Pudge

[NJTankMets]

Dear Omar,

Sign Pudge now


Thank You.

[Paulypal]

You know what I noticed immediately? Pudge looks like Pudge of 5 years ago, not half the body weight Pudge.

With that said he looked good today at the plate.

[NJTankMets]

Ramon Castro is good but he always breaks down, and Schneider cant hit, one can stay as a back up play twice a week, start Pudge 130 games, and boom.

[NYMets523]

Are you talking about the same Ivan Rodriguez who lost his starting job to Jose Molina last year?

[NJTankMets]

Pudge is a future HOF, and I think he has something left and is better then Schneider.

[AutographCollector]

Are you talking about the same Ivan Rodriguez who lost his starting job to Jose Molina last year?

I presume so. ;)

He needs to prove something because as of this very moment he is teamless.

[NYMets523]

Pudge is a future HOF, and I think he has something left and is better then Schneider.

Rodriguez is done. He was lousy in 2007 (294 OBP, 9 walks). He was even worse last year (319 OBP). His power is declining as well (only hit 2 HRs while with the Yankees). Schneider and Rodriguez had identical OPS+ last year but Schneider had an OBP 20 points higher and actually hit more home runs.

Defensively, it's Schneider as well. Rodriguez calls mostly fastballs to throw runners out. The Yankees' pitchers stopped wanting to pitch to him in favor of Jose Molina (who hit a stellar 216/263/313).

If they want Ivan, they will have to trade Castro first. No one is lining up for him either.

(I refuse to call Ivan Rodriguez "Pudge" b/c I feel it disrespects Carlton Fisk)

[moebarguy]

I agree with NYMets523. Adding a guy like Rodriguez would only add tension as opposed to talent. No need...

[metsforever7515]

Honestly, I would rather have Castro be the back up to Pudge. There's something about Schneider I do not like. I personally think Castro should start as is. Just my opinion though.

[NYMets523]

Unfortunately there's really nothing to support the case for Castro being a starter. He's not a good hitter; 2007 was a fluke. He's not played more than 52 games the past 3 years due to injuries. If he can't stay healthy as a backup, how could he stay healthy as a starter? He's not very good defensively either. He's only thrown out 22% of runners the past 3 years. Schneider has thrown out 32% the past 3 years. His RFg and RF9 are also well above average. Castro's RFg is below average and his RF9 is slightly above average.

The only reason to have Castro play in favor of Schneider is to reduce the clot of lefties in the lineup. But it's really not worth it considering what you're losing in other areas.

[VIBaseball]

There's something about Schneider I do not like.

What is it? Please expand.

[metsforever7515]

What is it? Please expand.

He can't hit. He's one of those guys who when your having a rally and you see that he's up, the rally is over. IMO it's like having 2 pitchers in your lineup. I mean, yeah he hits the occasional home run, and a few hits here and there. But if memory serves me correctly, Schneider didn't have an extra base hit last year until almost May. I do remember him coming up big in a few games over last summer and towards the end of last season, but that's about it.

Now to plead my case for Castro (just sharing my opinion, I don't mean to offend anyone in any way). Castro was a little on the heavy side in the past. Over this offseason, he lost a lot of weight. It was very noticable down in PSL. He is also hitting pretty good, better than Schneider. Maybe your right Castro shouldn't start. But I believe (I know he has been plagued by injuries) he should get more playing time when healthy. Maybe split the time 60-40 instead of the 80-20 treatment hes been getting.

[NYMets523]

He can't hit.
Neither can Ivan Rodriguez at this point in his career.


He's one of those guys who when your having a rally and you see that he's up, the rally is over. IMO it's like having 2 pitchers in your lineup. I mean, yeah he hits the occasional home run, and a few hits here and there. But if memory serves me correctly, Schneider didn't have an extra base hit last year until almost May. I do remember him coming up big in a few games over last summer and towards the end of last season, but that's about it.
Your last sentence contradicts your first that he's a rally killer. The truth is any player can be a rally killer so it's not really relevant. Him not having an XBH all of April is a fluke. In fact, he had a higher OPS+ this year than the last two. It's not as if he never had an XBH all year.


Now to plead my case for Castro (just sharing my opinion, I don't mean to offend anyone in any way). Castro was a little on the heavy side in the past. Over this offseason, he lost a lot of weight. It was very noticable down in PSL. He is also hitting pretty good, better than Schneider. Maybe your right Castro shouldn't start. But I believe (I know he has been plagued by injuries) he should get more playing time when healthy. Maybe split the time 60-40 instead of the 80-20 treatment hes been getting.
He was very heavy and is still heavy now. It's not going to help his hitting and he really isn't better than Schneider. He has more power but he can't hit for a high average or draw enough walks to have a good OBP. He's essentially a poor man's Bengie Molina. They weren't doing 80-20 last year. In fact, their catching situation was messed up last year b/c of Schneider and Castro were both injured at one point. I do believe that Casanova and Cancel were our two catchers at one point.

[stl002]

NYMets523...do u think the mets should do anything at all to improve the team? or do u think the current team is sufficient enough to contend for a championship?

[NYMets523]

NYMets523...do u think the mets should do anything at all to improve the team? or do u think the current team is sufficient enough to contend for a championship?

I believe they are more than capable of contending for the playoffs as of now. I think they still can improve the team. I'm simply saying that signing Ivan Rodriguez or making Ramon Castro the starter is not improving the team.

With Rodriguez, people look at the name and assume he's a better hitter than Schneider. He used to be but barely is anymore. With Castro, people probably still remember his good 2007 even though he only played 52 games that year and went back to his below average hitting (again in 52 games).

[JerseeJerry55]

He can't hit. He's one of those guys who when your having a rally and you see that he's up, the rally is over. IMO it's like having 2 pitchers in your lineup. I mean, yeah he hits the occasional home run, and a few hits here and there. But if memory serves me correctly, Schneider didn't have an extra base hit last year until almost May. I do remember him coming up big in a few games over last summer and towards the end of last season, but that's about it.

Now to plead my case for Castro (just sharing my opinion, I don't mean to offend anyone in any way). Castro was a little on the heavy side in the past. Over this offseason, he lost a lot of weight. It was very noticable down in PSL. He is also hitting pretty good, better than Schneider. Maybe your right Castro shouldn't start. But I believe (I know he has been plagued by injuries) he should get more playing time when healthy. Maybe split the time 60-40 instead of the 80-20 treatment hes been getting.

The problem with the catching position from roughly 1992 to the present day is simply this fact. When players such as Mike Piazza, Ivan Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, Jason Kendall, etc. break on to the scene and put up numbers similar to what an OF does we get spoiled. With the exception of Carter, Fisk, Bench, Berra, and maybe Munson who were all terrific hitters in their own right, the catcher was someone you hid in the 8th spot and if he hit .240 you were satisfied with that. Schneider did the following for us last season: .257 Avg, .341 OBP, .367 Slg. His defense was reasonably good as well 5 errors in 787 Total Chances and a .994 Fielding %. So he didn't hit over .300, and slug .560, he's still better, and frankly more proven than Castro. Would I take a shot on Pudge? Maybe, if he was willing to be a B/U, and not cause controversy. I may be in the minority here, but I kind of think Schneider's a pretty good front line guy.