How many game winning hits will Omir hit in 2010?

BY ANTHONY LAFAMAN
STACHE WRITER

It’s a dream to have a catcher that can impact the offense. Unfortunately there aren’t many of them that can. Most catchers are under .300 in career batting average, don’t have much pop in thier bat and are slow. This doesn’t mean they are not important to a club. It’s quite the opposite. They are paramount, they play a huge role in the clubs ability to win, day in and day out. But finding a Victor Martinez or Joe Mauer doesn’t happen easily. This is why I was for, giving up anything the Indians wanted in return for Martinez. Currently the Mets catcher position is up in the air but I ask the real question.

Do the Mets REALLY need a catcher?

Omir Santos caused Omar Minaya to trade back up catcher Ramon Castro to the White Sox by playing extremely well during a stretch of games in the first half of the season. When it was all said and done Santos had these numbers to boast : In 281 AB’s he batted .260 with 7 Home Runs and 40 RBI’s. Slugged just under .400 and had an OBP just under .300. Not bad for a backup, actually pretty good when you consider the clutch hits he provided in April, May and June. Specifically the go ahead two run Home Run in Fenway Park. This is all while putting up pretty solid defensive numbers behind the plate and handling the staff.

If we average those numbers out over the course of a full season, let’s say 450 AB’s what kind of production would you anticipate from Santos? Would you take a .250 ish average with 12-16 Home Runs, 70-80 RBI’s in the 8 hole of a national league lineup? Let me further ask this question. Who, as I will post the free agent market for catchers, would you like to sign for this list to catch for the 2010 Mets? Can you give me the guy who can possibly come close to that production?

Paul Bako, Brad Ausmus, Josh Bard, Rod Barajas, Henry Blanco, Ramon Castro, Jason Kendall, Jason LaRue, Bengie Molina, Jose Molina, Miguel Olivo, Mike Redmond, Ivan Rodriguez, Yorvit Torrealba, Greg Zaun.

Ok I already know who you are going to say. Bengie Molina right? My rebuttal would be he is 35 years old and he just made 6.5MM playing for San Fran. He is probably seeking a 2-3 year deal worth at least half that, most likely more. Also he’s a Type A Free Agent which means the Mets would lose a pick if they signed him. I win. Rod Barajas? His career batting average is .238 and even though he has some pop Santos can provide the same stats for less money. Miguel Olivo is the only guy on that list that I can’t really argue about if the Mets wanted to sign him. He’s 31, hits home runs and plays pretty solid behind the dish. I’d still prefer to spend the money elsewhere though. The rest of the list is rubbish as the Brits say.

With Thole on the horizon why would the Mets committ to anyone past 2010? I wouldn’t mind signing Castro back. Now you’re talking pop on the bench and a backup to Santos who already knows the staff. Ramon has proven he cannot handle day to day catching duties so he’ll be cheap. Nobody on the market is worth a deal that will prove to be worthless once Thole continues to hit in the minors. Nobody likes a 3MM a year backup catcher on the bench.

Santos should be the catcher. Let’s not reach, elite catchers are not available this year, not even via trade. The money you use to sign an average catcher, when you already have an average catcher on the roster, could be used elsewhere.