, and should be OK out there. And his bat will make up for it.
I do think he needs to end up in LF though, so if you wanted to do something almost radical it would have been to flip him and Bay. But, at this point, might as well just wait for bay to play himself out of a job (or get traded). Then move Duda to LF.