Paul Lo Duca: Hype

Paul Lo Duca: Hype

Back in August 2004, I wrote an editorial about how baseball catcher Paul Lo Duca was overrated, in effect I buried him. Turns out I was correct. Not only did this guy NOT win a championship with any team since I wrote that article, but he got caught cheating on his model wife with teenage girls. He also got into several fights with players while with the New York Mets. He did not heal the New York clubhouse; in fact, he added to the chaos under Willie Randolph, and contributed to the greatest downfall in Mets' history (AND THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING!). The icing on the cake: everyone in baseball apparently knew that he was steroid and HGH user, as shown in the Mitchell Report.

So, let's hit rewind and see what I wrote over 3 years ago:

August 4, 2004- The Dodgers traded Paul Lo Duca to the Marlins in a deadline deal. Then the MEDIA christened catcher Paul Lo Duca the "heart and soul" of the Dodger team, and how the chemistry has been ruined in the Dodger clubhouse. After all, Lo Duca was a "clubhouse leader" and "proven veteran".

It's amazing that Saint Lo Duca's "leadership" didn't win the Dodgers a pennant. After all, he's been playing with them since 1998. Why can't the MEDIA explain that?

Let's take a look at Saint Lo Duca's stats: he had one above average OPS+ year in 2001, when his OPS (on-base+slugging%) was higher than 44% of the league. In 2002, he was league average. And in 2003, he was 8% below league average. By the way in '98 he was 26% below avg., 58% below avg. in '99, and 25% below avg. in 2000. His homerun totals in his 6-year career: 0, 3, 2, 25, 10, and 7. Huh. According to Similarity Scores, his stats are most similar to the greatness that is Michael Barret. Huh.

And to add to his legend, he hit a homerun on the first pitch seen in a Marlins uniform. The sad thing about baseball is that below average players always seem to shine when everyone's watching. So a year from now, I will be eating these words. After all, Paul Lo Duca will carry the Fish all the way to the championship in 2004, right?

The MEDIA has elevated his status to other "proven leaders" like Pudge and Derek. I wish there was an "intangibles" ranking on ESPN, so I can look up to see who the other league leaders are.