|
|
|
During his final interview of the season with WFAN, Paul Lo Duca told the show’s hosts that he wants to return to the Mets, but he is stull unsure if the team feels the same way.
According to Lo Duca, he believes they were interested in keeping him during last off-season; and although they soured a bit during the spring and summer, he feels his strong September during this season may have changed 
their mind. Regardless, he is still uncertain of their interest.
Lo Duca said he is very broken up about Sunday’s loss, and that it ‘really hasn’t hit’ him yet, adding that he can’t watch Sportscenter or turn in to the post-season, because he still feels his team is the best in the National League, although they will not be playing in October.
As for the rest of his team, and next year, he believes their failure falls squarely on the players, not the coaches, because the pieces were in place, and are in place for next season, as well. However, at time this season, the Mets just ‘never came out and competed,’ he explained, especially when falling behind in games.
Lastly, because the ‘core of this team learned a tough lesson,’ he is confident they can win next season with the talent they have, as long as a) they play hard all season, and b) every one is healthy, specifically Carlos Delgado and Duaner Sanchez. Also, according to Lo Duca, Mike Pelfrey ‘grew up a lot,’ and is ready to make a major contribution to the rotation next season alongside John Maine, Oliver Perez and Pedro Martinez.
To listen to Lo Duca’s interview, go to WFAN.com.
Mike Pelfailure has nothing to contribute to this team. He has one mediocre pitch and not much else
wow, your creative
He also admitted that the Reyes/Milledge celebration stuff was way over the top and made other NL teams despise the Mets for it.
80s Mets were despised. Totally fine to be despised as long as you have the means to back it up. Obviously, we didn’t have that.
Correct. I will be adding that to a post about this specific subject later in the day.
Looking forward to it. You should never give your opponent more reasons to want to beat you when it’s totally avoidable.
So glad that Lo Duca didn’t show up Cole Hamels earlier in the year when he hit a home run off of him and had the opportunity to.
Hilarious.
PLD is a hypocrite just like Keith Hernandez is when he is moaning about this up in the booth.
While we’re on the subject of Keith, is it me or does he seem to take some perverse delight in describing all the ways the opposing team could beat the Mets when they have an opportunity to do so.
I remember one broadcast recently – I think it was that Marlins game where the Mets rallied in the ninth to gain a 7-4 lead, only to see the bullpen blow it – where Keith said something like “this is fun!” as the Marlins rallied back. Uh, no Keith, it’s not fun for the Mets fans watching the debacle.
i think we should just go back to the excessive curtain calls to me thats more intimidating of an atmosphere to be in than one blasting reggaeton while coreographed celebrations are being performed.
I don’t mind Keiths criticism. This is a former MVP with a world series ring. He knows a little about baseball and when seen our weaknesses he probably is shocked to see how we don’t lose more. Our team just has too many holes. I agree it doesnt help ease the frustration which we endure while watching but it is given with less bias and more of an educated consumer approach.
I don’t care if he criticizes team play, but sorry if I don’t want to hear about “honoring the game” and all that bullcrap.
The 80s Mets team were hated for their excessive celebrating and did a bunch of cocaine. And now I have to hear Keith’s outrage over some choreographed handshakes that take place in the on-deck circle?
Please. Spare me the hypocrisy.
When Keith and Ronnie talk, these Mets should listen. Those two have rings, something most of these guys will never get if they don’t change their tunes
Funny, we should listen to Keith and Ronnie because they have 1 ring, but not Randolph, who has 6…
Bye Bye Paulie. With the Tigers rumored to decline Pudge’s contract, I assume Pudge will be Omar’s #1 priority at catcher.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2007/09/tigers_unlikely_to_bring_back.html
I say good riddance. Paulie’s on the field antics have worn thin on me. I also think Willie and possibly Omar may be fed up with his newspaper quotes and personal life constantly being put out there.
if they’re somehow able to get rid of Delgado, I’d like to see Sean Casey here to groom Harper or Carp..Casey is a CLASS ACT and a VERY accomplished, PROFESSIONAL hitter…he would fit in nicely with our team and lineup i think…
or, he could stopgap until 09 when we sign Texiera
Casey is a good guy and a great fielder but he’s not a great hitter and nobody is afraid of him at the plate. Not good enough.
I hope Sean Casey doesn’t come anywhere near this team. Delgado past his prime in 08′ will do more than Casey will ever do.
Casey had 4 HRs and 50+ RBIs this year to Delgado’s 24 and 87 – and that was in spite of all his injuries.
If Delgado can get healthy, I can easily see him putting up 30/100 in his walk year next season.
Oh great. Let’s get rid of one 35-year-old catcher for one who’s just as old. Wow, that will also be a big improvement with the bat — from a .689 OPS to .714!
No thanks. If Omar does that then it shows he’s learned nothing from this year and his butt will be on the hot seat a year from now.
Sorry, but unlike Matt Cerrone has been known to say, age is not just a number.
Who do you suggest then?
Oh, Ronny Paulino was the Pirate mentioned.
One writer wrote of a possible Heilman for Ramon Hernandez trade the other day, but I am not sure that would happen.
Maybe we can get Miguel Olivo from the Marlins…what a lively place the clubhouse would be with him and Reyes brawling in the corner.
LOL
no way do I want Pudge, as seth everett said yesterday, pudge is over the hill and his D isnt even that good anymore, why not sign yorvit torrealba? hes young and could platoon with castro I cant believe were talking about the offseason already, this is really sad, im nto really mad though just some wierd stillness sadness from the overall collapse of the season and not making the playoffs
I think LoDuca is done. Pudge intrigues me – yes he’s 36 (but so is Paulie) but he can still rake even though he had a down year. The biggest plus is that the word is handles pitchers exceptionally well which could be very good for this young staff.
Paulie also said the rotation was set for next year. Not sure how he came to that conclusion. If Glavine leaves we have:
Pedro
Perez
Maine
Pelfrey
Humber or possibly ElDuque.
This doesn’t look like a championship rotation to me. By the way, it seems LoDuca named Pelfrey and was struggling for another name. He forgot Humber.
Also Santana (Crossing fingers/eyes/toes/whatever it takes
You got to love it.
In one breath he says the players are to blame and in another he says the same group can win it.
This whole team is f’d. You can just tell by the little that continues to come out that this clubhouse is an absolute mess.
This same group can not win next year – guaranteed. If the Mets make no management changes or significant player changes it is over before it begins.
This is the danger in listening to Omar talk, because at the end of the day he is only trying to protect his own ass.
I would welcome back LoDuca next year. Maybe have Paul and Castro split next year. Pudge would be the same type of player for more money.
Get rid of Rickey, Milledge, and Delgado.
milledge is better than gomez ten fold, its not even close. After he got benched for a week(suspension realized) he came back and flat out performed.
Well, if Paul’s time with the Mets is over, I’d like to wish him well. He was a fun guy to root for and seemed to genuinely give it his all. I’ll never forget being in Shea for game 6 of the NLCS last year and he hit that 2RBI single and the place went nuts.
We need to show more support for paulie coming back. Pudge is over the hill, ex steroid guy…don’t want him replacing lo duca. We need paulie back…he is important to this team…Change the other pieces that need changing….Losing paulie will be another omar mistake…there is no one out there who is a better option than paulie. Let castro play more in some type of platoon…
lo duca needs to go hes way too old and whiny. this whole team needs a shakeup, they are in some weird daze, from delgado to reyes, to loduca to glavine it seems like they must be on some drug
man the fact that this team has said they didnt work hard enough every second of this season makes me so angry. how could they possibly play with such little urgency! i am GLAD they didnt make it now. they didnt deserve it.
No I-Roid on this team. I’ve had enough w/ these Steroid abusers on my team. Whether he’s clean now is irrelevant. No place for him here. I’d rather have them bring a kid up!
Lo Duca played hard every day while many of his teammates did not..Why get rid of a guy who gave it all and always played hard on the field? It makes no sense getting rid of a guy with grit and guts like lo duca when most of the team are dancing fools and softees!!!
cuz his offense greaty regressed this season, he was a double play machine and he couldnt even throw runners out.
Plus I think there are some issues about his skills or lack thereof – of calling a good game and handling his pitchers.
Plus LoDuca is a whiny baby. Some say fiery…I say cry baby
what better options will exist this year on the FA market?
LoDuca is not to blame for the collapse. Unless we have a rookie coming up or someone else thats far better on the market no reason not to bring him back. He can be a bit of a whiner, but he’s got true old school grit that NY loves.
I’m sick of M&MD. I rather they harp on the Yankees than think they can give input on the Mets. I almost rather hear Michael Kay.
Don’t listen.
say what you want about lo duca………i am in his corner 150%
hes got heart…….something that seems to be lacking on this team
he plays hurt and never bitches about it
he calls a good game behind the plate
hes a leader both on the field and in the clubhouse
hes still one of the tough strkeouts in all of baseball
considering the alternatives………i think re-signing him would be the right move
agreed
no thanks on pudge, he literally swings at everything the guy had single digit walks! ill take lo duca over him but id def prefer a torrealba signing to split with castro, not many teams really have that anchor at catcher a split seems to be becoming popular around the league.
It’s nice to see Lo Duca shaken up about the loss. Cry baby or whatever you want to call him, he seemed a lot more upset about the loss than Glavine did, and Lo Duca did all he could for the team. Glavine’s comments after his start still piss me off….he’s a brave and he always will be. I don’t really see how Lo Duca can fit into next years team but regardless, players with his passion for winning is what this team needs.
how cant you see him fitting?? im curious as to how he doesnt fit
Exactly, this team is lefeless and like him or not lo duca has heart and displays a lot of life that this team needs..
Matt,
I think you need to open a thread on Reyes. He needs a Metsblog blasting. I’ve never seen a player lay down like he did the last two months. How many slow grounders up the middle did you see him give up on with out any thought of a dive to stop them? Was that Rickey telling him to conserve his energy for stealing bases? If the ball wasn’t hit right at him, he was useless.
yeah lo duca can come back to ST earning the league minimum for a year if he wants. C, 2B and 1B were all worse this year for us and he was the reason we got less out off our C.
No Pudge. Please.
Don’t really want Paulie either anymore, but if he does come back, bette be as a part timer.
Best bet might be a trade for a younger guy. There must be some team that has a decent younger catcher blocked? Heck, the braves traded Salty for that reason.
The Dodges? Anyone with a ML ready catcher that can hit his way out of a paper bag?
Trade a Gomez for someone like that, if they can become a fixture.
Man, could they use a solid, younger guy at C and 2B to really set up the team. 1 more year from Alou, and Delgado.
If one of the internal guys isn’t ready for those spots in ‘09, you can always find an OF or 1B (Texeira anyone?) Much easier than finding a catcher!
I say a maximum of 2 old position players, 2 old starters, and 2 old BP guys.
Postion: Delgado and Alou, both platoon.
SP: Pedro and ??
RP: Wagner and El Duque.
And some vets on the bench where they belong, like Marlon.
How ’bout this . . . what do the Rangers need in that bandbox in Arlington? (Did I spell that right?) How ’bout trading for Salty? Wouldn’t that torque the Braves off?
aeboubtp…
aeboubtp…
I understand…but there is nothing in the catcher free agent class. I think it comes down to Pudge and LoDuca. Early summer rumors had us interested in the Pirates catcher (forgot his name).
Castro will hopefully be resigned, but I don’t think he is a starter. Omar losing Flores as a Rule 5 pick hurt us a bit.
Yeah, well can you name me some good “white” catchers that we should consider getting?
you mean like when he got LoDuca over Molina 2 years ago?
With the Scott Steroidweiss news I don’t think it would be a good idea to bring in another potential steroid guy in Pudge, plus the guy is not a good defensive catcher anymore and he swings at everything.
no like when he traded matt lindstrom and henry owens for jason vargas, even delgado said he was trying to build some Latin empire when they were trying to sign him in 05.
I’m pretty sure Vargas grew up in California.
How about when he re-signed Glavine, tried to go after Zito, got Schoenweis (for better or worse) and brought up Joe Smith for the pen? Or when he got Easley in the offseason, and Jeff Conine and Marlon Anderson during the regular season?
I guess he shouldn’t go after Santana this year, huh?
Castro’s arthritic back = 60 games a year, max. Yup, he’s a backup.
I don’t mind Pudge. Guy does seem to help a pitching staff. I personally wouldn’t mind Paulie coming back. He’s not a perfect guy, but he’s a good hard nosed player and the pitchers seem to respect him. Not that it did them much good down the stretch…
Yeah, his OBP was below .300 this year … yikes.