This is the T-Shirt Tuesday design for the April 23 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, honoring Mets catcher John Buck. It bears a striking resemblance to Blitzen.
In 31 plate appearances so far this season, Buck is batting .393/.387/.464 with four home runs and an NL leading 14 RBIs in eight games.
Buck did not hit his fourth home run of the year last year until May 13 (25 games) and did not drive in his 14th run of the season until June 24 (50 games).
He is the first Mets player with four home runs in the team’s first eight games of season since Mike Piazza in 2001.
I tossed the following question out on Twitter and what follows are a few of the many responses.
Some Met fans are excited about Buck because it keeps the Mets in contention. Others are excited because we can trade him at deadline and get more for him if he keeps this up. Where do you stand?
@MetsMerized I love what he brings to the young pitching staff. I think that's valuable then what we could receive in trade at the deadline.
— Ben Yoel (@Ben_Yoel) April 10, 2013
@MetsMerized trade, he keeps it up they could get a nice return
— Mets Fan (@bosco86) April 10, 2013
@MetsMerized He's without a doubt a deadline trade
— Big Mike NYC 🇺🇸 (@MiaFins1) April 10, 2013
@MetsMerized Dam ngood question. Think I'm the latter, hoping that if they are in contention d'Arnaud can keep them there.
— The Happy Recap (@TheHappyRecap) April 10, 2013
@MetsMerized The only answer to this question is . . . both. It all denoends on timing and circumstance.
— Scott M. Dolan (@ScottMDolan) April 10, 2013
@MetsMerized keep buck and sign him. Good 1-2 punch behind the plate; maybe Buck can play 1st against lefties when d'arnaud arrives
— Anthony Napolitano (@anthonynap) April 10, 2013
