In Brooklyn, Alvarez is so near to his future home in Queens. A subway ride away. Remember using tokens? I do. When I was a kid going to high school, my school pass got me on the bus and subway for a nickel. Which was a cheap way to get me on the EE train (the old Double E) packed in like sardines.
But catching-wise, who else is around at higher levels wearing the tools of ignorance?
Surprisingly, in a good way, there are some guys wearing actual baseball masks who have not succumbed to the Mets' minors "weak hit, high strikeout" mentality.
A 24 year old 24th rounder in 2018, Hayden was expected to be good field, light hit.
He hit OK briefly in 2018 post-draft, in rookie ball.
In 2019, he spent the whole season in Columbia, where he hit .230 - not great, but then again, that whole team didn't hit a lot (.226).
Senger's 2020? Cancelled. In a year no one wanted to catch anything.
2021? Starting out in High A and then getting promoted to AA. Senger thru Thursday was hitting an excellent .311 in 80 plate appearances, with a .311/.350/.568 slash. Impressive. And in his relatively brief stint so far in Binghamton, he has thrown out a very nice 5 of 11.
Seems to me Senger is one to keep an eye on. Could be a fine combo of hitter and catcher, which any club would love in a back up catcher. I am not saying that is Senger's ceiling - his ceiling is up to him.
When drafted in the 6th round in 2018, Meyer (a few months older than Senger) was touted similarly to Senger, strong D and light bat. But obviously 18 rounds more highly thought of.
He is splitting this year between AA and AAA, and in 84 at bats, is hitting a fine .298 with a .379 OBP. One clear drawback is he has just 2 extra base hits, both doubles.
Career-wise, in 442 at bats, he is relatively powerless, with just 10 doubles, 2 triples, and a HR. But he hit just .172 in the minors at lower levels in 2019, so he really figured out some things with the bat. And in the last 2 seasons, he has caught 42% of steal attempts.
Seems Meyer is also one to keep an eye on as a future back up. He would help his case a lot if he discovers more bat pop.
I was very excited to see what D Rod might do after hitting nearly .400 in winter league ball with a nearly .500 OBP. However...
Just .160 between AA and AAA, but he is making contact, with just 11 Ks in 63 PAs, and his 11 walks give him a decent .333 OBP. He is a 39% caught stealing guy in the minors. The 25 year old is in a crowded field with the others here - he will need to rediscover his winter batting stroke to be in play - but the season is still young.
He is almost 29, who started his minor league career in 2011 and has never been a major leaguer, so I don't expect much from him, but he is hitting well in AAA in 55 plate appearances (.292/.382/.521), and threw out a fine 20 of 42 in 2019 while (however) nailing just 1 for 9 this year.
Given his age, the Czech-born Cervenka will have to keep hitting a lot to get a Queens peek, especially since the next guy is still around:
Mazeika has a short term edge on all of the above, having been on the Mets this year and exhibiting timely success in his brief tenure. The 27 year old is hitting .267 in 30 at bats back in Syracuse, and has caught 4 games so far. (Of course, after the above, he had 3 hits and 3 RBIs Sunday, so yes, Pat can hit - and make plenty of contact).
Whaddya think, folks?
Did this article catch your attention?
Or were you caught up in other things?
P.S. Speaking of catchers, on TV, the boys calling the game said that the staff is thrilled to pitch to James McCann. So, besides McCann's scorching bat of late, I wonder:
HOW MANY MORE RUNS WOULD METS' PITCHERS HAVE ALLOWED THIS YEAR IF THE BUFFALO WAS STILL THE CATCHER?
ANSWER? I DUNNO, BUT I IMAGINE IT'S A WHOLE LOT.
3 comments:
Great stuff Tom. I too was very excited that the Mets signed David Rodriguez but so far he has not hit. Hopefully Sunday's HR is a sign of things to come.
The catcher that has impressed me the most so far is Nick Myer. He has played great at both AA (.319/.407/.319) and AAA (.282/.349/.333) this year - in the field and the bat. He can also a good hit and run guy, and run the bases, play second base, third base, and the outfield. Think Tomas Nido with speed and the ability to play multiple positions. Nido is the better hitter as Meyer only has a Minor League Career .252 slugging percentage.
Thanks, John. The Meyer chink in the armor is his lack of power. But, I agree with his approach. HIT FIRST, THEN ADD POWER. Jerry Grote did that after hitting around .200 a few early seasons.
So many minor leaguers are 1) hitting below .200, and 2) fanning like a wind turbine. Meyer is approaching it correctly so far.
David Rodriguez I wish was playing everyday. He does not fan much, even this year, is up to .185, his OBP is up to .343, and his slug % is .401. McCann started slowly, and I think D Rod has, too. Get him more at bats, and watch him hit. Also, this is his first stint in AAA.
He is 9 for 36 over his last 10 starts, with 3 homers. 41 career homers. He might suddenly start to rake.
But, oddly, unlike almost any other position in the upper Mets' minors. Catcher is CROWDED. So at bats will be shared. Thank heavens some guys can get games in at other positions and for the DH.
I'd actually play Nick Meyer everyday in AAA (as he did great when he was there and the pitchers were better). I would play Senger everyday in AA. I would sprinkle in Mazeika at 1B, DH and occasionally behind the plate in AAA and do the same with David Rodrigues in AA. That way they all get at-bats and the two bets fielding catchers get to work with the Pitchers.
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