11
2012
Does Thole Have Value As Dickey’s Personal Catcher?
An article by 
I have never put a lot of stock in the whole personal catcher debate. I guess it could possibly be more of an issue when you are dealing with a knuckleballer, and you have a guy who knows how to catch it. It is a difficult pitch to catch, and since Josh Thole has been relatively successful in handling R.A. Dickey, I guess he has some value in that regard.
However, if we do decide to retain him as a Dickey’s personal catcher, then we have to watch his pitiful slap happy at-bats again in 2013. I’m sorry, but I think I have seen enough of Thole as an everyday player at this point. He is just not a major league caliber hitter, and should serve only in a utility role at best, if that. If he batted around .290, then maybe I would consider it even with his lack of power and run production.
A .261 career hitter, with seven home runs and 87 RBI spanning parts of 4 seasons? These numbers are just not going to cut it.
Thole is just 25 years old and is still young enough to develop some pop and increase his ability to drive in runs. But the fact is we struggle to score runs, and he was a major contributor to that this season Our lineup was essentially seven men deep this season, with Thole and the pitcher being automatic outs almost every night.
If we are going to have someone be Dickey’s personal catcher, I think I would rather call Tim Wakefield and ask him for Doug Mirabelli’s number to see if he wants to come out of retirement.
All kidding aside, I could be okay with Thole coming back in a personal catcher capacity for 2013 . But I will not be happy if he comes back in a platoon situation. He should not get the majority of at-bats behind the plate next season. We need to bring in a legitimate starting catcher and that should rank right up there with all of our other top priorities.
About the Author: Dan Valis
I am a staff writer for Mets Merized Online. I am a Mets team analyst with a focus on the minor league system, as well as the major league club. I am a lifelong New Yorker who was born and raised to be a Mets fan. The ups and downs of being a Mets fan is what makes following this team so much fun, but at times so frustrating. You can follow me on Twitter @BgAppleMetsTalk.
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| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 7.0 |
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Last updated: 05/18/2013
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No
Agree with Stick…and Dan, at 25 years old, he isn’t going to develop more pop. We would see signs of it already…if he was 18 or 19 I would agree, but at 25, what you see is pretty much what you’re going to get.
Nope.
Dear God no!
How many passed balls did the “personal catcher” allow this year?
I think a traditional knuckle ball pitcher this might be more of an issue but Dickey can actually control his. Not saying it’s easy but if Thole can learn, anyone can.
You know I have a soft spot for Josh Thole. He was the first ever active player to give us an interview and then he even got his pals to talk to us too. But that said, and all personal feelings aside, the Mets need a major facelift for 2013. The problem is that there are not too many places where the Mets could make radical changes. We are locked into Bay, Duda the call a keeper, as I’ve been saying Wright will get a regrettable longterm deal, so where do we make these wholesale changes? Alderson said, and I’m paraphrasing here, “The 2013 team will look a whole lot different than the team we ended this season with.”
Tejada isn’t going anywhere. I hope he’s not going to trade Ike but as I’ve said I strongly believe that to be the case. You gotta think Thole and maybe even Murphy are gonners, I don’t even think Shoppach will be brought back after his poor showing at the plate and his lack of movement behind the plate.
Thole will be one of the first players to go.
No, but I do believe we tend to ignore the fact that he has caught a Knuckleballer when we talk about his defense.
He needs to hit more and I can’t say he will.
I do however believe we need to stop obsessing on the Catcher position because there isn’t anything out there that is going to improve it and the best way ahead is to either develop one of those MiLers who seemingly have no position to play (Flores?) or draft some college kid who can fix the issue once all the other problems that ARE fixable have been sorted out.
I keep saying the same that all the catchers available stink, to trade for one you are bound to overpay and not to sleep on the kid from Perdue that we drafted last year.
The best way to develop a catcher is to find a guy who hits HRs (just not enough to ignore his defense) and convert him to catcher where range and speed are not an issue.
Duda would have been a good candidate for this. And I’m not sure yet but Flores might be too.
Catcher is not a position that players can easily convert to…that’s why good catching prospects are like striking oil. Another reason why catcher is generally a weak position is because whenever a player is a great hitter, they are usually transitioned to other positions so that their careers aren’t shortened by the wear and tear of catching.
Most people forget Harper was a catcher and he was immediately switched to the outfield.
Agreed. Thole I think was switched TO catcher because his bat wasn’t heavy enough for a corner spot.
NO WAY , there will be other
Cut thole
Dickey loves Hole
I meant Dickey loves Thole
Sure you did.
They just did draft what many thought, aside from Mike Zunio, was the best college catcher in last years draft. Kevin Pawlecki, second round, played for Cyclones and is a Moneyball lovers dream. Loves to walk, has some pop, contact hitter.
Also, they drafted a prep catcher whose value lies with his pop. Thomas Nido.
Pawlecki’s ETA is probably Sept, 2014
Nido is late 2015 or 2016.
Thats if they mature at a steady clip…The Mets therefor must address this gapping hole of a position or continue to get zero production from it.
Is Ronnie Poulino available? Oh yeah, been down the cheap road already.
If that’s the only reason why Thole is not non-tendered, I’m going to puke.