According to the Daily News, the Mets have been looking at Astros 2nd baseman Mark Loretta. Much like Paul Lo Duca, Loretta is a professional hitter and ideally suited for any lineup's No. 2 slot. Manager Willie Randolph has been searching for a No. 2 hitter seemingly all season, and particularly since Lo Duca was forced to vacate that spot in the wake of Moises Alou's injury. Once Alou returns to his regular No. 6 spot in the order, Lo Duca would presumably return to the 2-hole, though nothing is set in stone at this point. With a bit more foot speed and a higher OBP, Loretta might represent an upgrade over Lo Duca in that spot. The fiery catcher has struggled this season, particularly as of late, as the career .288 hitter has seen his average dip to .265 and his OBP to just .310. Backup Ramon Castro has seen his playing time increase. Whether this trend continues remains to be seen, however if Loretta were to slot in as the team's No. 2 hitter, it would minimize the disruption of the lineup were Lo Duca and Castro to platoon.