Chris Young tries to make it three in a row for the Mets today in a game that starts at 1:10 PM.
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Thanks, Brian. I am new to the blog this year, and have loved it.
Here’s a topic for discussion: The benching of Lucas Duda.
I don’t know if I am too deep in hockey coaching, but here is how I viewed the situation:
Lucas Duda did not run out a routine pop fly, something that Little Leaguers are expected to do. It cost him a base. He has been demoted to the minor leagues this year, which should be a consideration: a mentality that wants to belong in the major leagues. He must want it so badly that every thing is run out, and his life is baseball, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Terry Collins waited an inning and took him out.
I could see John Tortorella leaving the dugout, asking for time, and screaming “Are you f***ing kidding me, Duda? You want to go back to the minors? Get off my field now!” and put in a pinch runner.
He would have sent a signal to the entire team that quitting on him will cost them greatly.
In my own coaching experience, I would have been more like Collins. I don’t curse, and I rarely ever raise my voice. I would have put in a pinch runner, however, sans the expletives. Collins did not show him up publicly.
What I struggle with is how a guy could have experienced demotion this season and still not get the memo that this is 100% effort or nothing at all.
Am I missing something or thinking too much like hockey?
When Reyes played catch with himself, as coach, I would have pulled him and his ego from the field, with a time out.
Is this what I remember in childhood with Gil Hodges and Cleon Jones, or is that a myth?
It wasn’t a myth. Hodges did it. Hodges was respected. “Training” teaches someone what to do (usually under stress) without thinking. The trained reaction should be, run everything out. If that is what Collins trains, then that is what Duda should do. If he doesn’t then he needs to be retrained and the best start would have been immediately sending in a pinch hitter. Peter, I don’t believe you are missing a thing.
This “effort” issue is getting a little of our hand in my opinion. If you expect someone to catch something 99.9% of the time, it makes little sense to put extra energy in hustling just in case the 0.1% happens(i’m talking about in a non-pressure situation. 2 outs bottom 9th 7 game world series you better be busting EVERYTHING out).
Talent talks. If you’re hitting .500 and you don’t run a simple grounder out, no one in their right mind will pull you. Just look at Robby Cano. He frequently gets lazy running out stuff and even on his defense(he doesn’t dive for balls), yet you don’t see any maanager pulling him or scolding him.
Although Manual pulled J-Roll in that game against the Mets. Stars set the standard for the rest of the team and should be role models. These guys play a game for a living and male fortunes. I see no reason to accept half hearted play.
I liked what the announcers said about the “hot dog” Reyes today (and yesterday).
As a kid, I admired (and imitated) Pete Rose in running out a walk. It was a good discipline.
Good for Tejada today. Being intentionally walked to get to is a challenge. David Wright said something to him.
Another good day by Hairston, too.
I am looking forward to Thursday. As life would have it, I have a training to attend, via computer, and do this from home, and not the office, so I will be able to see RA pitch. I think often of what he said about Reyes taking himself out of a game to protect his batting average. I was ashamed of Reyes for it, but Dickey put it in perspective.
We are 550 miles away. With a large family, a trip to Citifield would be very expensive, including the gas and 17-18 hour drive, round trip (gas) and staying overnight.
If I paid a small fortune and made the effort to go because of a particular player, and he takes himself out of the game for self serving reasons, it would be cheating the paying fan out of the cost of attending the game. Dickey said people went there to see him play, and paid good money to do so. I found this refreshing. I was caught up in the old school mentality of honor and winning with the bat, and missed this excellent point.
Ill tell ya, Ive noticed it quite a bit this year, and Im pretty upset that running out grounders etc seems to be a thing of the past. Ive commented here at M360 about this. Sure, it is that specific example, but its happened so much this season, and TCs comment about of they had won 15 of 20 you can turn an eye…WHAT? When is that ok? NEVER. Gil had no tolerance for lacking hustle.
Duda knew he shuold have barreled up that baby and was pissed he got under it. He knew it at 1B and it was unfortunate. I think this is where our coaching staff has let the team down. At this time of the season, running out on contact should be as natural as breathing. The fact its not tells me this coaching staff is not up to the task.