Catcher 2015

[Edgy MD]

The Mets have a lot of interesting pieces at catcher. The have the young, talented incumbent who has got to keep improving and stay healthy in order to hold his job. They have the backup with brute strength and willing heart. They have a guy on the fringe who bats lefty, which is always nice to see in a catcher. And they have the prospect on the verge, who will become an option should the incumbent falter.

What they might need to add in the offseason: the grouchy-but-wise veteran who will grumblingly sign a minor league deal with the hope of proving all those haters wrong, attempting to at least win the backup job. This guy, if he gets sent to Vegas, will have to seethe and think about it for a few days, but he'll probably take the assignment. He's this year's Teagarden. His name might actually be John Buck.

Also missing is the minor league veteran Latino journeyman, who will play until he's 40 but only get 20 at-bats in his decades of service. That guy will be signed also. His name might even be Molina.

The Incumbents

Dude	Age	Level	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
d'Arnaud	25.68	MLB	108	421	385	48	93	22	3	13	41	32	64	1	0	.242	.302	.416	.718
		AAA	15	59	55	13	24	8	0	6	16	3	5	0	0	.436	.475	.909	1.384
		AA	3	9	8	2	1	0	0	1	2	1	0	0	0	.125	.222	.500	.722
Recker	31.13	MLB	58	189	174	18	35	9	0	7	27	10	64	1	1	.201	.246	.374	.620
Centeno	24.91	MLB	10	33	30	1	6	0	0	0	2	3	5	0	0	.200	.273	.200	.473
		AAA	53	202	179	19	52	5	0	1	17	15	26	2	0	.291	.343	.335	.679
		AA	21	83	77	8	22	5	0	0	8	6	11	0	1	.286	.337	.351	.688
Teagarden*	30.82	MLB	9	30	28	1	4	0	0	1	5	2	7	0	0	.143	.200	.250	.450
		AAA	55	211	178	32	54	7	0	14	39	30	59	0	0	.303	.403	.579	.981
		A+	2	6	6	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.333	.333	.333	.667
		Rk	4	12	10	0	2	2	0	0	0	1	6	0	0	.200	.333	.400	.733

The Comers

Dude	Age	Level	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Plawecki	23.64	AAA	43	170	152	25	43	6	0	5	21	14	21	0	0	.283	.345	.421	.766
		AA	58	249	224	33	73	18	0	6	43	16	27	0	0	.326	.378	.487	.864
Gronauer	27.88	AA	11	39	34	3	6	1	0	1	4	4	7	0	0	.176	.282	.294	.576
		AAA	19	33	24	3	4	3	0	1	7	4	9	0	1	.167	.300	.417	.717
Carillo	25.51	AAA	8	20	16	3	5	2	0	0	3	1	1	0	0	.313	.400	.438	.838
		AA	58	215	191	28	54	7	0	2	19	11	32	0	0	.283	.350	.351	.701
Maron	23.74	AA	1	2	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.500	.500	.500	1.000
		A+	98	416	348	50	98	15	2	3	50	61	68	1	1	.282	.387	.362	.749

The Foreigners

Dude	Age	Level	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
John Buck	34.28	MLB	32	97	89	9	20	2	0	1	6	8	26	0	0	.225	.289	.281	.570
		AAA	33	135	119	13	35	8	0	2	15	13	22	0	0	.294	.370	.412	.782
Ryan Doumit	33.54	MLB	100	166	157	11	31	4	0	5	17	7	49	1	0	.197	.235	.318	.553
Nick Hundley *	31.10	MLB	83	233	218	18	53	7	0	6	22	10	63	1	0	.243	.273	.358	.631
Gerald Laird	34.92	MLB	53	167	152	12	31	8	0	0	10	14	33	0	0	.204	.275	.257	.532
Russell Martin	31.67	MLB	111	460	379	45	110	20	0	11	67	59	78	4	4	.290	.402	.430	.832
Jeff Mathis *	31.55	MLB	64	195	175	12	35	7	0	2	12	15	64	0	0	.200	.263	.274	.537
Wil Nieves	37.06	MLB	36	128	122	9	31	8	0	1	7	1	34	1	0	.254	.270	.344	.614
		AA	3	12	12	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	.083	.083	.083	.167
		A+	2	4	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250	.250	.250	.500
		Rk	6	22	19	3	5	2	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	.263	.364	.368	.732
Ronny Paulino	33.49	SUSP-PED
A.J. Pierzynski	37.79	MLB	102	362	338	25	85	12	1	5	37	14	54	0	1	.251	.288	.337	.625
David Ross	37.58	MLB	50	171	152	16	28	7	0	7	15	16	58	0	1	.184	.260	.368	.629
Geovany Soto	33.49	MLB	24	87	80	8	20	6	0	1	11	6	19	0	0	.250	.302	.363	.665

You know who else the team could use? Mr. I-Play-Other-Positions-and-So-Add-an-Element-of-Versatility. But the team may want to turn the incumbent starter into that guy.

[Lefty Specialist]

What they need to add in the offseason: nothing.

d'Arnaud plays, Recker backs up, Plawecki waits in the wings. Next.

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, I don't see any immediate need to be addressed here.
But there will be questions to be answered as the season progresses, the biggest being that, with Plawecki coming on fast, d'Arnaud has to both prove he can stay on the field AND improve defensively if he wants to keep his job. Sounds odd to say that after such a good offensive second half but that improved offense also shows he maybe has the bat to carry off a different position (LF for example) if we should suddenly find ourselves overburdened with good, young catchers. The other alternative would be that one of them becomes trade bait.

[seawolf17]

I honestly don't understand the love affair with Anthony Recker. I have zero attachment to him.

[Edgy MD]

That's because you have a heart of stone and the libido of a cold dead fish on ice.

But sure they need to add something. A pair of indifferently talented, but hard-as-nails, releasable journeymen. They'll totally either bring in a big league vet to compete with Recker, or move Recker altogether over the winter.

Veteran catchers add color to training camp. The first guy to be interviewed is often the veteran catcher. There'll be nothing happening on day one except a couple of 30-pitch bullpen sessions, and having nothing to write about but an audience hanging on his every word, the beat guy will stick a mic in the face of Tuffy Gosewisch or Guillermo Quiroz or Andrew Susac or Eli Fuckin' Whiteside and ask what he saw from Steven Matz out there today, and he'll say, "Real easy motion, fun to catch. The ball just explodes out his hand and takes you by surprise. Real easy motion. I've seen a lot of pitchers, but if he stays healthy, he's gonna be real special."

And even the most cynical among us will feel a warm glow. Even though we've read the same a thousand times. And then there's a better-than-even chance that's the last quote you'll read from him all year. And a better-than-even chance that's the last we see all year of the pitcher he's speaking about.

God bless the journeyman catcher/spring training quote guy!

[Ceetar]

seawolf17 wrote: I honestly don't understand the love affair with Anthony Recker. I have zero attachment to him.

he does an okay job at the position and has some pop. That's gold in backup catchers basically.

[MFS62]

Didn't realize Russell Martin was that young. Seems like he's been around forever.
That said, I don't think any moves are necessary at that position.

Later

[batmagadanleadoff]

Anthony Recker sucks. But if youse wanna go 55 posts on who the Mets backup catcher should be, go knock yourselves out.

[Ceetar]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Anthony Recker sucks. But if youse wanna go 55 posts on who the Mets backup catcher should be, go knock yourselves out.

There aren't 30 good catchers in the league to start, so of course he sucks. he just sucks less than most.

[Frayed Knot]

seawolf17 wrote: I honestly don't understand the love affair with Anthony Recker. I have zero attachment to him.

It's the dreamy eyes and broad shoulders.

But seriously folks ... assuming that d'Arnaud version 2nd-half.0 is real and plays 80% of the time or more next year, then the specific identity of the backup catcher isn't going to matter all that much.
Backup backstops need to play decent defense (he does) and supply something with the bat either in the form of hitting from the opposite side as the starter (no) or be a threat to knock one out of the park every once in a while (Big YES)

I'm all ears for anyone who has suggestions for a different backup, but it'll probably be a lateral move at best. And if d'Arnaud either falters or gets injured then the backup is simply going to be backing up Plawecki instead.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, but that's hardly a safe assumption. Ike Davis turned an awful season around. Then came back the next spring and was awful again. That and the greater injury risk make backup catchers highly prone to becoming unexpected starting catchers.

Catcher shopping is important. And I'm not as confident that Plawecki will necessarily be ready. I mean, a .766 OPS in the PCL isn't exactly dominating.

[Frayed Knot]

But someone who's capable of being a full-time starter isn't going to come to Queens with d'Arnaud seemingly entrenched and Plawecki on the verge, which means any import will simply be a different backup.
So is there a better one out there who's available and better than Recker???

What do you want to give the Yanx for either Cervelli (29 y/o - .301/.370/.432 over 150 ABs) or John Ryan Murphy (.284/.317/.370 over 81 ABs)?

[Edgy MD]

But someone who's capable of being a full-time starter isn't going to come to Queens with d'Arnaud seemingly entrenched and Plawecki on the verge, which means any import will simply be a different backup.

Well, it could happen. The Mets would just have to be the only ones who correctly gauged his abilities.

And Recker might not be brought back just based on his possible cost (or just be a tasty trade muffin). But they'll surely bring in somebody. Maybe two somebodies. And they'd better be ready with the Matz quotes.

[ashie62]

Don't see the need to make a move at C. LF and SS yes.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

God, I'd have to drink a lot more on mornings before day games after night games if we brought in Cervelli.

Believe it or not, good ol' runsucker Recker has actually been worth about a win-and-a-half in 350 or so PAs over the last two seasons... which kinda makes him a mediocre-starter-level player in this league.

[Edgy MD]

See, now that's getting in the spirit of things.

[Frayed Knot]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: God, I'd have to drink a lot more on mornings before day games after night games if we brought in Cervelli.

As would I. I'm just throwing out examples here and the Yanx are in a situation where they're locked into McCann for a while, can't really DH/1B him except on occasions on account of having to DH Beltran, ARod, and Teixeira on a semi- (or more) regular basis just to keep them on the field, and are always said to have young catching prospects* just about ready to move up. That means a Cervelli type would be a guy they'd want to move and that he's an example of a backup capable of starting for a time if your main guy goes down.
Better fit than Recker? ... I dunno, higher BA, lower power, not sure on the defense. Bigger A-hole? ... no doubt.






* although these supposedly good and numerous NYY catching prospects rarely seem to pan out. The latest is Gary Sanchez but he's probably at least a year away and who knows whether he just winds up in the pile with the others in the post-Posada era who aren't enough to stop them from going out an signing the likes of Brian McCann into his mid-30s

[Edgy MD]

Deal not announced yet, but the Mets have apparently added veteran of eight big league games Johnny Monell.

[fimg=400]http://sfgiantsphotos.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/monelljohnny-166.jpg[/fimg]

Check it out, he bats lefty, replacing Centeno as the fringy lefty guy. (Centeno replaced Thole, who turned out to be fringy even though we didn't know it at the time.)

[fimg=400]http://cdn.s3-media.wbal.com/Media/Archive/5028a062-2b70-459e-98ab-76ab77f07c56/original.jpg[/fimg]

Plus, I hear he's a very pinteresting fellow:



Monell hails from the Bronx and Columbus HS. He's the first Columbus grad to crack the show since somebody named Nick Testa pulled a Moonlight Graham and caught one inning in 1958.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Oh, there's a mischievous twinkle there. The kind of twinkle that might bloom into something more, um, florid if he tries to pay a surprise visit to the old campus.

[MFS62]

Frayed Knot wrote: As would I. I'm just throwing out examples here and the Yanx are in a situation where they're locked into McCann for a while, can't really DH/1B him except on occasions on account of having to DH Beltran, ARod, and Teixeira on a semi- (or more) regular basis just to keep them on the field,

When they signed McCann, a lefty power hitting catcher in YSIII, they thought they might get Yogi Berra numbers. They got Johnny Blanchard. In those pre-DH days, Berra moved to left field, Elston Howard caught, and Blanchard filled in. He still hit over 20 HR in 1961.

Later

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Deal not announced yet, but the Mets have apparently added veteran of eight big league games Johnny Monell. [fimg=400]http://sfgiantsphotos.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/monelljohnny-166.jpg[/fimg] Check it out, he bats lefty, replacing Centeno as the fringy lefty guy. (Centeno replaced Thole, who turned out to be fringy even though we didn't know it at the time.) [fimg=400]http://cdn.s3-media.wbal.com/Media/Archive/5028a062-2b70-459e-98ab-76ab77f07c56/original.jpg[/fimg] Plus, I hear he's a very pinteresting fellow: Monell hails from the Bronx and Columbus HS. He's the first Columbus grad to crack the show since somebody named Nick Testa pulled a Moonlight Graham and caught one inning in 1958.

Johnny Monell is the catcher on the Mets
I gave him fifty bucks to buy some pants
Even though the signing is just like a rumor
He's even more over than mayor Mike Bloomberg

[Lefty Specialist]

Well, if nothing else he can back up the Naked Cowboy in Times Square.

[Edgy MD]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Johnny Monell is the catcher on the Mets I gave him fifty bucks to buy some pants Even though the signing is just like a rumor He's even more over than mayor Mike Bloomberg

Taking cuts in St. Lucie on November the four
'Cause he ain't gonna catch for Albuquerque no more
Playing in bush league towns for bush league money
They shut down your school, there ain't a damn thing funny!

[Edgy MD]

It's official. Johnny gets a minor league contract and a Spring Training invite.

And Anthony Recker is that much closer to a non-tender hitting him in the coming weeks.

[ashie62]

They can keep Johnny and keep or not keep Recker, but they are going need a backup who can really catch to complement d'Arnaud.

[Vic Sage]

i like Recker. He has power and he can throw. We've had worse.

[Edgy MD]

Well, I'm not advocating against Recker, just commenting on the nature of his situation.

I don't believe for an instant, though, that Recker can "really" catch in a sense that "d'Arnaud" cannot. He certainly had a better defensive season but I don't see that as a reason to rush to a conclusive judgement.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy MD wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Johnny Monell is the catcher on the Mets I gave him fifty bucks to buy some pants Even though the signing is just like a rumor He's even more over than mayor Mike Bloomberg Taking cuts in St. Lucie on November the four 'Cause he ain't gonna catch for Albuquerque no more Playing in bush league towns for bush league money They shut down your school, there ain't a damn thing funny!

Hand him an invite and hand him some clothes
A country-west past? He's got one of those
Makes hisself at home and hangs out in his briefs
He goes to squat while suckin' his teefs

[G-Fafif]

Nobody in the past two years has "seemed" like more of a threat than Anthony Recker. Weeks pass between hits but then the one hit in his arsenal is a three-run shot to the Left Field Landing and GKR is praising him to the Promenade. Then he goes back to not hitting and I can't believe it because weren't they just telling me what an undeployed weapon he is?

That said, if you can get someone better, go ahead, but he's not the worst. Plus raw beauty, unlike raw power, never slumps.

[MFS62]

Monell, signed to a minor league contract, may one day replace Centeno on the major league roster. But he will never replace him in our hearts.

Later