There have only been 30 lefty throwing players who have caught at least one inning in the majors. Only five have caught 100 games. The last lefty catcher in the majors was 30 years ago - Benny DeStefano of Pittsburgh caught three games in 1989.
OT: 2019 Mets Season Thread
- Thread starter cicero grimes
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Forget Cano. If Diaz is a premier closer for the Mets for the next decade, and a key component of a perennial winner, then it's a good trade for the Mets, regardless of what Kelenic and Dunn accomplish or do not accomplish. Taking Cano was part of the Diaz price tag.
No guarantees of that of course, but then no guarantees about Kelenic and Dunn either.
I feel strongly that trades should be evaluated based on whether the guy you got helped you achieve the objective that you had set when you traded for him. Not on how the guys you trade away do. If Diaz helps the Mets win a World Series, then I don't care if Kelenic is the second coming of Mike Trout.
I never played catcher in little league because the coach never had a left catchers mitt. Everyone else would rotate through but me.
I didn’t mind it one bit.
Back then though (90s pre internet) finding any left mitt at the store was tough.
Wish I still had my little mitt with Ken Griffey Jr. signature in it (the role model for every lefty kid in the 90s).
Now that I think about it, I might have to find a lefty catchers mitt if my toddler grows wanting to pitch.
Just another bias against Left-handiness in the world....
I didn’t mind it one bit.
Back then though (90s pre internet) finding any left mitt at the store was tough.
Wish I still had my little mitt with Ken Griffey Jr. signature in it (the role model for every lefty kid in the 90s).
Now that I think about it, I might have to find a lefty catchers mitt if my toddler grows wanting to pitch.
Just another bias against Left-handiness in the world....
No offense but that is not true especially when you could have not given up Kelenic and signed Kimbrel plus another bat who might have also won us this theoretical future WS. Cano is going to be a major albatross on this team for 5 years and is going to hamper what we do moving forward!!! A closer is not worth giving up a possible everyday player who looks like they are going to maybe turn into a top 5 prospect in baseball at this pace. The price for Diaz was not worth a major prospect a solid prospect and a ton of dead money.
The trade in essence was Kelenic and Dunn for Diaz. The rest was a money dump. Would have not traded to guys in A ball for a proven young closer? Did you want Familia closing again?
Whats the point of having Diaz if the best they can do is .500? Theyre not exactly going to the playoffs for the next 3-5 years.
If that was the case, bench or get rid of Cano. Otherwise, being forced to play him because of his contract makes this a dumb trade.
If your assumption is correct, then yes, it's a bad trade. However, I am certain the Mets do not share that assumption.
Transactions du jour:
McNeil and Cano to IL. Guillorme and O'Rourke up. For now, Mets are going with a 13 man staff and four man bench, which I think will be the norm.
Callaway says he'll use Smith in the OF. We'll see.
McNeil and Cano to IL. Guillorme and O'Rourke up. For now, Mets are going with a 13 man staff and four man bench, which I think will be the norm.
Callaway says he'll use Smith in the OF. We'll see.
Wow. Went from a lineup with quite a few left-handed bats sprinkled in to what I believe is an all right-handed hitting lineup today.
The money they are paying him is about 12 million a year when you factor in the the money Seattle kicked in and the taking back of the Bruce and Swarz contract. That is not a ton of money. If you wanted Diaz you had to take Cano. Its only May. Let's see where Cano ends up at the end of the season.
And after 2 years Cano goes back to full price in his 38-40 year old seasons. Diaz is done with arb and his salary is going to start to swell big time also.
The Mets received 20 million from the Mariners IIRC and sent them approx 40 million back in Bruce and Swarz. Cano was owed 120 million over the remainder of the contract so in essence on average over the life of the contract it cost us 60 million. I did not want Cano, I wanted McNeill at 2nd. But to get Diaz that was the price. Do you think Diaz was coming here just for Dunn and Kelenic? Never he is young, proven and under control. His price would have been Thor if you did not want the Cano contract.
Bizarre game so far. In six innings Matz gave up ten hits, including four extra base hits, but somehow only one run.
I just wish there was a way to get Smith 300-400 AB and HD Davis 400-500 AB.
Would love an infield of Alonso, McNeil, Rosario, Davis all under 25 y/o I believe. Get .280 25-30 HR from Davis and .270 35+ HR Alonso, .320+ McNeil and now solid bat from Rosario. Get Conforto back into RF and get Smith to learn LF even if he sucks at it. Only way I send him down again would to play 10-15 straight games in LF.
BTW- I love both Alonso and Smith in the dugout. Smith seems like friends with everyone and happiness person on the planet and it must be some sort of ritual now but I’ve noticed after every HR hit, Alonso meets the batter on top step and takes their helmet off their heads. Cool stuff
Would love an infield of Alonso, McNeil, Rosario, Davis all under 25 y/o I believe. Get .280 25-30 HR from Davis and .270 35+ HR Alonso, .320+ McNeil and now solid bat from Rosario. Get Conforto back into RF and get Smith to learn LF even if he sucks at it. Only way I send him down again would to play 10-15 straight games in LF.
BTW- I love both Alonso and Smith in the dugout. Smith seems like friends with everyone and happiness person on the planet and it must be some sort of ritual now but I’ve noticed after every HR hit, Alonso meets the batter on top step and takes their helmet off their heads. Cool stuff
Yes, the Mets did pick up savings equal to about half Cano's contract. Problem is, under the principles of Wilponian accounting, I am sure those savings will not be taken into account in future budgets. Just as the Cespedes/Wright insurance payments don't count either.
Makes you wonder if the Wilpons like to sign players and then hope they get hurt.
Well G-Man gives up 3 in the 8th and Mets down by a run. Let's see if Washington's bullpen can give it back.
Twice in three days Gary Cohen speaks trouble into existence. Two nights ago Gary talk about the one National player struggles (0-37), and said the guy can still hit the long ball. Boom, the guys hits a two run homer. Today with two out and man on first talks another guy into hitting when he was struggling. I recall another game when a Mets pitcher had a no-no going into the 7th and again Gary spoke. Next thing the guy gets a hit. Talk about an announcer who can be a jinx...:(
I know it's all a reach, but I'm superstitious. Who's not when it comes to baseball?
I know it's all a reach, but I'm superstitious. Who's not when it comes to baseball?
No I don't want Diaz for the cost of all those prospects and Cano and his money left. Diaz is not worth that much especially when his payroll is also going to skyrocket. For a team with a finite budget it was a bad deal and this isn't 20/20 hindsight as we mentioned this at the time the trade was made.
Well we are going to agree to disagree. I would make the trade again today. Yes Cano is over the hill but I assign more value to Diaz then to the two prospects. They may never get to the majors and here we have a front line closer in his prime. The Mets have a window now with their pitchers. You cannot wait years and hope for Kelenic and Dunn.
Young pitchers to me are just “Tommy John “ surgeries yet to happen
Put it in the books! Diaz closes it out for the sweep. Maybe this team has some life after all.
To think that back in 2015, we almost had Gomez instead of Cespedes. Now we have both! The best of all worlds.
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