Duda Right Thing (IPP: Lucas Duda)

[batmagadanleadoff]

Lucas Duda has 11 walks, ordinarily enough to lead the majors in that category this early in the season. Except that Joey Votto has 21 walks. 21!

[Edgy MD]

(Apologies to readers who have been waiting all comment for a Big Lebowski joke. Not happening.)

Yeah, that Song of the South joke was much fresher.

[dinosaur jesus]

At least he didn't go with "Camptown Ladies."

[batmagadanleadoff]

Lucas Duda can't catch a break

Lucas Duda at first base. MLB.tv

By Howard Megdal
10:19 am Jun. 25, 2013

Lucas Duda is in a baseball trap. Back in 2011, over 347 plate appearances for the Mets at 24, Duda showed two things. One was that he could hit major league pitching, with a 137 O.P.S.+. The other was that he was a first baseman, and a perfectly good one, but definitely not an outfielder. But the Mets, who also employed Ike Davis and didn't have many outfield options around, decided to try and make Duda into what he wasn't. In 2012, that meant an extended stay in right field, with terrible results. Duda's effort was never in question. But he simply doesn't have the basic quickness required to play the outfield. And it appeared Duda let his defensive struggles affect him at the plate, with his production dropping precipitously. Rather than deal Duda, the Mets kept him and tried him in 2013 in left field. Similar results followed, though Duda's hitting at least stayed relatively steady. And when Ike Davis slumped for two months, and finally got sent to Triple-A, the Mets hesitated even then, first electing to move a perfectly competent Daniel Murphy from second base instead. Only last week did the Mets finally employ the single best option to play first base on the roster, Duda, at first base. And naturally, that's when Duda got hurt, injuring his intercostal muscle and landing on the disabled list this past weekend. Meanwhile, Davis is hitting home runs in bunches for Triple-A Las Vegas, indicating either that his swing is fixed or that flawed sluggers can still hit homers in the Pacific Coast League. Which is the case will be determined shortly, with Adam Rubin reporting Davis could return as soon as Thursday. At which point ... what becomes of Lucas Duda? Are the Mets going to really going to go back to that failed outfield experiment? Has his strong hitting this season and recent stint at first base increased his trade value? Plenty of teams can and are doing worse, production-wise, at first base or designated hitter. But the offense-starved Mets seem more interested in keeping Duda's solid bat in the lineup than worrying about what positions he can or can't play. And the Mets, without other decent options at the position in the system, almost have to keep Duda around as an insurance policy, in case Davis really isn't fixed. The shame of it for Duda is that in the period of Ike Davis exile, he might have put a hold on first base for the Mets, or at least have complicated the decision. Instead, his move there was delayed, and once he got there, he lasted just a few days. Instead of Wally Pipping Davis, he's about to be Pipped himself. And while the Mets find out what Davis can do after a few weeks in Vegas, Duda waits, his prime years squandered by poor circumstances and organizational desperation.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/sports/2013/06/8531260/lucas-duda-cant-catch-break?--bucket-headline

[Edgy MD]

I don't think Megdal correctly understands the legacy of Wally Pipp.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: I don't think Megdal correctly understands the legacy of Wally Pipp.

Many don't. Pipp is one of those adjectives that could do with a little less use.

[Centerfield]

Edgy MD wrote: I don't think Megdal correctly understands the legacy of Wally Pipp.

Of course he does. He's saying Ike Davis is Gehrig. Megdal is nothing if not optimistic.

[ashie62]

Duda could end up lost in the sauce..

[Edgy MD]

I'm not sure what that means.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think it means he'll be in a large vat of sauce, and won't know how to get out of it.

[Edgy MD]

By the way, on my fake OotP team, I got away with putting Lucas Duda in the infield for four innings when Wright got hurt and the bench was empty. For four innings he shifted back and fourth between second and third, made no errors, and started a double play. Make the move NOW, Terry!!!!

[ashie62]

That had to be a video game..

[Edgy MD]

The version I'm playing isn't much for visuals.