Preseason Preview - Catcher

This will be the first in a number of posts we are working on leading up to opening day going through each position and letting you know where we stand. Where better place to start than the position that calls the pitches, adjusts the fielders, and squats uncomfortably close to the umpire.

As you could see in our previous post on the potential emergency catching duties of Mike Jacobs, the Mets' great teams have always had an offensive anchor behind the plate. From Grote to Carter to Hundley to Piazza to LoDuca, the Mets seem to thrive when they get good offensive production from behind the dish.

After a couple years of disappointment with Brian Schneider, the Mets brought in some veteran talent to keep the catching position warm this year before Josh Thole, a Mets Top Prospect, is ready for the bigs.

Rob Barajas and Henry Blanco were brought in to be formidable backstops to handle the Mets' "due for a comeback" pitching staff. With Blanco's experience catching Mets' ace Johan Santana and with Barajas' veteran leadership working with the other starters, the Mets have definitely upgraded at the catcher position defensively going into 2010.

Offensively though, I think the catcher position is a place the Mets will really improve in 2010. Last season, the Mets' revolving door of catchers combined to hi 13 home runs and 77 RBIs. 7 of those homers are still on the Mets roster in Omir Santos and will probably be starting the season backing up Thole in AAA waiting just in case one of the veterans needs some time on the DL.

Compare that 13/77 number with Barajas alone last year who put up 19 home runs and 71 RBIs. Not only would Barajas have beaten all catchers combined on the Mets last year in home run output, but he would have led the team. Obviously the move to Citi Field could decrease that, but I think there is no doubt that there will be improvement. If you put Barajas and Blanco together you get 25HR and 88 RBI. I think we'd all agree we'd sign up for that kind of output from our catchers right now!

So get ready Mets fans because the B&B boys are ready to help the Mets 'catch' some pennant fever in 2010.