Inbox: How does Duda factor in stretch run?

In one sense, the Mets were disappointed to lose two of three to the Nationals this week. But they tried to view things through a more optimistic lens.

“We’re going home in the Wild Card hunt,” manager Terry Collins said after Wednesday’s game. “Our fans should be excited. It’s the last homestand, they should be excited to come out and see what happens in these 10 games. I don’t care who we’re playing, these are big games. This is a big time of year. We play pretty well at home and we’re hoping we get our fans excited, and we hope they come out and back us up.”

It’s a fine bit of rhetoric, though it doesn’t erase a number of questions facing the Mets in the second half of September and beyond. Time to answer some of them:

If Lucas Duda returns this season, what becomes of James Loney? — @RSQuackenbush via Twitter

As faithful readers of mets.com know, Duda’s rehab from a stress fracture in his lower back is increasing in intensity. Once believed lost for the season, Duda has been taking live batting practice for days now. He has a real possibility to return before the end of the season, perhaps even in time to escape the Tim Tebow-fueled media crush that’s about to descend on Port St. Lucie, Fla.

But there’s a big difference between Duda returning and Duda returning as an everyday first baseman. More likely, Duda will become a potent left-handed bat off the bench, capable of hitting a home run in any spot. Stress fractures are major injuries, and Duda experienced multiple setbacks in his return from one. Even if he makes it back in excellent health, the Mets will be wary of plugging him in as their everyday guy.

As such, I suspect Loney will stick around, sopping up whatever playing time against right-handed pitchers Duda can’t handle. Perhaps the better question is, if Duda is taking up a bench spot as a left-handed power bat, is there still room on an October roster for Michael Conforto? Speaking of whom …

Where is Conforto? Should I be concerned about his well being? — @connelly_gerard via Twitter

He’s still here, politely putting his work in without much to show for it. But Conforto hasn’t received much playing time — just a sporadic pinch-hit opportunity here and there — which has made it difficult for him to produce.

There are some within the Mets organization who believe the team handled Conforto all wrong, not allowing him to work out his issues — particularly against left-handers — at the Major League level. Others wanted him to rake at Triple-A and earn his way back, as Duda and Travis d’Arnaud did in years past.

Me personally? I would have liked to have seen Conforto stick it out in the Majors, though that hardly matters at this point. He’s not going to be a …

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