batmagadanleadoff

Mets may place innings limit on Matt Harvey By Noah Jarosh on Jun 29 2013, 11:05am Harvey has been one of the best pitchers in MLB since being called up in July 2012, but the Mets may have to keep an eye on his workload. With the team well out of contention, the New York Mets may place an innings limit on young starter Matt Harvey this season, reports the New York Post. "As I said, we�ve got to start being careful here. [Harvey] has thrown a lot of pitches and a lot of games and gotten us deep into a lot of games. We�ve got to be careful that we don�t just let him loose and overuse him.�� New York first called up Harvey in late July of 2012. Since then, the right-hander has been a full-time member of the rotation. He has also been their best starter over that span, with a 2.25 career ERA over his first 27 starts. This season, he leads the NL in ERA (2.00), WHIP (0.855) and strikeouts (132). Harvey has also already thrown 117 innings in 2013, tied for the fourth most in MLB. The man he is tied with, CC Sabathia, is well-known as being a workhorse who can eat up a lot of innings. Harvey, on the other hand, is poised to be the Mets ace for years to come. The Mets currently stand at 32-44, fourth in the NL East. With a postseason bid growing more unlikely by the day, New York will want to save Harvey's arm for when they do compete. http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/6/29/4477238/matt-harvey-innings-limit-new-york-mets

You don't really expect me to stick around to watch Aardsma pitch, do you?

Byrd Shit Redux. You�re Going To Miss Marlon Byrd When He�s Gone 28 June 2013, 10:42 am by Howard Megdal Seriously, what were the odds I was going to need that headline. 15-1? 150-1? Marlon Byrd entered 2013 as a 35-year-old outfielder who posted an OPS+ of 32 in 2012, then got busted for using performance enhancing drugs. In other words: that 32 OPS+ was artificially inflated. But after last night�s heroics, the go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth, the perfect throw to cut down the would-be tying run in the ninth, Marlon Byrd is hitting .260/.312/.495, good for a 122 OPS+. That�s good for seventh-best among major league right fielders. And even the defense, per ultimate zone rating, grades out as slightly above average. Here were Byrd�s inspired words after Thursday night�s win: �We didn�t come here to [have] a 100-loss season. We didn�t come here to just play for 4th place, 3rd place. We came here to win.� Which, you know, good for him. Center field may be a wasteland. Lucas Duda proved he can�t play the outfield sufficiently well to carry his bat, again. But Byrd in right field has worked out nicely. The question is whether the Mets learned from their odd decision not to trade Scott Hairston last summer. Hairston had an awfully similar 2012 to Byrd, with a slugging-heavy 118 OPS+. For some reason, Sandy Alderson refused to deal Hairston unless receiving a team�s �top-three prospect� in return, which, no. But the Mets are hardly overstocked with so much talent, particularly at the upper levels of the farm system, that more couldn�t have helped. Hairston�s contributions in August/September 2012 weren�t sufficient to justify not flipping him for anything, including a lottery pick like an A-ball pitcher, etc. The same is true of Byrd, of course, who is only signed through this year, whose power totals are inflated by an unsustainable 18.3% home run rate on fly balls, and whose previous 1,864 plate appearances of 97 OPS+ hitting from 2010-2012 are likely more predictive than the .881 OPS he�s put up in 156 plate appearances since May 1. Other teams know this, too, but could hope to catch lightning in a bottle and add some hitting down the stretch. Whatever is the best deal to be had for Byrd, the Mets ought to make it. And then, the offensive downgrade will be pretty steep in August and September. But doing things like giving regular at-bats to Kirk Nieuwenhuis, for instance, makes more sense when planning for 2014 anyway. Still: you�re going to miss Marlon Byrd when he�s gone. And who thought that was even possible back in March? http://mets.lohudblogs.com/2013/06/28/youre-going-to-miss-marlon-byrd-when-hes-gone/

Edgy MD wrote: Jon Olerud, half asleep in footie pajamas, was better than Don Mattingly. Sometimes, I think that John Olerud is one of baseball's most underrated players. And that's saying something, because he's regarded, rightfully so, as a star. But however good they say he is, or was, he was even better.

Edgy MD wrote: Sereiously, a division full of terrible teams where everybody's around .500 looks a lot like a division full of great teams where everybody's around .500. Sure, one can feast on those 72 extra-divisional games, but in general, t's hard to tell the difference. This is a great point, and one I always raise when I try to rewrite the legacy of the '73 Mets in my personal sphere of influence. Still, the theory does, unfortunately, have its weaknesses. I mean, it ain't easy arguing that the '73 Expos or Phillies were contenders.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: If this isn't 73 all over again I don't know what. I think that the '73 Mets get shortchanged. They seem to be regarded as a fluky team in a weak division. But the '73 Mets had the best pitching in all of baseball that season and that has to count for a lot. They might not have been an imposing offensive team but they had the pitching equivalent of Bench, Rose and Morgan. They were extremely banged up, but when more or less healthy at the end of the season, they were unstoppable.

G-Fafif wrote: The National League East standings from May 26 through June 27: New York 15-14 Miami 14-14 Atlanta 15-16 Washington 14-15 Philadelphia 14-17 This is an incredible stat. What possessed you to even think about this so that you could then calculate it?

Vic Sage wrote: what exactly has Tejada ever done, minors or majors, to earn the right for the manager to hold his position open for him? In the majors, over 1336 plate appearances (not a small sample size), he's put up a .326/.321 ops/slg line, with an 81 OPS+ to date. His punchless, speedless offense is matched by his sparkless, disinterested defense, which was further marred this season by numerous episodes of baseball stupidity. In the minors, his numbers were slightly better, as you'd expect, but not much. Over 1900 plate appearances, his line went all the way up to .337 / .351. Now he's still young of course, but all that indicates is that one day, if he works hard and stays in shape, he has the opportunity to be older. I don't see an abundance of raw talent here that screams "long-term answer at SS" such that i'd play him over the adequate backup who is making all the plays on defense and is currently having a better season offensively, putting up numbers that, as underwhelming as they are, are still better than Tejada's career numbers to date. If he gets hot and Omar falls off a cliff, then fine. But like Terry said, Ruben has got to earn it. He's done nothing to do that so far in his career. Am in total agreement and was going to post to this effect, but you beat me to it. And saying that Tejada is better than Q is like saying that Charlie Puleo is better than John Pacella. The fuss over Ruben Tejada perplexes me. I mean, he might turn out alright but you read some of his press, and you could think that he might be the next Ozzie Smith, though thankfully, he's not anywhere near as overhyped as Rey O was.

Citi Field All Star Menu unveiled! By Rob Castellano on Jun 27 2013, 12:00p ? @_robcast The Mets held a media event on Wednesday to unveil their specially-crafted All Star game menu...and I was lucky enough to be in attendance. If you haven�t noticed, the Mets are pretty excited about hosting this year�s All Star Game. From patches on their uniforms, to commemorative bobblehead giveaways, to more than a couple of commercials on SNY, they�re pretty much putting on the full-court press. So naturally as part of their all-encompassing build-up to July�s festivities, the Mets have revamped the culinary experience at Citi Field as well. To be precise, it�s not as much a revamp as it is a shot in the arm for an already excellent example of ballpark fare. In short, Aramark and the executive chef at the stadium, Robert Flowers, have worked to supplement the existing options with dozens more interesting offerings. Beyond just creating a number of new dishes/sandwiches/snacks, they�ve also reached out to several restaurants and caterers from all five boroughs to help create a menu in the image of New York City. As you can probably tell, I was genuinely impressed with their efforts. First and foremost, the sheer volume of different options that they�re going to be churning out is astounding. Including the items on their regular menu, there will be somewhere around 50 different options for diners at the ballpark that day. If big numbers don�t impress you, the quality most definitely will. Most of us know from past endeavors that from day one Citi Field has raised the bar when it comes to eating out at the ballgame. In that respect, they�ve outdone themselves almost without exception. My strategy going into each of these culinary events has been and will always be to try everything � in order to best inform you, the reader, of course. However, with the sheer number of options, I must say that I didn�t quite hit that lofty goal (though, let's just say I had more than my fair share). Instead, I�ve included photo-documentation of nearly everything on display at yesterday�s event while relaying a handful of my favorites -- in no particular order -- from the gastrointestinal carnage that ensued. The All-Star Meatball Hero This limited edition sandwich -- yes, it's a limited edition sandwich -- was the star of the show as the recipe comes from the family of the executive chef of Citi Field -- a recipe which purportedly dates back three hundred years. The meatballs themselves are a blend of ground beef, pork, and veal, simmered in red sauce for three hours. They�re served with buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil on a crisp sesame roll. Nothing too tricky here, just a damn, damn good meatball sandwich. Although I must say, I�ve never been one to call tomato sauce �gravy� � I suppose I�m just not Italian enough. This offering will be available at the Section 138 concessions outlet. Mama's of Corona Italian Special Hero An oldie, but a goodie. Mama�s of Corona is a classic option, long before Mets fans knew the words Blue Smoke. Mama�s was one of the few specialty purveyors back in the non-descript days of Shea, and they�re still going strong. The Italian Special Hero features pepper ham, salami, sliced fresh mozzarella, topped with mushrooms and peppers on a fresh sesame, roll. The amount of options may be growing but this sandwich always seems to find itself at the top of my list. This offering will be available at the Section 104 concessions outlet. Trio Mac & Cheeses The trio was made up of a Pancetta-Mac, Lobster-Mac, and a Three-Cheese option. My only qualm was that the extreme creaminess factor, especially with the three-cheese, might not necessarily lend itself to a hot, summer day in the ballpark. That being said, this is more of a formal, sit-down option anyway � as opposed to eating it in the comfort of your seat � and in that regard it�s spectacular. This offering will be available in the Citi Field suites. Catch of the Day Lobster Roll The Catch of the Day Lobster Roll is notorious for its lofty price � usually around $14 for a single roll. However, if you can stomach the price tag, the Lobster Roll itself is a thing of beauty. Fresh, poached Maine lobster salad on a split served on a toasted, split-top bun, this is pretty much the epitome of a classic, delicious New England lobster roll. This offering will be available at the Section 102 concessions outlet. Major League Grilled Cheese With the culinary options at Citi Field getting more and more extravagant, I found myself more impressed by some of the simpler options � and this grilled cheese sandwich was a great example of a modest idea executed to perfection. It featured a trio of Swiss, Gouda, and Cheddar cheese, topped with a layer of crispy bacon on buttered white toast. The cheese-to-bread ratio was spot on, the bacon had just the right amount of crunch, and despite the lack of some of the bells and whistles of other offerings, one of the best sandwiches I ate all day. This offering will be available in the Caesars Club. Honorable Mention goes to the Raspberry Cheesecake Doughnuts (Acela Club), Daruma�s Sashimi (Section 104), Blue Smoke's Beef Brisket Slider (Section 139, and if you can stand the wait of course, Shake Shack's Shackburger (Section 139). For the rest of the myriad options available to fans at this year's All Star festivities, browse through the gallery below!

I'd check in here if only Harvey was pitching.

Marlon Byrd for a box of Gobstoppers. Oh, the tree-mendous lines that a pathetic team could inspire!

Grantland's Mets Trades Speculation, part of a larger piece on the NL East, including the link to the Cerrone piece above. NEW YORK METS Optimism abounds over Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler. David Wright is still very much a superstar, and the proverbial franchise player. Bobby Parnell has turned into one of the most effective and reliable closers in the league. After that � sadness. It's not just that the Mets have a wafer-thin collection of talent after their top few players. It's that as long as the Wilpons retain control of the team, questions will remain about their finances, and thus their ability and desire to spend real money on talent. SNY's Matthew Cerrone has speculated that GM Sandy Alderson could fly the coop when his contract expires after the 2014 season, unless his bosses start opening their wallets. In the meantime, the buzz is that the Mets could be aggressive buyers, not sellers at the deadline, despite their miserable record and slim-to-none playoff chances this year. Assuming the money men don't object (a big if), Alderson could go after established talent signed to big, long-term deals as a kind of poor man's version of last summer's Dodgers�Red Sox megadeal. It's an intriguing idea, especially when you consider the alternative: The Mets make every non-star on the roster available, and the end result is Marlon Byrd for a box of Gobstoppers. http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/66701/trade-deadline-preview-nl-east-edition

In this three week old article, Matthew Cerrone speculates that Mets GM Sandy Alderson will leave unless the Mets open up their pocketbook. Mets will be buyers, new names added to trade market June 4th, 2013 9:28 am Matthew Cerrone, Lead Writer Here is what I learned last week, after talking to national reporters, people in front offices and people close to the Mets� Sandy Alderson wants to significantly move this franchise forward in the next year or so. And, if it doesn�t happen, or if he isn�t allowed to spend a good portion of new money coming off the books because revenue is down again, he may very well choose to leave the team after his contract expires after 2014. He has a club option for 2015. Alderson was brought here to reboot the baseball operations side of the Mets during a time when he knew resources would be limited. The farm system is starting to take shape and roughly $50 million will come off the payroll at the end of this season. The way I understand it, he took this job knowing it would be difficult for a few years, but it would eventually be easier when money became more available. The plan was to use the first three years to save ownership money, strip things down and assess in-house talent. The next 12 months should be about putting together a legitimate contender, which will ultimately succeed either under his, or someone else�s, leadership. In other words, it has to start soon. These days, people with other teams have been telling me the Mets are very willing to trade a top pitching prospect, a big-league arm (think Bobby Parnell) and Wilmer Flores, for a young, under-contract hitter. They have talked with teams about Jon Niese over and over again during the last 18 months, and I think they�d consider moving Zack Wheeler in the right deal. No team can build an entire outfield in one winter, so I think Alderson knows he needs to make an acquisition this summer, regardless of the team�s record. The issue he has is that, as good as Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero have been, they�re still too unproven to build a deal around. The buzz on Syndergaard is growing, though, and I see no scenario where he and Wheeler get moved. The Mets have young pitching that interests other teams, especially if they�re willing to deal Parnell; and they have an opening in payroll after this season. Also, Alderson would prefer to trade for power now, then sign a light-weight leadoff hitter in the winter. So, no doubt, we�re going to hear and see trade rumors this summer connecting the Mets to Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez, Marlins OF Giancarlo Stanton, Dodgers OF Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, and Blue Jays OF Jose Bautista and 1B/3B Edwin Encarnacion. It sounds to me like Gonzalez can be had for the right price. The Dodgers will move Ethier, who is having a rough season, though they�re likely to keep Kemp. The Jays will listen to offers for Bautista and Encarnacion, but are far more likely to move these guys in the off season� if they�re going to move them at all. Stanton will cost a fortune, i.e., three or four of your best prospects, since he�s earning little money and pretty much every team (including the Mets) has asked about him. In reading the tea leaves, Ethier seems like the most likely of the group to end up in Queens, because Los Angeles will eat some of Ethier�s salary to get a better prospect in trade. The Mets really like Gonzalez, but lots of teams are interested and there is still no strong evidence Colorado is dead serious about dealing him. This past weekend was one of the more disappointing things I�ve seen from this team in quite some time. After sweeping the Yankees four games, with nine games against Nationals and Marlins and a Wheeler promotion on the horizon, I thought maybe they would give us at least a few weeks of fun. Instead, the Mets were swept and embarrassed by the last-place Marlins. Fans were not the only ones disappointed, though. I hear the front office was equally disturbed and frustrated. Hopefully it will motivate the front office to get started on what could end up being Alderson�s swan song. http://metsblog.com/metsblog/in-progress-cerrone-new-names-added-to-possible-of-market-at-trade-deadline/

Swan Swan H wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: Edgy MD wrote: On the other hand, nobody this side of Seaver and Gooden have given the Mets a decade as a front-of-the-rotation starter, so... adjust expectations accordingly. That's exactly what we're doing. At least me and Vic, anyways. I mean, my expectations for Zack Wheeler aren't the same as for Colin McHugh. More people than you think have reasonable expectations of this team and its players. What the rest of us don't do is forage for bad news and wave it like a flag. I don't comprendo. Are you saying that I should expect the same from McHugh as from Wheeler? As for my "foraging", believe me, I'd be thrilled to post a credible article characterizing Kirk Nieuwenhuis as a future MVP candidate. I'm just a messenger. Don't blame me for this team's problems.

Edgy MD wrote: On the other hand, nobody this side of Seaver and Gooden have given the Mets a decade as a front-of-the-rotation starter, so... adjust expectations accordingly. That's exactly what we're doing. At least me and Vic, anyways. I mean, my expectations for Zack Wheeler aren't the same as for Colin McHugh.

I was wondering this precise issue to myself a few days ago: Would the Mets alter their rotation to allow Harvey to start the Citi Field ASG if Harvey was otherwise scheduled to start the Sunday before the game? Mets may set it up for Harvey to get All-Star start By MIKE PUMA Last Updated: 3:20 AM, June 26, 2013 Posted: 2:16 AM, June 26, 2013 CHICAGO � If Matt Harvey is going to represent his franchise in the All-Star Game, potentially as the National League�s starting pitcher, the Mets might have to adjust their pitching plans. Pitching coach Dan Warthen told The Post yesterday Harvey is scheduled to pitch the Mets� final game before the All-Star break, on July 14 in Pittsburgh. If Harvey makes that start, it likely would remove him from consideration for starting the All-Star Game at Citi Field two nights later. But before the Mets lost 5-4 to the White Sox Tuesday night at U.S. Cellular Field, manager Terry Collins said Harvey�s schedule is something he isn�t too concerned about at this point. �That is [20] days away, a lot could change,� Collins said, referring to postponements that could alter the rotation. �But if he gets picked to start the game, I would think we would adjust it.� All-Star rosters are set to be unveiled on July 7, but the All-Star managers typically don�t announce their starting pitchers until the day before the game. That would put the Mets in the position of needing advance notice from NL manager Bruce Bochy if Harvey was going to receive the assignment. According to the collective bargaining agreement, a pitcher used on the Sunday before the break can�t pitch more than an inning in the All-Star Game. Typically, the starting pitcher goes at least two innings. �I haven�t talked to Bruce � I�m sure that�s the last thing on his mind right now,� Collins said. Harvey (7-1, 2.05 ERA) was told yesterday that his next turn in the rotation will come on Friday at Citi Field against the Nationals. He would then pitch July 3 at Citi Field against the Diamondbacks and July 8 in San Francisco before taking the ball in Pittsburgh on July 14. Collins� flexibility comes from a scheduled off day on July 11. Harvey is now scheduled to pitch on five days� rest on his final start before the break, but could be adjusted to pitch on normal rest on July 13 in Pittsburgh. That would give him two days� rest between pitching for the Mets and potentially in the All-Star Game. Though not ideal, it could be enough to let Harvey throw 30-40 pitches in the All-Star game. �I haven�t even thought about it,� Harvey said, referring to the Mets� rotation heading into the break. �I don�t even know what date the All-Star Game is. Obviously the biggest concern is pitching every fifth day here for the Mets. We need to win as many ballgames before the break as we can and whatever they decide I�ll be all for it, going out there to do everything I can.� The Dodgers� Clayton Kershaw, who is 5-5 with a 2.06 ERA, is Harvey�s primary competition for the start, but with the Mets hosting the game Harvey has to be considered the favorite. Harvey said he was glad to find out he will be pitching Friday on four days� rest this week instead of Saturday on five. He threw only 72 pitches in six shutout innings against the Phillies on Sunday. �Everything is feeling good, the mechanics are right where I want them,� Harvey said. �It was one of those where I didn�t really feel like I needed the extra day. Obviously I don�t make the decisions and they were going to discuss the situation [Monday] and let me know, so coming in today they told me it was Friday and I�m excited.� http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/mets_may_set_star_start_for_harvey_9KJqYHBcI4YrnORS31T7yO

51?s Ike Davis Named PCL Player of the Week

Benjamin Grimm wrote: He could have simply meant "less pathetic." If true, that would be pathetic.

Buy ESPN's upcoming Body Issue, and you'll get to see what supermodel Anne V sees most nights. Matt Harvey Nude: Mets Ace To Pose Naked For ESPN Body Issue By Raimundo Ortiz | Jun 25, 2013 01:53 PM EDT No word yet, on whether Anthony Recker will also be featured, Swannie, but I'll post a link if I come across anything. Matt Harvey, the 24-year-old New York Mets fireballing right-hander who owns Queens these days, will be posing nude in ESPN's newest "Body" issue which hits newsstands July 12th. Harvey has been perhaps the biggest story of the 2013 Major League Baseball season, posting a sparkling 7-1 record, 2.05 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 110 innings. He has been nicknamed The Dark Knight of Gotham, and along with another young starter by the name of Zack Wheeler, is giving Mets fans hope for the future in these bleak times. The MLB All-Star Game is being hosted by the Mets in Citi Field this year, and that could lend Harvey a hand in being named the starter if he maintains his torrid pace. He will surely garner a significantly greater female vote after they get a shot to gawk at his physique in July. Harvey isn't the first Met to bare all in ESPN's annual "Body" issue. In 2011, then-Mets shortstop Jose Reyes appeared in the magazine. Harvey's division-mate, Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton will join him in this risqu� edition. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will headline the NFL entrants in the issue along with his teammate, tight end Vernon Davis. Expect a heavy focus on Kaepernick's extensive body art, which has been previously featured elsewhere in both a positive and negative light. When asked about being in this special issue Kaepernick said, "Being selected by ESPN The Magazine for the Body Issue is an incredible honor. Thank you for believing in me, my 49ers family and my INK!" Perhaps the most surprising model for the "Body" issue is Gary Player, a 77-year-old golfer. The rest of the featured athletes are Kenneth Faried, John Wall, Courtney Force, Swin Cash, Carly Booth, John Isner, Sidney Leroux, Joffrey Lupul, Elena Hight, Agnieszka Radwanska, Chris Sharma and Daila Ojeda. http://www.sportsworldnews.com/articles/3259/20130625/matt-harvey-nude-mets-ace-pose-naked-espn-body-issue.htm

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Neyer takes [eff Wilpon] to task for the innocuous Magic Quote "It might be very different" with a "might" of his own, making the supposition that Fred literally meant "second place or first place" when in truth he has no idea.... I mean, this is lazy. What else could've eff meant? That the Mets would be in third place with a healthy Santana? That today, the Mets would be 33-39 instead of 30-42? It's fair game and logical to assume that eff W had to have meant that the Mets would be contending if things were different (i.e., in 1st or 2nd place). Either that or eff W has gone nuttier than ever.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: They have one great pitcher (Matt Harvey) and one great hitter (David Wright). The Mets' only other good hitters are 27-year-old, fielding-challenged Lucas Duda and 35-year-old Marlon Byrd. Agree with the big picture ... the premise. (No surprise) But Neyer left out Murphy, a good hitter, better even than Byrd. Well, this year? Murphy's wOBA/OPS+: .310/101 Byrd's wOBA/OPS+: .344/126 Byrd's getting on-base more and slugging MUCH more. That's how much I'm following this year's Mets. Still, I'd bet Murph over Byrd by season's end.

Another day. Another PCL homer for Ike. http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/70652/minors-6-24-13-goeddel-tosses-7-scoreless

Rob Neyer wrote: They have one great pitcher (Matt Harvey) and one great hitter (David Wright). The Mets' only other good hitters are 27-year-old, fielding-challenged Lucas Duda and 35-year-old Marlon Byrd. Agree with the big picture ... the premise. (No surprise) But Neyer left out Murphy, a good hitter, better even than Byrd.

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