Twenty-One Prediction Fun: Caleb Joseph

[Edgy MD]

I'm Caleb Joseph, and I'm trying to edge Tomás Nido for the Mets' backup catcher role. Won't you please support my effort?



My vet status may give me a slight edge, I don't know. It's hard, but I tend to do hard things. I'm 6'3" and 205 and nobody will tell you that this sort of Matzian frame is an ideal build for a major league catcher. But I've caught 399 big league games and so far Steven Matz has caught none. I've pitched in two games also, facing four batters, and the next guy to reach base against me will be the first. Hard.



I've also spent most of my career with some punching-bag Baltimore teams. That's hard too!



But do you know what's REALLY hard? My 2016 was really hard. In 2016, I came to the plate 141 times and had exactly 0 RBI. Do you know how hard that is? Usually I hit mostly like a journeyman backup catcher — low averages, puncher's power, and indifferent plate judgment. I hit like a guy who makes his living with his defense. But in 2016, I hit like a full-blown sucker. Like there was a whammy on me. In 2017, I went back to just being an indifferently below average hitter, as I had been up until 2015. But in 2016, I was special.



Hard.



You know what's not quite as hard? Figuring out my 2021 in advance. Do I break camp with this team? Do I hang around at Syracuse waiting for a shot? Do I get back on the mound? You can win BIG PRIZES if you can correctly answer!



Give it a shot! Because life can be ... hard.



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[Benjamin Grimm]

An example of the kind of big prize we're talking about:



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[MFS62]

That special player will be riding the special bus, back to AAA for the full year.

And I predict he will have at least one RBI there in 65 games, while batting .244.



Later

[kcmets]

He'll always be Joseph Caleb to me. Other than that, nothing Metly in 2021.

[G-Fafif]

Caleb Joseph has been released.