Tom Brennan - THE METS' TDA DEBACLE

Too many debacles can sink the S.S. Met.

It is always easy to say, "I told you so."

But when the Mets got rid of Travis d'Arnaud, count me as baffled.  I said so loudly at the time.

Coming off Tommy John surgery in spring 2019, the oft-injured d'Arnaud was sent down for a rehab stint at the start of the season - a SHORT stint.  Then he was rushed back, and in 20+ at bats, did not hit.

Meanwhile, the Mets had VERY marginal catchers to back up the solid-hitting Wilson Ramos; had they lost Ramos for any great length of time, it would have resulted in an absolutely devastating drop off in aggregate output from the catcher's position in 2019.

Good news in 2019?  Ramos proved to be remarkably sturdy.

Bad news?  The catchers other than Ramos and d'Arnaud, as expected, hit like spit in 2019.  Or like that word that rhymes with spit.

The Mets all too rapidly dumped d'Arnaud, which I thought at the time was utter foolishness, rather than giving him just a little more time to see if he could supply a bat like he demonstrated in 2017, when he had 16 homers and knocked in 57 in just 348 at bats, and when their other Mets' back up catchers CAN NOT HIT!!! 

Project that 2017 production over 550 at bats, and you'd have 25 homers and 90 ribbies.  As a back up catcher, if that could be replicated, how could you do better?

Well, through Friday's 11-10 loss to d'Arnaud's Braves, what had he done as an ex-Met in 2019 and 2020?  He did better.

In 334 ABs, 16 HRs, SEVENTY THREE RBI'S.

Over 550 at bats, that would project out to 27 HRs and ONE HUNDRED TWENTY RBI'S!!!!!!!!  

Oh, and a .270 average, and 18 doubles, a pace that over 550 at bats would equate to 30 doubles.

And while his bat resembles that of Johnny Bench, based on those projected numbers, he of course may not throw out base stealers like Bench, but he has nailed 28% of the 50 attempts against him since his TJS, within the realm of MLB catcher defensive respectability.

So I must ask the question, given that Nido and Rivera in 2019 hit slightly under .200 combined...

WHAT FRANKLY THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING TO GET RID OF TRAVIS D'ARNAUD??

If Ramos went on the IL this year, I would have the utmost confidence sliding d'Arnaud in to catch.  

Nido?  No. Rivera? No.  

Oh, my, gosh, no!

REALLY, AND PARDON MY FRENCH, WHAT THE HELL WERE THE FOOLS IN THE FRONT OFFICE THINKING?

And when is the next colossal blunder coming?