The Mets traded the wrong guy. Ike Davis clearly needed that change of scenery, but I mean, what else could the Mets even do after the way they kept having it become public information about their eagerness to trade the former No. 29? Heck, even Ike's dad made some remarks about how they were treating it. To protect themselves, he had to be traded. And it just seems like, maybe, the wrong choice might have been made.
Lucas Duda is the guy that looks like a power hitter, but isn't. He hits (sometimes) but I mean, you can't blame the Citi Field dimensions for his lack of power and consistency. No, that's silly. I mean, the players aren't just bad at home, they're bad on the road. Yeah, they might have better overall success away from Queens, but I mean it's like they swap places with an All-Star group when they travel away from the mansion in Corona Park. Yeah, Ike even struck out in a big-time spot in Tuesday night's game, but it really just seems like, even if they both aren't the "future All-Star first baseman protege" the organization is looking for, at least there was something distinguished that seemed to be there, offensively and defensively, from Davis. Of course, we weren't around the team on the inside, so there are specifics we'll never be able to figure out, but from what leaked out, it didn't look good. Maybe its because the PR director is like 83 years old, but then again, isn't he more of a "celebrity figure" anyway?
Nevertheless, now Eric Campbell, who was hitting "the cover off the baseball" down in Triple-A, and playing a variety of different positions, has been up here for a few weeks, and right now he's joined the bench with whoever seems to be on their that day, because even Abreu has been getting starts in the outfield lately (but then again, there was an injury sustained to Eric Young). So, how promising does Eric Campbell's future look? Well maybe it'll help him out now because the man to help bring him through the system is at the major league level now, in new hitting coach Lamar Johnson. Lamar, if you didn't know, has spent the last several seasons as the Mets' minor-league hitting coordinator, and just before his hire was still assisting the young offensive talent down in extended spring training. Johnson has been a hitting coach prior to his new gig, and also had a nine-year MLB career, playing, for the most part, at first base for the White Sox.
Is there something "electric" from Campbell that can be developed? I say, stop putting him in the outfield where's he's not as comfortable, because if you have a poor first baseman, why test someone at another position to get their bat in the lineup when you already have a "dead bat" in Duda already? Of course, it is up for discussion how much of a skill-set he has, but can you really waste the talent in Duda? The Mets faced a similar problem several years ago when Ike Davis was coming through the system, and Murphy had recently made his debut, and was actually being moved from left field to first. But, there wasn't really "a strong, permanent guy at second for a long time, so eventually Murphy grabbed the position. Of course, in 2012, Turner started primarily at 2B, but Murphy earned it back the year later. And we all remember the Ike Davis over-the-dugout-railing web-gems that became a common occurrence at Met games. It was a fun ride, but over time he just settled down (but didn't Duda play the outfield too? Yeah, that's right). So we begin another tough chapter for Mets baseball; what will they do? Personally, I think Campbell is more than a pinch-hitter, and it became evident in his times getting in the lineup over the last stretch here.
Bad timing for the article with Duda coming off a 3-9, two HR series that saw Ike Davis go hitless, striking out and hitting into a DP at key moments. But I digress...
ReplyDeleteCampbell should be given the majority of the OF starts during EY's injury and then shift to 1B for CY in LF against lefties. That way they can get an idea of what he's capable of doing. However, it is Terry Collins' MO to bury rookies on the bench, so this maneuver should come as no surprise.
Reese -
ReplyDeleteI'm going to find it very interesting to see how TC runs the field now. Remember, he doesn't decide who starts but he can change things from there.
I've always been a proponent of playing someone to determine their value... thus, using that premise, I would play Chris Young and Lucas Duda every day to see if they can hack it.
The problem is I already know the answer here. Duda is, at best, a platoon player with a recently developed bad glove, and Young is simply awful.
There's no one in the pipeline, double-decker isn't the answer... I really don't know where to go here.
A lot of people rightfully take potshots at Duda but the man is leading the club in HRs and on pace to hit about 25 and drive in about 75. It's not Paul Goldschmitt territory, for sure, but it's better than we'll get out of either of the Youngs. I think the issue is outfield and SS (particularly since TC reverted to his Tejada infatuation at the expense of Wilmer Flores).
ReplyDeleteMy brother Steve, who I have told about this blog site and is showing curiosity about it, reminded me that Duda's critical RBIs are rare. His stats not only don't look inflated, but they are inflated - by non-critical hits and RBIs.
ReplyDeleteIke, on the other hand, crushed the last two seasons early, with absurdly bad April-June #s. Hope went away (as did game attendees) in large part due to his utter early-season ineptitude. So how is 2014 going, Ike. Not as well as one might think at first blush. A guy in Ike's spot is a guy in a run-producing slot. Ike has 8 RBIs in 2 swings of the bat (his 2 slams). In the other 150, this dude in the middle order has (if you are a fan of the #8, you guessed it) 8 RBIs. That is another utter failure, and I do not care what his current batting average is.
Actors get short auditions - in or out. C Young has had his audition 50 games into this season, a much longer audition. Next actor, please! Campbell hit great in AAA, with a high on base and low K rate, just as he did in the spring. His last two months of 2013 in AAA, his on base % was an awesome .490. Is he Mike Trout? No. Who is. Does he warrant a long audition - yes, yes, yes.
Duda has showed signs of promise - but never breaks through. Maybe 2 HRs in the past 3 games are a sign of a real break through. Likely not, unless he changes his whole patience approach and gets aggressive from pitch one. I keep mentioning a few AAAA alternatives - Dykstra and Andrew Brown. Dykstra never up to the Big Show, Brown the subpar performer with sporadic major league at bats. AAA is easier - but they combined have 268 official plate appearances, SEVENTY RBI'S, many of which are likely important ones, a .450 on base %, and 48 extra base hits. Heavily discount those #'s to take into account tougher hitting conditions, and far tougher pitchers, and either might be an upgrade over unimportant-RBI Duda.
My take? Campbell every day instead of Young (let Dekker start a few); trade Young for a bag of chips; give Duda a few more weeks, and if no breakthrough, replace him with one of the Vegas Bash Brothers. Let the auditions begin.
And EY Jr? He'd have been a fine team member in the 1960's when you carried two more position players and 2 less pitchers on your roster. Pinch runner extraordinaire, spot starter. On this team, though, it is harder to justify him staying.
Unless/until opposing pitchers can begin to figure him out, I would permanently start Campbell (1B, OF, ss, whatever) against ALL opposing lefties for the rest of the year. ....
ReplyDeleteGuys,
ReplyDeleteCome on now. Mack has this right. Bottom line is that Duda is a platoon player at best. Man on second and third and we're down by late in the game. You want to Duda up in that situation? The mans strikes out when the team needs a big hit. Period..