Davis-Duda, revisited

[Benjamin Grimm]

Following up on a thread from October 2012... (Davis-Duda: This Time It's Personal)

Scouts divided on Davis or Duda in '14 NEW YORK -- If you were the Mets, and you planned to only retain one, would you rather Ike Davis or Lucas Duda as your 2014 first baseman? That was the question posed to a handful of scouts. The initial responses had Duda with a 4-2 lead. Scout 1: "Duda. Ike has not shown the ability to make adjustments with his batting stance or overall approach. Duda at first base has improved, and he looks more relaxed." Scout 2: "Tough call. I'm not thrilled with either, but would probably take Davis, because of the power potential and defense at first base." Scout 3: "Duda. He is better project than Ike." Scout 4: "Ike Davis. He has hit 30-plus homers in the major leagues and is much better defensively." Scout 5: "For me it would be Duda. At least in New York City. He appears to be less maintenance with similar power and offensive capabilities and less strikeouts." Scout 6: "Duda. If I need a hit late in the game with a runner on second or third, Duda will go to left field if they pitch him away. The other guy won't." Certain Mets officials have strong leanings as to their preference, but the organization is likely to shop both this offseason and see who may command the superior package that would fill another hole. That said, because Duda has an option, if neither is traded, Duda could open the season with Triple-A Las Vegas.

Last October I was solidly for Davis. That's no longer the case. If it's an either/or, I'd reluctantly go with Duda. But I hope the answer turns out to be someone else entirely.

[metirish]

Another.....or Duda I guess....

[Edgy MD]

As usual, I don't see how or why Duda has an option year and Davis doesn't. I've seen other sources claiming Davis has an option year and at least one claiming he has two (?!).

[metirish]

Options?, here's an option for Ike, start hitting or hit the road jack....

[smg58]

I thought Ike did a number of things right after he came back. He certainly did a much better job of forcing the pitchers to pitch him in the zone if they didn't want to walk him, and I'm sure it will eventually translate into home runs more than it did over that stretch. At any rate he was a tough out, which Duda is not right now.

[ashie62]

They both suck but Duda costs less...bye bye Ike..

[Edgy MD]

I don't think it's going to be quite that simple.

[Zvon]

Both of em worry me. I don't like to worry any more than I have to watching the Mets. Davis worries me the least if I can be okay with the fact he may have reached his career peak already, which would be rather sad. Duda's gotta be a first baseman somewhere tho. That's all he's good for on the field. If they just pick one, move the other, I'll hope for the best. If they move em both I'm sure we'll get back needed pieces. If not another 1st baseman than Muffy can always play 1st. I wanna say just make up your mind but there really is no rush.

[Ceetar]

It's tricky of course. Davis clearly has higher highs and lower lows. He also has more power, and adds value defensively. The way the Mets are right now, I'd think you'd want to find a way to play both, since you otherwise have like two hitters. Maybe three if d'Arnaud blossoms.

So I'd say it depends on what you get to fill the other offense. If you get some really solid hitters that aren't as power-oriented, maybe you keep Davis for the home run stuff, but if you get a masher, maybe you focus more on Duda's steadier consistency and safer OBP.

[ashie62]

Davis for the HR stuff? Where?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Me, I'd like to see the Mets move on from both of these guys.

Disagreeing with NY Mets' preference of Lucas Duda over Ike Davis BY Andy Martino ORLANDO -- It is not easy to argue that Ike Davis should be the Mets� first baseman of the future, not after last season, and the first half of 2012. But when the alternative is Lucas Duda, our opinion is subjective, intangible, unquantifiable, but firm -- trading Davis and anointing Duda would be a mistake. Here is a view cultivated from spending significant time around the Mets, for the entirety of Davis and Duda�s careers: Maybe neither player will develop into a star, but Davis is the only one with a chance. It is too soon to give up on a man who hit 32 home runs just one year ago. The Mets disagree. On Monday, two sources with direct knowledge of the team�s thinking told the News that the club would rather trade Davis than Duda. In fact, they are already working to do so, having engaged at least the Milwaukee Brewers. A person involved in those talks said that a deal was unlikely. The Brewers would rather sign a free agent, perhaps their own Corey Hart, than trade for a first baseman, and are unlikely to trade outfielder Norichika Aoki. Beyond the Brewers, the Mets have identified five or six teams that could be fits for Davis. Club officials would not reveal more than that, but a logical list would include Pittsburgh, Colorado and Tampa Bay. Although the team is also listening on Duda, there seems to be momentum toward a Davis trade, and I would be surprised if the 2008 first-round draft pick is a Met when spring training begins. Team officials feel genuine affection for Davis as a person, and insist they are making this decision on baseball criteria alone. They simply believe that two points make it more logical to trade Davis than Duda: He can net a better return, and he might benefit from a new set of circumstances, in a new city. Both points are probably true. People who know Davis well, when speaking candidly, concede that he might be better off starting over elsewhere. I still think he is a better bet for the Mets than Duda. Here�s why: After parts of four seasons in the majors, he still acknowledges dealing with anxiety that undermines him during games, specifically while hitting with runners on base. Duda deserves credit for his openness about this, and it would be cruel to mock or judge him -- in evaluating his baseball potential, though, Duda�s unrelenting nerves must be weighed. I made this point to Mets people, genuinely interested in hearing the counter-argument, and being convinced otherwise. They said that Duda has never been given the time and space to become comfortable, shuffling between Triple-A and the minor leagues, outfield and first base. �I could give you a long list of guys who took four or five years to realize their potential,� one Mets official said, noting that Duda might have been asked unfairly to be a middle-of-the-order bat before he was ready. So the arguments for Duda are that he has plate discipline to please Sandy Alderson, power potential, and has never been given a chance to settle in and become comfortable. There is logic there. But there is also the success that Davis has already enjoyed for the Mets, and the ceiling and talent that made him a top prospect and big-league power threat. This is not an enviable choice, but to me, it�s a clear one. The Mets beg to differ.

[MFS62]

Davis is a trading chip; Duda is a cow chip.
I wanted them both to succeed with the Mets.
If that can't happen, move on.

Later

[Ceetar]

Duda isn't a more ego than brains and not a drop of self-doubt typical jock, therefore he can't cut it.

[Centerfield]

Someone needs to toughen up Duda. I know this guy Richie's who not doing much these days...

[Lefty Specialist]

What's really needed are two trap doors for them to stand on.

[Vic Sage]

in a choice between Davis and Duda, i take Satin, bring up Dykstra to platoon with him, then wait for Dom Smith and/or Jayce Boyd to arrive.
Then use the money saved to go towards acquiring an OFer and a SS.

[Edgy MD]

I'm scout 4, God help me.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I guess I'm Scout 2.

[Edgy MD]

We're similar cats, different only in degree. I might be drifting toward 2.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Emily is like scout 1, 3 and 6

@ohshititsemalee twinzies

[Edgy MD]

"Duda. He is better project than Ike." That's some way to make a decision.

My confusion over this comment may be what swung me to Davis.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I think I'm Scout 1, with the Davis-as-trade-chip thing mixed in there.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Jon Heyman wrote: ORLANDO, Fla. -- There appears to be decent trade interest in Ike Davis despite his awful 2013 season. The Astros, Orioles, Rays, Brewers and Rockies all have checked in as the Mets field offers. Milwaukee may prefer re-signing its own guy Corey Hart, however. The Mets appear set to go with Lucas Duda after Davis' second straight season hurt by a slow start. Davis recovered in 2012 to hit 30 home runs, and though he hit much better in the second half last season, he still finished with a .205 batting average, only nine home runs and 33 RBI. Duda did well after switching from the outfield last season. He also has a decent track record for on-base percentage. The Mets also have Josh Satin, who did a nice job in 2013.

[Edgy MD]

My eyes are going. Whenever this thread pops up, I see "Davis-Duda, arrested."

[Vic Sage]

well, they both suck, but that's only illegal in a few states nowadays.

[Guest vtmet]

Ike...I'm with scouts 2 and 4...Ike may be flawed, but he still gives you power/defense...Duda just takes pitches and takes up space...

Has scout 5 actually watched Duda? Runners on 2nd and 3rd with first base open; Duda's goal is to draw a walk...

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Ike's ISO last year (career): .129 (.192)
Duda's ISO last year (career): .192 (.178)

Duda does okay, power-wise.