]but he will hit for average and drive in 60 -70 runs hitting in the #6 or #7 slot in the lineup...which is something that Castro or Piazza could not do next year in the same spot. So, yes, he is an upgrade over what the Mets had last year and what they were going to get next year had they signed nobody. are you actually claiming LoDuca is a better hitter than Piazza, even now? Piazza's OPS+ ('03-'05) 124, 108, 103 Loduca's OPS+ ('03-'05) 92, 99, 92 Castro's OPS+ is 80 career and was 97 last year, (it was insanely high in '03 and insanely low in '04 thanks to small sample sizes.) Piazza is still clearly the better hitter and i'm not sold that LoDuca is some kind of upgrade as a fielder either. as for batting LoDuca second, anyone who tries that should be fired. he has OBPs in the .330's each of the last 3 years, the idea is to get the hell on base for Delgado, Wright, and Floyd, not to bunt Reyes over to 2nd (especially when he can get there on his own.)