Ike was 0 for 4 tonight with 2 more strikeouts. He's now hitting .156. Let's stop the insanity, enough is enough. Let Ike go to Buffalo and work his way out of this slump.

Duda has been playing the OF since his time at USC. He played at USC from 2005-2007.

He's in RF now because there was no opening at 1B, his natural position, and there was in RF. If Ike goes down and Bay comes up, there's a logjam in the OF and an opening at 1B. The natural 1B shifts back there.

I'm not sure why this is even a debate. Play 3 natural OFers (including 2 above-avg to plus defenders) who comprise an OF that represents a starting OF and a natural 1B who is your cleanup hitter at 1B, OR juggle the 4 "starting" OFers (not to mention Baxter) in the OF and get Justin Turner everyday ABs at 1B?

The Marlins pretty much did the exact same thing: 2 1B prospects, moved one to the OF, he was terrible out there but necessary to get the 2 bats in the lineup, one bat struggled so much he had to go down, so the converted OF moves back to his natural position.

Ike Davis is the team's 1b for the foreseeable future. Duda is not. Saying Duda's natural position is 1b is every reason why we should give him as much time to be in RF as possible. Because he needs to learn.

I'll go one further. From what I've seen, if we somehow give up on Ike I doubt Duda becomes the 1b of our future. I think it's OF or bust of Duda's going to be a piece on the Mets.

Well any "conclusion" drawn on the future of Ike and Duda is more opinion than fact at this point so I won't debate that. I do find it nearly impossible to believe that, if for whatever reason Ike was no longer in the picture, Duda wouldn't be given a LONG run at 1b considering there is nothing behind him- I don't really know what the alternative would be.

But to the larger point- is it relevant what you envision the ideal long term plan to be if Ike is demoted? Bay isn't the LFer of the future; Torres isn't the CFer of the future and we don't really know at all yet if Kirk is a starting OFer in the future- but they are all that in the present. So what if you don't think Duda is the 1b of the future bc Ike will straighten it out- if Ike isn't around in the present then Duda can and almost surely will be the 1b of the present because quite frankly that's what would help the team most and puts the player in his best spot to succeed.

Is Murphy your 2B of the future? Just asking for the sake of asking

If Ike gets sent down, Duda should be the guy to move to 1B. As far as Duda needing time to learn the OF, it isnt necessary. I say this because as an OF, he will always be below average to average at best and thats what he is right now. Hes peeked as far as RF is concerned. Even in that short amount of time. So throwing him back at 1B wouldnt hurt his progression and if by some chance it does, it will be negligible.

The one thing I cant stand however, is moving murphy around. Is he a 2nd basemen TC? Is he a 1B? Is he a 3B? Is he your emergency OF? Is he your utility player who starts because there isnt a better candidate? What is he to TC?

Same question goes to Kirk. Is he your CF or LF? Is he better suited as the RF?

These are all question people will ask due to TC defensive management skills (which rank low IMO).

The only player on your team who should be shuffled around like a deck of cards is Turner. He can play all the INF positions. Maybe catch as well (while Rob johnsons pitching).

Message to TC: Stop moving so many players around. They are either legit players at the positions they play or they're utility players. Chose one and go from there.

If it's not Murphy then it's likely nobody in the organization because the next "good" option might be Phil Evans and he's no less than 4 years away. So going with Murphy is the right move. PS... Valdespin is now coming off the bench? Who did he piss off? lol

Unless you lock up Wright I don't think anyone on this team is anything of the future.

That's why I find the short-sighted approach taken by the FO to be befuddling.

I'd love to hear your plan. What is short sighted about letting Familia, Wheeler, and Harvey to develop? What is short sighted about locking up Niese for the next 5 years at an affordable contract? Who else except for the contracts they are locked into already, (Santana and Bay) is locked up that isn't going to be part of the long term future? So, not really sure what is so short sighted about their approach.

Murphy has appeared in 40 games at 2B and 3 at 1B this year. None anywhere else. HOW is this TC "moving Murphy around"? Last year Wright was hurt. That changed things. As long as Wright and Davis are expected to be here for while Murphy has no position other than 2B. And that's what he's playing. I don't understand this claim that TC's movign guys around like crazy. Other than the spare parts.

Totally agreed, Tom.

I'd add that this is the National League and it's also 2012, where teams routinely use multiple relievers to get through a game.

If you're going to constantly change pitchers over the last few innings, that's going to involve moves with the position players and that means they have to play more than one position because the personnel limitations dictate it.

Murphy has the most starts of any player on the team this year...all at 2b except for 1. He has played a grand total of 10 innings at 1b this year. He hasn't even played 3b or OF at all...and only played 2 innings in the OF all of last yr. He was moved to 1b and 3b last yr due to the injuries...and really before that it wasn't even clear if he was definitely the 2b...the Mets were trying a few different guys there. He's the starting 2b...sometimes in a pinch you might move him around, but lets not pretend the guy isn't starting virtually every single game at 2b.

And Kirk is an OF. I don't see the great harm in moving him around to different OF positions. I don't think anyone knows what exactly he is yet. If he's in the lineup...he'll play CF when Torres doesn't play...and one of the corners when he does. I don't see anything wrong with that. It's about what fits the team best on a given day, not catering to Kirk. But even then you could argue its actually in Kirk's advantage to show that he can play all OF positions.

I'd worry more about Kirk proving he's an every day MLB player than worry about which OF slot he fits in the best. The only hypothetical move I would have issue with would have been Murphy moving off of 2b for an extended period for Ike/Wright. I think Murphy is either a 2b or he has more value on another team and I'd like to see him have a full shot at 2b.