Reports: Henry Blanco in NYC for physical; What I think it means for the Mets

Henry Blanco, who played in 67 games with the San Diego Padres last season, is traveling to New York for a physical, according to El Nacional, via Adam Rubin.

Blanco, who would be the second catcher the Mets signed this off-season, hit .235 / .320 / .382 in 204 at bats last year with six home runs and 16 RBI.

This means one of three things to me.

1. The Mets don’t think they will sign Bengie Molina (be it they don’t want to pay or they think they’ll be outbid, we’ll see), and are stockpiling catchers because they don’t fully trust any of them.

2. The Mets are doing this to signal to Molina, “Hey, we don’t really need you, but we’ll sign you for X amount anyway.”  Sort of a bargaining chip trying to give the Mets leverage.

3. They are really taking the progression of Josh Thole seriously.  Bringing in veteran catchers, no matter their stats, who can give the young Thole tips, tricks and insight to playing in the league for so long.  Catchers are considered the most knowledgeable position.  Could this be the Mets creating a “Catching High Council” to tutor the future?

Why Kelly Shoppach to Tampa matters to the Mets

As we’ve seen, the Mets are trying to scoop up a whole bunch of catchers.  They have Omir Santos and Josh Thole, and they signed Chris Coste yesterday and added him to the 40-man.  They’re also in talks with Henry Blanco.

But Kelly Shoppach, coming off a decent 2009, where he hit .214 / .335 / .399 with 12 home runs and 40 RBI, was just traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named later.

Why were the Mets not interested?  He’s cheaper than Bengie Molina, who the Mets have their sights set on.  Sure, Shoppach’s not amazing behind the plate, but either is anyone else out there, especially Molina.

What really might interest Omar Minaya, but not me, is what the Rays do with Dioner Navarro.

If the Rays non-tender him, the Mets could look to add him to add to the depth at the catching position.  He’s not someone I would clamor for, or even suggest in passing, but as the Mets look to add players at this position, I’m sure Minaya will be interested.

Rosenthal: Mets talking to Blanco

The Mets and free-agent catcher Henry Blanco have been talking, according to Ken Rosenthal (via Amazin’ Avenue).

Rosenthal points out that Blanco would likely serve as a backup as the Mets are targeting Bengie Molina as their catcher for 2010 and beyond.

I don’t like this. 

1) Blanco, who is mediocre at best, had been with seven organizations in 12 years.  He’s a decent player off the bench, but isn’t that what Omir Santos is? 

And 2) Molina is going to cost so much money and his OBP is awful.

Then again, the catching market out there is terrible and these might be the Mets best options. 

If Blanco is just an insurance plan for if/when Santos “falls back to earth” (as if his sub-.300 OBP was so special anyway), I can understand.  But the Molina thing…Oy!

Unless you’d be content with Santos/Josh Thole platoon?

Is Thole in trouble in Venezuela?

Prospect Josh Thole is playing winter ball in Venezuela.  But due to the recent rash of kidnappings, among other things, the Mets may call their young catcher back early.

From the NY Times…

The Mets are consulting with Major League Baseball’s security department and intend to provide Thole, who plays for Leones de Caracas, with all the information to ensure his safety, whether he comes back or remains.

“We’re doing our due diligence regarding the entire situation,” Mets General Manager Omar Minaya said. “We’re looking into it to make sure Josh knows what’s going on and we know that he is safe.”

Though the Mets probably have a good relationship with Venezuela (Johan Santana and Francisco Rodriguez), the team would be right to play it better-safe-than-sorry.  Bring him back to the states early.  There’d be no harm in it.

Twitter Poll: Who is the most exciting prospect?

I took to Twitter to ask my followers which prospect excites them the most.

Here are some responses…

mattclausen said: Thole....guady BA numbers, smart hitter....will play perfectly in Citi

pattigibbons said: Ike Davis. He shows well-rounded promise as an infielder and as a hitter.

trmbonemulligan said: Ike Davis without a doubt. Maybe its just the hype but I feel like he could be another Delgado

kramtelak said: The prospect that nets the Mets Halladay.

I’m frightened by the point trmbonemulligan brings up.  Is Davis just hype?  Obviously, it’s too early to tell and we’ll only find out when he starts playing more and at a higher level.

I truly hope Davis isn’t just another product of the hype machine.  I’ve already penciled him into the lineup in the coming years.

Does that mean I’ve bought into the hype?

Top 10 Mets prospects

Here’s the top 10 list from Baseball America…

1. Jenrry Mejia, RHP
2. Wilmer Flores, SS
3. Fernando Martinez, OF
4. Ike Davis, 1B
5. Brad Holt, RHP
6. Jon Niese, LHP
7. Reese Havens, 2B/SS
8. Josh Thole, C
9. Ruben Tejada, 2B/SS
10. Juan Urbina, LHP

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t care?

Mets rookie hazing [Photos]

The Mets dressed up the team’s rookies in various costumes after yesterday’s 4-0 win in Florida.  Thanks to the power of the Internet, we can see those photos.

Here is my favorite, Bobby Parnell as some sort of German…um…woman?Here are links to some photos, all taken by Flickr user saubrey02.

Omir Santos as Robin.

Nick Evans as Minnie Mouse and Josh Thole as a Playboy bunny.

More Thole.

Ken Takahashi as Eve(?).

Lance Broadway as a nurse and Tobi Stoner as a French Maid.

Hilarious.

No Misch-stake here

Pat Misch just threw a complete-game shut out for the New York Mets.

I repeat.

Pat Misch just threw a complete-game shut out for the New York Mets.

The Mets won 4-0, taking the series against the Florida Marlins.

Misch surrendered eight hits in the game, seven of them being singles.  He also owes Jeff Francoeur a steak dinner, as the right fielder went up and over the wall to bring back a would-be home run off the bat of Chris Coghlan.

Francoeur also hit a two-run home run in the game.  The Mets also got runs off a Josh Thole sac-fly and an Anderson Hernandez solo home run.

Misch tossed 101 pitches through eight innings and needed only nine more to get through the final innings.  Sixty-seven of those pitches went for strikes.

Oh, and this is six days after Jerry Manuel told reporters that Misch would be pulled from the rotation.  Figures.

Nice to see Thole behind the plate for this, too.

Poll Results: Fans say Santos shouldn’t be the starter in 2010

In my latest poll, I asked fans if they want to see Omir Santos as the starting catcher next year. Here are the results…I’m not sure who I would want manning every game behind the plate next year, so if you have any suggestions, I’d like to hear them.

And please, don’t say Josh Thole.

Next Poll: Who will you root for in the playoffs?

Beltran back, belts one to track in loss

Carlos Beltran made his return to the Mets tonight after missing 70 games and just missed out on being the hero in the 7th inning.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Beltran came to the plate and hit a deep drive to right field.  Rightfielder Cody Ross turned and chased the ball to the track as Beltran’s ball fell a few feet short of the wall.  The Mets fell to the Marlins by a score of 4-2, their 76th loss of the year.

This loss is so much worse because there’s a die-hard Marlins fan sleeping on my couch for the next few days.  Argh.

Tim Redding pitched only five innings, surrendering a pair of two-run home runs to Hanley Ramirez and Cameron Maybin.  The Mets used five relievers to patch together the next four innings of work.

The Mets got runs off of a Josh Thole sac-fly, his first major league RBI. 

Congrats, Thole.  Here’s to many more.

Luis Castillo drove in Angel Pagan, who tripled, on an infield single in the fifth inning for the Mets other run.

When Castillo is third on the team in RBI, you know there’s a problem.

Josh Thole, No. 30

Be the first to own a Josh Thole jersey.  No guarantee he sticks with that number for the rest of his major league career.

It’s scary being an early adopter, but someone has to set the trend.

Beltran to Brooklyn; Thole called up

Carlos Beltran has been cleared to begin a rehab assignment as he returns from a bone bruise in his knee.

Beltran was examined by Dr. David Altcheck and will report to the Brooklyn Cyclones.  He will play in a game on Wednesday night, reports Brad Como of SNY.

Also, Josh Thole, the 22-year-old catcher, has been called up to the Mets, reports Joel Sherman.

Thole hit .328 / .395 / .422 with one home run and 46 RBI with Double-A Binghamton this season.  Jerry Manuel has said that Thole likely will only face righties.

Thole will join the Mets tomorrow in Denver, sporting No. 30.

Report: Thole, Kunz, Evans expected among Sept. call-ups

In an exclusive report for the Daily News, Adam Rubin is reporting that 22-year-old catcher Josh Thole, Eddie Kunz and Nick Evans will be among the September call-ups for the Mets.

Thole is hitting .332 /.401 / .429 with the Double-A Binghamton team.  He has 28 doubles, one home run and 43 RBI in 415 plate appearances.

Kunz has a 4.91 ERA and 1.382 WHIP in 55 innings with Triple-A Buffalo.  He’s walked 29 and struck out 35.

Evans has appeared with Binghamton, Buffalo and the Mets this year, not to mention a stint at extended spring training.  With Buffalo, split between two stints, Evans is hitting .204 / .274 / .400.  In 15 games with the Mets, Evans hit .250 / .298 / .409 with a home run and six RBI this season.

For the full report, head over to Surfing the Mets.

Link: Q&A with Josh Thole

Will Sommer from MetsFansForever.com recently sat down with Josh Thole, one of the Mets top catching prospects.  Thole is currently playing for the Double-A Binghamton Mets.

Will Sommer
Now  last season, you were basically a full-time first baseman.  Has the transition from first base to catcher been difficult for you?

Josh Thole
No it hasn’t been that difficult at all.  It definitely takes a lot more time and a lot more work and a lot more preparation but I feel like I’m picking all that up pretty easily and I’m having no issue with that.
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Will Sommer
Growing up did you ever envision that you would be where you are right now?

Josh Thole
I mean it’s definitely a dream when you’re a little kid but you just never know where that dream’s going to take you, so I never knew what to expect. But this is something I always wanted to do since I’ve been really little.

To read the rest of the Q&A, head over to MetsFansForever.com.