It seems like just two years ago, a 53 at bat appearance from an apparent non-prospect catcher Josh Thole showed the Mets their backsto of the future, hitting .321 with nine RBI and a 4/5 BB/K ratio. He had plate discipline, a short swing and was not named Brian Schneider. 2009 saw the Mets go out and sign two backstops while seemingly forgetting about Josh Thole. Despite this, after the trade of Rod Barajas, Josh [...]

The Mets offense, after being quiet for the last two days eviscerated Vance Worley & the Phillies behind Josh Thole’s three RBI and Jonathon Niese’s excellent outing. Game Notes Jonathon Niese pitched a gem today, going six and one third innings, giving up five hits and one unearned run, while walking four and striking out six. Niese didn’t have A+ control today, but he was near the zone all day, and his walks were of [...]

Carlos Beltran ERUPTED for three home runs, and that offense helped mask a subpar outing from Jonathon Niese and the Mets won the series by winning today, 9-5 versus the Rockies. Game Notes Jonathon Niese went six and one-third innings, giving up five runs on seven hits (two home runs) while walking two and striking out three. Although the final line does look ugly, most of the damage on Jonathon was done in the seventh [...]

Jonathon Niese had a decent outing, and a big home run by Jason Pridie gave the Mets the win in the series opener versus the Dodgers, 6-3. Game Notes Jonathan Niese had a mixed outing today, being strong in some innings, and then being hittable in another inning. Jonathon was worked hard in the first inning, so his final line was five and two-third innings, with three runs allowed on seven hits with three walks [...]

Chris Young, in his first start off the disabled list had a poor outing, but the Mets offense and bullpen carried them through to a 6-4 series opening win versus the Nationals. Game Notes Chris Young struggled in his first start off the DL, going four and two-thirds innings allowing three runs on four hits, but all the runs scored on home runs, walking two and striking out three. Despite only the two walks, both [...]

Dillon Gee had a good outing, Jose Reyes was the tablesetter and new #2 hitter Josh Thole was productive and the Mets broke their losing streak, beating the Braves 3-2. Game Notes Dillon Gee in his first start of the season looked great. Gee only got in trouble once, and that was in the second inning after allowing a lead-off triple to Dan Uggla, who would later score on a Freddie Freeman single. Gee managed [...]

It wasn’t a “routine play,” but when Ryota Igarashi had the comebacker in the sixth inning, I thought to myself, ‘Yes! Throw home, step on the plate and then throw on to first base for the double play.’ Instead, Igarashi sailed a throw to Josh Thole, who then had to step on home plate for the force out but didn’t get the inning-ending double play. Instead, Carlos Gonzalez then hit a game-tying two-run single through [...]

R.A. Dickey had ZERO control today, and that seemed to be a recurring theme for the Mets as they took a loss in their home opener to the Nationals, 6-2. Game Notes R.A. Dickey just couldn’t find it today. Dickey allowed three runs on six hits in five innings, walking five and striking out three. Dickey finished the game throwing 98 pitches, 53 for strikes but those numbers didn’t begin evening out until the 4th [...]

Josh Thole goes into spring training as the odds-on favorite to get the bulk of the playing time at catcher. Even if manager Terry Collins goes to a lefty-righty platoon with Thole and the newly acquired Ronny Paulino, it would be the left-handed hitting Thole getting the lion’s share of at-bats. If Thole can handle the Mets’ pitching staff and can successfully hit major league pitching on a regular basis, he stands to do something [...]

Of all the players at Citi Field Kids Day, I was most impressed by Josh Thole, who Terry Collins introduced as a rising young star in the National League. Even after speaking with Beningo and Roberts on WFAN in the morning and then fielding basically the same set of questions in the afternoon, Thole smiled and delivered in-depth, informative answers. What’s more is that he seemed like a genuine, friendly guy. Thus far in his [...]