Names like Gary Carter, Mike Piazza, Jerry Grote have all become what we think of when we imagine a Mets catcher. Beyond that holy trinity, they still have players like Todd Hundley and Paul LoDuca who did an admirable job in their respective lineups.
We are used to the position being one that provides offense. It is most likely that Thole will end up being a Paul LoDuca as opposed to a Mike Piazza, but that's not bad either. In his fist full season, Thole hit .268 last year while catching 114 games behind the plate.
He is just getting the defense down at the MLB level, especially the art of learning to catch a knuckler like R.A. Dickey. He spent last season learning to call a game and take control of a pitching staff; all the little things that never go into the box score.
With that said, he may spend some of this year doing the same thing, however, he should have some help back there. The Mets need to sign a veteran catcher to back him up and teach him how to be that complete player the franchise knows he can be.
There are several catchers still available on the market, however, one stands out as a perfect choice to accomplish this goal. His name is Ivan Rodriguez. Baseball fans know him simply as "Pudge". Rodriguez is as seasoned a veteran as they come.
He has spent 20 years in the big leagues. Most of them with a competitive Texas Rangers team that had solid pitching and a stellar offense. He may very well go into the Hall of Fame when he decides to hang up his spikes.
There were rumors last week that the Mets were interested in his services for the exact reason I explained. There are three reasons that immediately stand out as to why this would be a good move for the Mets.
First, he's an experienced catcher that knows how to take control of a pitching staff and how to call a game from behind the plate. He knows how to properly learn his own pitchers' weaknesses and strengths and those of the hitter.
This is something that he can and will teach to whoever he backs up next season. Why shouldn't that someone be Thole? Pudge can teach Thole how to improve on that .207 caught stealing percentage he posted last season.
Secondly, he can help Thole learn to be a situational hitter as well. Rather than trying to pull the ball and over-swing, Thole can become the gaps hitter everyone knows he is. Pudge is a career .296 hitter.
While he has come nowhere close to that in that past few seasons, he still knows how to work a count and get the pitch he wants. He can teach an impatient Josh Thole how to be more selective at the plate.
Finally, the tutelage of Ivan Rodriguez would be immeasurable for a young team. Everyone talks about the future of this pitching staff. With pitchers like Matt Harvey, Jesus Familia and Zack Wheeler all coming up in the next year or so, Thole needs to learn these things now. This season.
If the franchise decides they are trusting him with their most precious commodity, young pitching, they have to give him the proper support. Other wise, he will crash and burn and the young dream staff with him.
While he may never be a Mike Piazza or a Gary Carter, he can be happy just being Josh Thole. If that Josh Thole learns the nuances of the game from a great player like Ivan Rodriguez.
15 comments:
Looking at backup catchers the names of Pudge and Chris Snyder are the two that stand out for me.
I really don't care who they use here.
2012 is a push and I hope the Mets are targeting teams like Cincinnati to pry away a future starter for this position.
I'm hoping Nickeas sticks this year. I just like the guy.
Well, I still believe Thole can be an effective MLB catcher, but he needs the proper guidance. He has not had a successful veteran catcher behind him and therefore, has not really learned the nuances of the game like other young catchers across the league have had the benefit of doing. I say give him one season under Pudge, or Snyder as you said David, and watch him grow leaps and bounds by the end of the season in every aspect of his game.
Nice piece Frank....I like Pudge as the backup here. Not only to help Thole and lock down the position for 2012, but if the Mets have the foresight to go out and acquire a "catcher of the future", I'd love for Pudge to be on the roster when he comes up.
Hey Mack, any word if the Mets are making the acquisition of a young catcher a priority?
Frank: Josh was a "natural" first baseman. He was never a projected great defensive player at any position. He was converted to a full time catcher in 2007 with Savannah and has done a credible job behind the plate.
In addition, he took a tip from Tim Tuefel and created a spray swing that got him to the majors.
No one has worked harder than Josh, but he is NOT one of the top 30 catchers on the face of the earth... and THAT's what you have to be to start in MLB.
Michael F.
Yes, they are... but, every team that has multiple catcher prospects know they are also...
It will take either a Familia or Harvey to pull it off this pre-season (not Mejia - injured)
I mean Mike S. - sorry
I was wondering if you thought that Niese might pry a Yasmani Grandal from the Reds but you've answered that question. The more I think about it, the more I'm willing to trade Niese (so long as we get a catcher of the future in the bargain)
1) Though I like him and would project him to stay in the rotation even if everyone within Generation 2K succeeds I don't think he'll ever be a #1 or #2 pitcher.
2) In the short term there are a few pitchers who could be signed (Chris Young... Javier Vazquez) to support the rotation through 2012.
3) It isn't often that we see a situation like the Reds have where you have two young players who are both basically ready at a NEED position like catcher.
Mack, I never said he didn't work hard. I realize he is not a top ranked catcher. I also realize that he didn't start out as one. All the more reason that he needs the proper tutelage from an experienced catcher. Teufel's tips on hitting are great, but as you know, it takes more than offense to be a MLB catcher. I still think he has the chance to be good here, given the right support.
Frank:
that wasn't the tone of my message...
frankly, I should have said that all the "proper guidance" in the worl isn't going to give him 2+mph on his throws to second...
I really like him and, if matched well, could be a great Met for many years
I think we forget that Thole had a good instructor 2 yrs ago in Blanco, and allegedly he learned quite a bit from him. To Frank's point, it's hard for Thole to progress without that mentor because of his late start at the position. I am betting that the team feels Bob Geren, ex-catcher himself, is the one to tutor Thole, and therefore won't spend the money on a Pudge and will settle for Nickeas until/if they acquire one of the Reds' young catching prospects...
Alot of different opinions on this subject. Mine.is that as much as I'd like Grandal or Montero, I don't think that Sandy trades one of the top four or five prospects to get one of them. So for now Thole is the guy and would benefit from having Pudge as a tutor for.this season. Also, I don't think this season is a push, and unless Sandy starts trading away his main offensive players, I'd prefer him trying to make the team as good as possible. That would mean getting one of the better back-ups available, like Ivan. He might actually fit into their price range, so why not? Now, would I trade Niese for someone's young catching prospect? If its Grandal or Montero, yes...in a heart beat. The Mets could always sign a good lefty starter in a couple years...good catching prospects are hard to find.
Good point David about Geren.
don't worry...
the Mets just signed a catcher the Pirates didn't want...
(this is embarassing...)
In talking about past Met catchers, no mention of John Stearns. A good hitter who could also steal bases
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