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Catcher 2010

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 06 2009 07:40 AM

I thought we'd already started this thread somewhere but I can't find it so FU and listen up: Let's trade for Chris Iannetta. The Schneid officially filed for free agency and obviously isn't coming back. Iannetta lost his job to Yorvit Torreabla, and Torreabla is a free agent again. If the Rockies re-up him, than Iannetta would have to go. I'd trade Thole for him right now. Let's do it.

metirish Nov 06 2009 07:43 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Let us keep Thole and give them Santos and someone else .....

Edgy DC Nov 06 2009 07:50 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Yeah, that's the ticket. They'll bite at Santos.

Ashie62 Nov 06 2009 07:51 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Realistically, Ianetta is probably the best catcher the Mets could possibly bag...Excellent defensively, hits for power..low averages, high K's only 26 years old He would not come cheap...Thole would likely be a starting point

metirish Nov 06 2009 07:52 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Santos and Parnell then.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 06 2009 08:00 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I think they should toy around with Torrealba again. Make him really hate them.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 06 2009 08:08 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I sort of think we should "go big" at catcher since I'm sure we're not going to have a plus guy at 1st base; 2nd base isn;t going to produce a whole lot; and we don't know about left or right. It'd be very easy to get stuck with another lousy, nonproductive bat behind the dish, but we're not in a position to afford that. My problem is I've kind of lost my CAHNfidence in the Mets' ability to properly address their needs.

Frayed Knot Nov 06 2009 08:22 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Not quite sure how easy it would be to "go big" at catcher. Met fans got a bit spoiled having the likes of Stearns - Carter - Hundley - Piazza occupy that spot for about two decades, but there are usually very few true offensive catchers around and the few that do exist are rarely available. NL catchers in 2009 = .255 / .325 / .385 NYM catchers '09 = .254 / .305 / .380 Iannetta takes his walks (.120 point career OBA-BA difference) as much as Santos doesn't which would help with the one area where we were truly deficient.

Edgy DC Nov 06 2009 08:49 AM Re: Catcher 2010

If I'm not confident in the Mets "ability to properly address their needs," then I don't want them going big/being aggressive anywhere. I'd prefer such unable folks show restraint and (hopefully) gradually fall upwards as their farm grows. If they have to overinvest, outfield is the place to do it, because you can always move outfielders around. If you trade a talented catching prospect for an established big league catcher, you only have one chance and one time for it to work. That's a big aggressive move to trust to folks you don't seem to trust.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 06 2009 09:25 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Well, I'm saying if they knew what they were doing they'd agree with me.

RealityChuck Nov 06 2009 10:03 AM Re: Catcher 2010

1. There's no catcher available that would make that big a difference over what they have. 2. Thole is too promising to trade unless the team is getting a bona fide star. 3. The team shouldn't trade Santos because Thole should be in the minors next year. If Santos is gone, either Thole doesn't get the experience he needs or we still need to get another backup catcher. 4. The money for a catcher free agent would be better spent for a real slugger for LF or 1B.

smg58 Nov 06 2009 12:15 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Catcher's a place to look for value. You can overpay for established mediocrity (see Schneider, Brian) if you're not careful. Iannetta's somebody to ask about, at least. I'd also consider taking a cheap gamble on somebody like Ryan Garko. He's probably going to be non-tendered because he's not really more than a platoon player as a first basemen, but he caught in the past and was moved more because of V-Mart than because of his glove. His bat would have much more value behind the plate, though. The worst case scenario is $1M or so for a decent bat off the bench who could catch once a week and play first against lefties; the upside is a full-time catcher with an .800 OPS.

Ashie62 Nov 06 2009 12:23 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Frayed Knot":wojvq17k]Not quite sure how easy it would be to "go big" at catcher. Met fans got a bit spoiled having the likes of Stearns - Carter - Hundley - Piazza occupy that spot for about two decades, but there are usually very few true offensive catchers around and the few that do exist are rarely available. NL catchers in 2009 = .255 / .325 / .385 NYM catchers '09 = .254 / .305 / .380 Iannetta takes his walks (.120 point career OBA-BA difference) as much as Santos doesn't which would help with the one area where we were truly deficient.[/quote:wojvq17k] I do not see one free agent at any position worth going "big" on...St.Louis Dispatch reports Cardinals and Boras are working on a framework for Holliday.blah blah But there isn't much there..The Mets 2010 may look very similar to the 2009 Mets sans bruises etc.

Frayed Knot Nov 06 2009 12:52 PM Re: Catcher 2010

No law exists saying that the only way to change/improve a team is by buying them through free agency

Nymr83 Nov 06 2009 03:57 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Frayed Knot"]No law exists saying that the only way to change/improve a team is by buying them through free agency

but its the only way to change/improve the team quickly, i don't think Mets fans are feeling very patient right now.

Rockin' Doc Nov 06 2009 04:23 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Frayed Knot":1pxt6e2h]No law exists saying that the only way to change/improve a team is by buying them through free agency[/quote:1pxt6e2h] I think that's only a statute in the Bronx.

Frayed Knot Nov 06 2009 05:37 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Nymr83"][quote="Frayed Knot"]No law exists saying that the only way to change/improve a team is by buying them through free agency

but its the only way to change/improve the team quickly, i don't think Mets fans are feeling very patient right now.

Trades can do that also.
And the problem with narrowing the thinking to 'Change NOW!!! and FA only is that you wind up settling for and often overpaying whoever the best available guy is even if he isn't very good.

Edgy DC Nov 06 2009 07:00 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Trades can do that. Health can do that. Sudden bursts of maturity can do that. Rule five acquisitions can do that. And I have trouble thinking of an offseason where Met fans weren't characterized as impatient. The wise move has little to do with impatience. And the problem with narrowing the thinking to 'Change NOW!!! and FA only is that you wind up settling for and often overpaying whoever the best available guy is even if he isn't very good. Certainly. We discussed the Appier Impulse a few weeks ago. Then, of course, the team gets called cheap because they don't give out high bonuses in the draft the next year, when they don't have any high picks to give them to.

Ashie62 Nov 07 2009 06:41 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Sometimes you don't have to do anything. A healthy recovery of the wounded may do the most good. Catchers...arghhh...Almost need one to drop out of the sky..call the Rangers about Saltamacchia or Teagarden, they don't need both Aren't the cubs down on Geovanny Soto?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 09 2009 12:06 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Well, who are you gonna go after then? Thole/Santos platoon? Ramon Hernandez (ex-As, Os, Reds), age 33, became a FA when his option was declined. Diminishing power, not much of a backstop but can take a walk. Gregg Zaun, Old but can hit some still. Miguel Olivo can't take a walk, whiffs a ton, but hit 23 homers last year for the Royals. John Buck is expected to be non-tendered by the Royals also. They are not happy with his D, and his power has also diminished in recent years, never much of an on-base guy but is 28. I guess it says something that both of the Royals catchers are being thrown back and they want a better one. Rod Barajas OBPed at 254 and will be 35. Jason Kendall? Ivan Rodriguez? Eliezer Alfonzo?

Edgy DC Nov 09 2009 12:12 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="John Cougar Lunchbucket":t1gyrr2n]Eliezer Alfonzo?[/quote:t1gyrr2n] Definitely a backup-quality talent that hasn't done much of anything in the bigs since 2006, but I think there's a 50% chance his last name gets him to Port St. Lucie this spring.

MFS62 Nov 09 2009 12:43 PM Re: Catcher 2010

After 22 games, Josh Thole is hitting .414 in the VWL. He hasn't struck out in his last 29 PA, and has only 5 Ks for the season. His .579 OBP leads the league by 57 points. Later

Ashie62 Nov 09 2009 09:10 PM Re: Catcher 2010

unforunately, Josh Thole has been kidnapped by Hugo Chavez and will be working for the national oil company Citgo

Frayed Knot Nov 10 2009 07:10 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Not that I'm suggesting it as a solution here but the BoSox declined the option they held on Jason Varitek for 2010, a catcher whose defense has not only gone downhill in recent years but is a total liability at this point. They did pick up they have on Victor Martinez. He's not much of a catcher either, but at least he can still hit enough to play 1B or DH.

Ashie62 Nov 11 2009 04:32 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Varitek signs Rotoworld Talks about AZ's Chris Snyder who had a horrid year after back surgery but hit 16hr's prior..The alledged cost..Castillo

A Boy Named Seo Nov 12 2009 09:24 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Ianetta's a good plan. I got a plan B, though. The Indians have some hot-shot, 23-year old named Carlos Santana (no, really) who was AA Eastern League MVP in '09, and A California League MVP in '09. Kelly Shoppach could be had, sez me. So-so last year, but really good 2 years ago and will be just 30 this year.

Ashie62 Nov 12 2009 09:46 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="A Boy Named Seo":oehlqo8q]Ianetta's a good plan. I got a plan B, though. The Indians have some hot-shot, 23-year old named Carlos Santana (no, really) who was AA Eastern League MVP in '09, and A California League MVP in '09. Kelly Shoppach could be had, sez me. So-so last year, but really good 2 years ago and will be just 30 this year.[/quote:oehlqo8q] Shoppach was supposed to be the shit as a prospect..He most likely could be had..look for power and whiffs..He can play everyday as can Ianetta Make it so!

MFS62 Nov 12 2009 10:18 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Shoppach was the darling of the Sons of Sam Horn for a while. He was their Johnny Blanchard. (My analogy) Lefty hitter, power, played behind an All-Star catcher. It was a festival of "Gee, if he only got a chance". Well he got his chance, and has shown some of that same power in the majors. I don't know about his defense, but IMO he's worth a shot. But we have to remember, Eric Mangini isn't making deals for the Indians, too. Later

smg58 Nov 12 2009 11:13 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Shoppach is at least a borderline non-tender candidate, so I wouldn't be too quick to make a trade offer if there's a chance we could name our price for him and not have to give up players. He's tough to get excited about after blowing the chance to be a full-time player this year, but he's certainly worth a look if he comes cheap.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 12 2009 11:38 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="smg58"]Shoppach is at least a borderline non-tender candidate, so I wouldn't be too quick to make a trade offer if there's a chance we could name our price for him and not have to give up players. He's tough to get excited about after blowing the chance to be a full-time player this year, but he's certainly worth a look if he comes cheap.

He's due for a raise to about 2 million. All signs point to the Indians saying no va.

If that happens, you have to jump on that, I think-- hell, even if he's your backup, he's a backup who can presumably pinch-hit with pop.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 02 2009 11:46 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I assure you that I don't subscribe to Jon Heyman's "tweets" (or anyone else's for that matter) but I found the following while clicking around Google News results: [quote="Jon Heyman":o0tzo823]big, rare break for #mets that #giants didnt offer bengie molina arbitration. they're heavy fave to sign him now[/quote:o0tzo823] I get the sense that the consensus here is that we don't want Molina, but if the Mets could get him on a one-year deal, would that be so bad? (I have no idea how big an "if" that is. But if no other teams are offering two years, then the Mets shouldn't have to either.)

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 02 2009 11:56 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Benjamin Grimm":371hygx3]I assure you that I don't subscribe to Jon Heyman's "tweets" (or anyone else's for that matter) but I found the following while clicking around Google News results: [quote="Jon Heyman":371hygx3]big, rare break for #mets that #giants didnt offer bengie molina arbitration. they're heavy fave to sign him now[/quote:371hygx3] I get the sense that the consensus here is that we don't want Molina, but if the Mets could get him on a one-year deal, would that be so bad? (I have no idea how big an "if" that is. But if no other teams are offering two years, then the Mets shouldn't have to either.)[/quote:371hygx3] For all the non-walking (Sub-.300 OBP? I mean, Jebus), he's a decent (2 WAR) bat. The problem is, the defense and running-- in addition to being slow, he is a PUTRID baserunner-- and likely age regression almost make up the difference he'll make with the stick. Is 1 WAR worth $6M a year? (Consider that Zaun's a little better, and will likely come at 1/3 the price; consider, too, that guys like Omir-- around 0.5 WAR last year-- cost about the league min.)

Benjamin Grimm Dec 02 2009 01:32 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Marty Noble":3il2ynxz]Coste's signing doesn't preclude the club pursuing another player to do the majority of the catching. The field is Kent Tekulve-thin. Molina has 35 years of squatting in his 55-year-old legs. But he can hit. Rod Barajas has more power but less appeal to the Mets. And Yorvit Torrealba isn't likely. One person in the Mets' hierarchy said trading for a catcher is more likely than signing any of the three free agents.[/quote:3il2ynxz]

metirish Dec 02 2009 01:34 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Molina has 35 years of squatting in his 55-year-old legs. Great description from Noble......

Frayed Knot Dec 02 2009 01:47 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="metirish"] Molina has 35 years of squatting in his 55-year-old legs. Great description from Noble......

So is "Kent Tekulve thin" -- and if you weren't around when Tekulve was coming out of the pen for Pittsburgh take our word for it.

One person in the Mets' hierarchy said trading for a catcher is more likely than signing any of the three free agents.

That's a good sign IMO.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 02 2009 03:14 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Frayed Knot"] One person in the Mets' hierarchy said trading for a catcher is more likely than signing any of the three free agents. That's a good sign IMO.

Indeed. Although I'll take Zaun and whichever righty has the best spring as a dollar-store catching option.

Ashie62 Dec 02 2009 04:50 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="metirish"] Molina has 35 years of squatting in his 55-year-old legs. Great description from Noble......

so do I

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 03 2009 07:51 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Henry Blanco en route to NYC for a physical, according to teh Internets.

G-Fafif Dec 03 2009 08:06 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="John Cougar Lunchbucket":37kfkv6e]Henry Blanco en route to NYC for a physical, according to teh Internets.[/quote:37kfkv6e] He's in the waiting room while Yorvit Torrealba's getting checked out.

Ashie62 Dec 03 2009 09:52 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Omir Santos, Chris Coste Henry "Benny from the Bronx" Blanco and potentially Bengie Molina One short of a flush of mediocrity.. Paul Loduca says he want's to return to baseball. What are the "odds" baseball wants him

Edgy DC Dec 03 2009 09:56 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Spring training invite from the Yankees all but assured.

MFS62 Dec 03 2009 10:16 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Ashie62":3i1ht67g]Omir Santos, Chris Coste, Henry "Benny from the Bronx" Blanco and potentially Bengie Molina [/quote:3i1ht67g] Reminds me of the Munificent Seven catchers on the 1962 team. Some could catch, some could throw, none could hit particularly well. Later

Ashie62 Dec 03 2009 11:40 AM Re: Catcher 2010

From Breslin in SI 8/13/1962 on Stengel "Do you know who my player of the year is? My player of the year is Choo Choo Coleman and I have him for only two days. He runs very good"

metirish Dec 03 2009 11:48 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Ashie62":50juvn9g]From Breslin in SI 8/13/1962 on Stengel "Do you know who my player of the year is? My player of the year is Choo Choo Coleman and I have him for only two days. He runs very good"[/quote:50juvn9g] That's brilliant , says a lot about the rest of them.

smg58 Dec 03 2009 11:55 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Ashie62":9ktst9xs]Omir Santos, Chris Coste Henry "Benny from the Bronx" Blanco and potentially Bengie Molina One short of a flush of mediocrity..[/quote:9ktst9xs] Given that we'd probably be better off calling up Thole before Coste or Blanco should our starting catcher go down, that might be a bit too much redundancy. How would you split the playing time in Buffalo? Or are we sending one of them to Binghamton?

smg58 Dec 03 2009 05:55 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Blanco is officially in for $1.5M. So if we do get another catcher, I guess Santos is sent down?

MFS62 Dec 04 2009 08:36 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="smg58":1p8dt2gq]Blanco is officially in for $1.5M. So if we do get another catcher, I guess Santos is sent down?[/quote:1p8dt2gq] If so, too bad. IMO he was one of the few Mets players who exceeded expectations last year. Later

Edgy DC Dec 04 2009 08:43 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Santos won't go down. They'd sooner move him while that little cup on his baseball card gives him value.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 04 2009 08:45 AM Re: Catcher 2010

That's what I'm thinking too. I predict that the Mets will go north with two catchers: Bengie Molina and whoever wins a spring competition between Coste and Blanco. The loser goes to Buffalo and mentors Thole. And Santos gets dealt. Unless the rules have changed, a signed free agent can't be traded until June 1, so the Mets would be prohibited from trading Coste or Blanco before that date. Is that rule still in effect?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 04 2009 09:41 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this town ain't big enough for Coste and Santos and Thole. I think now would be an excellent time to roll Santos out of here while he still has some value. Easy come, easy go. Interesting side-note to the Coste situation -- if nothing else he's being counted on to make Buffalo a competitive AAA team next year, since there have been rumblings that the shitty showing of the Bison last season has greased the skids for the Blue Jays to make a play for their neighboring city to house its AAA team. That'd be two cities the Mets have burned as a result of lousy organizational strength in 4 years (Norfolk was the other of course). I know it doesn't matter all that much in the strictest sense, but overall it's kind of embarrassing and contributes to the growing perception that the Mets at heart the kind of organization that's sloppy and cuts corners.

MFS62 Dec 04 2009 09:42 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Ben, I haven't read that the restriction has been changed. One of the "Mets Notes " blurbs in one of the papers earlier in the week (the Daily News?) said that Coste likes to "help out/teach" guys. (Can anyone say "Crash Davis?) If so, seems to me he would be the guy to mentor Thole at AAA. Later

Ashie62 Dec 04 2009 10:36 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I guess Molina & Blanco go north, while Coste does the Crash Davis thing on Thole. Heck, Thole could be ready by summer. Santos..to be moved..his value? hard to gauge...

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 04 2009 10:50 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I mean, if he's better suited for showing Thole how to maintain shower shoes and breathe through his eyelids, then bully for Coste. That said... it's early yet, granted, but it seems a little odd to be going for surplus in this area while there's other pressing stuff yet on the docket. It reminds me a bit of how Omar did pitching last year, getting Redding and taking on a whole lot of payroll-- via the Mariners trade and Frankie-- in the bullpen before taking serious aim at the frontline SPs*. *I realize that Boras may have had something to do with this order.

Ashie62 Dec 04 2009 04:02 PM Re: Catcher 2010

If you have Thole, Santos, Coste, Blanco why bother to sign Bengie Molina at all?

Frayed Knot Dec 05 2009 08:58 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Bart Hubbach - NYPost: Manuel and especially Warthen were not happy with the ability of Omir Santos and, to a lesser extent, Brian Schneider to call a game and handle the Mets' pitching staff last season. That helps explain Minaya's decision this week to sign veteran backup catchers Henry Blanco and Chris Coste and continue his pursuit of a veteran starter -- most likely ex-Giant Bengie Molina -- at the Winter Meetings ... coupled with the presence of catcher-in-waiting Josh Thole at the Triple-A level leave Santos the odd man out despite earning a spot on the prestigious Topps Rookie All-Star Team. Santos, 28, always was unlikely to return as the Mets' starting catcher, but the unhappiness within the coaching staff at his defensive abilities now appears to have [him] ticketed back to the minors, or perhaps even out of the organization completely. http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/met ... oHmT6jfnfL The "prestigious" Topps Rookie award? How many rookie catchers are there in a given year?

batmagadanleadoff Dec 05 2009 10:02 AM Re: Catcher 2010 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 05 2009 10:08 AM

Oh, enough already with that Topps Rookie Cup. Omir Santos sucks.

Edgy DC Dec 05 2009 10:04 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I think Hubbach was reading the Pool yesterday.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 05 2009 05:08 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Frayed Knot":2trjjlc2]The "prestigious" Topps Rookie award? How many rookie catchers are there in a given year?[/quote:2trjjlc2] 4 ROTY-eligible types over 200 PAs last year. The famous Mr. Matt Wieters, heralded Ranger Taylor Teagarden, and Reds backup Ryan Hanigan. Even as he didn't live up to lofty expectations, Wieters was significantly better with the bat (.330 wOBA, .288 BA/.340 OBP, .412 SLG, walked 7.5% of the time) than Santos (.298 wOBA, .260 BA, .296 OBP, .391 SLG, walked 5.1% of the time). He's also-- as per rep-- a defensive beast. But hey-- Santos is still in the 75th percentile of 2009 rookie catchers. Bully!

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 05 2009 08:38 PM Re: Catcher 2010

From today's Hubbuch article: Asked by The Post late in the year how he felt about the catchers' defense and handling of the pitchers, Warthen pursed his lips and said: "Next question." Perhaps this is why you clean house after a season like last year's. EVERYONE left over is in survival mode, and we're months away from pitchers-n'-catchers.

metirish Dec 05 2009 08:57 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="John Cougar Lunchbucket":344dm0v7]Yeah, I'm pretty sure this town ain't big enough for Coste and Santos and Thole. I think now would be an excellent time to roll Santos out of here while he still has some value. Easy come, easy go. Interesting side-note to the Coste situation -- if nothing else he's being counted on to make Buffalo a competitive AAA team next year, since there have been rumblings that the shitty showing of the Bison last season has greased the skids for the Blue Jays to make a play for their neighboring city to house its AAA team. That'd be two cities the Mets have burned as a result of lousy organizational strength in 4 years (Norfolk was the other of course). I know it doesn't matter all that much in the strictest sense, but overall it's kind of embarrassing and contributes to the growing perception that the Mets at heart the kind of organization that's sloppy and cuts corners.[/quote:344dm0v7] Totally agree.....

Nymr83 Dec 05 2009 09:21 PM Re: Catcher 2010

So the Mets are expected to provide Buffalo with prospects that don't exist? maybe hold off on making the Santana trade so that a few more fans trickle in to the AAA stadium to watch a Kevin Mulvey start? or push some guy at AA even harder to make the AAA club happy?

smg58 Dec 05 2009 10:12 PM Re: Catcher 2010

The CERA's for the Mets catchers last year: Schneider -- 4.72 in 437 innings Santos -- 4.47 in 680 innings Castro -- 4.49 in 181 innings Thole -- 4.18 in 127 innings You have to go back to 2004 to find a year where Schneider had a lower CERA than his primary backup. That's enough time to be meaningful. Thole's numbers probably aren't a big enough sample size to talk of him too favorably, but at least it's encouraging. I suppose Castro left Santos the keys to the doghouse. I have to agree with the survival mode comment, though. Santana, Maine, Pelfrey, Perez, and Rodriguez all regressed and/or got hurt, with only Feliciano showing a clear improvement from the previous year. I'm sure Warthen would love to see the blame get placed on departed catchers.

Frayed Knot Dec 08 2009 06:05 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Pudge to the Nats for [u:1xlv08uj]two years[/u:1xlv08uj] (not for a ton of money ... but still) which takes him out of any consideration that he may fill a slot here. Not that I heard he was a real possibility, but I'm sure someone somewhere has him on the list of supposed Omar man-crushes.

Edgy DC Dec 10 2009 07:14 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Ken Davidoff has some cool stuff on Henry Blanco. http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ ... ohn+Lackey Apparently, some shoulder concerns popped up on his physical, so the Mets sought to protect themselves by weaving in clauses that guarantee his money only if he stays away from shoulder trouble. If he gets other injuries, his money is locked in. In exchange, Blanco was offered bonuses that could continue to escalate his salary, but they are pretty unreachable stuff, including an MVP bonus.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 10 2009 07:30 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I hope he gets to cash in on that MVP bonus.

Centerfield Dec 10 2009 07:35 AM Re: Catcher 2010

There continues to be buzz that the Mets are going to make a 1 or 2 year offer to Benjie Molina. I have never been in the "Omar is an Idiot" camp, but if he offers that fatass significant money (when we are supposedly strapped) I will have to give it some serious thought. His OPS is .727, which means he is older, slower, and worse than Luis Castillo, the guy who's contract we are actively trying to shed.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 10 2009 07:43 AM Re: Catcher 2010

As I've said before, I think I'd be okay with Molina for 2010, but I don't want him blocking Thole in 2011; hopefully if they sign him he can backup Thole (if Josh is ready) or can be dealt. But would it be the worst thing if the Mets went with the best combination of Blanco/Coste/Santos/Thole in 2010? They wouldn't be likely to get too much offense out of the catcher slot if they do that, but if they can put that money towards landing Holliday and can get Delgado to sign an incentive-laden contract, maybe they'll have enough offense (with the hopefully healthy return of Beltran and Reyes) that they can cover for a weak-hitting catcher? I'm not sure how I feel about this, and I'm also not at all clear about what exactly the Mets budget is (who is?) but maybe this is something to think about.

Edgy DC Dec 10 2009 07:59 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Slow down. 1) Don't believe the Mets are particularly strapped. 2) Shedding Castillo's contract isn't exactly the highest priority. If it was, the Mets would have done it already. 3) Two years ain't four. 4) There's more secondbase talent out there than catching talent. 5) Hasn't happened yet. 6) I really thought you were in the "Omar is an Idiot" camp. I thought you were a counselor at that camp.

metirish Dec 10 2009 08:03 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Mets strapped? Not according to Boras......this guy really is something The Mets have a network and they have an infrastructure there that is a juggernaut economically," Boras said with a smile. "We’ve seen what [Red Sox-owned Network] NESN’s done and they’ve become, if not a multibillion, over a billion-dollar franchise. The YES network is a multibillion dollar network and franchise and the infrastructure that they’ve built with the SNY network follows They got a brand new ballpark, they’re in New York City. Their revenues are in the top three or four in baseball. The New York Mets have a lot of choices and the Wilpon family is very successful. Sure, the Mets can sign any player they want to sign if they so choose to." Look, I’ve had conversations with [GM] Omar [Minaya]," Boras said. "He was very clear that they needed bats. They needed a bat and we continue to talk."

Centerfield Dec 10 2009 09:28 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Edgy DC":179s6d5w]Slow down. 1) Don't believe the Mets are particularly strapped. 2) Shedding Castillo's contract isn't exactly the highest priority. If it was, the Mets would have done it already. 3) Two years ain't four. 4) There's more secondbase talent out there than catching talent. 5) Hasn't happened yet. 6) I really thought you were in the "Omar is an Idiot" camp. I thought you were a counselor at that camp.[/quote:179s6d5w] 1. Well, the rumor is that we are strapped. Regardless, there is certainly no extra money to spend. And if they fall short on higher-level talent while doling out $5-6 million to Molina, that is simply idiotic. 2. Shedding Castillo may not be the highest priority (never said it was) but it certainly is something they are trying to do. Therefore, it makes no sense to actively try to sign a player who is older and worse. 3. Four years would be the dumbest move in the history of all things. Two years would only be stupid. But it's still stupid. 4. In fact, there's more talent out there at every other position. Which is why it makes sense to use precious dollars anywhere else to upgrade the lineup and go cheap at catcher. How much better will Molina be than his cheaper counterparts? Not $5 million better. 5. It's very clear that my post is conditional. 6. I don't think Omar is an idiot. He's made dumb moves, but he's made some good moves. I believe he is average. If GM's were graded, he'd be a C student. But if he gives Molina a two year deal for $12 million, I'm thinking he should cut his hair like Pete Rose.

Edgy DC Dec 10 2009 09:31 AM Re: Catcher 2010

You're throwing everything at this, regardless of the relevance. Almost every big league catcher, for instance, is slower than virtually every big league secondbaseman.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 10 2009 09:41 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="metirish"]Mets strapped? Not according to Boras......this guy really is something The Mets have a network and they have an infrastructure there that is a juggernaut economically," Boras said with a smile. "We’ve seen what [Red Sox-owned Network] NESN’s done and they’ve become, if not a multibillion, over a billion-dollar franchise. The YES network is a multibillion dollar network and franchise and the infrastructure that they’ve built with the SNY network follows They got a brand new ballpark, they’re in New York City. Their revenues are in the top three or four in baseball. The New York Mets have a lot of choices and the Wilpon family is very successful. Sure, the Mets can sign any player they want to sign if they so choose to." Look, I’ve had conversations with [GM] Omar [Minaya]," Boras said. "He was very clear that they needed bats. They needed a bat and we continue to talk."

Boras may be something alright, but he also may be on to something. I'm willing to get behind the idea that the Mets are extremely loaded (taking Madoff out of the equation for the purpose of this post). I'd say that the Mets are one of the two or three wealthiest teams in baseball, and always were. Even before SNY, going back to year one when revenues from Rheingold Breweries alone guaranteed that the Mets would be profitable before a single ticket was ever sold, including the bad years when M. Donald Grant ran the team for the de Roulets while crying poverty during the early years of Free Agency, and even more so in the '80s and early '90s, before the MFY's became the juggernaut that they presently are.

I don't think it's saying much that the Mets are loaded and are about as unrestricted money-wise as the wealthiest baseball teams.

Centerfield Dec 10 2009 09:47 AM Re: Catcher 2010 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 10 2009 09:53 AM

[quote="Edgy DC"]You're throwing everything at this, regardless of the relevance. Almost every big league catcher, for instance, is slower than virtually every big league secondbaseman.

Is that what you take out of my post? I see no point in pretending that the thesis of my post was that we should not sign Molina because he is slower than Castillo.

I don't think I'm throwing "everything" at this. In fact, I think my post is pretty succinct and to the point. Let's take a look:

Central Thesis: I don't think Molina is worth that kind of money because he is not very good. I think the money is better spent elsewhere.

Text:

There continues to be buzz that the Mets are going to make a 1 or 2 year offer to Benjie Molina.
Introduction of the subject. In my eyes, relevant.

I have never been in the "Omar is an Idiot" camp, but if he offers that fatass significant money (when we are supposedly strapped) I will have to give it some serious thought.
My attempt to portray my central thesis somewhat colorfully. Also relevant.

His OPS is .727, which means he is older, slower, and worse than Luis Castillo, the guy who's contract we are actively trying to shed.
A comparison illustrating support for my central thesis. It includes Molina's OPS (relevant), the fact that he is older (relevant) and worse (relevant). I agree "slower" may not be central to my thesis, but I bring it up because he is notably slow, even for a catcher.

I don't see how you can argue I'm throwing "everything" at this. At best, you have "thing". All else is central to my point.

Centerfield Dec 10 2009 09:49 AM Re: Catcher 2010 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 10 2009 09:52 AM

Sorry. Avi.

Edgy DC Dec 10 2009 09:50 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Oh, fuck. I didn't say it was the thesis. No thanks for insinuating that it was. So please don't repost for me.

Centerfield Dec 10 2009 10:07 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Then why bring it up? Fuck, indeed.

Edgy DC Dec 10 2009 10:15 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Most importantly, I didn't say it was. Neither did I suggest or imply it. It's somehow wrong to dispute a point in your post unless it's the thesis of the post?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 10 2009 10:28 AM Re: Catcher 2010

LANGUAGE, you fucktards! Gah... Between it and the FA options out there, I kinda like what I'll refer to as the Dim Sum catcher option (Blanco/Thole/Santos/Coste), if it allows us to roll over catcher budget to shoehorn Delgado and Holliday in there. Although Zaun-- righty-smacking lefty, takes a walk or two, surprisingly good pitch blocker-- would have been the scallion pancakes. And it's tough to have good Dim Sum without good scallion pancakes.

Centerfield Dec 10 2009 10:37 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Of course you can bring it up. But when you say: "You're throwing everything at this, regardless of the relevance. Almost every big league catcher, for instance, is slower than virtually every big league secondbaseman." Your implication is that my point is not valid, that I know it's not valid, and that I'm supporting it with irrelevant facts. If you know that the point you brought up is ancillary, then your criticism of my argument style is completely unwarranted.

Edgy DC Dec 10 2009 10:44 AM Re: Catcher 2010

>> "I see no point in pretending that the thesis of my post was that we should not sign Molina because he is slower than Castillo." >> "I didn't say it was the thesis." >> "Then why bring it up?" >> "It's somehow wrong to dispute a point in your post unless it's the thesis of the post?" >> "Of course you can bring it up." Does anybody who enjoys arguing about arguing less than Centerfield want to explain what I'm missing?

Edgy DC Dec 10 2009 11:13 AM Re: Catcher 2010

More to the point, I'm not looking forward to Molina either. It's a good idea with at least one young catcher coming up to bring his defense into the system, and his defense is a good thing on its own merits also. But High Contact Rate + Tiny Walk Rate + Very Slow Speed + Likelihood of Batting Seventh = High Likelihod of Inning-Ending Double Plays. Lots of 'em.

Centerfield Dec 10 2009 11:53 AM Re: Catcher 2010 Edited 2 time(s), most recently on Dec 10 2009 12:05 PM

[quote="Edgy DC"]>> "I see no point in pretending that the thesis of my post was that we should not sign Molina because he is slower than Castillo." >> "I didn't say it was the thesis." >> "Then why bring it up?" >> "It's somehow wrong to dispute a point in your post unless it's the thesis of the post?" >> "Of course you can bring it up." Does anybody who enjoys arguing about arguing less than Centerfield want to explain what I'm missing?

Seriously, are you out of your mind?

First of all, it was not me that turned this argument into an argument about arguing. It was you. You did this when, instead of addressing my point about Molina, you insinuated that my argument was invalid, and that I was throwing shit against the wall to support it.

[quote="Edgy DC"]You're throwing everything at this, regardless of the relevance. Almost every big league catcher, for instance, is slower than virtually every big league secondbaseman.

Unlike you, I've included the full text, rather than hand-picking parts of it to distort its meaning. It was with this post that you turned the argument from one about Molina, to one about arguing. So please, spare me the victim act. If you don't want to argue about arguing, don't dish out unwarranted criticisms on my presentation of my point.

On to the exchange again, this time in its entirey:

I wrote:

[quote="Centerfield"]There continues to be buzz that the Mets are going to make a 1 or 2 year offer to Benjie Molina.

I have never been in the "Omar is an Idiot" camp, but if he offers that fatass significant money (when we are supposedly strapped) I will have to give it some serious thought. His OPS is .727, which means he is older, slower, and worse than Luis Castillo, the guy who's contract we are actively trying to shed.

My point, as you claim to recognize, was that Molina sucks. Let's not pay him lots of money.

You wrote:
[quote="Edgy DC"]You're throwing everything at this, regardless of the relevance. Almost every big league catcher, for instance, is slower than virtually every big league secondbaseman.

Your implication is that my point is not valid, that I know it's not valid, and that I'm supporting it with irrelevant facts. (Arguing about arguing alert!!!)

I responded with:

[quote="Centerfield"][quote="Edgy DC"]You're throwing everything at this, regardless of the relevance. Almost every big league catcher, for instance, is slower than virtually every big league secondbaseman.

Is that what you take out of my post? I see no point in pretending that the thesis of my post was that we should not sign Molina because he is slower than Castillo.

I don't think I'm throwing "everything" at this. In fact, I think my post is pretty succinct and to the point. Let's take a look:

Central Thesis: I don't think Molina is worth that kind of money because he is not very good. I think the money is better spent elsewhere.

Text:

There continues to be buzz that the Mets are going to make a 1 or 2 year offer to Benjie Molina.
Introduction of the subject. In my eyes, relevant.

I have never been in the "Omar is an Idiot" camp, but if he offers that fatass significant money (when we are supposedly strapped) I will have to give it some serious thought.
My attempt to portray my central thesis somewhat colorfully. Also relevant.

His OPS is .727, which means he is older, slower, and worse than Luis Castillo, the guy who's contract we are actively trying to shed.
A comparison illustrating support for my central thesis. It includes Molina's OPS (relevant), the fact that he is older (relevant) and worse (relevant). I agree "slower" may not be central to my thesis, but I bring it up because he is notably slow, even for a catcher.

I don't see how you can argue I'm throwing "everything" at this. At best, you have "thing". All else is central to my point.

My point was that I have a valid argument. I did not include "everything" and in fact, almost all of it was directly on point. I did not see the point in addressing the "slow" aspect as if it were my central thesis, or crucial to my central thesis.

You responded with:

[quote="Edgy DC"]Oh, fuck.

I didn't say it was the thesis. No thanks for insinuating that it was.

So please don't repost for me.

In doing so, you ignored, again, the central theme to my argument, which was that my Molina point was valid. Instead, you address another ancillary point by pointing out that you never said it was the central thesis. You never address that fact that:

1. I did not bring up "everything"
2. My points are valid and relevant.

Instead, you address another throw-away line and focus on that in some lame attempt to discredit me.

Then I wrote:

[quote="Centerfield"]Then why bring it up?

Fuck, indeed.

And I apologize for this, a line written in haste and frustration that could be, and obviously was misinterpreted, because you responded with:

[quote="Edgy DC"]Most importantly, I didn't say it was. Neither did I suggest or imply it.

It's somehow wrong to dispute a point in your post unless it's the thesis of the post?

So allow me to clarify. By this line, I meant: Why focus on such an small aspect of my argument if you know that this is a throw away line? And more to the point, why attempt to discredit my argument as a whole by criticizing this line, which you acknowledge is not my central thesis?

Which I tried to explain to you with this post:

[quote="Centerfield"]Of course you can bring it up.

But when you say:

"You're throwing everything at this, regardless of the relevance. Almost every big league catcher, for instance, is slower than virtually every big league secondbaseman."

Your implication is that my point is not valid, that I know it's not valid, and that I'm supporting it with irrelevant facts. If you know that the point you brought up is ancillary, then your criticism of my argument style is completely unwarranted.

A point that I think is pretty clear. I mis-spoke. I didn't mean to say you can't bring it up. I meant, why focus on that to criticize my argument, when it is, otherwise valid? And if you think it's valid, why accuse me of throwing "everything" at it. But instead of addressing the point, again, you focus on my first line. A line you know not to be my point.

With each exchange, I've tried to address the issue, and in my opinion, do an adequate job of proving your criticisms invalid. But instead of addressing the point, you dance from non-issue to non-issue as if you are simply looking for some excuse to attack my posts. I don't get it. It's an inane tactic and I don't see why you do it.

I don't enjoy arguing about arguing. Especially with you. In fact, I find it incredibly frustrating and irritating. What I don't like are unjustified attacks on my argument or my argument style. So again, if you don't like arguing about arguing, don't bring it up. And if you do so, please do not pretend to be drawn in by the evil and vindictive Centerfield.

Edgy DC Dec 10 2009 11:54 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Seriously, are you out of your mind? I really have no intention of reading beyond this point. I'm not interested to escalate this into an argument to defend my sanity.

Centerfield Dec 10 2009 12:03 PM Re: Catcher 2010

It's unbelievable. Do you really think that the point of that post is your sanity?

Edgy DC Dec 10 2009 12:08 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Well, in trying to respond, I inadvertantly edited your post except for one line. Very sorry about that. You likely meant to insult the hell out of me. And its not an insult I'm interested in fielding. Not over Bengie Molina. I don't need it. Do the stakes really need to be that high?

Centerfield Dec 10 2009 12:14 PM Re: Catcher 2010 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Dec 10 2009 12:19 PM

This is obviously not about Bengie Molina. When you said I was throwing everything into the mix, you made this about my argument, not about Molina. Go ahead and disagree with me about Molina, I don't care. But don't accuse me of throwing irrelevant shit against the wall unless you're ready to back up such a statement. And when I refute you by demonstrating my argument was supported by true and relevant facts, do me the courtesy of addressing that, rather than focusing on yet another ancillary, throw-away point.

Centerfield Dec 10 2009 12:17 PM Re: Catcher 2010

And yes, I meant to insult you. Because I am frustrated. When someone criticizes me and I demonstrate that criticism to be unwarranted, I expect you to address it, acknowledge it, not to turn tail and criticize some other inane point. I don't know how else to make you understand that. Perhaps a Cliff's Notes version of this thread will help: CF: Molina sucks Edgy DC: Your argument sucks. CF: What are you talking about? My argument is great. Edgy DC: Look how much CF loves to argue about arguing!

Edgy DC Dec 10 2009 12:25 PM Re: Catcher 2010

You didn't throw "everything." That was hyperbole and I withdraw it. CF: Molina sucks Edgy DC: Your argument sucks. CF: What are you talking about? My argument is great. Edgy DC: Look how much CF loves to argue about arguing! I'm going to beg you to stop with the paraphrasing. And yes, I meant to insult you. Well, I don't think I deserve it even if you are fairly charactarizing the escalation, which I don't think you are, at all. When idiot, insane, retard, stupid, and other terms are callously and carelessly thrown around, how do you expect to deal with small points? And that's what it is --- a small point. While I don't partcularly feel attracted to Molina I don't really think it's relevant that he's slower than Castillo. I didn't think we'd get to such an escalation over such a point.

Vince Coleman Firecracker Dec 10 2009 12:29 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Guys. Do you have to put on a red light?

Centerfield Dec 10 2009 12:35 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Oh come on. It's not hyperbole. If I threw in 3 irrelevant points and you called it "everything" that would be hyperbole. At best, at best, I threw in one criticism that, if taken literally, could be justified. Your point was that I was throwing shit against the wall to make my point, and you know well that such is not the case. I'll stop the paraphrasing. But take a step back. This argument is not any more ridiculous than that inane exchange I have there. I don't get your point about "idiot, stupid etc." Are you objecting to me calling Omar these things? Since when is that considered objectionable here? If this is a board where we can't call the general manager a dumbass, this place is way to strict for me then.

Centerfield Dec 10 2009 12:37 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Vince Coleman Firecracker"] Guys. Do you have to put on a red light?

Whatever Sting. You suck too. A collaboration with Rod Stewart and Bryan Fucking Adams? Really?

Vince Coleman Firecracker Dec 10 2009 12:40 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Centerfield"][quote="Vince Coleman Firecracker"] Guys. Do you have to put on a red light?

Whatever Sting. You suck too. A collaboration with Rod Stewart and Bryan Fucking Adams? Really?


You Know, I Used To Be Kind Of Cool Once

metirish Dec 10 2009 12:44 PM Re: Catcher 2010

It's handbags at six paces with you two.....every other month the two of you have the same argument.

Swan Swan H Dec 10 2009 12:49 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Actually, a few months ago it was me and CF, but he had a leather Coach shoulder bag and I just had a flimsy Vera Bradley wristlet, so it was no contest.

Edgy DC Dec 10 2009 01:00 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Centerfield"]Oh come on. It's not hyperbole. If I threw in 3 irrelevant points and you called it "everything" that would be hyperbole. At best, at best, I threw in one criticism that, if taken literally, could be justified.

Yeah, it is. It's a big universe, and I didn't mean everything.

I really don't want to go back to finding three things to dispute in your argument because it's too painful.

Your point was that I was throwing shit against the wall to make my point, and you know well that such is not the case. I'll stop the paraphrasing.

After one more repeat of that paraphrase, suggesting that I was escalating things a lot more than I actually did. My point is what I said it is: Castillo is largely irrelevant. As I tried to make a single example of why, I realized your argument was already expanding, disproportionately to the subject, I thought. I'm sorry, but I couldn't keep up, didn't see the point in keeping up. (your time is more valuable than mine,) So I sought to bail. I've long withdrawn the point.

I don't get your point about "idiot, stupid etc."

I wish you did. Ad hominem raise the stakes over small thiings, and distract from them.

Are you objecting to me calling Omar these things?

Mostly I object to the suggestion that I'm insane myself. I'm not. A lot of this went on in the Church vs. Francoeur thread, for no good reason.

Since when is that considered objectionable here? If this is a board where we can't call the general manager a dumbass, this place is way to strict for me then.

You're raising the stakes here again. I hope you don't want to quit. I don't know what the house considers objectionable. I certianly object to questions about my sanity. I don't think that's unreasonable.

It's all so pointless. It's Molina.

But you know what, I put my original refutation in enumerated points. It was just menat to be quick and dirty, but rereading, it reads as dicky. It wasn't meant to be, so I withdraw the whole thing.

Edgy DC Dec 10 2009 01:01 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Swan Swan H":95kdd1zd]Actually, a few months ago it was me and CF, but he had a leather Coach shoulder bag and I just had a flimsy Vera Bradley wristlet, so it was no contest.[/quote:95kdd1zd]I'm trying to get my hands on a Cream Stud Devote from Rebecca Minkoff.

Centerfield Dec 10 2009 01:04 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Whoa, wait a minute, I never meant to imply I'm quitting. I like it here way to much for that. No quitting. I"m running into a meeting now, but I apologize for being a dick.

Edgy DC Dec 10 2009 01:07 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Well, I suppose I could phone into the meeting, and keep being a dick from there. But I apologize also.

Benjamin Grimm Dec 10 2009 01:08 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Okay now, hug it out!

Edgy DC Dec 10 2009 01:10 PM Re: Catcher 2010

I'll do better. I owe the Miranda Campaign a donation in recogniton of Lorcan's birthday. I'll get that in today.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 10 2009 01:16 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Such friggin homos.

Vince Coleman Firecracker Dec 10 2009 01:18 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="John Cougar Lunchbucket"]Such friggin homos.

You're not talking about me, are you?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 10 2009 01:30 PM Re: Catcher 2010

"Don't get saucy with me, Bearnaise."

TransMonk Dec 10 2009 01:38 PM Re: Catcher 2010

I love this place.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 11 2009 11:35 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Thole's all, "Yeah, Thole toasted y'all's arepas with his hot stick. Now Thole wants to relax with some effin' eggnog for a month, or whatnot. Ya dig? Thole out."

Benjamin Grimm Jan 04 2010 09:50 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="The Denver Post"] Olivo deal nears as Torrealba talks end over allocation of money By Troy Renck Allocation of money, not the amount of a contract will likely end Yorvit Torrealba’s tenure with the Rockies. The team is ironing out a deal with sign free agent Miguel Olivo according to multiple major league sources. There have been several discussions with Olivo involving a variety of deals from a one-year with a club option to a one-year with either a vesting or mutual option. A conclusion is expected to be reached either Thursday or Friday, a source with direct knowledge of the talks confirmed. He would compete with Chris Iannetta for the starting job. Iannetta has enjoyed a strong winter working out, and is confident about rebounding offensively after straightening his swing out last September. He added a foot tap that improved his timing and helped his power. If Olivo only receives a one-year deal it provides the club flexibility if Iannetta regains his 2008 form. Torrealba was close to re-signing a few weeks ago after the Rockies matched the two-year, $6-million offers received by Pudge Rodriguez and Jason Kendall this winter. However, the sides couldn’t agree on how the money would be distributed. The Rockies wanted lower base salaries over the two years and a higher buyout, while Torrealba preferred the opposite. Talks ended before Christmas, signaling the Rockies were prepared to move in a different direction. Olivo hit 23 home runs in 390 at-bats last season. His ability to learn the Rockies’ pitching staff – a strength of Torrealba’s – could ultimately determine his playing time. Olivo emerged as a top target in early December, and the Rockies’ focus narrowed on the former Royals’ starter after Josh Bard signed with the Seattle Mariners this week. Manager Jim Tracy indicated at the winter meetings that he wanted Torrealba back, believing he would make Iannetta better. A day later, the Rockies locked up the arbitration-eligible Iannetta on a three-year, $8.3-million deal with a club option for $5 million in his first year of free agency. Torrealba repeatedly expressed his willingness to remain a Rockie, saying he’s never had better teammates. Torrealba hit .255 in 64 games last season, including a team-best .488 with runners in scoring position. His leadership and passion will be missed. Both the Giants and Mets remain interested in signing him.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 13 2010 07:16 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Doug Miller on MLB.com is reporting that Bengie Molina has decided that he'll accept a two-year deal (instead of the three-year deal he had been seeking) and may sign with the Mets within the next 48 to 72 hours.

Centerfield Jan 13 2010 07:44 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Is the implication that the Mets will offer a two year deal? That makes me sad.

metsguyinmichigan Jan 13 2010 07:46 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Edgy DC":3c30zabe]I'll do better. I owe the Miranda Campaign a donation in recogniton of Lorcan's birthday. I'll get that in today.[/quote:3c30zabe] This makes Molina worthwhile already!

Benjamin Grimm Jan 13 2010 07:48 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Centerfield":3fd78yrc]Is the implication that the Mets will offer a two year deal? That makes me sad.[/quote:3fd78yrc] It does seem that way. I'd prefer one year, or one plus an option. But the Mets have been more willing to dump or bench a guy who's in the last year of his contract, so if Molina is stinking it up in 2011 I suspect he'll be somehow dispensed with.

Edgy DC Jan 13 2010 07:49 AM Re: Catcher 2010

It'd be worth more if we could successfully solicit a donation from Molina himself.

Frayed Knot Jan 13 2010 07:58 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I briefly clicked by MLBN last night and caught the final sentence or two of a discussion where Jon Heyman was saying that the Mets are "still playing hardball" with Molina (and also Piniero) - implying that they're determined to get those players but on their terms. Might have missed a few details along the way and I don't find anything in the SI site saying anything about either guy.

Ashie62 Jan 13 2010 08:06 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Two years for Molina. I hope year 2 he is spelling Thole

metsguyinmichigan Jan 19 2010 09:09 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Buster Olney reporting that Molina has rejected the Mets' offer and will not be coming to New York, and the team is putting focus on Jo-el instead. We'll see.

Edgy DC Jan 19 2010 09:12 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Well played, Mr. Minaya.

Centerfield Jan 19 2010 09:46 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Yeah, except that Omar meant to offer Molina 3 years guaranteed, but Bengie couldn't make out what the fuck he was saying. Kidding. I agree, well-played Omar.

Ceetar Jan 19 2010 10:14 AM Re: Catcher 2010

No no, they wanted a third year OPTION. They just dialed the wrong number, got Boras, and told him they wanted a third option. Rather than admit they mis-dialed, they decided to call out Boras/Beltran for having this surgery without consent. And in related news, Molina had knee surgery on an apparently healthy knee. He'll miss the start of the season and that's why the deal fell through.

Fman99 Jan 19 2010 10:21 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Benjamin Grimm":2ilyweys]Okay now, hug it out![/quote:2ilyweys] Seriously. So who borked on the cracker last and who had to eat it? This entire forum reeks of astroglide now. NTTAWWT.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 19 2010 11:18 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="metsguyinmichigan":3a1wlgkg]Buster Olney reporting that Molina has rejected the Mets' offer and will not be coming to New York, and the team is putting focus on Jo-el instead. [/quote:3a1wlgkg] Good, if true. They need the pitcher more than they need the catcher.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 19 2010 11:20 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Especially not if it's the raspberry-scented 'Glide. Mmm... raspberries! Well done on Molina, Mumbles.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 20 2010 10:37 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Marty says... it's Santos! [quote="Marty Noble":1rz2pu0p]Pitches won't be rolling toward the backstop at Citi Field this year. The Mets will have to field a team with a catcher. Though, no, the catcher will not be Bengie Molina. The Mets' preferred plan -- signing Molina for one year -- didn't work. So now they are forced to turn inward. Their primary catcher will be Omir Santos, and his understudy will be Henry Blanco. Call it "Plan B." . . . The Mets could look elsewhere for someone to keep the shin guards and chest protector warm until Josh Thole is big-league ready in 2011. Rod Barajas and Yorvit Torrealba remain on the shelves of the free-agent market. Chances are the Mets will make no purchase, though. A person familiar with their thinking said Wednesday the club is unconvinced that either free agent would constitute a significant upgrade over a Santos-Blanco tandem. He said the club is inclined to put its wallet back in its pocket for now and determine whether the Molina money would be more prudently spent in another area -- pitching. [/quote:1rz2pu0p]

smg58 Jan 20 2010 11:12 AM Re: Catcher 2010

There really isn't anything wrong with what they have. Like I've said before, if the Mets were to sign Ryan Garko I'd give him a shot in ST to show what he can do behind the plate, knowing that the worst-case scenario is that he's still a more-than-adequate platoon at first base. Otherwise, I think the money would be better spent elsewhere.

Rockin' Doc Jan 20 2010 11:19 AM Re: Catcher 2010

"...the club is inclined to put its wallet back in its pocket for now and determine whether the Molina money would be more prudently spent in another area -- pitching." If it helps in to speed up the determination process, I will offer that I believe the money would be far better spent on starting pitching depth. Molina did the Mets a great favor by resigning with the Giants, Omar needs to capitalize on the teams good fortune. Now, please Omar, get some pitching before it's too late.

Ceetar Jan 20 2010 11:46 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I think it's unlikely Santos, a career minor leaguer, will improve off his career year last year. I think he lacked fundamentals (but then, so did everyone.), was slow on the bases, and didn't really hit that well. I really doubt Thole will do worse than Santos in 2010, and with a tremendous amount of upside. If we're not going to sign anything more than backups, Thole is the only one with starter potential, so make it so.

Edgy DC Jan 20 2010 11:53 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Not that I disagree about the prospects for improvement, but it's not too fair to call last year a career year, except in the sense that last year was the year that contains almost the entirety of his career.

Ashie62 Jan 20 2010 11:54 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Ceetar":2orsd10w]I think it's unlikely Santos, a career minor leaguer, will improve off his career year last year. I think he lacked fundamentals (but then, so did everyone.), was slow on the bases, and didn't really hit that well. I really doubt Thole will do worse than Santos in 2010, and with a tremendous amount of upside. If we're not going to sign anything more than backups, Thole is the only one with starter potential, so make it so.[/quote:2orsd10w] Thole will do no worse than Santos? What month?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 20 2010 12:10 PM Re: Catcher 2010 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 20 2010 12:21 PM

[quote="Ceetar"]I really doubt Thole will do worse than Santos in 2010, and with a tremendous amount of upside. If we're not going to sign anything more than backups, Thole is the only one with starter potential, so make it so.

I have as big a prospect hard-on for TholeTholeThole as anyb-- well, actually, apparently not, but I'm up there.

Anyway... he's got great contact skills, decent pitch-selection skills, and an athleticism that's allowed him to pick up a relatively-unfamiliar position as a professional, and pick it up reasonably well. But he's got virtually no power, and the defense will require some more... em... shall we say, solidity? (He seems unlikely to ever be more than a marginal plus in that respect, with a very "meh" arm as per the reports.)

I like him lots, but he's got GOOD upside, and unless you're referring to the untapped figurative nuclear reactor inside us all, I think "tremendous" might be overstating it a bit (assuming we're using the same dictionary, that you probably should save for describing the Carlos Santanas, Matt Wieters and Buster Poseys).

Nymr83 Jan 20 2010 12:15 PM Re: Catcher 2010

of the guys currently in the organization i still think a Blanco/Coste platoon has the most to offer. I'd like Thole to play at AAA until such time as his performance demands a promotion. I don't think Santos is better than either of the other guys, but is certainly useful depth.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 20 2010 12:19 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Yeah, one of the things that scares me in general about the Mets is that they could really suck at defense if they're not careful. They already seemed to have suggested they didn;t admire Santos' chops behind the dish, at 3rd you got Wright and his penchant for poor throws and OK range, Muffy is a bit of a wildman at 1B annd Castillo's rapidly losing it at the keystone, though I wouldn;t say he sucked on a pure eyewitness level. I think we're OK at SS with Reyes but you never know with his injuries. In the outfield, Bay's been dissected to death and they seem OK with a below-average guy there, while Beltran's very very good but a big question mark until he shows us his knees still work. Pagan is capable of making some flat-out lousy reads. I think Francoeur is fine in right (eyewitness D again) but I think the numbers could argue he's less than awesome.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 20 2010 12:23 PM Re: Catcher 2010

I wonder now whether Murphy's a wildman because he's a wildman, or because he knows he's playing next to a guy who's got legs as tender as osso buco and the range of William Shatner.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 20 2010 12:36 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr"]I wonder now whether Murphy's a wildman because he's ... playing next to a guy who's got ... the range of William Shatner.

William Shatner: Singer of all songs. Fighter of friends and foes. Lover of all Races.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 20 2010 12:45 PM Re: Catcher 2010

William Shatner: Pitchman, MatchGamer, Make Believe Rat Packer. His range easily exceeds the limit on the number of photographs I can include in just one post. Anyone know if Luis Castillo ever recited Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds on National TV?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 20 2010 12:50 PM Re: Catcher 2010

I'm convinced. And I'm going to Priceline dot com right now!

Ceetar Jan 20 2010 01:34 PM Re: Catcher 2010

I may be exaggerating Thole's upside, sure, but I was comparing it to Santos, not to Posey. The guy can hit, Santos can't. When i say career year, I was referring to professional baseball, not MLB. He doesn't really have a lot of power. 10 HR with Trenton once. My observations seemed to place him as below average defensively (in terms of fielding pop-ups and what not). And he didn't seem to run the bases well. Is Thole really going to do worse than that? Granted, it's mostly a moot point. If the Mets really do go with Santos and in May he's hitting .205 with 2 HR and Thole's playing well in AAA, it'd be silly not to expect them to switch.

Edgy DC Jan 20 2010 01:41 PM Re: Catcher 2010

We might get that Topps All-Rookie Catcher trophy two years in a row.

Ashie62 Jan 20 2010 03:36 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Thole reminds me of Alex Trevino

batmagadanleadoff Jan 20 2010 03:41 PM Re: Catcher 2010 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 20 2010 03:47 PM

I know that this is the 2010 thread but is it unreasonable to dream of Joe Mauer as a Met in 2011? And if it is unreasonable to dream, then why? Because Mauer won't do the right thing and test the market? Because the Twins have more money than the Mets? Because Jorge Posada turns 40 in 2011 and 40 year old backstops are like 240 in catcher years and if the Yankees want Mauer, nobody else has a real chance? Because, assuming Mauer digs NYC, he doesn't have to sign with the Mets to benefit from everything New York has to offer -- he can sign with the MFYs'? Because the Mets are cheap? Stupid? Cheap and stupid? Because Thole will turn out to be better than Mauer? What?

Nymr83 Jan 20 2010 03:46 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Because Mauer won't do the right thing and test the market? Why is testing the market "the right thing"? what if the Twins make him an offer before free agency that he and his agent reasonably believe is better than what he'll receive later on? Matt Holliday took less than the Rockies offered him, and I'm sure he's not the only guy to ever turn down a contract only to find out that less money awaited him a year later in the market.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 20 2010 03:50 PM Re: Catcher 2010 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 20 2010 03:53 PM

I could not bring myself to believe that the Mets can't significantly improve on whatever offer the Twins will presumably offer Mauer before the end of next season. I suppose that there are always risks to signing later rather than earlier. The economy could collapse again. Mauer might suffer a major injury before he gets to declare for free agency. A meteor might strike Minnesota. But on the other hand, Mauer is one baseball's elite inner circle stars right now and Minnesota is not where the big baseball money is.

Gwreck Jan 20 2010 03:51 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="batmagadanleadoff":1q5bv5p8]I know that this is the 2010 thread but is it unreasonable to dream of Joe Mauer as a Met in 2011? And if it is unreasonable to dream, then why?[/quote:1q5bv5p8] I don't see Mauer coming to the Mets (or any NL team) because his value is so clearly greater to an AL team that can use him at DH a couple times a week instead of resting him and taking his bat out of the lineup.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 20 2010 03:54 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Gwreck":1d38ltwc][quote="batmagadanleadoff":1d38ltwc]I know that this is the 2010 thread but is it unreasonable to dream of Joe Mauer as a Met in 2011? And if it is unreasonable to dream, then why?[/quote:1d38ltwc] I don't see Mauer coming to the Mets (or any NL team) because his value is so clearly greater to an AL team that can use him at DH a couple times a week instead of resting him and taking his bat out of the lineup.[/quote:1d38ltwc] So does that mean that the great catchers that can, should stay away from the NL?

Benjamin Grimm Jan 20 2010 04:13 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Mike Piazza skipped free agency and signed with a National League team.

Ceetar Jan 20 2010 05:36 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Benjamin Grimm":1pxq9ii4]Mike Piazza skipped free agency and signed with a National League team.[/quote:1pxq9ii4] Piazza was always an NL guy though, felt he should play the whole game and whatnot. And felt strongly about the HR as catcher record..

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 20 2010 05:44 PM Re: Catcher 2010

More realistically (?), Francesa-- since when did this guy get so concerned?-- pitched a surprisingly not-horrible-sounding idea: Trade for Chris Snyder. Yes, it's been brought up before, but... well, it makes even more sense now... from THEIR end. The D'Backs are close to maxing out, budget-wise, after the LaRoche signing, and Snyder-- who'll essentially be a second catcher for them-- is scheduled to make a guaranteed 11.25 million over the next two years (with a 6.75M option with 600K buyout-- if I've got my numbers right-- in 2012). They've got Kelly Johnson/Ryan Roberts for 2B, so Castillo-- even if they were once-upon-a-time interested-- is out as an option. So what's a fair offer that makes sense on the eastern end of the deal?

Edgy DC Jan 20 2010 07:09 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Include Santos, I assume to serve as backup.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 20 2010 08:15 PM Re: Catcher 2010

And there's your garnish. What's the meat, mate?

Ashie62 Jan 20 2010 08:25 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="batmagadanleadoff":31pm41wk][quote="Gwreck":31pm41wk][quote="batmagadanleadoff":31pm41wk]I know that this is the 2010 thread but is it unreasonable to dream of Joe Mauer as a Met in 2011? And if it is unreasonable to dream, then why?[/quote:31pm41wk] I don't see Mauer coming to the Mets (or any NL team) because his value is so clearly greater to an AL team that can use him at DH a couple times a week instead of resting him and taking his bat out of the lineup.[/quote:31pm41wk] So does that mean that the great catchers that can, should stay away from the NL?[/quote:31pm41wk] Mauer is a Twin til his last cigarette

Edgy DC Jan 20 2010 08:30 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":1molkj8u]And there's your garnish. What's the meat, mate?[/quote:1molkj8u] Sean Green?

Nymr83 Jan 20 2010 11:29 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Snyder for Green and Santos? eating 11 million seems pretty significant and i dont htink the mets should have to give up too much.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 20 2010 11:42 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Fair enough, but just because he's something you'd rather not have sitting on your bench if you're a team on a budget, that doesn't make him worthless or-- worse-- a white elephant. Back problems, shmack problems-- he's a 29-year-old catcher who's decent defensively, and who before the last year put up two well above-average seasons with significant power flashes.

Vince Coleman Firecracker Jan 21 2010 05:13 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="batmagadanleadoff":1salp1ov]I know that this is the 2010 thread but is it unreasonable to dream of Joe Mauer as a Met in 2011?[/quote:1salp1ov] I've been daydreaming about the same thing. I've actually been wondering if there's any way the Mets could trade for him this year with a window to sign him to an extension, but I just don't see the Twins ever trading him. But signing him as a free agent? Yeah, I'll let my imagination go a little wild for that. How much would he cost, though? You have to figure you'd be using A-Rod's last contract as a starting point. 10 years/$280 million? $300 million? Yikes. Of course, he might just be worth that much. Oh, and I'd love to pick up Snyder, depending, of course, on what Arizona wants in return.

Gwreck Jan 21 2010 07:50 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="batmagadanleadoff":1a7t9bwe]So does that mean that the great catchers that can, should stay away from the NL?[/quote:1a7t9bwe] That's not what I said. Assume Mauer wants to leave the Twins. He could either do for any number of reasons, many of which are not within the Mets control (ie. he wants to play for a team in Southern California). If Mauer is indeed looking for the biggest possible contract, then the Mets (and all other MLB teams) have the opportunity to bid for his services, and I stand by my prediction, that because of the different rules, an AL team has a greater opportunity to put his bat in the lineup, and therefore will outbid NL teams because Mauer will likely produce more for an AL team than for an NL team.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 21 2010 08:11 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Yeah, but that's only one potential factor. The NL team could have a greater need for a catcher, or more money to spend.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 21 2010 09:52 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Gwreck":3oqe9w33]I don't see Mauer coming to the Mets (or any NL team) because his value is so clearly greater to an AL team that can use him at DH a couple times a week instead of resting him and taking his bat out of the lineup.[/quote:3oqe9w33] But if Mauer isn't catching, his value is diminished. I don't know by how much but definitely by something. There might be more than a dozen first basemen and DH's that can hit like MVP's. And catching is so thin today --even more so than usually-- that the gap between Mauer and his team's second string catcher would likely be enormous and would constitute a huge drop in offensive output. DH'ing Mauer would require his team to play a catcher that will almost certainly suck. In another post here, LWFS kind of implied that dreaming of Mauer as a Met is unrealistic. I suppose it is -- but only in the sense that Mauer can only play for one team at a time and the Mets are just one of 30 MLB teams. But if Mauer tests the free agent market, and us fans still shouldn't dream of the Mets signing him, then I don't see the point in having a NY home and NY money. That the team with the highest ticket prices in the NL and second in all of baseball supposedly has no realistic chance at signing Mauer the free agent is illogical to me.

MFS62 Jan 21 2010 09:56 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":3mf8ict1]Fair enough, but just because he's something you'd rather not have sitting on your bench if you're a team on a budget, that doesn't make him worthless or-- worse-- a white elephant. Back problems, shmack problems-- he's a 29-year-old catcher who's decent defensively, and who before the last year put up two well above-average seasons with significant power flashes.[/quote:3mf8ict1] That was basically Kelly Shoppach (although I'd change that to "two OK seasons with more than a few flashes of power") without the bad back. He was available, but went to another club this off season. When I hear "power hitting catcher with a bad back" I think "DH". Later

TransMonk Jan 21 2010 09:59 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I think we are deep enough with our below average catching core that I'm not going to pine for Torreabla and Snyder. If Thole is our catcher of the future, then I'll hold out for him rather than commit to another crap backstop. I'm more worried about the rotation, firstbase and the outfield.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 21 2010 10:08 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I agree with that.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 21 2010 10:27 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="MFS62":3kordc7r][quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":3kordc7r]Fair enough, but just because he's something you'd rather not have sitting on your bench if you're a team on a budget, that doesn't make him worthless or-- worse-- a white elephant. Back problems, shmack problems-- he's a 29-year-old catcher who's decent defensively, and who before the last year put up two well above-average seasons with significant power flashes.[/quote:3kordc7r] That was basically Kelly Shoppach (although I'd change that to "two OK seasons with more than a few flashes of power") without the bad back. He was available, but went to another club this off season. When I hear "power hitting catcher with a bad back" I think "DH". Later[/quote:3kordc7r] And the Rays got him for cheap. That would have been smarter than, say, the Coste acquisition. And the scuttlebutt out of Minnesota-- fanbase and presswise-- is that letting Mauer go would cause a late-70s Met fanbase-type revolt/exodus in the Twin Cities. I don't any more than you, but I strongly suspect they'll consider franchise-crippling deals (see: Pujols, 2012) rather than letting him walk. (Also, his bat plays anywhere... including as a part-time DH or 1B.)

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 11 2010 07:33 PM Re: Catcher 2010

So, Omar got a side order of catcher with the Takahashi/Jacobs pu-pu platter announced today: a minor-league deal w/NRI for former Tampa Bay catcher Shawn Riggans. The profile? Supposedly iffy defense... but with decent pop (.154 ISO in limited at-bats over three years) and a little bit of Rays-instilled defensive versatility (like Zobrist or Upton... but crappy!). CHONE and Marcel projections are a bit kinder to him than to the author of last year's most memorable Met moment. Is this the end of Omir?

MFS62 Feb 17 2010 07:13 AM Re: Catcher 2010

From fox sports .com: Ken Rosenthal Updated Feb 17, 2010 12:47 AM ET The Mets are making "a hard push" for free-agent catcher Rod Barajas and negotiating with him on a one-year deal, according to major-league sources. Barajas, 34, likely would get the bulk of playing time for the Mets, whose other catchers — Henry Blanco, Omir Santos, Chris Coste and Josh Thole — are either backups or unproven. Earlier this offseason, the Mets tried to land free-agent catcher Bengie Molina, who re-signed with the Giants, and passed on Yorvit Torrealba, who went to the Padres. Barajas batted .226 for the Blue Jays last season. His on-base percentage was only .258. But he hit 19 home runs in 429 at-bats, finished with 71 RBIs and threw out 29.3 percent of his attempted base stealers, second best in the American League. The Rangers and Mariners also have been pursuing catching help. Later

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 17 2010 11:34 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I think the organization's office-management needs to buy new dictionaries, because I'm pretty sure that the FO thinks "platoon" means "two of the same guy, so's you can rest 'em more."

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 17 2010 11:39 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Another report says the Rosenthal report is not accurate. I suppose there's no harm in inviting Barajas to the show with a minor league deal, it's not as if he's that much better or worse than anything else on the bench right now.

metirish Feb 17 2010 11:45 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Invite them all and let them fight it out, there seems to be no sure thing at catcher beyond agreement that Thole needs to start in AAA.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 17 2010 11:57 AM Re: Catcher 2010

But if Thole hits .420 in spring training games, that consensus about him going to Buffalo will quickly evaporate.

metirish Feb 17 2010 12:05 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Benjamin Grimm":2d4e22po]But if Thole hits .420 in spring training games, that consensus about him going to Buffalo will quickly evaporate.[/quote:2d4e22po] True , wasn't Ted Williams the last player to hit .400 in Spring Training?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 17 2010 12:09 PM Re: Catcher 2010

From yesterday's Star-Ledger... and straight outta O's mouth: PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- When the Mets signed Henry Blanco in early December, they figured he would be a dependable backup to their prime free-agent catching target, Bengie Molina. Three and a half months later, after Molina returned to the Giants and the Mets passed on other free agents, Blanco is the most experienced catcher the Mets have. But he is a 38-year-old career backup, and the Mets still expect his role to be a limited one. So who starts behind the plate on Opening Day? Probably Omir Santos, if only by default, though general manager Omar Minaya told me prospect Josh Thole also will get a serious look. "Right now, we don't see Blanco as a full-time guy," Minaya said. "We see him as a part-time guy. So it's going to be between Santos and Thole." Two things: 1) Yes, it's a minor-league deal, presumably. With Blanco, Santos, Coste and Thole already in the fold, depth isn't really the issue at catcher, is it? 2) Overload at catcher and lefty-hitting/no-glove/platoony corner-IF types... but don't reach out for someone like Adam Kennedy or Felipe Lopez for even more depth at SS/2B?

Edgy DC Feb 17 2010 12:25 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Well, it's partly and issue of roster slots. These guys you describe as "overload" are coming on board under minor-league deals which, it's a safe bet, Kennedy and Lopez weren't jumping at this off-season.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 17 2010 02:04 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Fair enough. I'd still toss $1.5 million and performance bonuses at Lopez to see if he's interested. That said, whether or not he comes to Flushing or not, Barajas and his agent always have a seat at my poker table. Courtesy of the blog Drunk Jays Fans: Has there been a baseball player more jerked around by the free agent process than former Jays catcher Rod Barajas? Picture it. Toronto. November. 2006. Barajas, entering his first year of free agency, ends up negotiating a multi-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays that, in its first year, would see the platoon catcher earn slightly less than the $3.2 million he made with the Texas Rangers the previous season. At the time, it was rumoured that the MLBPA wasn't exactly impressed with the proposed contract and so they leaned on Barajas to change agents. Barajas listened to his union, backed out of the deal and switched agents. A month later, with no other suitors lining up, the Philadelphia Phillies signed Barajas for $2.5 million, and a team option for an additional year at $5 million. After a disastrous season in Philadelphia, the option wasn't picked up, and Barajas was let go. Miraculously, for Barajas' sake, J.P. Ricciardi was still interested in his services, even after the last minute back out one year earlier. Barajas and the Jays agreed on a deal that payed him the league minimum (with a small signing bonus) plus a team option for the following year at $2.5 million. Given the opportunity after Gregg Zaun was injured, Barajas ended up earning the starting catcher's role and his option was picked up by the Blue Jays, keeping him with the team for the 2009 season. At the end of this past season, the contract expired and the Jays offered Barajas arbitration, most likely with the hope that he'd decline and the team would gain a compensatory pick when he signed elsewhere. The catcher complied, most likely believing that he could land a multi-year deal, or at the very least, earn more on the open market than the slight raise he'd assuredly gain through arbitration. Unfortunately, that's not the way the cookie crumbled. With only a few days left before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, Barajas remains unsigned. He's now rumoured to be working on a deal with the New York Mets that would pay him significantly less than he would've gotten through arbitration, perhaps not even a Major League contract. Poor decision making on the part of Barajas and his advisors has literally cost the catcher millions of dollars in the free agent market . . . for the second time.

Valadius Feb 17 2010 10:29 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Who's going to be our Mike DiFelice AAAA shuttle catcher this year? Coste?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 17 2010 10:50 PM Re: Catcher 2010 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 18 2010 12:39 PM

[quote="Valadius":2dmzqkz0]Who's going to be our Mike DiFelice AAAA shuttle catcher this year? Coste?[/quote:2dmzqkz0] Allah willing... Omir. Last year's putrid offensive output? It was above and beyond his minor-league performance transposed to a major-league context; that was OVERPERFORMING for Omir. Plus, he's "meh" at best with the glove.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 18 2010 07:31 AM Re: Catcher 2010

As per Heyman, Barajas is close to accepting a $1 million minor-league deal. Since Barajas is not a Boras client, caveat emptor.

Centerfield Feb 18 2010 07:34 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Wait, I thought the Mets were out of money...

Benjamin Grimm Feb 18 2010 07:38 AM Re: Catcher 2010

That's just for major leaguers. They still have about $40 million that they can spend for Buffalo.

bmfc1 Feb 18 2010 09:56 AM Re: Catcher 2010

BG with a BOC nominee for his sad but funny statement.

metirish Feb 18 2010 10:02 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="bmfc1":18iqj8tx]BG with a BOC nominee for his sad but funny statement.[/quote:18iqj8tx] no doubt This post has already been reported. Return to the topic last visited It's so good that I tired reporting it for a BOC but you can't

G-Fafif Feb 18 2010 12:24 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Rangers still in the running for Barajas, though Heyman thinks the Mets have "a leg up". One hopes the leg isn't day-to-day.

G-Fafif Feb 18 2010 10:02 PM Re: Catcher 2010

This story would be more adorable if it were happening to some other team. Mets waiting to hear from Barajas' agent Veteran could be latest to join crowded backstop situation By Marty Noble / MLB.com PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- When the Mets planned the big league clubhouse here 25 years ago, they took into consideration all the extra gear catchers require and made provisions for wider lockers for them. "They need a real big one for Kid's ego," Wally Backman said in 1988, prompting a forced smile from his teammate/target Gary Carter. In subsequent years, the larger lockers accommodated Mike Piazza's bankroll, Todd Pratt's personality, Robinson Cancel's considerable girth and Ramon Castro's large head. None was big enough to fit Carlos Delgado's aversion to catching. But that's another matter. This year, the lockers on Catchers' Row have been made narrower, the same width as the others, ostensibly because the Mets appear to be collecting catchers as Jay Leno collects cars, and they need more. They almost have a backlog of backstops, and now they are hoping to add veteran Rod Barajas to their fraternity Kappa Delta Shinguard, and they have urged Mike Jacobs to take his old mask out of mothballs. Add those names to Omir Santos, Henry Blanco, Chris Coste and Josh Thole. No passed balls down here. Members of the Mets' hierarchy confirmed the club's pursuit of Barajas, the 34-year-old right-handed hitter who hit 30 home runs in 778 at-bats with the Blue Jays the past two seasons. But their indications were that Barajas hadn't accepted the Mets' offer of a one-year Minor League contract with a provision that covered his likely play in the big leagues. As of 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, the Mets hadn't heard from Barajas' agent. If he signs, Barajas will be the primary catcher and probably cost Santos his big league status. One of the Mets' decision makers made a point of saying Blanco is the reserve catcher whether or not Barajas signs. Time had revised the Mets' thinking on him. When Barajas, Bengie Molina and Yorvit Torrealba were available as free agents, Molina was the club's first choice and Barajas was a distant third. Torrealba was in between, closer to Barajas. Now the Mets have pursued all three. And general manager Omar Minaya has told Jacobs that an ability to catch would enhance his chance to win a position on the 25-man Opening Day roster. "I told [Fernando] Tatis the same thing," Minaya said. "We could have two emergency catchers so [manager] Jerry [Manuel] wouldn't have his hands tied late in a game." Jacobs' reaction was comparable to what Delgado's would have been, or maybe less enthusiastic. A catcher exclusively in the Mets' Minor League system from 1999-2004, he began playing first base in '05, the year he made his memorable big league debut -- and hit four home runs in 13 at-bats. Jacobs served as a designated hitter and first baseman with the Royals last season after three seasons playing first base wih the Marlins. "I want to see you catch again," Jose Reyes said with a needle in his voice. Reyes had been Jacobs' Double-A teammate. It was one of the rare times Reyes' needle didn't prompt a smile. "Hey, I'll do it," Jacobs said. But his words had more resignation than rejoicing in them. Jacobs had come back to the Mets -- he thought -- to compete for the first-base assignment. Minaya expects Jacobs' presence to push incumbent Daniel Murphy, who hardly lacks motivation. "Murphy has to perform," the general manager said. But the Mets have invested so much time and thought in Murphy since the final weeks of the 2008 season that his not playing first base this year appears quite unlikely. If Jacobs, 29, batted right-handed, his chances of winning a roster spot would improve. Or if he were a skilled catcher with the power he has -- 5.19 home runs per 100 at-bats in the big leagues -- he'd be a better fit. And they'd need another locker. Jacobs was assigned No. 77 at first, not a positive indication. But he talked his way into something more suitable. "I'm 30-something," he said. He'd like to keep that number beyond April 5. "He could be here," Minaya said. But that may require another locker in Citi Field. I imagine this is what Spring Training was like in 1967. Nothing wrong with an emergency catcher, but these are the moments when Omar sounds his most desperate, like this was the plan all along. Meanwhile, the Mets got to St. Lucie and realize, whoa, we forgot to pick up a catcher, the way you or I might come home from the store and realized we didn't buy milk. The "Kid's ego" tale, however, is a beauty. Meanwhile, how time flies. The Klap wrote this in the offseason following 2006: “We're hot. It's hot to be a Met, we've got a good thing going on here,” said one club official. “A couple of years ago, we couldn't get Henry Blanco to come here, and that was even after we offered him more money than anyone else. He still said no. That's all changed.” Couldn't get Molina. Couldn't get Torrealba. Barajas, Choice Three, is taking his time. But we got Henry Blanco at last. Nice goin', fellas.

Edgy DC Feb 19 2010 05:42 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I'm realy superfine with not having Torrealba. And I certainly think trying to move people leftward on the defensive spectrum beats trying to move them rightward. It's Davey Johnson Throwback Day.

Frayed Knot Feb 19 2010 07:08 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Without even looking at the byline I could tell from the first two paragraphs that that was a Marty Noble piece.

MFS62 Feb 19 2010 07:21 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Frayed Knot":3drvkx76]Without even looking at the byline I could tell from the first two paragraphs that that was a Marty Noble piece.[/quote:3drvkx76] The first one reminded me how much I liked Wally Backman. Later

seawolf17 Feb 19 2010 08:26 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I don't recall the Mets ever asking Delgado to think about being an emergency catcher. I have to assume he hasn't caught since the early 90's.

Frayed Knot Feb 19 2010 10:08 AM Re: Catcher 2010

They didn't. It may have been suggested briefly at some point, but by the time he got here he had enough pull to say 'Homey don't play that no more'

Edgy DC Feb 19 2010 10:17 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I don't think anybody is suggesting it was ever floated. According to Noble, "Jacobs' reaction was comparable to what Delgado's would have been, or maybe less enthusiastic."

Swan Swan H Feb 19 2010 11:51 AM Re: Catcher 2010

The Mets should definitely wear their snow whites whenever Fernando Nieve pitches to Henry Blanco.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 19 2010 12:02 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Swan Swan H"]The Mets should definitely wear their snow whites whenever Fernando Nieve pitches to Henry Blanco.

Or maybe they should all dress like this:

Edgy DC Feb 19 2010 12:04 PM Re: Catcher 2010

That's excellent. And if they have another cascade of injuries reducing them to calling up a bunch of Cory Sullivans, their linuep will be Snow, White, and the Seven Dwarves.

bmfc1 Feb 20 2010 01:36 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Please welcome Rod Barajas to the Mets.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 20 2010 02:11 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Do I have to? Fine. Welcome. "Say something nice?" Why do I have to say something nice? But... fine. Mr. Barajas, I think you'll do better than Omir would have or will. Also, thank you for being cheaper than Bengie. And slightly less fat. OE: Also, most people trying to grade catcher defense think you're pretty good at it.

Edgy DC Feb 20 2010 05:30 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Rod Barajas, scoring from first on a double, May 2009.

Ashie62 Feb 20 2010 06:14 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Edgy DC"]Rod Barajas, scoring from first on a double, May 2009.

uh oh

Valadius Feb 20 2010 07:46 PM Re: Catcher 2010

.258 OBP. Yuck.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 20 2010 11:37 PM Re: Catcher 2010

All joking about having 7 backup catchers aside... someone HAS to go. Which wouldn't be a problem, except... well... the organization's trying to develop a catcher at AAA, right? Does Omir go to AA? Does Coste? Do you carry three catchers in the majors (at the expense of a reliever/more valuable PH like Carter or Evans) or at AAA (where they cannibalize each other's playing time)? Does Coste split time at 1B (where he eats into Davis'/Carter's/Evans' time)? Or do you just release the guy who was weeks away from being the ML starter?

Nymr83 Feb 21 2010 01:25 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I'd break camp with Blanco as my catcher, Barajas as the backup, and Coste on the team only if he "wins" a ph slot over guys like Carter. Thole as the AAA starter, Santos either starting at AA or backing up Thole and being ready incase of injury.

Edgy DC Feb 21 2010 05:03 AM Re: Catcher 2010

That's well and good, except (1) they've publickly stated that whoever starts, it won't be Blanco, who they are certain can not carry more than a backup's workload (a poor choice of statements, I think, even if true), and (2) they will get attacked if they double-demote Santos. Someone will get dealt or released. Coste's deal was announced a minor-league one, but there he is on the 40-man.

Ashie62 Feb 21 2010 07:01 AM Re: Catcher 2010

They all see time with the big club this year...God forbid the Mets fall out of it is likely the only way Thole Gets big time AB's, or, by others injury Start with the Killer B's, Blanco & Barajas

batmagadanleadoff Feb 21 2010 07:56 AM Re: Catcher 2010

The Mets invite Raul Casanova, veteran catcher of various Central American Leagues and a former Met, to Port St. Lucie. http://www.adn.es/internacional/2010020 ... rtido.html

MFS62 Feb 21 2010 08:25 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr"]All joking about having 7 backup catchers aside...

I can just see the movie now - The Munificent Seven.

Later

batmagadanleadoff Feb 21 2010 08:27 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Steve Chilcott phoned Jerry. He wants a second chance.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 21 2010 09:29 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Meanwhile, Riggans should have plenty of time to watch Tom Emanski videos and heal, wherever he is. Handicapping it, the catcher standings look like so, methinks. (Top 2 qualify.) 1) Rod Barajas 2) Henry Blanco 3) Josh Thole 4) Omir Santos 5) Chris Coste 6) Shawn Riggans (NRI) 7) Raul Casanova (NRI) 8) Ed Hearn 9) Yogi Berra 10) Braylon Edwards 11) Holden Caufield 12) Mylec Backstop

Benjamin Grimm Feb 21 2010 12:09 PM Re: Catcher 2010

I suspect that Gary Carter is trying to talk his way onto that list.

MFS62 Feb 21 2010 01:33 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Don't forget, with knuckleballer RA Dickey in camp, you may need as many catchers as you can get. Hey, the 1962 Mets had seven catchers during the regular season. Anyone want to do the comparisons? Later

Ashie62 Feb 21 2010 01:46 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":1uxi9tjg]Meanwhile, Riggans should have plenty of time to watch Tom Emanski videos and heal, wherever he is. Handicapping it, the catcher standings look like so, methinks. (Top 2 qualify.) 1) Rod Barajas 2) Henry Blanco 3) Josh Thole 4) Omir Santos 5) Chris Coste 6) Shawn Riggans (NRI) 7) Raul Casanova (NRI) 8) Ed Hearn 9) Yogi Berra 10) Braylon Edwards 11) Holden Caufield 12) Mylec Backstop[/quote:1uxi9tjg] Bengie who?

metirish Feb 21 2010 04:03 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Marty Noble Omir Santos endures quick change of fate Barajas addition turns No. 1 catcher into Triple-A backup By Marty Noble / MLB.com 02/21/10 4:32 PM EST PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Stuck in a vat of boiling helplessness, Omir Santos stood with little to say and less to hope. He had arrived here last week as the most likely candidate for the Mets' No. 1 catching assignment. When he arrived in camp Sunday morning, Santos was, at least, fourth on the club's depth chart. "There's nothing I can do," were the words that came from the vat. Twenty-four hours earlier, Rod Barajas was merely a rumor, or, at best, a potential obstacle. Santos had lived much of the offseason with the knowledge the Mets hoped to sign free agent Bengie Molina. Then, when that possibility passed, a threat of Yorvit Torrealba moving to the Mets had its run as a possibility. And now this: a veteran catcher with home run pop in his bat is coming. Chest protectors, shinguards and masks offer no protection from disappointment. This one hit Santos like a foul tip off the unshielded shoulder. Twenty-eight-year-old catchers with modest offensive credentials and relatively few big league at-bats are not an endangered species. Second chances don't come in abundance. Santos was a regular catcher in the Majors most of last season. He started 74 games, had 281 big league at-bats -- 271 more than he had accumulated before last season. He beat Jonathan Papelbon in Fenway, hit a slam for his first big league home run and made some late-in-the-game contributions. The pitchers liked throwing to him. And now, with Henry Blanco to serve as Barajas' understudy, and Josh Thole all but certain to play regularly for the Mets' Triple-A Buffalo affiliate, Santos is unlikely to work up a sweat this summer. "What can I do? I didn't know until [Saturday] morning," Santos said. "My brother called me from Puerto Rico. He knows a lot of people. He knew before I did. "[The Mets] want experience. [Barajas] has more than I do. Now I come to the park every day and do my work. That's what I was doing."

smg58 Feb 21 2010 06:04 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Omir was better than Barajas last year, and only needs to give the Mets a reason to think he'll be better again this year. He shouldn't go in thinking he's already sunk.

Ashie62 Feb 21 2010 06:38 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Give em Hell Omir

Valadius Feb 21 2010 08:30 PM Re: Catcher 2010

Omir should be thinking, "Henry Blanco can kiss my ass."

MFS62 Feb 22 2010 10:01 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Tom Verducci said on WFAN that the Barajas signing will give his old team a sandwich draft pick. I thought that was only done if his new team signed him to a major league contract. Rod was signed to a minor league deal. Someone please shine the light on this. Later

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 22 2010 10:09 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I believe they actually gave him a major-league deal (with "easy-to-reach" $1M in incentives, besides).

MFS62 Feb 22 2010 10:27 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr"]I believe they actually gave him a major-league deal (with "easy-to-reach" $1M in incentives, besides).

Thanks, but it will not be official in my mind until I see it in Edgy's roster thread.
All the news that's fit, he prints.

Later

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 22 2010 11:51 AM Re: Catcher 2010

The Times' David Waldstein provides a nice splash of ST color on young Mr. Thole's time in Venezuela this winter, an awesome nickname, and one tough fiancee on whom JT should put a ring, double-quick. PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Josh Thole bought his fiancée a box of Frosted Flakes, a jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread, kissed her and walked out of the Best Western hotel in Caracas, Venezuela, for a three-day trip. Thole’s fiancée, Kathryn Poe, who does not speak Spanish and was warned not to challenge fate on the streets of one of South America’s more dangerous cities, holed up in her room for 72 hours until Thole returned. Over the three days, she worked her way through the cereal, ate peanut butter until she could stomach no more and demonstrated her ingenuity by toasting pieces of bread on the coffee machine’s heating plate. “I was kind of proud of that one,” Poe said in a telephone interview. “But it was a tough three days. By the end I felt like I was literally starving.” Patience and resourcefulness are two qualities every minor league baseball player’s girlfriend or wife needs in abundance, but the endurance Poe demonstrated for those three days in early October was remarkable. So if it takes a few more months or years for Thole (pronounced TOE-lee) to complete his transformation into a catcher and make it permanently in the majors, they can both tough it out. Thole will probably start the season in Class AAA Buffalo, but he certainly appears on his way to a starting job with the Mets. Considering the way he played at the end of last season — hitting .321 in 17 games for the Mets in September, after being called up from Class AA Binghamton, and then flirting with .400 in the caldron of the Venezuelan winter league — Thole, like his fiancée, has shown the mettle and determination to succeed anywhere. Poe is originally from Owego, N.Y., population 3,700. Thole grew up 40 miles outside St. Louis in Breese, an Illinois hamlet, population 4,000. Caracas on the other hand, is a crowded city of more than four million, spiced by music, food, snarled traffic and talk of baseball, but where kidnappings and other violence are all too frequent and where foreigners are cautioned not to venture out alone. Baseball players and their families have been targets of violence, too, which is why the winter league is blanketed with security. Thole acknowledged he was concerned about going, but said he had been so focused on the experience he would gain by catching every day that he refused to be consumed by anxiety. He was told that when he arrived at the airport he would be met by a security agent for his team, Leones del Caracas, who would then pass him off to a Major League Baseball security official. “I was still very nervous,” Thole said. “What if there is no one there when I get off the plane? What if I go with the wrong people? Then when you drive in from the airport, you see the barrios and all the terribly poor neighborhoods and I thought, Wow, this is what I’m really getting myself into.” While Thole was in Venezuela, the country’s president, Hugo Chávez, warned the populace that war with neighboring Colombia could be imminent. Thole was also there when the mother of the former Mets pitcher Victor Zambrano was kidnapped for ransom. Despite all of this, Thole not only persevered, he prospered, hitting .381 and driving in 28 runs in 44 games for the Venezuelan champions, earning him the nickname el Infierno, the Inferno. Nevertheless, when the Zambrano kidnapping occurred, the Mets checked with Thole to make sure he was O.K. He said that he was and that he had no intention of coming home before his scheduled Dec. 8 departure. But he also followed their advice to be careful. For the two months he was there, he ate outside the hotel complex only once, and that was with people who knew Caracas. Still, Thole said he came to embrace Caracas while he was there. “It was a fantastic experience,” he said. “I loved it, and my fiancée loved it, too, except for those three days when she was alone in the hotel. It was pretty intense at times, but over all it was great, and the way people treated us was unbelievable.” Passion for baseball is feverish in Venezuela, and even Thole’s brief time in the majors could not prepare him for what he saw — the rollicking stadiums, the cheerleaders in front of the dugouts, the blaring reggaetón music. In one game against archrival Magallanes of Valencia, Thole was catching when he noticed his center fielder turn and stare past the outfield wall. A brawl had broken out in the bleachers and the game was stopped for 10 minutes as the fans, players and umpires all watched. Thole went out to the mound and took it all in with the pitcher, whose name he could not recall. “He shrugged and said, ‘This happens every day here,’ ” Thole recalled. “Then the police came.” The first game Poe attended, she was driven to the stadium by the brother of the team bus driver. Driving in Caracas can get inventive, and at one point Poe’s car ended up on the sidewalk, scattering pedestrians who seemed not overly surprised. Inside the stadium, she attracted curious questions from fans. When they found out she was the future wife of el Infierno, their affection grew. “People were really very nice,” Poe said. “I met some wives who were bilingual, and they helped me out a lot. More than once I had beer dumped on me. But you know, it’s all part of the experience.” So were the Frosted Flakes and peanut butter. Poe and Thole can do without those items for a while. The rest of it, they’ll take. “You know what?” Thole said. “I would love to go back next year.”

TransMonk Feb 22 2010 11:57 AM Re: Catcher 2010

(pronounced TOE-lee) Had no idea.

Frayed Knot Feb 25 2010 08:56 AM Re: Catcher 2010

Barajas, Coste, Santos, Thole, Blanco LH reliever Arturo Lopez was designated for assignment to make 40-man roster room for Barajas

TransMonk Feb 25 2010 09:24 AM Re: Catcher 2010 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 25 2010 09:55 AM

Cool pic. It doesn't look like any of them use that stupid goalie helmet like Schneider did. I like that. On edit: Coste does...what an ex-Phillie piece of douche.

Valadius Feb 25 2010 09:35 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I'm cracking up. We've got a sneaker war going on between our catchers.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 25 2010 09:45 AM Re: Catcher 2010

With five catchers, there should be very few passed balls.

Ceetar Feb 25 2010 09:51 AM Re: Catcher 2010

I soured on Omir fast after his fast start. It does suck for him, and his attitude of "He's better, what's a crappy catcher to do?" doesn't change that.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 25 2010 11:15 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="Benjamin Grimm"]With five catchers, there should be very few passed balls.

"GIVE IT UP, DICKEY! WE'VE GOT YOU SURROUNDED!"

Fman99 Feb 25 2010 11:24 AM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr"][quote="Benjamin Grimm"]With five catchers, there should be very few passed balls.

"GIVE IT UP, DICKEY! WE'VE GOT YOU SURROUNDED!"

I'll take "Things Hillary Duff's Tonsilis Said" for $200, Alex.

TransMonk Feb 25 2010 12:00 PM Re: Catcher 2010 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 25 2010 02:51 PM

BAM! The only way that would have been cooler is if Seawolf had said it.

seawolf17 Feb 25 2010 02:48 PM Re: Catcher 2010

[quote="TransMonk":1or6cdq2]BAM! The only way that would have been cooler is if Seawolf had said.[/quote:1or6cdq2] Please... I could never think of stuff that good. I blush playing FART in FB Scrabble.