Kratz is our best catcher

[G-Snarls]

But but does the team realize this?

 

Great blocking and he can hit too.

 

Surely he could catch Dickey?

[Stangstag]

But but does the team realize this?

 

Great blocking and he can hit too.

 

Surely he could catch Dickey?

 

Nope. Apparently Josh Thole is the ONLY catcher that can catch a knuckleball effectively.

 

/sarcasm

[no soup for yu]

Great blocking and he can hit too.

 

Surely he could catch Dickey?

Arencibia could block constructive criticism and hit on emotionally underdeveloped women. Unfortunately, he was too masculine to "catch dickey".

 

#AAA

[no soup for yu]

sorry, i like kratz

 

just poking fun

[Maahfaace]

It's kinda sad that he is our best catcher, oh AA you're the best.

[GD]

Yay, people are starting to agree with this lol

[shortstop]

should be Navarro/Kratz tandem...

 

Thole's slow dribblers hit to 2nd are wearing on me...

[Angrioter]

Kratz for Lincoln

Delabar for Thames

 

The chubby guy is good.

[G-Snarls]

sorry, i like kratz

 

just poking fun

 

It's OK, joke was funny

[eastcoastjaysfan]

That was a freaking moonshot last night. Long swing but he's got some pop.

[AngryBird]

For some reason it takes teams in this city 3x longer to realize things the majority of the fans realize. Examples of this are: Andrea Bargnani being an absolutely useless player who plays with no effort, Andrew Raycroft being a terrible goaltender with no future in the league and now Kratz not being the starter.

[Bunchedundies]

For some reason it takes teams in this city 3x longer to realize things the majority of the fans realize. Examples of this are: Andrea Bargnani being an absolutely useless player who plays with no effort, Andrew Raycroft being a terrible goaltender with no future in the league and now Kratz not being the starter.

 

And other teams realize it way before our FO does.

[o2cui2i]

But but does the team realize this?

 

Great blocking and he can hit too.

 

Surely he could catch Dickey?

 

dont forget that he has a fantastic arm. He's the only one of the three that has any chance to throw out runners. Good thing they gave Pikachu a 2 year deal. lol

 

take Thole and give him the snoop dogg treatment "drop it like it's hot"

[G-Snarls]

That was a freaking moonshot last night. Long swing but he's got some pop.

 

Sounds eerily like our LAST catcher...

[GeorgiaPeach]

For some reason it takes teams in this city 3x longer to realize things the majority of the fans realize. Examples of this are: Andrea Bargnani being an absolutely useless player who plays with no effort, Andrew Raycroft being a terrible goaltender with no future in the league and now Kratz not being the starter.

 

The "majority of fans".....................bwahahahahahahah

[reedjohnsonfan]

But but does the team realize this?

 

Great blocking and he can hit too.

 

Surely he could catch Dickey?

 

I like his defense and the fact he has some pop, no doubt. But I think you guys are getting a little ahead of yourselves. He's aging and has a .279 career OBP. I can buy into a tandem with Navarro but Kratz is probably not everyday catcher material, IMO. Not that Navarro really is either, so like some suggested could just split time. Kratz can catch Dickey and play against some lefties, etc.

[saskjayfan]

I Know most are attributing Thole's start to pure luck...but it does seem like he's really focused on getting on base. He seems way more patient and looks to be taking controlled swings. He's been decent behind the dish this year too!

[AngryBird]

The "majority of fans".....................bwahahahahahahah

 

By "fans" I mean the ones who read the articles, watch all the games, converse on message boards, the one's who know what the hell is going on. It seems like you have a hard time putting two and two together, but that's okay. There is always a slow one not too far from the main crowd.

[Frenchsoup]

I like his defense and the fact he has some pop, no doubt. But I think you guys are getting a little ahead of yourselves. He's aging and has a .279 career OBP. I can buy into a tandem with Navarro but Kratz is probably not everyday catcher material, IMO. Not that Navarro really is either, so like some suggested could just split time. Kratz can catch Dickey and play against some lefties, etc.

 

The defense is pretty elite and he has got a career .233 babip so his obp should shoot up quite a bit. I love the defense and the game calling looks solid to.

[BigCecil]

Looks good but SMALL SAMPLE SIZE. Immaculate MLB transformation for someone who broke in at 30 or playing above his head?

[G-Snarls]

Looks good but SMALL SAMPLE SIZE. Immaculate MLB transformation for someone who broke in at 30 or playing above his head?

 

Best guess:

 

Defense seems legit (harder to fake)

 

So too is the power I think

 

But his BA/OBP are likely inflated by luck right now

[BigCecil]

Best guess:

 

Defense seems legit (harder to fake)

 

So too is the power I think

 

But his BA/OBP are likely inflated by luck right now

 

Fair assessment. At a min we have to get Kratz in some games for D alone. I am good with DN bat but his D is marginal at best and hurts us.

[KingKat]

I Know most are attributing Thole's start to pure luck...but it does seem like he's really focused on getting on base. He seems way more patient and looks to be taking controlled swings. He's been decent behind the dish this year too!

 

Thole's true talent probably lies somewhere between what we've seen so far this year and the absolutely abysmal hitter he was last year. In his early years he put up respectable OBPs for the Mets. A Thole/Kratz platoon would have probably be just fine behind the plate. Navarro provides more offense but he gives a lot of that back behind the plate. The three-headed monster with Navarro getting DH starts against lefties is a pretty good setup to be honest.

[G-Snarls]

Fair assessment. At a min we have to get Kratz in some games for D alone. I am good with DN bat but his D is marginal at best and hurts us.

 

Also Navarro is out of shape and not durable, but he switch hits and gets on base

 

Thole should be in Buffalo, with Kratz/Navarro sharing catching 40/60 or 60/40 with Kratz DH against LHP IMHO

[Terminator]

I think all 3 of them are grouped pretty close together IMO for their own reasons. I'd probably keep all 3 of them on the big league team if it were up to me.

[Sammy225]

Thole's true talent probably lies somewhere between what we've seen so far this year and the absolutely abysmal hitter he was last year. In his early years he put up respectable OBPs for the Mets. A Thole/Kratz platoon would have probably be just fine behind the plate. Navarro provides more offense but he gives a lot of that back behind the plate. The three-headed monster with Navarro getting DH starts against lefties is a pretty good setup to be honest.

 

s***** thing is even with a 7 man bull pen having 2 catchers on the bench limits you a lot. Nights with Navarro and Thole on the bench you would only have two other spots (Kawasaki and Gose). Does not leave much room for pinch running and such.

[BigCecil]

Thole's true talent probably lies somewhere between what we've seen so far this year and the absolutely abysmal hitter he was last year. In his early years he put up respectable OBPs for the Mets. A Thole/Kratz platoon would have probably be just fine behind the plate. Navarro provides more offense but he gives a lot of that back behind the plate. The three-headed monster with Navarro getting DH starts against lefties is a pretty good setup to be honest.

 

Agree with this on Thole. His approach at the plate has been consistent - he is not over swinging ever and taking everything right back up the middle or to LF. He is guy who finally figured out he is a punch and judy hitter and can make a career of that and catching RA. (I hope)

Edited May 21, 2014 by BigCecil

[wilko]

Thole looks a bit cock eyed.

[G-Snarls]

Thole looks a bit cock eyed.

 

Is that Romero in your avatar?????

[wilko]

Is that Romero in your avatar?????

 

Yes. Can't you see how excited he is?