Dec
6
2011

Paulino Could Be Out, Mets Could Give Backup Catcher Spot To Nickeas

An article by Hojo's Mojo

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, the Mets resolved today that they will NOT pursue a free agent catcher to platoon with starting catcher Josh Thole, and instead they will fill that position from within the organization. The reason for this shift in strategy is so that they can free up some money they can use to help them acquire pitching.

In addition, a team insider said that the organization has yet to decide if they will non-tender Ronny Paulino at the December 12 deadline. Paulino made $1.35 million last season and is eligible for arbitration. Rubin said that there is widespread disappointment in the organization with Paulino’s lack of following of pitching game plans, but they aren’t yet committed to tossing him aside.

The only internal option the Mets currently have that is major league ready is defensive-oriented Mike Nickeas who batted .189 last season in a brief stint with the Mets. He could become the right-handed half of a platoon with Thole and did fare a little better against LHP batting .259 against them in a small sampling.

So much for the Kelly Shoppach and Jason Varitek rumors…

About the Author: Rob Johnson

11 Comments + Add Comment

tlagee December 6, 2011 at 7:18 pm

This is getting ridiculous. No other team in baseball would have Thole as the primary catcher much less pick somebody worse within the organization to back him up. This is to ‘free up more money on pitching’? To paraphrase Casey – you need a catcher first – otherwise the ball will roll to the backstop.

Sandy says it’s important for fans to come to the ballpark so he can get more money for players. Fans have already stopped coming and it will only get worse.
- trs86 December 7, 2011 at 8:59 am
  
  Actually the Marlins, Mariners and A’s all had even worse catchers offensively last year. I am sure there are more but those came to mind. The Blue Jays catcher was also terrible defensively and unless you like teens HR’s with a .200 BA I would consider him worse as well.
Markcomic1 December 6, 2011 at 7:30 pm

I wish the Wipons would just do the New York fans a favor and sell the team. They are dragging the team down their financial rabbit hole with them..Just sell the team already…For the sake of saving this team, please just sell the team.
Des December 6, 2011 at 8:16 pm

Let’s not pair Mike Pelfrey with Josh Thole. It’s a resume for disaster on the basepaths. Together with Ronnie Paulino, they allowed 29 of 31 runners to take the next base when Pelf was on the mound. That’s a 6% CS record.

In his three year major league career Thole has a CS% of 27. (But last year Thole fell off to a CS% of 21.)

On the other hand, Mike Nickeas has a CS% in the mid-thirties during his long minor league career.
pal88 December 6, 2011 at 8:19 pm

This speaks volumes of the financial state of this AAAA team…Pls Wilpons SELL!!!!!
Petey Pete December 6, 2011 at 10:33 pm

Thole/Nickeas? That’s SOME platoon. One guy can field but he can’t hit. The other guy can hit a little, but he can’t catch. Good idea.
- Des December 7, 2011 at 12:29 am
  
  Petey — There’s always an element of truth in humor. You’ve hit the nail on the head.
  
  Paulino is the odd man out in any case. If the Mets management had trouble with Angel Pagan’s attitude, they must have been totally bananas with Paulino’s. He needs a quick 12 Steps to Positive Thinking course or he’s gone from the major leagues.
theonlymaskman December 7, 2011 at 12:13 am

Get rid of Paulino now; it was stupid to get him in the first place. I don’t care if the other 2 guys suck. The team sucks anyway and I just want to see Paulino gone. It will be addition by subtraction. See ya later ya bum!
- Metstheory22 December 7, 2011 at 7:19 am
  
  Agree, Paulino brought nothing to this team last year.
  - theonlymaskman December 7, 2011 at 8:48 am
    
    Exactly, and that has to make you wonder about the abilities of Brainiac our GM to select players from the bargain basement list for this team. Paulino was a fail from the start especially knowing in advance that he would be on the MLB suspended list to start the season. Signing him was a complete boondoggle by he who is a self-proclaimed Genius. Why shouldn’t we expect more boondoggles in the future?
Hitman December 7, 2011 at 3:36 pm

For one of the biggest positions the Mets need to change outside of pitching, this is just ludicrous. Doesn’t help matters that the catching depth is slim to none. I’d look into Yasmani Grandal of the Reds system if I were the Mets. Grandal was a guy I personally wanted the Mets to draft, but I’m not complaining about who they got (Harvey). He’d be ready soon, but the Reds have another kid that could block him (D. Mesoraco).

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