With the Mets trading Jay Bruce, Lucas Duda, Addison Reed, and Neil Walker, the team has moved on from 2017, and they are now invested in seeing which players could be part of the Mets in 2018. To that end, it is time the Mets stop giving the struggling Rene Rivera playing time and give Kevin Plawecki another shot.
Now, Plawecki may not be the player you remember. That was a player was one who was rushed to the majors in 2015 and struggled over parts of three seasons. In that time, Plawecki has hit .206/.282/.278 in 131 major league games. This year was a low for him with him just hitting .125/.214/.167 in 10 games for the Mets. After that stint, he was sent back down to Triple-A.
After Plawecki was sent down to Triple-A after his latest poor stint in the majors, he has been a much better player. In the 52 games since he was sent back down, Plawecki has hit .342/.393/.540 with 14 doubles, one triple, eight homers, and 36 RBI.
There are many reasons why Plawecki is thriving now. First and foremost, he is getting that extended look at Triple-A he always needed. Remember, when he was first called-up to the majors, he had only played nine career games in Triple-A. Last year, he spent most of the year as a backup, and then he played just about half a season in Triple-A. It is possible he is settled in Triple-A now, getting the coaching and playing time he needs, and it is starting to click for him.
It should also be remembered the catching position is one of the most challenging positions to master. Young catchers have to put in more time at their position than most other prospects. Typically, we will see at least one aspect of a young catcher’s game lag behind. For some, it’s the bat. For others, it’s the defense. In Plawecki’s case, it has been the bat.
Even if this is a mirage, or if he’s truly just a Four-A player, you need to finally find this out as a franchise. Plawecki is a former first round pick, who is out of options. Essentially, if the Mets aren’t going to carry him on the Opening Day roster, he will be exposed to waivers. Given his ability as a good defensive catcher with terrific pitch framing abilities, the Mets need to see if Plawecki has finally figured it out before making an important decision on a talented player.
Remember, in 2015, there was a real debate whether Plawecki or Travis d’Arnaud was the Mets catcher of the future. In that time, d’Arnaud has not exactly distinguished himself. Maybe if Plawecki is given an opportunity, he could supplant d’Arnaud. At a minimum, he’s already shown enough to be a good defensive backup catcher.
Whatever the case, it’s time to give him a real chance to figure out what he is. He’s earned the opportunity, and the Mets need to make an important decision on him. It’s time to call him up to the majors.
I agree. Plawecki has hit really well in Triple A, I know it’s Las Vegas but he’s improved from last year and Rivera won’t be on team in 2018. Rivera probably gets dealt to a playoff team needing a better back up catcher with some pop & that can call a good game. This should be PLawecki & d’Arnaud for 2018 and figure out where to go from there. There’s no premium catcher on the market & Mets can’t solve all problems on free agent market. Nido will likely start in Triple A next season. Mazeika will be in Double A. Neither are perfect prospects but none are bad.
Trade Rivera and give the kid a last shot. We know what TDA is- lets find out about KP. If he fails then we have two catchers in Bingo that will be here soon enough.
I’ve always thought KP would beat out Travis solely because one is made of glass. That said, I hope KP makes it as a serviceable catcher who can provide passable offense. GO KP!!!
Yeah, the Mets ought to give Plawecki a look just to find out whether he is part of the equation or not. (My guess is, ‘not’). But thats looking at it in a vacuum. The Mets also have a lot of pitchers coming back from injury in these final seven weeks. And they’re a much more important part of the 2018 equation than Plawecki could possibly be. Its possible that the Mets feel that these pitchers’ returns will go faster and more smoothly with the more experienced RIvera behind the plate. Collins and Warthen may also believe that they will get better input from Rivera as to how these pitchers are throwing and what they’re missing or doing differently.
While they do owe it to themselves to give Plawecki another look, we also need to face the fact that lots of guys have hit .330 in Vegas in recent years and for most of them, it has not signaled success or major league readiness. No matter what Plawecki does these last seven weeks, he and d’Arnaud will still represent a weak catching tandem unless d’Arnaud starts hitting up to his abilities on a consistent basis.
IM finding the delay to play Nimmo, Ceech an De plaw mind boggling. Is it a business decision, e.g., ticket sales? Let’s see what the top picks can do in the last few months
It wouldn’t take a premium catcher to improve upon a TdA/Plaw tandem. If you want to suggest that we might be able to squeak by with those two when the rest of the team is healthy, then maybe. But its far from what is really needed. Metrics indicate that Alex Avila’s season is not a fluke and that, in fact, he should have been getting results like this last season, as well. He’s on the market.
I find your use of the term ‘mind boggling’ to be mind boggling. Its Aug 15. Not Aug 25 or September. Tell me what other team is playing their marginal (yes, I said marginal). prospects this early.
They’re not top picks anymore. They were top picks once. But that ship has sailed. Where they were drafted 4 or 5 years ago has absolutely no meaning and no relevance today. None. Today they are judged on their body of work. And nothing any of these guys has done this year indicates that they are going to be significant pieces in 2018. Back-ups or role players, maybe. But starters? No, not yet (if ever). Sorry, but playing these three in mid-August is not a priority. And it would not be for any club.
Alex Avila is available as a free agent. He is a lefty bat that will hit above 240 on a regular basis. He has a bit os speed for a catcher and he also knows how to throw the ball. The Mets could really use him. They need to sign JD Martinez who can hit as well as catch and throw the ball in RF. Having a lineup of Conforto in CF, Cespedes in LF and Martinez in LF would be a very good one. You also have Lagares and Nimmo as 4th and 5th outfielders. So the outfield will be well covered. The Mets are cheap so I figure they also might spring for other bullpen help but other than that everything and anyone else will cost too much for them. Leave Cabrera at 3B
Justin Turner … Daniel Murphy … don’t give up on players so quick. Their time hasn’t passed; they haven’t even had 500 MLB at bats
A baseless response (and non-response) that has nothing to do with what I am saying. A poor and baseless analogy. 1) No one anywhere ever “gave up” on Turner or Murphy. 2) Turner and Murphy were far better players in their first call-ups than any of these three are now, after several call-ups. 3) I never said their time has past or that I’d given up on them. I simply said these guys are not YET an important part of the equation for NEXT SEASON. And for that reason there is no urgency in or basis for force-feeding them into the big league roster and lineup on Aug 15. Come September when rosters expand, its all hands on deck. But right now? Not an issue.
What is it about a former first-round draft pick who’s hitting 340 that doesn’t deserve another chance. Really his ship has sailed? You know that for sure?
Lol enjoy the snark poopy head
Who are you talking to? I never said he doesn’t deserve another chance, I simply said there is no urgency to calling him up now, in mid-August, rather than September. I never said his ship has sailed, only that he is not an important part of the 2018 equation. He’s only caught 17% of the baserunners who try to steal, and thats exactly the opposite of what d’Arnaud’s co-catcher needs to do.
Give him a look in September, and if he blows the door off, then he gets more consideration. IF.
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