Time to Trade for a Catcher

[rdg515]

Strat - O - Matic

I would have signed Laynce Nix, Juan Pierre and Ty Wigginton like the Phillies did [and they signed Thome after Howard went down]. For a total of $4M they have three professional hitters with lefty power, righty power and speed off the bench. We have Nickeas, Baxter, Hairston and Cedeno plus a solid Turner but these guys don't make the opposing managers quake in their boots in the 8th inning. I could understand not splurging on a high priced free agent but how about deepening the bench? Were any of you so high on Bay and Torres that we couldn't have signed Pierre or Damon to back up both spots? While the Yankees re-signed Eric Chavez and Andruw Jones for a total of $3M then added Raul Ibanez for a whopping $1M....we signed Loewen. So what happens if our starters get hurt???? Oh, wait a minute....that happened already to our leadoff hitter and #3 hitter. Raw rookies or AAAA backups and gaping holes in the lineup for 15-21 days at a time.

[YoungStuna]

How about you posting something clever once in awhile instead of taking pot shots...or just don't reply if you don't like the subject. I'm trying to stir the pot and make posts with actual facts and figures to make my points. You just reply with one liners. We are on this site to share ideas, not insults so just keep them to yourself.

As ironic this post is, my only question for you is this...

Why do you have to make a thread for everything that is on your mind?

[SILVER SEAVER]

Wow this thread couldn't come at a better time. Thole needs to be sat for a game for that dumbass mistake on the bases. Although he is hitting now... You know he won't hit above. 250. And that isn't nearly enough for a terrible defensive catcher.

He's hit .321, .277 & .268, that's better than .250

[rdg515]

As ironic this post is, my only question for you is this...

Why do you have to make a thread for everything that is on your mind?

And why does your total contribution to the website consist of a single sentence of pure negativatism?

[YoungStuna]

It doesn't. LOL

[yfern328]

I would have signed Laynce Nix, Juan Pierre and Ty Wigginton like the Phillies did [and they signed Thome after Howard went down]. For a total of $4M they have three professional hitters with lefty power, righty power and speed off the bench. We have Nickeas, Baxter, Hairston and Cedeno plus a solid Turner but these guys don't make the opposing managers quake in their boots in the 8th inning. I could understand not splurging on a high priced free agent but how about deepening the bench? Were any of you so high on Bay and Torres that we couldn't have signed Pierre or Damon to back up both spots? While the Yankees re-signed Eric Chavez and Andruw Jones for a total of $3M then added Raul Ibanez for a whopping $1M....we signed Loewen. So what happens if our starters get hurt???? Oh, wait a minute....that happened already to our leadoff hitter and #3 hitter. Raw rookies or AAAA backups and gaping holes in the lineup for 15-21 days at a time.

The Mets were expected to finish last in the division while the Phillies and Yankees were expected to be vying for a World Series. When you happen to be a championship team on paper, it's easier to sign good players for less that are chasing hardware. We would have had to overpay to bring in some of the guys you mentioned. That's why we ended up with guys like Loewen.

But honestly, I think Sandy wanted this year to truly assess all facets of the organization for a full year. Giving guys like Nieuwenhuis a chance over a guy like Pierre are necessary moves to gauge the talent in the system. Obviously the big league club is playing better than most critics expected, so with the money he saved, I'm sure that if we are in contention by late May or June, Sandy will make necessary moves. Be patient.

[GottaBelieve]

Play nice boys.

And I do think the Mets need some depth at catcher. Thole/Nickeas are probably not going to be enough for 162.

[JGibbs]

Wow this thread couldn't come at a better time. Thole needs to be sat for a game for that dumbass mistake on the bases. Although he is hitting now... You know he won't hit above. 250. And that isn't nearly enough for a terrible defensive catcher.

He will hit a lot higher than 250.lol And his defense was bad for half a season out of basically 2. He is young at the position and by the end of the year you will see he is not that bad. And while it was a dumb play by thole rollins pulled an aroid on it. Like aroid calling for a ball while running to 3rd.

[jomota]

He will hit a lot higher than 250.lol And his defense was bad for half a season out of basically 2. He is young at the position and by the end of the year you will see he is not that bad. And while it was a dumb play by thole rollins pulled an aroid on it. Like aroid calling for a ball while running to 3rd.

I hate Rollins; but he did nothing wrong here. It was all on Thole. Stupid move on his part and it will never happen again.

We need to get off Thole. We could be doing a lot worse than him at catcher. As for Nickeas, he's just a body and can be replaced anytime.

[fanofclendennon]

I hate Rollins; but he did nothing wrong here. It was all on Thole. Stupid move on his part and it will never happen again.

We need to get off Thole. We could be doing a lot worse than him at catcher. As for Nickeas, he's just a body and can be replaced anytime.

And even if Rollins did deke Thole, how would that have been wrong?

When did gamesmanship become wrong?

It's not the defensive player's responsibility to play nice. It's the offensive players and their coaches' responsibility to pay attention.

[vtmet]

should have taught Nick Evans how to squat behind the plate while we still had him...his bat is never going to earn him much in LF or 1B, but as a RH'd platoon at catcher, he would have stood out...

[vtmet]

And I do think the Mets need some depth at catcher. Thole/Nickeas are probably not going to be enough for 162.

true enough, but most catching tandems in the majors are weak at best...and for all of the hyped catching prospects that come up, most of them don't work out other than an occasional Mauer, Posey, McCann...

I don't know how teams develop catchers that can hit, stay healthy, catch, call a good game and also keep the running game in check; but it would be nice if Sandy could figure that one out...

[KnIckFaN.2883]

I think that we should draft a backstop this year then get one the free agency. we aren't ready to be a contender for another couple years anyways so we just need to continue to draft well

[Paulie6986]

Play nice boys.

And I do think the Mets need some depth at catcher. Thole/Nickeas are probably not going to be enough for 162.

If the Mets are anywhere near competing by let's say June 15, they might might contact the Mariners for Miguel Olivo. He at least has some pop in his bat. They surely aren't going anywhere.

Nickeas is practically an automatic out. He'll be lucky to hit the Mendoza Line.

[fanofclendennon]

If the Mets are anywhere near competing by let's say June 15, they might might contact the Mariners for Miguel Olivo. He at least has some pop in his bat. They surely aren't going anywhere.

Nickeas is practically an automatic out. He'll be lucky to hit the Mendoza Line.

There's even talk of renaming it the Nickeas line.