Tag: Josh Thole

Mets 6 – Marlins 4 April 2, 2011

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Jon Niese #...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

This was a good game with several turns of fortune for both teams. It’s good for the Mets to get the first win under their belts so they don’t have to worry about getting swept in their first series tomorrow afternoon. Jon Niese had a very shaky start, giving up 2 runs in the first inning. But he recovered nicely to pitch the next 6 scoreless innings.

The Mets had some offense going tonight too for a change. David Wright had 3 hits including a solo homer to right field in the fourth inning. Ike Davis had 2 hits, both doubles and an RBI in the sixth inning.

It looked like Josh Thole might be the goat of the game when he singled in the seventh inning to right field and took a big turn at first base. Emilio Bonifacio threw behind him and Thole stumbled going back to first, getting thrown out. It was an ugly, embarrassing play but Thole redeemed himself in the ninth with the go-ahead RBI single.

K-Rod was terrible in the ninth, giving up 3 hits and a run to blow the save. He wasn’t fooling anyone. It was a terrible start to 2011 for him.

The Mets bombed the Marlins bullpen in the tenth inning though. They had 4 hits and scored 3 runs led by a big RBI double down the right field line by Willie Harris.

Enhanced by Zemanta

Mets Start 2011 with More Questions than Answers

Carlos Beltran
Image by Keith Allison via Flickr

As the Mets and Marlins get ready to begin the 2011 season tonight, I can’t help but think that the Mets team is going to look very different when this season ends. The financially struggling Wilpons didn’t bring in Sandy Alderson, J.P. Ricciardi, and Paul DePodesta to stand pat like they did all winter. There are going to be moves this season and probably some big ones.

The Infield

Ike Davis looks like he’s on his way to becoming a solid, if not spectacular everyday player. David Wright is the face of the franchise and locked up in a contract until 2012 with an option for 2013. After that, things are much more in question. Is Josh Thole an everyday catcher? Will Jose Reyes sign an extension, get traded, or just play out his contract with the Mets? Are Brad Emaus or Daniel Murphy going to solidify second base?

The Outfield

Angel Pagan looks like a solid center fielder on the rise in his career. Scott Hairston and Willie Harris look like capable fourth and fifth outfielders. The other two-thirds of the outfield are question marks. Does Carlos Beltran have anything left that could justify all (or even a small portion) of his $18.5 million salary for this season? Will Beltran waive his no-trade clause at some point during the season? Will Jason Bay do anything productive for the Mets or is he another big free agent bust? Continue reading “Mets Start 2011 with More Questions than Answers”

Mets Links- Spring Training, Gooden, Clemens

Dwight Gooden
Image via Wikipedia

A few of the Mets have started to arrive in Port St. Lucie over the last week. Pitchers and catchers will report by Tuesday. You can see the full spring training game schedule at the Mets site. Even though the full team hasn’t even arrived at PSL yet, there’s still plenty of news about the Mets over the past few days.

Here are a few of the stories that caught my eye this week:

  • Beyond the Box Score– Post about just how good Doc Gooden was
  • ESPN – Josh Thole talks about the Mets pitchers among other topics
  • ESPN – Dan Warthen believes that Jenrry Mejia will be a reliever (as do I)
  • Studious Metsimus– Roger Clemens joked about throwing a bat at Mike Piazza in 2000
  • NY Post – Mike Puma writes one of a million spring previews for the Mets
  • Amazin’ Avenue – 2011 season preview
  • NY Times – Dan Rosenheck writes that the Mets could compete for the playoffs this year
  • ESPN– Adam Rubin talks to new Mets hitting coach Dave Hudgens
Enhanced by Zemanta

Mets Sign Paulino, Carrasco

June 06 2010: Marlins' catcher Ronny Paulino (29) strikes out at bat during MLB action between the New York Mets and the Florida Marlins at Citi Field in Flushing, New York. The Mets beat the Marlins 7-6.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets signed two free agents to big league deals today at the winter meetings. No, it isn’t Cliff Lee and Carl Crawford. It’s Ronny Paulino and D.J. Carrasco. A backup catcher and a middle reliever aren’t much to get excited about. But for the Mets, it’s about all we’re going to get.

Ronny Paulino should split time with Josh Thole behind the plate. But I would guess that it won’t be a straight platoon situation. I think Thole should get about 70% of the playing time with Paulino playing occasionally against lefties. Paulino is going to be here on a 1-year/$1.3 million contract and still has a few games on a steroid suspension from last year to serve out. He’s not bad offensively so he won’t be an automatic out coming off the bench.

Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ TB
2005 24 PIT NL 2 5 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .500 .600 .500 1.100 195 2
2006 25 PIT NL 129 481 442 37 137 19 0 6 55 0 0 34 79 .310 .360 .394 .754 96 174
2007 26 PIT NL 133 494 457 56 120 25 0 11 55 2 2 33 79 .263 .314 .389 .703 83 178
2008 27 PIT NL 40 130 118 8 25 5 0 2 18 0 0 11 24 .212 .277 .305 .582 56 36
2009 28 FLA NL 80 266 239 24 65 10 1 8 27 1 0 25 48 .272 .340 .423 .762 99 101
2010 29 FLA NL 91 344 316 31 82 18 0 4 37 1 0 25 51 .259 .311 .354 .665 76 112
6 Seasons 475 1720 1576 157 431 77 1 31 192 4 2 129 281 .273 .328 .383 .711 86 603
162 Game Avg. 162 587 537 54 147 26 0 11 65 1 1 44 96 .273 .328 .383 .711 86 206
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 12/7/2010.
D.J. Carrasco is working on a 2-year/$2.5 million contract. He’ll be 34 years old in April and is a middle inning replacement for some lost arms in the bullpen this season. He generally keeps the walks to a minimum and consistently has a WHIP in the 1.3-1.4 range.
Year Age Tm Lg W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF ERA+ WHIP
2003 26 KCR AL 6 5 .545 4.82 50 2 21 0 0 2 80.1 82 44 43 8 40 4 57 7 0 6 355 102 1.519
2004 27 KCR AL 2 2 .500 4.84 30 0 11 0 0 0 35.1 41 22 19 5 15 3 22 3 0 2 163 100 1.585
2005 28 KCR AL 6 8 .429 4.79 21 20 0 1 0 0 114.2 129 67 61 11 51 2 49 6 3 7 511 92 1.570
2008 31 CHW AL 1 0 1.000 3.96 31 0 6 0 0 0 38.2 30 17 17 2 14 1 30 5 0 0 158 117 1.138
2009 32 CHW AL 5 1 .833 3.76 49 1 11 0 0 0 93.1 103 42 39 5 29 4 62 2 0 3 405 125 1.414
2010 33 TOT NL 3 2 .600 3.68 63 0 8 0 0 0 78.1 68 39 32 5 34 3 65 5 0 6 330 113 1.302
2010 33 PIT NL 2 2 .500 3.88 45 0 6 0 0 0 55.2 50 24 24 4 22 1 45 4 0 4 232 105 1.293
2010 33 ARI NL 1 0 1.000 3.18 18 0 2 0 0 0 22.2 18 15 8 1 12 2 20 1 0 2 98 135 1.324
6 Seasons 23 18 .561 4.31 244 23 57 1 0 2 440.2 453 231 211 36 183 17 285 28 3 24 1922 106 1.443
162 Game Avg. 6 5 .561 4.31 62 6 15 0 0 1 112 115 59 54 9 47 4 73 7 1 6 489 106 1.443
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 12/7/2010.
Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Phillies 8 – Mets 4 September 10, 2010

April 22 2010: Mets' relief pitcher Jenrry Mejia (32) delivers a pitch in the 9th inning during MLB action between the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field in Flushing, New York. Mets defeated the Cubs 5-2.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsIt was another disappointing start for Jenrry Mejia getting rocked by the Phillies for 6 runs in 4 innings. The Phils just put together hit after hit against him. And Ryan Howard crushed a line drive homer over the wall in left field. I haven’t seen an opposite field home run like that at Citi Field.

The Mets did have a little offense going with 10 hits and 4 runs. Carlos Beltran even hit his first home run of the year left-handed. Josh Thole was 3 for 4 but had a bonehead play on the bases getting caught in a run down between third and home.

The Mets drop the first game of the series.

Box score

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Dodgers Claim Rod Barajas on Waivers

New York Mets Rod Barajas reacts at the plate in the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field in New York City on May 12, 2010. The Nationals defeated the Mets 6-4. UPI/John Angelillo Photo via Newscom

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets assigned Rod Barajas to the Dodgers today on a waiver claim. It’s a good move for both teams and Barajas as well. The Dodgers have absolutely no offense at catcher with Russell Martin on the disabled list, Brad Ausmus and A.J. Ellis couldn’t hit their way out of a paper bag. So they’ll gain a little benefit from having Barajas.

It seems like this is the rare win-win-win situation. The Mets unload a useless player and dump salary in a meaningless season, the Dodgers get a little more offense from the catcher, and Barajas gets to go home to L.A. Jesus Feliciano will take over Barajas’ roster spot which is much more useful for the Mets.

Barajas has done next to nothing for the Mets for most of this season. He has 17 hits since the end of May! Although he seems like a good guy, he’s wasting a roster spot at this point.

Josh Thole is doing a nice job and Henry Blanco is a capable backup that the pitchers like to throw to.

Take a look at Barajas’ stats for 2010 by month and it’s easy to see why he’s history.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/js/sr_share.js
Report from Baseball-reference.com

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Astros 4 – Mets 3 August 17, 2010

June 13, 2010: David Wright for the New York Mets in action during an interleague game against the hometown Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. The Mets completed the 3-game sweep by beating the Orioles 11 - 4.

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsThe Mets lost another heartbreaker in the bottom of the eighth inning. Johan Santana went 8 innings but got touched for two homers by Hunter Pence. He hit a 3-run homer in the first and the game winner solo shot in the eighth. It wasn’t Santana’s finest game giving up 4 runs, but he did have good control only walking 1 and making it through 8 innings on 103 pitches.

The Mets had decent offense going with 8 hits and 4 walks. The got to Nelson Figueroa in the first for a run and it looked like it might be a good night. Jose Reyes and Josh Thole were both 2 for 4 and Reyes had a steal. David Wright hit a solo shot in the eighth to tie it but Santana couldn’t hold it.

We’re going to see some different pitching scenarios like this for the rest of the season with the Mets operating without a closer.

Box score

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js