13
2012
Collins Wants Shoppach Back, Should He Even Have A Say?
An article by 72MetsFan
Before the game last night, Mets manager Terry Collins told reporters that he would like Kelly Shoppach to return to the Mets next season.
According to Collins, Shoppach has a sharp defensive game and he credits him for how he’s handled the pitching staff, particularly getting them to pitch inside more.
Shoppach, who turns 33 next Spring, is a career .228 hitter, but has enjoyed some moderate success since the Mets acquired him, batting .255 with three home runs in 17 games with the Amazins.
The right-handed hitting catcher signed one-year, $1.35 million deal with the Red Sox last winter to be thier backup catcher. There’s quite a buzz going around that if the Mets do bring him back they intend to use him as a regular catcher. It’s all speculation at this point, but the mere suggestion of it makes my skin crawl even if it was only intended to be a one-year stop gap.
Last week I read that Shoppach will most likely command a two year deal and considerably more than his current salary, but again that’s just more speculation and in the end he’ll get paid whatever the market will bear.
My wish for the catching position is this; making sure Josh Thole does not come back under any circumstances, and an honest attempt to bring a legitimate everyday catcher to the Mets as we start to bring up some of our top pitching prospects.
In my opinion Shoppach, like Thole, are not everyday catchers. As a matter of fact once the Mets started giving Shoppach more regular playing time, he has declined defensively and offensively. He is batting .182 in the last 14 days, and in that span his fielding percentage has dipped to .963, a terrible mark for a backstop.
My advice to Terry Collins would be to focus on doing his job as best as he can, and let Sandy Alderson do the same with his job.
About the Author: Drew Staley
On June 1, 2012 Johan Santana officially became my favorite current Met! I'm a Queens native who grew up in the shadows of Big Shea. I was a huge Ron Darling, Dave Magadan and John Olerud fan. Honored to be a part of such a great site for Mets fans. Ya Gotta Believe!
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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catching options on the open market (FA) are usually slim pickings. so as a backup for a year, he can do.
But, ideally they get a new, younger catcher of the future type (have to be via trade of course) that can take over as the starter, with Kelly there as the veteran support. Kind of what thole could be, if he actually had any, well, talent.
Given their limited resources and the fact that the pickings are slim for the catching market, I’d rather see them go after a big outfielder-even if it means trading someone like Niese. Shoppach and someone else not named Thole as a platoon would be fine with me.
Yes he should have a say. The GMs influence is way overblown these days. The manager goes to war with these guys and they all live with each other the entire summer and NOBODY has a feel for his team better than the manager whether we like him or not. I may not like Collins too much anymore but it’s not about that, it’s about a manager’s function and to say he has NO say and just do his job and let the GM do his is arrogance to umpteenth degree.
The manager ABSOLUTELY has a say. As a matter of fact i’m sure i some cases a GM will ask him manager’s opinions on guys he’s interested in, not shut him out. I’m sure the dynamic between GM and manager is completely different within all teams and no team acts without having input from all management sides as much as possible.
No he should not, because he shouldn’t be the manager. He brings NOTHING to the table. He should have blasted these clowns three weeks ago just to get their attention if nothing else.
Bring me Backman.
I agree Collins time has come and passed – no argument there but that’s not what i’m talking about.
I’m just saying a manager (in general) SHOULD have a say in roster moves, that’s all. To what degree? It varies on the relationship/dynamics between GM/Manager from team to team. For example Tony LaRussa i’m sure had a LOT of input towards the construction of his roster whereas maybe Robin Ventura in his first year working with Kenny Williams may not..than again who knows. But shutting the manager out of roster decisions? No.
That’s all i’m saying. The topic of if Collins should be here or not is another story
The title of the post is wrong it says,
“Collins Wants Shoppach Back, Should He Even Have A Say?”
When it should read,
“Collins Wants Shoppach Back, Should we even bring Collins be back?”