New York Mets Winter Report 2012-13

[sonny10305]

Syam as far as Aaron Laffey goes I think you know he spent the 2012 season with the Blue Jays, splitting time with the AAA affiliate in Las Vegas. Prolly see him eventually as a seventh-starter kind a pitcher or maybe start a few games here and there to fill in for injuries. His draw back seems to be when he works as a starter for an extended period, he's good the first time through the order, but when batters come back again they had his number and he has a hard time throwing anything other than his fastball. Since he does not seem to have significant lefty/righty splits he'd be fine in a swingman/long role. So, his name is easy to make puns with. The Mets will continue to scour the free agent market for relievers, we ain’t done there yet.

As far as the starting rotation goes I have said that I am reasonably comfortable with what we have.
A lot depends on what we get outta Santana who left us last year not looking so good. Putting aside that no-hitter, Santana had prolly the worst season of his professional career. His 6-9 record along with a 4.85 ERA and that almost nonexistent slowed fastball worries me.
Jon Niese has shown us he can for sure be a solid starting pitcher, he had a strong 2012, going 13-9 with a 3.40 record and almost made the 200 inning milestone, he just has to stay healthy and last the full 162 game season. He is in his prime now.
Happy to say that Dillon Gee will be back in 2013, you will remember last year got cut very short by a blood clot in his pitching hand. He finished with a 6-7 record with a 4.10 ERA. While he may not be over whelming with that 90 miles per hour fastball he is a solid number four or five pitcher in a rotation that will eat innings and win about half the games he pitches in.
My boy Matt Harvey will really break out this year after that awesome job he did for us in 2012 with that awesome 2.76 ERA or 70 strikeouts in 60 innings. The kids got a killer fastball in the upper nineties and the Mets best chance at finding a new ace.
Down the line you will see Zack Wheeler a very exciting pitcher he is for sure the Mets best pitching prospect and has all of the makings of a successful MLB pitcher. I saw him pitch a 98 mile per hour fastball down in the zone, throw a wicked curveball, and then bam zoom he hit em with a lazy fly ball on a change-up. His ability to locate his fastball, throw his breaking ball for strikes, and has another off-speed pitch to daze and confuse hitters, what till ya see that kid!. Zack was added to the 40-man roster and is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Las Vegas. Of course The Mets would prefer to let Wheeler get a good dose of Triple-A exposure and allow him to follow the same road as Harvey. BUT do not rule out the possibility of Zack to dazzle em in spring training so much that he could earn a major league job. I keep telllin ya he is that good.
Jenrry Mejia and Jeurys Familia are two other in-house candidates the Mets could consider for the rotation, but I dono if either of em was particularly effective as a September call-up, and there is still debate that maybe they are better suited for the bullpen.
Chris Young never can be completely discounted from the mix but could be too pricey for the Mets after rebounding from shoulder surgery

Then there is the outfield which is sorta interesting, like Saucy wrote we aren’t gonna spend money out there till 2014 and we gotta gotta resign Hairston we need him inn 2013 especially his righty bat. The Yankees are still interested in Scott and it appears the signing of Matt Diaz has not changed that position and there are other teams interested in Hairston. Scott has declared publically that he wants to return to the Mets. If Hairston signs elsewhere, who is going to be our fourth outfielder?
Mike Baxter can play all three positions capably, probably best suited to the corners. Collin Cowgill whom is basically, a right-handed-hitting version of Baxter but with a bit more speed.
Lucas Duda was somewhat of a liability in both corners but started I thought to show real promise in right field when he went to Buffalo and then there is that power
that we have only just begun to see the kid has P O W E R to spare I expect him to break out this year.
Jordany Valdespin is not as good as he thinks he is, I but don’t see anything from him to suggest he can hit enough to be something other than a utility man.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis proved he is a plus defender who should have no problems patrolling center field. The question is his lazy bat and those horrendous strikeouts. But I have known Kirk a while and have a lot of faith in him, he tore up AA in the first half of 2012, he’ll ok so maybe he started out in the majors not hitting for high average and struck out too much, but he has good raw power from the left side. Let’s see how he comes back to spring training he needs to keep performing to stay relevant. If he does, expect to see him early in 2013.
Matt Den Dekker tore up AA in 2012; hitting .340 but when he got to AAA he struggled a little hitting .256 with too many strikeouts, and not many walks. However he has a great glove and can cover ground in center field which we can for sure use. I see him as a good possibility to see him at Citifield in 2013.
So what we will prolly have is a full platoon situation that looks like Duda, Baxter, Nieuwenhuis (or Den Dekker), Cowgill and maybe Valdespin.

Hey Kirk are ya ready to play in the outfield next year? I think that’s a yes

 

[sonny10305]

Kevin Burkhardt, who is busy working off the 5 pounds of cookies he ate during Christmas break, returns to Mets Hot Stove tonight live at 7pm on SNY with repeats thru the week.
Kevin wishes he could delete the cookies like temporary internet files

 

[Sausy]

Kevin always has this lean look, but it's a killer trying to get through the holidays avoiding all the goodies around!

 

[syam24]

The Mets have signed a couple of more guys to minor league deals with invites to spring training, Omar Quintanilla is back, who did a useful job as a utility guy with the Mets and Orioles, and a minor league outfielder, Andrew Brown, I think. Don't have much knowledge on that guy. Still hoping for a Hairston signing and something more for the pitching staff and outfield.

 

[Sausy]

I'm kind of pissed about how low rent the Mets are...c'mon..I heard about their reworking a loan for $700 million...if the Wilpons can't afford the Mets, get the hell out of the baseball business! It's sickening how Bud Selig pushes the Dodgers owner mcCourt out but because it's his close buddy he won't do a thing to get Fred Wilpon to get things square or get out. It's embarassing we can't even go for established, solid major leaguers( not elite level, but competent/good)...it's like the baseball version of coupon clipping and in the New York market for chrissakes that's inexcusable and pathetic!

 

[sonny10305]

Still quiet in Mets land no news on any moves just the same ole rumors and BS I pay no attention to unless of course it comes from Burkhardt or Cerrone.Still on the shopping list are Outfield, Starter and Reliever
The only thing I have been paying attention to is Scott Hairston, who is free agent now, and what he will do. The dude seems not be ion in any rush to signing anywhere. We know the Yankees where interested but have sorta indicated, if you can believe it, that they are now somewhat pessimistic about signing him and don't expect he will end up in the Bronx. Still as of now the Mets and Yankees are two of the finalists for Hairston. I know that Hairston would prefer the Mets, for one reason he will be able to get more at-bats making it unlikely he will sign with the Yankees where he would be the fourth outfielder, if Hairston were to sign with a team like the Mets, he likely could play every day. I have said before I would like to see Scott back her gave us .263 with 20 homers last season and of course we really need that righty bat.

Hoping for some good news soon from Murphy and Davis who are both due for raises before this season begins with both of my boys entering arbitration discussions.Ike this year will qualify for four years of arbitration, while Murph is the first year. If you wonder how it comes down, the player and the team each submit a salary figure usually the player asks for more than the Mets wants to pay and the Mets asks for less than the player wants to accept. Then the two of em have a few weeks to settle before entering a hearing I believe is going to be from Feb. 2 to Feb. 20. During the hearing an independent arbitrator dude reviews the case from both sides and chooses a salary figure. I’m pretty sure the exchange date is Jan 18 when if the sides do not settle beforehand, the player and team will exchange their final contract demands. Basically the arbitrator would choose either the player’s submitted figure or the team’s submitted figure after a hearing in February in Florida I would expect and hope for both guys to get just about $3 million.

Another Met will be putting a ring on it when Saturday Jon Niese gets married to his girlfriend Leah, best of luck to them. Of course the other great news is that Jon who experienced an irregular heartbeat last year won't require surgery and is good to go.

Endy Chavez has agreed to terms with the Kansas City Royals on a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to spring training

I am off tomorrow on one of my field trips, this time it begins in Ohio and then on to Arizona.
I will be back in NY on the 25th in plenty of time for Ike Davis getting his well deserved honor at the Thurman Munson Dinner on Feb 5th

Not much to say about the Piazza mess, in case you guys haven’t figured it out yet I have very little use for most sportswriters and their opinion especially who get is to the Hall Of Fame. Burkhardt called it “An utter joke” and I would have to agree. And speaking of KB It’s Thursday and you kiddies know what that means another Mets Hot Stove with Kevin Burkhardt,unless that flu he's got knocks him completly out, on SNY at 7pm.

Justin Turner wrapping up winter ball with batting numbers in the interstate for Escigido. But he continued to do what he does best and hit in the clutch raking up 13 RBI's in just 21 games.

Hey JT! Why are you always so doggone happy all the time?

 

[Sausy]

Glad to see the updates as always, sonny. Hope we hear soon about Scott Hairston's decision. Not sure even if he's an every day player as he did much better against lefties but his opportunities with the Mets definitely would be greater than on what the Yankees would plan for him.

Have a great trip and hope you post on occasion on any news you hear. Kinda frusrating being in a holding pattern until the boys head to Florida(except for Florida resident Murph)for spring training. I'm sure seeing the guys will help get you all jazzed up for the upcoming spring training trip for you and your dad and the new season with the expectation of seeing new catcher Travis d' Arnaud and Zack Wheeler called to the Mets sometime this year.

LOVE JT...love that goofy, fun personality plus the way he plays, so professionally and unselfishly. Gotta be loved by his teammates....hope he continues being the cream pie prankster deluxe he has become notorious for!

 

[sonny10305]

Hey Saucy and JUB guys howdy from the great state of Arizona, while everyone is asleep I thought I would jump in here to see what’s goin on.

First up, the big news for me yesterday was hearing that my Cyclone boys Cory Mazzoni, Rafael Montero, Juan Centeno and Josh Satin, have gotten invites to Spring Training. In addition as if that weren’t enough to make my day yesterday Matt den Dekker got one too.
Just to bring you up to speed, Mazzoni was the Mets second-round draft pick in 2011 he spent most of 2012 in AA and finished with a 3.93 ERA pitching about 140 innings. Cory just could move in to our pen with that heater of his he’s also got an awesome split-finger that he sometimes uses as a change-up.
Montero was the Mets Organizational Pitcher of the Year in 2012, his ERA hit 2.36 in AA, and He was one of Alderson’s first moves. He’s got three pitches, a fastball, slider, and change-up. Prolly see him in 2014
Juan Centeno is decent enough catcher, maybe needs some work on receiving butwe always want catchers.
You should remember Josh Satin you saw him for a while last year when we had Ruben Tejada, Justin Turner, and Ronny Cedeno all out at the same time. He spent most of the season in AAA Buffalo, batting in the high just below .300 he can play first, second, and third base.
Then there is my boy Matt den Dekker who you also got a peek at last year and is the most likely of the five to break camp with the team. The kids got great pop and speed and could have the best glove of the bunch. Keep in mind our outfield is a bit, shall we say, uncertain.

I am so proud of Daniel Murphy having made MLB Network’s “Top 10 Right Now: Second Basemen.”
But if I hear or read one more “sportswriter” crap all over that choice I’m gonna hurt somebody. Within hours of that choice a bunch of turds starting poo pooing the idea that Murph could be included in that list. Forget that he made some outstanding plays in his very first season as a second baseman and the fact that he ranked in the top ten 2nd baseman in OPS. He was also in the top ten in walks per strikeout, slugging and on-base percentage and was second in batting average. About the only thing Murph did not give us much with was power but wait till this year. Murph is a fan favorite and has always played wherever they ask him to without complaining. As to second base he’s the best we have right now and he is full of confidence that he will be even better this year, he is sooo sure of that.
So get of his back give the kid his due and be grateful for players like him.
Speaking of Murph he is coming into NY today cause as you know not only is he a gem on the team he is also a gem when it comes to helping people in need especially kids, so he will be there helping Rockaway residents who were devastated by Hurricane Sandy as a New York Cares volunteer giving out food and supplies. Murphy will also join Kevin Burkhardt on Mets Hot Stove this Thursday he will be in the studio with KB and ya don’t wanna miss that.

Finally I want to say congrats to Jon and Leah Niese who were married this weekend. Jon had a rough year with concerns about his heart after feeling a rapid heartbeat after pitching. He sweated that out for a while but docs have said meds are working and he won’t have to have any surgery which was a big relief to all of us Jon is one of the sweetest kids in the game and we want only good things for him.




Hey! think I hear someone else finally getting up, time for breakfast see ya guys soon

 

[sonny10305]

Just wondering since the internet connection is wacky here I am trying to post thru my home computer someone tell me please tell me if it worked ok thanks

 

[syam24]

Your posts have come thru Sonny. Hear the weather is a bit chilly in AZ. Anyway, not much going on, although Alderson did go watch Brian Wilson throw in Cali on Saturday. He had nothing to report other than acknowledging his presence there. Rumors are that Hairston will make his decision this week, we shall see.

 

[sonny10305]

Yeah Syam it was pretty cold here for a while but it warmed up by the time I got in. Still a bit chilly in the morning but 60s and 70s in afternoon which is great golf weather!

I dono about Brian Wilson as a Met, Last week, as you wrote, the Mets watched Wilson throw a private bullpen session and were supposedly not all that impressed they saw, they are concerned that he may not be ready for a contract at this point in his rehab from Tommy John Basically sayin “Physically, he’s not ready, he’s got a ways to go.” Wilson also met with Sandy Alderson privately last week, and said he was very interested in signing with the Mets but wants a guaranteed deal, and as of now after what they saw the Mets would prefer to give him a minor-league contract.
So we shall see.

Still waitin on word about Scott Hairston who The Mets are interested in re-signing, but they would prefer to bring him in on another one-year $2 million deal, Scott wants two years and 8 Mill which The Mets rejected. So we are at a stalemate.

Guys don’t forget Daniel Murphy will be live in the studio tonight with Kevin Burkhardt’s Mets Hot Stove on SNY at 7pm. I am sure he will talk to KB about the new season which by the way he has a lot of confidence in he is not all that bothered by folks sayin not much was done over the winter and is quick to point out that they signed who he calls “The best 3rd baseman in baseball” DWright. Murph gets what the team’s needs; he has been keeping close watch on the Mets moves all winter. He is also a fan of Scotty H (Hairston) and wants him back. Thing is although he knows he has work to do it sure is nice and a pleasant breath of fresh air that this time he will go into spring training expecting to be able to play a full season not worried about making the team or hopefully get hurt again. All that will in his words will allow him to take a mature approach. After leaving NY with his wife and brother Jonathan (draft pick last year by the Minnesota Twins) he heads to Jacksonville for more work outs before he takes the three hour trip to spring training on Feb. 10, which is about a week early.

 

[Sausy]

Couple of good Mets news items which I'm sure sonny will have more about soon... first Ike Davis and the Mets come to an agreement for next season and avoid arbitration at a figure of a little over $3,100,000... Mets offfered 2.8 mil while Ike and his rep submitted 3.7 mil...fair compromise and it's always better to avoid the tensions of the arbitration process and gets things done before the arbitrater decides. Now Ike can just concentrate on getting ready for spring training, which is around three weeks away( already several Mets will come down a week or so earlier than the official opening of camp for pitchers and catchers).

Also congrats to David Wright on his engagement to longtime girlfriend Molly Beers...as sonny would probably razz him after all the recent teammate weddings David's been attending recently,"It's about fucking time"!


Also would like to remember Oriole managerial great Earl Weaver, who managed for 17 years and commanded many great Oriole clubs(never won the World Series but had six division and four league championship titles). Famous for his combative temperament with umps and disdain for small ball, preaching the praises of pitching, defense and the three run homer...Weaver was a tough but outstanding leader and such a unique character. Earl Weaver died on the weekend at age 82.

Stan Musial, one of the greatest left handed hitters of all time, and a career long St. Louis Cardinal for over twenty years until his retirement in 1963, died on Saturday as well at the age of 92. Musial hit a lifetime .330 with 3,630 hits, fourth currently all time .Gracious, unpretentious, humble, and always a dedicated professional playing for the Cards or in his endeavors after his career, Stan" The Man" (as he was famously nicknamed, ironically first in Brooklyn by those impressed in his performance against their hometown Dodgers) was what a hero should be. In these days of such sleazy characters as Lance Armstrong, whose legacy was his monumental cheating, lying and power plays behind his 7 Tour de France victories, we need to honor real heroes in an era when bottom line, ego and social status determine who's on top. Musial was never showy, never scandalous...just did his thing better than almost anyone ever has on the baseball field. Sustained excellence and personal graciousness and good character is what Stan Musial left behind and will always be remembered and loved in St. Louis and everywhere among true baseball fans.

 

[syam24]

Good update Sausy, also nice words on the deaths of Earl Weaver, and Stan Musial. I think the most remarkble stat on Stan Musial is he had 1815 hits at home and 1815 hits on the road, what unbelievable consistancy! What's old is new again, the Mets have signed Pedro Feliciano to a minor league contract. At the the Yankees paid his two years of unemployment/disabity compensation.

 

[sonny10305]

That was fast n easy
I’m talkin about the quick agreement between the Mets and Ike Davis which saucy reported yesterday. For sure it was a happy day in Ikeville Saturday when the news came in but no surprise really when you consider the Mets have to have known what a gem they have in Ike and would be fools not to lock him down and make him happy quickly and avoid unnecessary abort ration. The Ikeman has three more years of arbitration eligibility before being eligible for free agency after the 2016 season.
This would have been Ike’s first time at the arbitration table but the Mets wisely agreed to give him 6 times what he made last year and no one deserves that more. Last year Ike hit 32 homers and 90 RBIs and leeme tell ya if you think that was good what till this year… seriously just wait I have seen him recently in the cages There will be plenty more like that 435 foot bomb he hit against the Diamondbacks last July. Member that day? Ike hit three home runs, and was one of only a few Mets to do that. This year he will also have the advantage of being 100% healthy he had was said to be his last check on that valley fewer thing and it came up clean absolutely no signs of that anymore. And u can see it in his everyday life does not get as tired as easily as he once did just feels and looks great.

What is left now is for the Mets to do the same for Murphy who is still unsettled but we are only about three quarters of a million off from what Murph wants and what the Mets wanna give so it should not be long hopefully we can avoid arbitration which if there is no agreement will happen in about 2 weeks.

Saucy also mentioned the engagement of DWright and his long time girlfriend Molly, I sorta hinted to you guys last month that it was coming tellin you to “stay tuned” ? I knew that David wanted to get his career status in order first and as soon as he signed that 8 year deal and knew he was not going to moving around anymore that he could concentrate on raising a family here in NY. No date set yet and I don’t see it happin till the fall.
David will also participate in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, and he will be the only Met in the tournament. This will be his second consecutive start for Team USA.

Lucas Duda took quite the ribbing recently after that fall he took trying to lift a TV stand when he moved out in California. Apparently the Dude has troubling backpedaling, he had some mishaps at Citi field trying to do that but when he did it trying to go backwards in his apartment things got a little too funny when his heel got caught, causing him to fall to the floor injuring his thumb. At first he laughed it off thought he just sprained it but after realized it was more serious with the pain and swelling getting worse. Turned out he had broken his wrist and had to have surgery which included inserting a pin. The dude felt kinda dumb and actually got a little depressed for a couple of days till he chalked it all up as just a stroke of bad luck. But no fear everyone he is completely healed and ready to rock. I have a lot of faith in Lucas I still believe he is more than capable of hitting 30-plus homers and joining Wright and Davis to give us a great 3-4-5 in the lineup. But first as he arrived in Florida next month he has to be ready for all the jokes from the guys about his clumsiness, Murph has already texted Duda to tease him. Should be fun.

If you like the Mets pre game show you will love to hear that the show will be extended to an hour this year with Ron Darling, Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez play a big part of the show, Kevin Burkhardt will get additional time on the show and will continue to have Chris Carlin and Bobby O at the helm. There is talk about adding someone else as well. In order to make room for the extended show, “Wheelhouse” will be canceled. Brian Custer will move to anchor SportsNite along with Gary Apple. The longer show will allow more social media type segments as well as featuring beat writers from visiting teams on the show.

Pedro Feliciano is returning he has agreed to a minor league contract. This after seasons with the Yankees full of injuries He never even got to pitch one game with the Yanks spending two years on the disabled list with that torn capsule in his shoulder. Still after speakin with a couple of the players I am surprising ok with this; he can complement our up n comin lefties Josh Edgin and Robert Carson with his veteran presence. Plus ya gotta figure Feliciano is wantin to re-establish his value remember it has been two years since we saw him. I know he is getting there age wise buy Lefty relievers have the tendency to be useful well into their thirties. Josh Edgin should be a given to make the roster, but the competition is wide-open for a second left-hander in the bullpen. Another lefty Tim Byrdak, who basically took over for Feliciano departed, is recovering from his own shoulder surgery. Tim did re-sign with the Mets on a minor league deal but I don’t see him available until the second half of the season.

 

[Sausy]

Thanks sonny to your detailed update, and I suspect you'l be posting soon with another as Scott Hairston takes a two year, 6 mil offer from the Cubs ending speculation about his re-upping with the Mets.Seems the Mets were REALLY lowballing, a couple of million for one year which is surprisingly low, even for the budget conscious Mets these past couple of years. They do have an interest in Michael Bourn, the Atlanta free agent centerfielder who could solidify the badly deficient leadoff spot in their lineup in terms of raw speed and basse stealing ability. Yet there are many obstacles to that happening. Firstly the length ofthe contract and his agent being Scott Boras, who will try for at least 3 years, 30 mil....secondly is Bourn that good? He strikes out a LOT(155 times last year,140 times twice before in recent years)and while he walks some, isn't that disciplined a hitter as his average last year was.274, and he hasn't been above .280 in a few years. He's a known quantity and can help on the bases and reasonably good defensively in center. But leading into the third negative the Mets would have to part with their first round pick(#11) if they sign him since Atlanta put out a qualifying offer. The Mets are trying to argue their pick should really count as the 10th and be exempted for being in the first ten because Pittsburgh was awarded the 10th pick after failing to sign their own pick last year. I don't see Bourn being good enough to warrant giving up their first round pick this year for compensation of signing him. A number of other clubs are also very aggressively going after Bourn, and it's hard to see them springing the bucks even if MLB rules they can keep their pick. I would do it if it were a two or three year deal, around 20mil or so, and they were allowed to hold on to the pick. But this is the Wilpon regime we're dealing with, and at least til contracts come off the books after this year( most notably Johann Santana and the Seattle Mariners bound Jason Bay) they seem to have handcuffed Sandy Alderson in aggressive player moves.

One outfielder suggested was Jason Kubel of the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he is too much a replica of Lucas Duda to make any sense. A left handed, offensively strong, athletically/defensively weak component. Makes no sense for the Mets to get him, and the price for their much more favored( but far less gettable) BJ Upton would be a couple of the super high end pitching prospects they have. Or maybe even Travis d'Arnaud, the highly rated catching prospect from the Blue Jays just arrived from the Blue Jays for RA Dickey.

 

[sonny10305]

Yeah Saucy I heard the news last night when Ike said “we lost scotty” I am disappointed cause I figured if we do nothing else in the outfield we should at least bring Hairston back. A dopey move by Alderson we shudda given Scott what he wanted which wasn’t all that much in my opinion. I have little interest in Bourn I just don’t see him as any kinda fix for our outfield, sure he could improve it some but I rather have the first draft pick in the draft, 11th overall, I just wanna keep building up our farm system. So for me I much rather roll the dice if you will than go with Bourne, and I don’t buy into the idea that there is a good chance those guys actually making it, don’t even go there with me. What it boils down to is The Mets should in my opinion have very little interest in signing Bourn if he cost the team its draft pick and $2.5 million piece of its allotted draft budget. The Mets are due to pick 11th in the draft, just to remind you guys the top 10 picks are protected and are not forfeited if a team signs a free agent like Bourn, who has already passed on a $13 million offer from the Braves. Then there is Alderson sayin that the Mets' pick at No. 11 ought to be protected because it would have been the 10th pick had the Pirates not been awarded an extra pick in the top 10 for failing to sign their top pick last year.

So I guess Alderson really believes that Zack Wheeler needs more time to develop in the minors and have signed Shaun Marcum, who will fill the void left after Dickey got traded. Looks like he will join Santana, Harvey, Niese and Gee. I guess this will preclude the re-signing of Chris Young.

Yesterday when I wrote about Duda and my strong belief that he will show us a lot this year
I forgot to mention that he is already on his way to St Lucie to work with Hudgens,talk about choppin at the bit to get started huh?
One of the things Hudgens needs to do is help Lucas do what he does in his cage swing during games, that by the way is what helped Ike a lot last year. Other things like muscle memory and the habit he has of thinking too much about the pitch, he needs to react to it instead. I think working with Dave as it did with IKe will give Lucas more confidence with the early start this year allowing those two to spend more time together. Those of us who have seen as much of Lucas as I have in the cage know his swing is powerful enough to do damage to a pitch without any added force.
You can hear Lucas talk about that tonight when he joins Kevin Burkhardt on Mets Hot stove at 7pm on SNY.

 

[Sausy]

Glad to hear sonny you're as skeptical about Bourn as I am. Especially if the cost is the Met's first round draft pick and a long term, big money commitment to a solid but not great player like Bourn.
Yep, hopeful too about Lucas Duda's ability to turn back last year and show much more of the disciplined hitter that hit .290 with 50 RBI in half a season as a rookie in 2011 and a far more manageable strikeout rate. Glad he's taking a page from Ike last year in rebounding off the awful start and working with Dave Hudgens. The kid is as sonny has mentioned a really good guy but very prone to self doubts but he has to trust his talent...he has a great swing when he's right and like sonny also said he's a strong kid, he doesn't have to force it to hit em a long way. The power will come naturallly, he just has to relax and believe in himself at the plate as he hit so well as a rookie.

Is it just me or is sonny the unofficial publicist for everything KB?

 

[sonny10305]

Is it just me or is sonny the unofficial publicist for everything KB?

There is no one's opinion I trust more when it comes to the game than KB
BUT, today he said he thinks signing Bourn is a must,a gold glove, legit leadoff hitter
Soooooooooooooo even Kevin gets it wrong sometimes
Oh yeah, it's on KB

 

[sonny10305]

I am sure KB will discuss his views on Bourn tonight on Hot stove. I will be interested in hearing what the other members of the panel have to say. By the way if Alderson was to get his way with MLB regarding the draft I would not be as opposed to the deal. For me it is a take him or leave him situation but not if it means losing the draft pick, I am all about the farm.

 

[Sausy]

There is no one's opinion I trust more when it comes to the game than KB
BUT, today he said he thinks signing Bourn is a must,a gold glove, legit leadoff hitter
Soooooooooooooo even Kevin gets it wrong sometimes
Oh yeah, it's on KB

I am sure KB will discuss his views on Bourn tonight on Hot stove. I will be interested in hearing what the other members of the panel have to say. By the way if Alderson was to get his way with MLB regarding the draft I would not be as opposed to the deal. For me it is a take him or leave him situation but not if it means losing the draft pick, I am all about the farm.

I know how high a regard you have for KB's perspectives...I'm sure he's gonna be ready for your challenge!

I'm with you sonny, not crazy about signing Bourn but if the draft pick could be maintained by the Mets, and the cost isn't hefty I'd be okay with the signing too. Still too many other things in play though to say anything for sure as Bourn isn't going to come dirt cheap like the Mets wanted for Scott Hairston to return.