I don’t know how to describe (the 7th inning). I’m sick of trying to describe 7th innings.
Another brutal loss for the Mets last night, and Collins sounded about at his wit’s end afterward — promising change but failing to provide specifics.
So here’s an idea, one that likely won’t change much but will at least shake things up a bit and give the club a bit of much-needed lefty power: How about get Lucas Duda on the team?
Duda went 3-for-3 with two home runs, a double and a pair of walks in Buffalo last night, so this might sound a bit reactive. But if you’ve been reading this blog with any regularity you know I’ve been on this for a while. Some might argue Duda should be playing every day somewhere since he’s young and presumably still developing. But Duda is 25 — hardly a baby — and now has 100 games’ worth of absolutely raking Triple-A pitching on his resume.
Collins can find Duda some at-bats at first base and, until someone figures out what has happened to Jason Bay, in left field. And since Duda may never turn out to be a Major League regular, it behooves the Mets to determine how he can succeed in part-time duty in the big leagues anyway.
Willie Harris has been on the team all season because, we assume, he hits left-handed and is a versatile defender. But Harris has a miserable .539 OPS against right-handed pitchers in 2011. Small samples still abound, of course, but it’s not like Harris’ career .688 mark in that split is enough to hang on to him with confidence he’ll start mashing right-handers soon.
Plus, though Harris’ versatility has come in handy these last few days with Jose Reyes out, the Mets have plenty of guys to play every position Harris handles. Justin Turner, Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans can play third. Ruben Tejada, Turner and Murphy can play second. Angel Pagan, Scott Hairston and Jason Pridie can play center.
And Harris is 33 and unlikely to play a meaningful role in the Mets’ future. With this season looking increasingly like one best served for assessing future contributors, the Mets might as well take the opportunity to see how Duda’s mighty Triple-A bat plays when given ample Major League chances. When he is in the lineup, he will provide them some much-needed power. When he’s on the bench, he’ll serve as the credible lefty pinch-hitter they’ve lacked for most of the season.
Du it.
(Sorry.)
Tedquarters 