Open Thread - Are There Any In-House Catcher Alternatives? And Mets Minors Notables.

 

It hurts to watch TDA continue to Bravely hit like the Dickens while Mets' catchers in 2021 and 2022 have hit about .200 with minimal RBIs.  

But our tandem is McCann and Nido, like it or not.

Are there any realistic alternatives in the minors?

Consider the following 5:

Nick Meyer in Syracuse is 12 for 40 (.300), but the defensive whiz lacks power and has allowed 15 of 16 steals.

Patrick Mazeika is 7 for 37 (.189).  I don't think Pete Alonso will be ripping off his shirt any time soon. 

Nick Dini is 4 for 22 with 'Cuse. 

Hayden Senger is 10 for 44 (.227) in AA.

Francisco Alvarez has slid to .241 with 21 Ks 67 plate appearances in 16 games.  He's not making anyone forget thunderous Nolan Gorman - yet, at least.

Any realistic alternatives elsewhere?  (No, I don't think the Braves will release TDA so the Mets can sign him).  Or maybe after a decent DH from our catchers with the stick, you wish to just stand pat.  If so, go on record.

Other Notable Notes of a Minors Nature:

Tossing Tom Szapucki lost in AAA yesterday, but was up to 71 pitches.  I'll take it.  80 pitches next time, please. (Funny, the Szapper has been a pro since 2015, yet has thrown just 3,135 pro pitches so far! Ain't stats great?!))

SS Wyatt Young "the Wunderkind" had a hit, walk, and steal in AAA and is hitting .353 there, with a .462 OBP in 15 games.  Maybe someday (soon?), the little fella with 160 pro at-bats (.350) will play in Queens and Sinatra will be singing, "You Make Me Feel So Young."  Meanwhile, somehow, his top 7 ranked fellow teammates (Vientos and Lee) are hitting just .167 and .132.  Add those together, and you get a solid .299 - except it don't work that way, bro'.  Baseball is a funny game, huh?

OF Carlos Dominguez hit 2 bombs, now has 7 in 66 ABs in 2022, and has 21 doubles, 6 triples, 23 HRs, 81 RBIs, and 26 steals as a pro - reading that, I guess the 22 year old deserves to be considered a real prospect.

OF Alex Ramirez was 4 for 5 - the stupendous 19 year old is 29 for 81 (.358), deserving a "wow indeed".

SP Jose Butto fanned 7 in 4 innings, and 33 in 22 innings in AA.  Promote the dude now, unless you prefer prosciutto to Butto.  I don't.  So promote him.6 singles

VILLAR AND PILLAR

Remember them?  Villar has been up 57 times with the Cubs, with 4 walks, 2 doubles and 16 singles.  -0.2 WAR, though - 4 errors ub 8 games in the field will do that.  Decent utility, I guess.  But glad the Mets have who they have instead.

Pillar? In AAA (ouch!), and hitting well there, with 17 RBIs and a .545 slug % in 21 games.  How he could be in the minors all year is beyond me.  But if you sign with the Dodgers, you can easily get relegated to the minors.  Hey, LAD, trade him to Cincy - they're hitting just .200 and he surely could help them.

This Open Thread turned into an entire spool.

OK - CHIME IN.