Hot off the Mets press (release)…
Mets.com is reporting,
The New York Mets today announced that they recalled catcher Josh Thole from Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League. The Mets’ 13th round selection in the 2005 First Year Player Draft is expected to join the Mets in Colorado for tomorrow evening’s game and will wear uniform # 30.
Josh Thole will get his first cup of coffee with the MLB Mets, and it’ll be interesting to watch. His debut has been pretty hyped, as he has been dubbed the catcher of the future. Something to note is this :
The lefthanded-hitting catcher hit .328 (88-268) against lefthanded pitchers, while also hitting .328 (88-268) against righthanded pitchers.
Obviously that’s just AA ball, but he looks like he can hit. Good luck Josh Thole!
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WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Man I hope he hits well. That is a big jump from AA to the Majors. I can hear the negative posts already if he doesn’t do well.
He may even try to be to eager at the plate in an attempt to prove himself.
The Mets basically forced Murphy to make that jump, so we’ll see what happens, because I think Thole is a better pure hitter than Murphy.
Please elaborate.
Thole hit .328 against RH and LH and showed the ability to constantly hit line drives in the minors. Dan Murphy hit .303 at his callup and had the same line drive ability in him. Murphy didn’t hit as much, just barely, but when I say pure hitter, i’m basically meaning hitting for average. Thole probably doesn’t have as much power as Murphy(and that’s not much) but he does have enough to take one out and lace a few doubles. Something impresses me about holding an exact .328 average against both RH and LH. Even if it is just AA. I’m looking forward to keeping tabs on him.
They forced him, but Murphy was hitting. Even his outs were lines drives. Murphy’s strike was tight last year. That’s why I’m surprised of his out of the zone strikeouts–seems like he’s trying to force hitting more homeruns.
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The Mets should force more players to make the leap, honestly. Those players should be players on other levels like Savannah and GCL–no matter the age. Is it hard asking coaches who they see having the most potential and then brringing up that player for a shot?
Murphy was way more selective at the plate, and you are correct in noting that his strike zone was tighter. He seemed to be pressing a little this year and has lost some discipline as a result.
I’d like to see more young players, but sometimes you can’t just force someone up because they’re hot and they show potential. They should get a chance at some point, but the lowest I let a player make the jump from is AA, not even advanced-A.
Agree.
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
J, THAT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE IF THERE EWERE ANY FIRST ROUND TALENT BEING ADDED TO BEGIN WITH. THE PLAYERS ARE LATE ROUNDERS FOR A REASON. THEY DON’T HAVE THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR THE FAST TRACK.
NOTE: 13th ROUNDER FROM JUST 4 YRS AGO? WHAT CAN U EXPECT? HERE’S THE PROBLEM: THE METS HAVE HAD VERY, VERY FEW FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS SINCE ‘05. ONE OF THE VERY FEW WAS PELFREY.
ONCE WE STARTED TO PUT TOGETHER .500+ SEASONS BEGINNING IN ‘05, IT COST US OUR FIRST ROUNDER TO ACQUIRE BELTRAN,WAGNER,K-ROD. THUS SINCE OWNERSHIP HAS RULED THE TEAM WILL ADHERE TO THE COMMISSIONER’S RECOMMENDED SIGNING BONUS SLOTTING FORMULA. THERE IS NO CHANCE TO ACQUIRE THE FIRST ROUND LEVEL TALENT THAT SLIPPED OUT OF THE FIRST ROUND DUE TO PERCEIVED SIGNING DEMANDS.
THIS EXPLAINS AS BEST I CAN, WHY THE MAJORITY OF OUR FARM TALENT IS PLAYING IN ONE OF THE MANY SINGLE A LEVELS. A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF NYM AFFILIATIONS FOLLOWS:
New York Mets
• Buffalo Bisons (AAA) Roster
• Binghamton Mets (AA) Roster
• St. Lucie Mets (A Adv.) Roster
• Savannah Sand Gnats (A) Roster
• Brooklyn Cyclones (SS) Roster
• DSL Mets (R) Roster
• GCL Mets (R) Roster
• Kingsport Mets (R) Roster
• VSL Mets (R) Roster
DSL=DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE
GCL=GULF COAST LEAGUE
VSL=VENEZUELAN SUMMER LEAGUE
A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE PLIGHT THIS POLICY PUTS US IN IS THIS, OUR FIRST DRAFT PICK THIS YEAR WAS A PITCHER AS THE 72nd OVERALL PICK.
BOTH BOSTON & THE NYY WISELY IGNORE THE SELIG RECOMMENDATIONS AND CAN “CHERRY PICK” THE HIGH QUALITY TALENTS THAT SLIPPED DOWN TO THEM BY MEETING THE SIGNING DEMANDS REQUIRED. UNTIL NYM OWNERSHIP COMMITS ITSELF TO WINNING INSTEAD OF JUST COMPETING. THE FRUSTRATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO MOUNT. BTW. THIS PRACTICE WAS INSTITUTED BY FRED, LONG BEFORE BERNIE WAS OUTED.
EVEN THE NATIONALS IGNORED THE GUIDELINES THIS YR BY INKING THEIR TOP TALENTED FIRST PICK. TO RECORD SIGNING BONUS DEMANDED BY BORAS.
Everything you’ve said is right on. But at the end of the day, no matter the team, you don’t no what you have until you call them up. A guy could be 26-years old, batting .195 in Savannah. Then you bring him up, next thing you know he hits great for the rest of the year and the next year. You just don’t know. Take for instance, Trent Oeltjen, the Aussie who single handley killed the Mets in Arizona. He was hitting .185 in the minors. He’s brought up to the D-backs and makes some noise. Not only does that build his confidence for September callups, it will also help him in Minors and the future. It’s good to go the politically correct route saying you can’t just bring anyone up, I agree. But if you call up a few managers in minors and ask about certain players, hey, you never know. Remember, a player could be average in AA but that doesn’t mean he will be bad in the majors.
I think it’s speculative to assess Thole’s major leagued hitting potential at this time. Apparently he makes good contact but hasn’t shown much of the long ball yet.
What isn’t speculative to assess are his defensive skills. More work by Josh with continued day in and day out practice is on tap. He hasn’t been catching very long but is said to be very coachable.
We’re pulling for you, Josh!!!
looking forward to it!!!!!
Manuel and Omar will mess this up somehow. For some reason they always screw up the prospects…and by that I mean Mets Organization.
That’s my fear as well. My confidence in the competence of this orgaization is at an all time low. I hope they don’t mess up Thole in some ridiculous way.
I have been a Mets fan since the 70’s, and I have not given up on them. However, I feel the same as Mask, my confidence is a the lowest point due to the current management and ownership. They have lost all trust and faith.
finally! let him play everyday please Manuel. and why does it say “recalled” the Mets’ press release? he’s never been called up before, so it should just say called.