First Base, 2014

[Edgy MD]

Ashie62 wrote: I'm not sure if her sneakers are trendy or just shot...

She laces them top to bottom. Is that even LEGAL in Texas?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: There seems to be some buzz that the Pirates and/or Orioles may have revived their earlier interest in Ike Davis.

Of course they have!

Ike will be traded! It'll be a coup for Mets!! Just wait!!

[Benjamin Grimm]

Terry says he's going to pick a first baseman and stick with him for a while. (He's not saying who yet; probably wants to talk to the players before he says anything to the press.)

So who will it be? Who do you hope it is?

I find myself thinking it will be Duda. I don't think I'm rooting for one or the other, but I am curious.

[Ceetar]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Terry says he's going to pick a first baseman and stick with him for a while. (He's not saying who yet; probably wants to talk to the players before he says anything to the press.) So who will it be? Who do you hope it is? I find myself thinking it will be Duda. I don't think I'm rooting for one or the other, but I am curious.

3 righties. It won't be Satin.

I think it'll be Ike, I hope it'll be Duda since he's the steady and good one and we need offense although that's relatively meaningless in 3-6 games (DH available after that for 3)

[Zvon]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Terry says he's going to pick a first baseman and stick with him for a while. (He's not saying who yet; probably wants to talk to the players before he says anything to the press.) So who will it be? Who do you hope it is? I find myself thinking it will be Duda. I don't think I'm rooting for one or the other, but I am curious.

Right or wrong, I dunno, but it'll be Duda.

[ashie62]

Doodah..

[Edgy MD]

Reports have Lucas Doo designated as the firstbasey guy.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Edgy MD wrote: Reports have Lucas Doo designated as the firstbasey guy.

This whole thing continues to be weird though.

If they're willing to give one guy a shot, and they believe that guy is best-suited for the job, then why did that one sit on the bench for the first 2 days of the year? Still hurting? What?

And if you've made a decision, why be coy about it only to "leak" the info? I don't get the impression that Terry is particularly savvy but a manager going on the record to make a declaration like that, with every beat guy subsequently crediting "a source with direct knowledge" identifying Doodoo, sounds like Terry nodded his head 'yes' when a crowd of reporters guessed the right starter.

Ike Davis should be traded for a relief pitcher, and/or a prospect to replace the ones we need to call up, or as part of a Big Deal for relief pitchers and shortstops like we've been waiting for since last summer.

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Reports have Lucas Doo designated as the firstbasey guy. This whole thing continues to be weird though. If they're willing to give one guy a shot, and they believe that guy is best-suited for the job, then why did that one sit on the bench for the first 2 days of the year? Still hurting? What? And if you've made a decision, why be coy about it only to "leak" the info? I don't get the impression that Terry is particularly savvy but a manager going on the record to make a declaration like that, with every beat guy subsequently crediting "a source with direct knowledge" identifying Doodoo, sounds like Terry nodded his head 'yes' when a crowd of reporters guessed the right starter. Ike Davis should be traded for a relief pitcher, and/or a prospect to replace the ones we need to call up, or as part of a Big Deal for relief pitchers and shortstops like we've been waiting for since last summer.

I suspect a lot of it was "getting everybody in" There's presumably some value to that, and even if not there's an old-school train of thought to it. Now we're at a string of righties so you presumably pick a first baseman and go with it.

But it should be Ike. Particularly if you want to trade one of them. We know what Duda is. We know he's an above average offense player who's flawed defensively but can probably hold down 1B well enough. Maybe he hits a little better this year than last, but it's not likely to be significant.

But Ike? Ike's the wild card. he's been up and down. he was up last but got hurt and made the whole year look bad. So why not play that guy, hope for a hot streak, and then try to sell high, or sell as 'fixed'? I don't think his value can really drop if he were to play badly for a couple of weeks. Perhaps even if he plays badly, someone else will see something they think they can fix, like how you might buy a house with leaky pipes if you're a plumber.

[Edgy MD]

Why make a decision at all? What new data suggests that anybody has won? Mix and match until somebody actually excels beyond the others.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Why make a decision at all? What new data suggests that anybody has won? Mix and match until somebody actually excels beyond the others.

In 6 games we've got 3 with a DH. I'd wager it'll be 4 Duda, 1 Ike, 1 Satin up until then.

[Edgy MD]

All the more reason not to designate Duda as your firstbasey guy.

[Benjamin Grimm]

My guess is that is Terry is making a decision it's more for psychological than on-the-field reasons. He may be feeling that the uncertainty of who is going to be in the lineup on any given day is harming both Duda and Davis, and he wants to end that uncertainty as best he can.

That's my guess, anyway.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: All the more reason not to designate Duda as your firstbasey guy.

yes, but giving a tangible answers makes the reporters get up and walk away and you can go back to doing your real job.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Why make a decision at all? What new data suggests that anybody has won? Mix and match until somebody actually excels beyond the others.

But you have to decide on how to mix and match. Sounds as though a decision has been made to give Doodoo a shot for a certain unspecified period of time.

We're not in the clubhouse to know for sure but I get a strong impression that these kinds of situations tend not to come up too often because it's just not how ballplayers are wired and baseball works. We see the same in bullpen management: It's clear that the closer/set-up/specialist/long man designations aren't always ideal but they provide guys with specific roles to fill so when they're asked to do that job they understand what their role is.

[metirish]

Certainly Ron Darling doesn't agree with how this is being handled, during the game he said that a decision should have been made before the season, play that guy for whatever specified amount of time etc. I guess like mentioned above players are wired that way.

[Edgy MD]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Why make a decision at all? What new data suggests that anybody has won? Mix and match until somebody actually excels beyond the others. But you have to decide on how to mix and match. Sounds as though a decision has been made to give Doodoo a shot for a certain unspecified period of time.

Sure, you have to make a decision. I just wouldn't go making such an announcement. Creates more drama if things swing in another direction.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy MD wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Why make a decision at all? What new data suggests that anybody has won? Mix and match until somebody actually excels beyond the others. But you have to decide on how to mix and match. Sounds as though a decision has been made to give Doodoo a shot for a certain unspecified period of time. Sure, you have to make a decision. I just wouldn't go making such an announcement. Creates more drama if things swing in another direction.

It'd come out anyway, even if Collins didn't make a public disclosure. Ike and Looook would hafta know. And then it ain't no secret anymore. In NY, Terry's decision would eventually end up in some writer's smartphone. I wanted to say notepad but that's old fashioned, right?

[Edgy MD]

I don't know that they have to be told anything. You want to see if you're the firstbaseman? Check the lineup card. If Duda gets the call three days in a row, Duda, Davis, the press, you, and me, will know Terry's made something of a commitment.

When they ask if this means Duda is the 2014 firstbaseman, he can give one of those maddeingingly thoughtfully-engaging-but-empty Alderson answers. "You may see more Lucas going forward. That's a definite possibility. Things could shake out any number of ways depending on a lot of variables. Lucas starting there regularly... yes, I would say that's one of the more likely outcomes. One of several. But a lot things are unknown at this juncture and it behooves us all to be humble."

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I just don't believe -- and don't believe that managers and players believe -- that not knowing your role till you look at the lineup card each night is compatible with disposition required of being a professional baseball player, particularly when you are with your first organization and "in your prime." Oftentimes, the transition from ascended prospect to reserve accompanies a change in employers.

[Edgy MD]

That was pretty good. You refuted my point and made it sound like Alderson also.

I applaud.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy MD wrote: I don't know that they have to be told anything. You want to see if you're the firstbaseman? Check the lineup card.

I feel the same way, but as JCL says, the modern ballplayer doesn't function well that way. As we've seen with the bullpen usage, players need to "know their role" more than in the past.

[Lefty Specialist]

"Ike Davis, your role is to sit your ass on the bench."

Done.

[Frayed Knot]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I don't know that they have to be told anything. You want to see if you're the firstbaseman? Check the lineup card. I feel the same way, but as JCL says, the modern ballplayer doesn't function well that way.

And also the manager doesn't want his starter--even if that starter is starter in name only and is hardly etched in stone for the future--to be thinking that he's going to lose his job on account of a bad game or two. Even saying "you're the starter until I say otherwise" sounds a little less dicey to one's ears even if it actually isn't.

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: And also the manager doesn't want his starter--even if that starter is starter in name only and is hardly etched in stone for the future--to be thinking that he's going to lose his job on account of a bad game or two. Even saying "you're the starter until I say otherwise" sounds a little less dicey to one's ears even if it actually isn't.

And conversely, you don't want him getting all pissy if he thinks he played well but the manager goes with a different guy for whatever reason the next day.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Lefty Specialist wrote: "Ike Davis, your role is to sit your ass on the bench."

"and think about your favorite restaurants in Pittsburgh."

[ashie62]

Would this mean Ike heads to the minors again?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: "Ike Davis, your role is to sit your ass on the bench." "and think about your favorite restaurants in Pittsburgh."

Can you blame Ike for being upset at this treatment? Such a waste.

I mean, everything tastes the same after three Jager bombs.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Lololollo

[nymr83]

How dare you doubt Collins???