May
4
2011

Thole May Soon Be Riding the Pine

An article by Craig Lerner

After last night’s 7-6 loss to the Giants, manager Terry Collins was asked if Josh Thole’s recent poor defensive performance can land the young catcher into a reserve catcher role. “That’s a possibility. And not just that, but to also maybe let Josh have a chance to clear his head a little bit.”

Thole disagreed when told of Collins’ comments and said, “I don’t feel like I need a mental blow. I mean, it’s only May. Geez. I better not be asking for days off.”

Thole has been exploited by a staggering amount of stolen bases, 22 already, and his caught stealing rate stands at an abysmal 15%, far below the major league average.

Thole also leads the majors with seven passed balls and has been on the receiving end of eight wild pitches.

In last night’s game Thole’s miscues allowed several runners to advance and the Giants were 3-for-3 on stolen base attempts. Thole also had a throwing error on one of those throws, prompting Collins to consider extra practice for Thole. “We’ve gotta do a better job for sure,” Collins said. “We’re gonna get him out and do some receiving stuff before Wednesday’s game.”

Making matters a little more tenuous is that Thole currently sports a .311 OBP and .603 OPS in 90 plate appearances this season.

About the Author: Craig Lerner

I'm a data analyst and researcher for a leading news agency who loves life and is hooked on the Mets. I love following the Amateur Draft and have a particular fondness for the Mets Minor Leagues who I follow each day. Give me a cold beer, a summer day, and a Mets game, and I'm good to go.

16 Comments + Add Comment

Russell Zanca May 4, 2011 at 11:46 am

Just wondering if anyone has noticed that Thole’s mask seems to blind him (by sliding over and covering his eyes) each time he tries to throw a guy out. I should think that can be adjusted!
- t agee May 4, 2011 at 12:45 pm
  
  Thole is a decent part of a 25 man roster but both offensively and defensively is only mediocre at best and I don’t think he’ll ever hit LHP well or consistently. Nothing wrong with him being here, he’s bound to improve, has quite a few years ahead of him but his ceiling isn’t as great as many other catchers who haven’t even made it to the Majors yet. He only had 238 games in the minors as a catcher (155 at 1B) and was initially brought up here with only 190 games at catcher. Now that might be enough for a first or 2nd round talent out of college but Thole got up here initially less because of him and more because of Schneider, Santos, Cancel and Casanova. Inotherwords, he was the best of our limited options. Our current options at catcher include 38 year old Raul Chavez, Dusty Ryan, waived by the Padres, and Saloman Manriquez who we got straight out of the independent Atlantic League where he played in 2009 and 2010. AA isn’t much better where we have a Frenchman hitting .167 and a German hitting .208. I mean what’s going on here?
  
  The best question to ask is why do we have such a dearth of talent in the minors?
  
  In fact many of our AAA backups were acquired on waivers because other teams had more talent in their systems. Guys like Luis Hernandez, Turner, Santos, Hessman, Pridie. Incredibly Hernandez, Turner and Santos were all waived by Baltimore for crying out loud. Every team in the AL then passed on them and so did everyone with a worse record than us in the NL including teams like Pittsburgh, AZ, Houston, Washington.
  
  It really makes you wonder when every team in the AL and the worst teams in the NL all have better minor league options than we do.
  - Harry C May 4, 2011 at 2:54 pm
    
    You must have one of the saddest lives in all the world seeing a need to write your depressing and boring and redundant drivel day after day after day after day after day after……
steve May 4, 2011 at 11:51 am

Bases loaded 1 out!! Hit the fn ball in the air. Sit him down,until he smartens up?
- Russell Zanca May 4, 2011 at 12:00 pm
  
  I see, Steve, so you think he just didn’t realize he had to hit it into the outfield?
  
  Yeah, man, it sucks lemons, but it is going to happen. Not sure you bench a player over this as much as we all hated it.
Steven A May 4, 2011 at 12:03 pm

Unfortunately, I think accountability is the new mantra on this team, and Josh should be benched for a few games.
Mark V May 4, 2011 at 12:21 pm

I think Thole is a great Talent. He does need more education or just some refocusing behind the plate. He’s young and he has a lot of responsibility with Pelf. needing someone to call his games R.A being all over the place and the wealth of new pitching this year. He needs a vetern Catcher to help bring him along. Not sure Paulino is that guy?? He’s stated over and over he was not coming into this team to be a backup catcher but to challenge for the everyday posision. I don’t blame him, but makes me wonder if he’ll help Thole all that much?? Maybe he will!!
- any May 4, 2011 at 12:44 pm
  
  hire someone then to be his personal tutor.
  - Metsie May 4, 2011 at 3:13 pm
    
    Is Felix Milan available for that?
    - Matt May 4, 2011 at 3:56 pm
      
      I wonder if we can grab Mackey Sasser to teach him how to throw?!?
- t agee May 4, 2011 at 12:53 pm
  
  Thole is not a great talent but he can be a good 1/2 of a catching tandem and will certainly get better over the next few years. His ceiling is middle of the pack which considering how few Major League catchers there are isn’t too bad but a RH hitting defensively sound catcher is a necessity for Thole right now.
  
  In almost any other teams system he would be in AAA right now but he can be a net positive up here, but only if the other catcher zigs where he zags.
Russell Zanca May 4, 2011 at 12:25 pm

Wish we still had Blanco!
- Metsie May 4, 2011 at 3:13 pm
  
  Sometime so do I!
sarge May 4, 2011 at 12:30 pm

Where is Sandy Alomar, Sr when you need him. He worked with Mets catchers in past and Mets don’t have a veteran catcher right now that can tutor Thole cause Paulino is out to get as many at bats as he can cause whether here or elsewhere he wants to play and be paid.

It was really rough to watch him struggle so bad last night.
- Metstheory22 May 4, 2011 at 4:12 pm
  
  You mean Sandy Alomar Jr.. Sr. was the infield coach for us and was let go last year. Jr. then left for Cleveland and is their catching coach I belive.
  
  I do agree, we need a catching instructor to help. Not the backup catcher as an intructor.
Des May 5, 2011 at 9:06 am

Interesting story on Josh, his wife Kathryn, and their young deaf dog, Picca. Worth a good read. This guy is stable and well grounded.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/05/05/2011-05-05_mets_catcher_josh_thole_carries_on_role_at_home_teaching_sign_language_to_his_de.html

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