OK, we've got James McCann to catch.
But he is not catching 162 games. So, everybody, sing with me:
"McCann, McCann, he's our man, if he can't do it...NIDO CAN??"
Is Tomas Nido going to be a viable back up catcher, ready to step in for a lengthy period if needed?
I thought it was incredible that Nido missed the rest of the 2020 season after his solid but oh-so-short 2020 start, as he absolutely lost a huge opportunity to show if he is "Real or Memorex."
His very limited 2020 results were drastically skewed by his 2 HR, 6 RBI game. Otherwise, he had no homers and no RBIs while going 5 for 20.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit 3 HRs in a game once - but I think most of us would agree he still stunk. A Wilpon era sub-par assembly line dude.
Juan Lagares had his "2 HR, 6 RBI equivalent" when he hit .339 in 59 ABs in 2018, before foolishly re-injuring himself and missing the rest of the season, but Juan hit just .213 in 2019 over a longer span and did not even get an AB in 2020. The 2018 spurt was a flash in the pan.
So, brief signs of outsized performance do not make one an effective performer longer term.
I know Nido worked with hitting coach on his weight shift while hitting. Maybe he is transformed. But who knows if he is any better a hitter on the MLB level than the .197 hitter with an excruciatingly low .234 OBP in 270 PAs that he's been in his career.
And his 9 of 69 in career steals hints that he is no Johnny Bench defensively.
One guy who did remind me of Johnny Bench defensively, and who successfully transformed his anemic bat, was Jerry Grote. Grote through 1967 hit .204 in 964 at bats. Over the rest of his long career, he hit .265, a tremendous uptick, as he adjusted his hitting style and went from .195 in 1967 to .282 in the year of the pitcher in 1968.
Nido could become another Grote. But for now, I remain "Not Sold" on Nido.
7 comments:
Agree, Tom.I would be surprised if the Mets went into the season with no other veteran options behind Nido for backup catcher. What if McCann gets hurt? I'm all for giving Nido a chance, but not to toss in all our chips on him
Mike, it is such a shame Nido got sick last year. Ramos was clearly sub par, and Nido would have perhaps gotten 25 games to show what he could do. His 2020 grade is unfortunately INCOMPLETE.
But those up close for the Mets probably have a real sense of did he improve in 2020 in a sustainable way, or was it a "one great game wonder."
I really wish Nido had another option available to us to be sent down, because I think he needs one more year of seasoning to get his just due in the Majors. I all for an Alex Avila signing to back up McCann.
Zozo, not sure if a 34 year old Avila is an upgrade over Nido - Avila gets on base decently, but his last 3 seasons, he has hit somewhere south of .190. And a ton of Ks.
Zozo - agree that Nido needs/needed another year at AAA. Nido was rushed after leading Single A in hitting and only when he got regular at bats (couple of months in 2018 at Binghamton) did he hit again. He should have stayed the entire 2019 in Syracuse but they instead let Maseraco and d'Arnaud go ans has to bring him to the majors. Poor player development. I think he is tye next ex-Met that wull prosper elsewhere.
It's a tough decision because of the lack of options, but given that our pitchers love his D, I'd give him an opportunity in ST.
I'd try to sign a veteran backup who would agree to play upstate until needed. The only way to keep Nido without his staying on the 25 (or 26?) would be to DFA him and hope he's unclaimed and willing to re-sign to a MnL deal. But I wouldn't risk losing him until we have a replacement signed.
Nido needs to turn heads this spring. Hopefully if he has more potential than he has shown so far Porter will know it and he will get a chance to back up. If he overperforms, he just might be the next...James McCann.
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