The Sad and Abominable State Of Mets Catching

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• Joe Diaz December 1, 2011 at 10:29 am

  I agree JoeD.I can’t believe they are planning on going into the 2012 season with the worst defensive catcher in the NL.Thole is simply not a MLB catcher.Hernandez would’ve been a nice pickup.Hell i would’ve had no problem if they brought in another defensively challenged catcher in Doumit.At least he gives you some offense.
• Brandon Butler December 1, 2011 at 10:32 am

  The only way I could see the Mets taking Posada, is if he would agree to a minor-league deal, which I guarantee he wouldn’t. Varitek would be a nice addition. Veteran catcher who has worked with guys like Schilling, Beckett, etc. That would be an interesting acquisiton.
  • Alex in CT December 1, 2011 at 11:17 am

    I disagree with you. Varitek wouldn’t be an interesting acquisition, he sounds more like a recipe for disaster and not much of an upgrade over Paulino.
    • Brandon Butler December 1, 2011 at 12:10 pm

      If you had to pick between Posada or Varitek, which one would you choose? Varitek looks like he has some stuff left, while Posada pretty much does not.
      • izzy December 1, 2011 at 12:53 pm

        Brandon if I had to pick bewteen Varitek and Posada I would say the Mets need a new GM.
• Des December 1, 2011 at 10:41 am

  Last season, Thole and Paulino caught only 2 of 31 SB attempts (6%) with Pelfrey on the mound. Pelf is slow to the plate and our main catchers are slow with their throws to 2B or wherever. Terrible.
• Bayonne Mets Fan December 1, 2011 at 10:43 am

  When am I going to start hearing that this may possibly be one of the WORST front offices in Met history.
  • Alex68 December 1, 2011 at 10:58 am

    Bayonne, it depends where you wanna hear it from.. i started to say this LAST YEAR…
  • Alex in CT December 1, 2011 at 11:19 am

    The Mets had had many terrible front offices in their 50 years, but to judge this one on the strength of one year where they had no flexibility is plain wrong.
    • Alex68 December 1, 2011 at 11:34 am

      Difference is, is font office had the pleasure to inherit good players in many different areas, yet they DISMANTLE the team to get worst… others front offices have had to build from ground up, this one is going backwards… quickly!!
      • Donal December 1, 2011 at 11:38 am

        The team that suffered 2 burnouts followed by 2 losing seasons? That is the club you’re talking about?
• Russell Zanca December 1, 2011 at 10:44 am

  Definitely our weakest starting D and hitting in terms of position players. Ugh!
• nathan December 1, 2011 at 10:45 am

  It’s so sad I have to laugh at the idiocy of the FO. I would venture a guess that it would be easier to track pitching effectivness variations due to catcher then to track the effectivness of pitching coaches. See Henry Blanco.
• Squidoo December 1, 2011 at 10:59 am

  Unfortunately Joe, the Mets are simply locked into Thole for lack of better options. Most teams who do have a solid catcher are very reluctant to trade them. The Rockies did trade Ianetta who I like, but only because they signed Hernandez who I like as well.
• trs86 December 1, 2011 at 11:02 am

  I think it goes back to the other discussion as well as the Pagan discussion. What catcher out there is going to make a difference for 2012? What good is signing a 37+ year old catcher for 2012? I think they might still go out and get a decent guy to pair with Thole but what is it going to hurt to give him another year to see if anything changes?
  • Hank December 1, 2011 at 11:40 am

    That Hernandez signing is a bargain. Not only would he upgrade us at Catcher, the price was very reasonable. Also, Thole shouldn’t be handed the job, he’s done nothing to prove he’s the start run my opinion. Signing Hernandez not only pushes THole, it forces him to outplay him, just to get on the field.

    People keep saying it’s early, and not to freak out. But this is a weak free agent class that’s only getting weaker by the day. We’re playing to save money, not rebuild, and not to be a competitive team. It sucks being a Mets fan. Maybe I’ll just follow the Bisons come April, they’ll be much more entertaining.
• Alex68 December 1, 2011 at 11:11 am

  Posada contacted the mets… the mets said no, so most likely a guy like varitek will be an option.. great leadership, but even he will be too expensive for the mets… SMH
  • Donal December 1, 2011 at 11:36 am

    Posada provides great leadership? Is that what you said? I just want to clarify that.
• Donal December 1, 2011 at 11:37 am

  Who is the Rockies starting catcher? Is it Hernandez?
• Mr North Jersey December 1, 2011 at 11:42 am

  I agree Ramon Hernandez looked like a good fit for the Mets to platoon with Thole in 2012. I was disappointed to see the Rockies signed him. He hit much better vs lefties average wise in 2011 than Paulino did and threw out base runners at a much higher percentage.
• Mr North Jersey December 1, 2011 at 12:09 pm

  The one position so far where more players have been signed to pro contracts or traded for is catcher. The list so far looks like this.

  Blanco, Henry – ARI – One-year deal with mutual option $1,250,000
  Barajas, Rod – PIT – One-year contract with a club option for 2013 $4,000,000
  Treanor, Matt – LAD – One-year contract with a club option for 2013 $850,000
  Santos, Omir – DET – Minor league contract
  Schneider, Brian – PHI – One-year contract $800,000
  Laird, Gerald – DET – One-year contract $1,000,000
  Baker, John – SD – Traded for LHP Wade LeBlanc
  Boscan, J.C. – ATL – Minor league contract
  Fox, Jake – PIT – Minor league contract
  Doumit, Ryan – MIN – One-year contract $3,000,000
  Jaso, John – SEA – Traded for RHP Josh Lueke & PTBNL or cash
  Molina, Jose – TB – One year with a club option for 2013 $1,500,000
  Corporan, Carlos – HOU – Minor league contract
  Iannetta, Chris – LAA – Traded for Tyler Chatwood
  Hernandez, Ramon – COL – Two-year contract $6,4000,000

  Here are the remaining free agent catchers according to MLB.
  Bard, Josh
  Brown, Dusty
  Cancel, Robinson
  Castro, Ramon
  Gimenez, Hector
  Holm, Steve
  Johnson, Rob
  Kendall, Jason
  Lucy, Donny
  Molina, Gustavo
  Morales, Jose
  Navarro, Dioner
  Nieves, Wil
  Pagnozzi, Matt
  Phillips, Kyle
  Rivera, Mike
  Rivera, Rene
  Rodriguez, Ivan
  Sardinha, Dane
  Shoppach, Kelly
  Snyder, Chris
  Toregas, Wyatt
  Towles, J.R.
  Varitek, Jason

  Barring a trade who from that list would fit best? Pudge, Shoppach?
• Kay December 1, 2011 at 12:23 pm

  While the catching spot needs major help – I do not agree that Posada would have been an upgrade.

  He was never known to be a great defensive catcher and hasn’t played the position in over a year.
  • izzy December 1, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    So Posada isn’t the answer, can’t argue that point. But what about the 15 catchers that have moved so far. You think every single one of them wouldn’t have improved the club? Not a one of them???
    • Donal December 1, 2011 at 1:37 pm

      Which one of them would come here to be Thole’s back up?
• METFAN4LIFE December 1, 2011 at 12:49 pm

  I believe Thole will grow into the position and hit righties with increasing effectiveness. If I had my druthers and given the available names I would pick anybody named Molina
• Metsie December 1, 2011 at 12:52 pm

  I said it before in a post about Paulino…

  WHICH genius working for the Mets concluded he was a power hitter and why does he still have a job with us?

  The guy hit 11 Hrs like 4 or 5 years ago and thats his high water mark!

  Where and what deep statistical analysis was used to draw this conclusion about Paulino?

  Please Jessup and Donal please tell us how that was a good evaluation since you guys seem to be the best at making excuses for these guys!
• Donal December 1, 2011 at 2:47 pm

  Alderson flat out denying Posada’s agent called him.