Catcher

[Elster88]

OPS (using OPS = OBP + SLG)
Schneider OPS = .703
Casanova OPS = .731


OPS (using OPS = 1.4 x OBP + SLG)
Schneider OPS = .861
Casanova OPS = .867



Schneider = .395 OBP, .308 SLG, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR in 65 at-bats
Casanova = .340 OBP, .391 SLG, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR in 46 at-bats

[Benjamin Grimm]

A few nights ago, SNY did one of those in-game fan polls.

The question was, "Who is the Mets MVP so far this season?"

The choices were Santana, Schneider, Church, and Wright.

I was surprised that Schneider was one of the four choices. (Is it even possible that he's the fourth best Met this season?)

The results were also surprising:

Santana 4%
Schneider 6%
Church 66%
Wright 24%

Now, it's not surprising that Schneider finished well behind Church and Wright, but that he finished above Santana? Huh?

I'm not putting him down; he's a nice player. But something's not right here. Especially since Schneider lost all that time to his injury and then his infection.

[metirish]

Schneider has been injured and missed time but so far he's underwhelming and his heralded defense is terrible .

[soupcan]

Better than LoDuca has been so far though.

And as Paulie left a game last night after feling 'a sharp pain' in his hand he got into it with some fans as he was going into the dugout.

New York Post:

]May 8, 2008 -- Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca was injured while batting and heckled by fans in the seventh inning of a 4-3 loss to the Astros last night in Houston. Lo Duca doubled over in pain after a swing. The team said he had sharp pain in his right hand and would be examined today. As he was heading to the dugout it appeared that two fans on the first row behind the dugout yelled at him. Lo Duca, whose name appeared in the Mitchell Report, yelled back before going into the dugout. Soon, park security and a police officer came and escorted the two men from their seats.

Edited May 8, 2008 by Guest

[G-Fafif]

Brian Schneider: A handy man with a texting device between pitches. Only answer I have as to how on earth 6% of team MVP votes would go to him. I've no idea how he made the final four unless it was as punishment to Billy Wagner.

They probably could have issued the choices as Ryan Church or nobody.

[seawolf17]

I like how they threw the Mitchell Report in there on LoDuca, like that has anything to do with anything.

[Fman99]

Wow. May 8 and Schneider is looking for his first extra base hit. That stinks out loud.

I noticed that since he's been back it seems like every throw trying to nab a base stealer was drifting right of 2nd and into right-center. Methinks he's still hurting in that thumb.

[Guest AG/DC]

It's as dumb as dirt given the broader context, but on the face of things, Schnedider is hitting like a potential number-two batter right now.

[Frayed Knot]

I'm willing to cut Schneider a bit of slack at this point seeing as how he hasn't really had a decent run of games since he showed up in February.
In - out - in - out.
Hammy - bruised arm - thumb.
Yadda, yadda.

Yeah I know that's the life of a catcher but this 2 month stretch has been particularly interrupted all while he's trying to get used to a new club.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree. I'm not willing to give up on him either.

Sucks for Casanova, though. He's done a good job, but he's going to get displaced by Castro.

But I suspect he'll be back once or twice before the season is done.

[batmagadanleadoff]

AG/DC wrote: It's as dumb as dirt given the broader context, but on the face of things, Schnedider is hitting like a potential number-two batter right now.

Schneider's hitting precisely like a #2 hitter this season. If I were shown this season's Mets players stats without the names, I'd want the guy owning Schneider's numbers to bat second.

Of course, there's no precedent for Schneider hitting the way he's hitting so far. So we're talking about a 31 year old catcher, almost in his 10th season hitting like a #2 hitter for the first time ever for a little more than half of a five week old season.

[nymr83]

]and his heralded defense is terrible .

have you been watching the same team as us? i think schneider's defense is great, he's made plays on bunts and gunning out runners that i've never seen from a mets catcher

[Gwreck]

The potential is there, yes. But he has been pretty sloppy lately, particularly with blocking of the plate and throwing to second base.

[Guest AG/DC]

I'll agree that he's been less than great.

[Theoldmole]

But he does look a little like Ernie Lombardi.

[metirish]

Nymr83 wrote: ]and his heralded defense is terrible . have you been watching the same team as us? i think schneider's defense is great, he's made plays on bunts and gunning out runners that i've never seen from a mets catcher

I must have missed that game.

[smg58]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I agree. I'm not willing to give up on him either. Sucks for Casanova, though. He's done a good job, but he's going to get displaced by Castro. But I suspect he'll be back once or twice before the season is done.

Casanova may have to clear waivers first, though, and I'm not certain that will happen.

As for Schneider, you always play up defense and other intangibles when you acquire a catcher you know can't hit. And I have no idea how you objectify the value of such a player. Unfortunately, there's really only one way his batting average will go from here. But he's a warm body at a position where the Mets lacked warm bodies, and I kind of think the Milledge deal will ultimately be judged by the performance of Church anyway.

[Guest AG/DC]

Schneider has 11 assists, four of which are would-be basestealers he's caught. I guess you can conclude something from the other seven, but I haven't been able to.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I have to say, what made The Schneid a good defensive catcher IMO was a solid all-around game -- few mistakes, never did much to hurt his team and over time that habit wins you some games. I haven't seen that complete package from him yet. Too many passed balls and poor throws.

I would guess that injuries are a part of that but that's a deficit to Schneid as far as I'm concerned. Way too many injuries for that good play to have its effect.

Casanova really had a chance to make this a hard decision but he didn't hit until Schneid was almost ready to come back. Too bad for him. I'm sure he'll make it to AAA safely and if not, thanks for the effort.

[Guest AG/DC]

We see a lot of starting catchers who are statistically no better than their backups. And we wonder what makes the Ramon Castros of the world eternal reserves. We usually don't spot defensive flawas that relegate them.

I've come to realize that managers believe certain guys can handle the slings and arrows of first-string catcherhood and not have their offense meaningfully suppressed. They'll get their bumps and bruises and swollen writsts and still get their knocks in. Others will slug .460 as a reserve, but the manager doesnt' think they could maintain anything like that as a regular. Or they'll just get knocked out of the ineup.

I don't think I believe that, but Castro sure feeds that idea. I think the Schneid has benefited from that notion. He's a life-long starter because he answers the bell.

But not this year. I've been ringing and ringing.

[nymr83]

Castro off the DL, Cssanova designated for assignment.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Any word on Casanova yet? When will we know whether or not he's cleared waivers.

I hope he does. He's the best third-string catcher the Mets have had in a while, and I'd like him to be around next time Schneider or Castro gets hurt.

[Elster88]

That inning could've snowballed if not for Schneider blocking the plate. Big play.

In the pre-game, Wagner said he loves pitching to Schneider. Said he gets him lots of strikes by framing pitches and such. That's pretty much verbatim.

[nymr83]

pretty stupid of wagner to admit his catcher is framing pitches that shouldnt be strikes

[Guest AG/DC]

It's not like he's saying they aren't strikes.

[nymr83]

thats how i read it, but then i'm reading elster's paraphrase of someone else's interview with wagner so i could be wrong

[batmagadanleadoff]

Elster88 wrote: In the pre-game, Wagner said he loves pitching to Schneider.

Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson called Brian Schneider the smartest catcher he's ever worked with.

[Theoldmole]

Is it possible for something to be pretty much verbatim?

[batmagadanleadoff]

TheOldMole wrote: Is it possible for something to be pretty much verbatim?

Pretty much.

Here's my quote, verbatimized:

"pitching coach Rick Peterson has told friends Schneider is the best catcher intellectually with whom he has worked."

Here, I'm quoting the writer, who's quoting Peterson.

[Elster88]

Nymr83 wrote: thats how i read it

Keep working on that reading comprehension.