A Review of The Maple Street Press Mets Annual 2011

Recently, the Studious Metsimus staff received a wonderful surprise when we opened our mailbox. No, it wasn't the Publisher's Clearing House "You May Be Our Next Millionaire" envelope or the latest Victoria's Secret catalog (I read it for the articles). It was the 2011 edition of the Maple Street Press Mets Annual!

From Ike Davis belting a ball to the skies to Jesse Orosco reaching for them, the Maple Street Press Mets Annual 2011 has all the bases covered.

This year's issue offers everything you love and expect from Maple Street Press. From the team preview to player profiles (with stats aplenty...yum!); from the analysis of the minor league system to historical articles by your favorite Mets authors/bloggers, there's something in this issue for Mets fans of every generation.

Without giving away too many spoilers, here are some of the highlights of this year's issue.

Batting leadoff, Matthew Silverman sets the table by recapping the Mets' off-season and giving us a glimpse into what Mets fans should expect from the team in 2011. He also discusses the financial turmoil that the Wilpons are in and talks about the new front office, one that has been working to get the most bang for their buck with their off-season acquisitions.

In the two-hole, we have stats, stats and more stats (as compiled by Silverman and Greg Spira). Is it no wonder that this is the section that got damaged the most while I was reading it? (Drool and magazine pages are never a good mix.) Featuring scouting reports and every possible number other than π, this comprehensive look at the Mets through their 2010 stats provides extensive insight into all of your favorite Mets. (Wait till you see R.A. Dickey's ground ball to fly ball ratio!)

The middle of the lineup features anecdotes and articles by Jon Springer, Sam Page (from Amazin' Avenue), Joe McDonald, and others (if I included all the names and articles here, you wouldn't have something to look forward to, would you?) They tackle everything from Moneyball to Citi Field to our fav'rit knuckleballer (you don't need to take out your Dickeypedia to figure out who I'm referring to).

Every team has a prospect or two hoping to become one of the big boys. As always, Toby Hyde is the premier authority on the Mets' minor league system, and after reading his articles, you'll be much more educated on the state of the farm system. You might even learn how to spell Nieuwenhuis properly without looking it up or asking R.A. Dickey for help.

The Blogfathers themselves, Greg Prince and Jason Fry (of Faith and Fear in Flushing) also contribute to the Mets Annual. Together, they hopped into their blue and orange DeLorean and travelled back in time to the year 2001. Once there, they discussed two emotional moments in Mets history, one tragic (the death of Mets' minor league prospect Brian Cole) and one uplifting (Mike Piazza's home run in the first post-9/11 game at Shea Stadium).

Finally, we get a feeling of déjà vu all over again, as the S & S boys (Silverman and Spira) reminisce about the 1986 World Champion Mets, who this season celebrate the 25th anniversary of their magical season. If you're a fan of that team, (and if you're not, why are you reading Studious Metsimus then?) you'll surely enjoy being taken down memory lane. Featuring stirring photos and the Top 25 moments from 1986, you'll remember exactly where you were when Mookie hit the little roller up along first (or if you're too young, you'll remember exactly where you watched the DVD).

If you're not one of the fortunate ones who received the Publisher's Clearing House envelope instead of this year's Annual, do yourself a favor and buy it at your local newsstand or just click here to buy it. It might not erase the memories of the past two seasons, but it will surely make you anticipate the better days ahead.

Hello And Goodbye (Part 2): Duda Hustle!

When the Mets traded rightfielder Jeff Francoeur to the Texas Rangers for infielder Joaquin Arias earlier this week, it opened up a spot for Lucas Duda to play every day. Wait. Lucas Who-da?

Before this season, Lucas Duda wasn't considered one of the Mets' top prospects. In fact, in this year's Maple Street Press Mets Annual, Duda wasn't even listed as one of the top 25 prospects (for position players). When you look at his performance at AA-Binghamton in 2009, it's easy to see why he was overlooked. Last year, Duda played 110 games at Binghamton and managed a .281 batting average. His 9 HR and 53 RBI was a slight decline from his 2008 numbers at St. Lucie, when he produced 11 HR and 66 RBI. Neither year was spectacular.

However, one thing that few people noticed was his doubles production. It is said that with age, doubles turn into homers, and an increased amount of doubles usually leads to a power surge once a player gains valuable experience.

At Brooklyn in 2007, Duda hit 20 doubles. That number rose to 26 in 2008 at St. Lucie and 29 in 2009 at Binghamton. Then came his 2010 season.

Duda began the 2010 season again at Binghamton, where he started hitting double after double, picking up an amazing 17 doubles (along with 6 HR) in only 45 games. That earned him a promotion to AAA-Buffalo, where the doubles continued, but the homers finally arrived as well. In 70 games at Buffalo, Duda hit 23 more doubles, but also added 17 HR.

Between AA and AAA, Duda hit a combined .304, with 40 doubles, 23 HR and 87 RBI, numbers that are very similar to what David Wright has produced for the Mets in 2010 (.292, 32 doubles, 22 HR, 87 RBI entering today's game against the Cubs).

That earned Duda a promotion to the Mets, where he has played every day since being called up on Wednesday, the day after Jeff Francoeur's spot in the outfield opened up due to his trade to Texas.

What will the future hold for Duda? That remains to be seen. But should he do well, the headlines of the New York tabloids will be splashed with "DUDA HUSTLE" and "DUDA RIGHT THING". If he is seen in public wearing the outfits that the veterans force rookies to wear during their hazing, the headlines might say "DUDA, LOOKS LIKE A LADY" after the Aerosmith song with the similar title.

Speaking of music, his entrance song when he makes his first appearance at Citi Field might end up being "Lucas With The Lid Off" , the 1995 kinda-sorta hit by one-hit wonder Lucas.

One thing is for sure with new Mets outfielder Lucas Duda. He has improved from year to year, going from a non-prospect to a major leaguer virtually overnight. His progress in the minor leagues looks very similar to David Wright's year-to-year progress, especially in the extra-base hit department:

Lucas Duda:
2008: .263 average, 26 doubles, 11 HR, 66 RBI
2009: .281 average, 29 doubles, 9 HR, 53 RBI
2010: .304 average, 40 doubles, 23 HR, 87 RBI

David Wright:
2002: .266 average, 30 doubles, 11 HR, 93 RBI
2003: .270 average, 39 doubles, 15 HR, 75 RBI
2004: .320 average, 52 doubles, 32 HR, 97 RBI (combined between minors and majors)

The homegrown movement has begun for the Mets. With Lucas Duda joining Ike Davis, Josh Thole, Ruben Tejada and Jonathon Niese, the Mets have proven that they had a better farm system than most experts gave them credit for. Before this year, the farm system had only produced Jose Reyes, David Wright and Mike Pelfrey (Angel Pagan came up through the Mets' farm system, but made his major league debut for the Cubs before coming back to the Mets in 2008).

Once the Mets shed themselves of the cancers in the clubhouse (El Perez-idente, Frankie Knuckles) and the bad contracts given to gimpy players (Luis Cast-"E"-llo), their youth movement will shine.

Lucas Duda is just the latest in a string of young players who will do his best to carry this team back to respectability. The future will be bright at Citi Field, so long as "the Duda abides" and takes the rest of the young Mets stars with him.

For Part 1 of "Hello And Goodbye", please click here.