September 12, 2007

The Easiest Decision Not Made

Ever since the off season, Paul Lo Duca has expressed the desire to remain with the Mets for the next season. This has come as no shock as his favorite team growing up was the New York Mets.

Lo Duca will be turning 36 before the start of next season and that age is ancient for a starting pitcher, even if he is as fierce a competitor as Paul. Does this mean that Lo Duca’s playing days are behind him and he should just hang up the spikes? By all means, no. In fact he has proven that he is detrimental to the team’s success and his take no prisoner’s attitude has fueled his play and the fans love for him.

Although he isn’t hitting at the same average as last season (.318 compared to .272), he is hitting more home runs (5 compared to 8). He has had an injury filled year that has hindered his offensive surge, but as the stretch moves on he has been picking himself up. He has raised his average from .267 to .272 in the past ten games and mashed three home runs in the same time frame.

Lo Duca has recently stated that if it’s a money issue for the Mets, to bring him back, then there is no issue. You hardly ever see this kind of loyalty from a Met, let alone a Major Leaguer. Even Jorge Posada is saying that he intends to test the free agent market after this season and he has spent his entire career as a Yankee.

Regardless of what Omar Minaya thinks of Lo Duca’s 2008 playing capabilities, there are just no options in the free agent market that can match his kind of leadership or production without trading away the farm for a player along the lines of Russell Martin and, frankly, that just isn’t happening.

So, the Mets are faced with an easy decision.

Let Paul Lo Duca walk and sign a free agent catcher to a bloated contract that isn’t worth the paper his stats are printed out on or keep him and sign him to a home town discount that he surly wouldn’t turn down because he clearly wants to remain a Met for the remainder of his playing years.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

thats whative been saying

Anonymous said...

why not do it?

Anonymous said...

definitly my favorite player

Anonymous said...

we cant lose him in the off season

Anonymous said...

dont let it happen omar

Anonymous said...

who else is there

Anonymous said...

not much

Anonymous said...

we shoyuld pickett shea for lo duca