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Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

Edgy MD Feb 20 2011 08:11 PM

Joshua Michael Thole Pos: C, 1b; BL-TR. Born: October 28, 1986 in Breese, Illinois. (He'll be 24 in 2011.) Birth Context Karma: Parade Day, baby. Acquired: Drafted by the Mets in the 13th round of the 2005 MLB June Amateur Draft. Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB Pos BB-Ref WAR FG WAR Buffalo IL (AAA) 48 191 165 20 44 19 1 2 17 0 0 22 25 .267 .353 .430 .783 71 3 1 1 2 0 c 1.4 (1.0 on off) 1.4 NYM NL 73 227 202 17 56 7 1 3 17 1 0 24 25 .277 .357 .366 .723 99 74 8 1 0 0 1 c Total all 121 418 367 37 100 26 2 5 34 1 0 46 50 .272 .352 .395 .747 145 11 2 1 2 1 Number: 30. (Greatest 30 in Mets history --- pretty easily --- is Cliff "Bam! Pow!" Floyd. The most notable 30 in Mets history, however, is of course Nolan Ryan. The most recent 30, before Thole, is Raul Casanova. Seriously.) Wife: Somehow we missed it, but he married the former Kathryn Poe of Oswego in December. Nickname: “El Infierno,” which he picked up in Caracas. Namesakes: The one with the shirt: Best Day in 2010: Liek Vanessa Williams recommends, Joshie likes to save the best for last, become the third Met catcher to hit a walkoff homer in 2010, and having the grace to do it against Met enemy Tyler Clippard. See yourself seeing it here! Last Word: Josh is expected to open the season as the Mets number one catcher, with Ronny Paulino to help him out against righties. His role could grow or shrink early depending on their relative performances. What do you expect of Josh Thole in 2011?

Fman99 Feb 20 2011 08:25 PM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

I expect him to establish himself as a quality regular in the bottom 1/3 of the lineup, 470 AB, .290 BA, 10 HR, 50 RBIs, and improved defense. Pitchers raving about his ability to call a game and the maturity level behind the dish.

Valadius Feb 20 2011 08:30 PM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

You might want to fix that table, Edgy. Better than Russell Martin.

TheOldMole Feb 21 2011 01:22 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

I think we're setting our expectations too high.

Lefty Specialist Feb 21 2011 05:32 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

Sophomore jinx will ding him. His average will suffer and since he's not a power guy, Paulino might see more action than we might like. I'm thinking more like 5/40/.260. Not that I'm sour on him, I think he'll figure it out eventually. The end of his season will be better than the beginning.

Edgy MD Feb 21 2011 05:35 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

He's been pretty consistent everywhere he's gone. He may not progress much, but given enough a sample, he probably won't regress much either.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 21 2011 07:01 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

480 plate appearances. .275, 7 homers. Finish 12th on the team in Schaefer points.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 21 2011 08:15 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

He's gonna make you forget Brian Schneider. who?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 21 2011 08:18 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

Continued improvement on defense-- he's more or less gotten to -just-below-major-league-average D in the pros alone. With all due respect... he's no Piazza. This kid's an athlete. Also, that if he puts on a throwback "44" and pretended to pitch, a certain fringe bullpenner might get a little freaked out. '87 Mike Lavalliere with a fitness bonus-- 121 G, 409 PA, .300/.367/.395, 29 XBH, 3 HR, 36 R, 40 RBI, 100-102 OPS+, .338 wOBA, 2.0 WAR.

Ceetar Feb 21 2011 08:26 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

I hear he rocked at Darts the other day. I expect him to be a low-level contributor to the best offense in the league in 2011. .288, 11 HR (3 of which come at Yankee Stadium) 77 RBI. 1.8 WAR

Benjamin Grimm Feb 21 2011 08:30 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

Ceetar wrote: I expect him to be a low-level contributor to the best offense in the league in 2011. So, you think he'll be traded?

TransMonk Feb 21 2011 08:33 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

I expect him to hit like a league-average catcher. Which is OK because he is a catcher. I'd like to see him mature defensively and as a game caller...but as a hitter, it is what it is.

Ashie62 Feb 21 2011 08:45 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

Josh will hit in the top half on MLB Catchers. Lets say 425 AB's 8 HR 50 RBI .268 with 10 SB.

Ceetar Feb 21 2011 08:59 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Ceetar wrote: I expect him to be a low-level contributor to the best offense in the league in 2011. So, you think he'll be traded? Optimism is not a sin.

smg58 Feb 21 2011 09:24 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

.280/.360/.400, in 400 AB.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 21 2011 09:25 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

Of course not. But I don't see any advantage to being willfully delusional.

Ceetar Feb 21 2011 09:30 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Of course not. But I don't see any advantage to being willfully delusional. I can make my case, and I will. I could argue that not thinking the Mets offense could easily be near the tops this year is being willfully delusional.

Edgy MD Feb 21 2011 09:41 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

He's already done OK as a catcher. His OPS+ is 99. But split out against catchers, that jumps up to 106. Really, what's held back his performance is that he didn't touch lefties last year. He may be in danger of being one of those guys who doesn't figure lefties out because he doesn't get a chance to.

Ceetar Feb 21 2011 10:17 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

Edgy DC wrote: He's already done OK as a catcher. His OPS+ is 99. But split out against catchers, that jumps up to 106. Really, what's held back his performance is that he didn't touch lefties last year. He may be in danger of being one of those guys who doesn't figure lefties out because he doesn't get a chance to. Hopefully Collins gives guys somewhat of a shot against the splits. I think Thole will get a chance early, since Paulino is out for 8, but I hope a small sample 1/8 or something doesn't force him into a platoon prematurely.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 21 2011 11:29 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

Ceetar wrote: I can make my case, and I will. I could argue that not thinking the Mets offense could easily be near the tops this year is being willfully delusional. Oh, they could. But you appear to be taking the position that they will.

Ceetar Feb 21 2011 11:52 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Ceetar wrote: I can make my case, and I will. I could argue that not thinking the Mets offense could easily be near the tops this year is being willfully delusional. Oh, they could. But you appear to be taking the position that they will. If they 'could' then It's hardly delusional of me to think it would shake out that way...

Benjamin Grimm Feb 21 2011 12:01 PM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

Of course it is. If I drive in city traffic, it's entirely possible that I'll have a fender bender, but it would be overly pessimistic for me to think that it will. What you're doing is the same thing, except from the optimistic side.

Vic Sage Feb 22 2011 02:19 PM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

Ceetar wrote: Ceetar wrote: I expect him to be a low-level contributor to the best offense in the league in 2011. So, you think he'll be traded? Optimism is not a sin. It's not a virtue, either. It's merely a psychological quirk, like any other.

seawolf17 Feb 22 2011 02:21 PM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

My expectation for 2011 is that @elliemets94 will go gaga every time "Joshy" is shown on SNY.

MFS62 Feb 23 2011 06:40 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

I think that because of his high OBP against righties, he will be moved to the #2 spot in the batting order after the AS break, with Pagan being dropped down. When lefties pitch (I wish he would get a chance to show whet he can do against them), Pagan resumes the #2 spot. Later

Ceetar Feb 23 2011 07:52 AM Re: Expectatons of Eleven: Josh Thole

MFS62 wrote: I think that because of his high OBP against righties, he will be moved to the #2 spot in the batting order after the AS break, with Pagan being dropped down. When lefties pitch (I wish he would get a chance to show whet he can do against them), Pagan resumes the #2 spot. Later This is fairly reasonable given that it's possible we're looking at 6,7,8 in the lineup all lefties.