The Edge of Seventeen: Kevin Plawecki

[Edgy MD]

Look, the whole "If d'Arnaud doesn't work out, we've got another answer right behind him in Plawecki" logic had it's flaws from the start. We catching prospects are tough calls. We mature when we mature. We've got to take the lion's share of the physical rigors of this game. We've got to be responsible for the pitches thrown by twelve or more different pitchers who could have different stuff working on any given day, we've got to crouch, we've got to stop 102-mile-an-hour fastballs and 55-foot curveballs from bouncing to the backstop, and we've got to do all that while being a useful offensive force. Some guys can only make one adjustment at a time. Some guys ... well, John Gibbons ... .

That's why me and Travis are buds. We're not fighting for the same job—we're trying to get over the same humps. Make the same adjustments. If we can get that licked, we'll both stick, somewhere. So, how many humps will I clear in 2017?

[fimg=366:10pg0lve]http://media.nj.com/njcom_photos/photo/2015/04/25/-8aa46c3e88e70ff1.JPG[/fimg:10pg0lve] [fimg=354:10pg0lve]http://metsmerizedonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/kevin-plawecki-first-hr-e1429999124496.jpg[/fimg:10pg0lve]
[fimg=360:10pg0lve]http://m.mlb.com/assets/images/9/1/0/123444910/cuts/Plawecki_1280_ujdj2avp_b7lihxd7.jpg[/fimg:10pg0lve] [fimg=360:10pg0lve]http://m.mlb.com/assets/images/3/8/2/119743382/cuts/Plawecki1280_3t6b4sqb_8mfqnc4y.jpg[/fimg:10pg0lve]

[Lefty Specialist]

Odd man out, but he'll get some time in the bigs.

Unfortunately, as in the past, he won't do much with it. 1/5/.210.

[Ceetar]

He's already better than Rene Rivera imo, and will get the chance to prove it and get some time based on injuries and just general catcher rest stuff.

.261/.320/.401 over 311 PA. 9 HR. Catches a no-hitter.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think Plawecki has a lot of challenges this year: He not only needs to keep on hitting in Vegas, but also, look like a better option than dArnaud while holding off El Nino, with the latter two showing better recent trajectories. I think there's a good chance he's traded if someone else's catcher gets hurt and he's doing OK at Vegas, which he's probably capable of.

I agree he's likely better than Rivera as a player, but not necessarily as a *backup* player. Lots of challenges this year for Kev. I see him as a White Sock.

[Guest d'Kong76]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I see him as a White Sock.

He gone! in 2017...

[Edgy MD]

He homered today. Off of a borderline prospect named Arturo Reyes, but still.

[MFS62]

When he was drafted, scouting reports said he had good batting contact skills and was good defensively. Those will emerge enough in AAA this year to make him a legitimate contributor in the majors in 2018. And, he'll make some brief appearances when TDA hits the DL, and bat .267 - 5 - 20 in the majors.

Later