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Friday, March 02, 2007
Larussa v Fans
Van Slyke, a former Gold Glove center fielder, labeled Duncan potentially “average at best, not worst.” La Russa repeatedly has predicted Duncan would leave spring training “average at worst” in the outfield, where he struggled after shifting from first base last season.
The Fans think he’s the worst-fielding LF in MLB. He can’t run, can’t throw, can’t catch, and has no instincts to begin with. If Larussa was simply backing up Duncan, he could have said “he’ll be fine out there”, but to out-and-out say that he’ll be “average at worst” is really putting yourself out there. This is not Soriano, a guy with great speed and a good arm.
I was right there among the fans rating him the worst in the game, but Duncan has made an almost unbelievable turnaround. I have seen him make several + type plays so far and he’s made almost all the plays he should have made. I think La Russa was right, Duncan has been the best defensive Cardinal outfielder this season and I think the fans may agree with me when you see how he rates out next year.