Memories of Matt den Dekker

[Edgy MD]

Parts of two seasons as a ball-hawking specialist the Mets never really found a need for.

He could have been more and may well end up being more.

I always thought he looked like an angel. Kind of a sad angel.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'll remember him as part of that glorious era when the Mets had three players whose name started with a lower-case "d".

[Frayed Knot]

The problem with MdD is that he was being groomed as a defensive specialist -- but then was surpassed in that role by someone from within.
And then he was touted as a power prospect -- but to minimize the hit-and-miss aspect of his offense he cut down on the swing which helped negate the strikeouts but totally killed his power: only 1 ML HR in >200 ABs and even in Vegas had only 8 (in Vegas!!) over 300 ABs
And then he was surpassed, again from within, for the LH-hitting 4th OF role ... and by another Dutchman no less!! That's some cruel Orange on Orange crime.

Things might have turned out differently for him had he not broken his (wrist?) in ST a few years back ... but he did. And he's not young enough (28 later this season) to survive that kind of setback.
I suspect he still has a decent run in him somewhere down the line, but I'd bet against him topping 400 ABs in any one season unless maybe he latches on some year to a bottom feeding team.

Edited March 30, 2015 by Guest

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yeah, that's my sense of him. A reserve player on a good team or a starter on a bad team. Either way, I wouldn't be surprised if he has another five or six years in the big leagues ahead of him.

[Guest themetfairy]

It's always nice watching players as they go from being B-Mets to being Mets. Good glove and nice hustle, but not a currently needed piece of the puzzle.

Good luck to one of the Little d's.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Frees up No. 6 for another go. I predict Danny Muno (or possibly Reynolds) is wearing it a week from today

[Ceetar]

beat him in Words with Friends in 2011.

[Edgy MD]

themetfairy wrote:

Little d vs. the little a's here.

How strange to see a lower-case a on the hats and a capital A on the helmet.

[G-Fafif]

Got to meet MdD on the final Friday night last September. He was the random player Jay Horwitz grabbed for the handful of bloggers on premises. Nice kid, I thought. Not a lot of remarkable insights. Said he needed an adjustment period from the minors to the majors, was looking forward to finishing strong, confirmed it was a long season. I asked him about Bobby Abreu since he had just announced his retirement and he talked about admiring his attitude and confidence. Matt planned to take a few weeks off to heal and then get back to baseball activity soon. He looked forward to Spring Training.

Still think he's a nice kid. Hope he does well for himself if not the Nationals.

[Zvon]

Edgy MD wrote: I always thought he looked like an angel. Kind of a sad angel.

I thought he looked like an elf. A lonely little elf.


Yea, the wrist, cause I was high on him then. You guyz know I love the glove. But when the dust settled he was 3rd string in my book, behind Newy and Lags (in center). Never bought the overall hype & eventually thought more highly of Newy. Then Laggy kinda came out of nowhere and I forgot em both as far as CF is concerned.

Expendable, we take advantage to get a much needed lefty. I like.

Love watching him in the field.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

My boy. Stay fresh and true to yourself, you sticky-gloved, wall-crawling Keebler Elf.

[Edgy MD]

A lonely elf as a collegian, maybe. A sad angel as a Met.

[fimg=500:138x0ybu]http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Matt+den+Dekker+New+York+Mets+Photo+Day+lHmWcFHpwOil.jpg[/fimg:138x0ybu]

[MFS62]

I remember he made several highlight reel catches.
Nothing specific, though.

Later