With James McCann struggling and achy, Mets have three catchers and no starter
James McCann is late with the tag as Yankees' Andrew Benintendi scores in first inning on Monday night, Aug. 22, 2022. Credit: Jim McIsaac
With James McCann struggling and now sort of hurt, the Mets have three catchers and no clear starter, their depth chart at that key position perhaps as unresolved as it has been at any point this season.
Tomas Nido was behind the plate for a 4-2 loss to the Yankees on Tuesday night, his return after more than a week on the sideline due to COVID-19. McCann was on the bench but available despite a sore left ankle, the result of an awkward step on first base Monday. Michael Perez also is on the roster.
Manager Buck Showalter, who said in spring training that he hoped McCann would emerge as — and deserve to be — the obvious No. 1, still is hoping for such a scenario with somebody, anybody.
“If somebody gets it going, we’ll try to stay with it a little bit,” Showalter said.
In nearly three weeks since returning from his most recent injury, McCann has batted .177 with a .200 OBP and .206 slugging percentage. That is one extra-base hit in 35 plate appearances. His season numbers are better, but not by much.
Showalter consistently has praised the defensive and game-calling abilities of McCann and Nido. But Max Scherzer’s most outward frustration during his mediocre outing Monday was brought on by McCann, who surprised Scherzer by positioning himself for a high fastball when the pitcher, mid-delivery, was planning to throw a low fastball.
“I just wasn’t ready for it,” Scherzer said afterward. “It’s something we’ll try to adjust for so that we’re not in that situation again.”
Among the reasons Showalter and the Mets hope McCann can figure it out: He is due for another $24 million in the next two seasons. Plus, if he hits even a little, like last year, he probably would be a better option in that sense than the historically even lighter-hitting Nido. On Tuesday, Nido grounded into a double play and had two sacrifice bunts.
“Whoever is catching that night is No. 1,” Showalter said. “It’s a very demanding position. We’ll continue to take use of all their skills and try to pass the load around a little bit, much like a bullpen.”
Nido’s COVID hiatus included a drive from Atlanta to New York — completed in one day, he said. But that happened only once he felt better. After he caught the original virus in August 2020, this one hit Nido hard, too.
“I felt like death,” he said. “Aside from that, it’s all good. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”
Francisco Alvarez, the Mets’ top prospect, is hitting .180 with a .718 OPS for Triple-A Syracuse.
As the rotation turns
Jacob deGrom will pitch Thursday night against the Rockies, giving him a week between stats. That also set him up to start one of three games against the Dodgers next week.
Chris Bassitt will get the ball Friday night. Saturday night’s starter is TBA, with David Peterson a primary option, and Scherzer is penciled in for Sunday.
Vogel-walk
Daniel Vogelbach, not particularly fast to begin with, has been slower lately due to high hamstring soreness. That is why Showalter checked on him at third base Sunday and why he didn’t run out a ground ball Monday. But he can hit through it, so he’ll play through it.
“I mean this in a nice way: It’s not necessarily taking away from a real skill that he brings,” Showalter said. “He still is a threat offensively, can still hit.”
Vogelbach was slow again in the eighth inning Tuesday, trying to get down the line on a rally-killing double play in the eighth.
Extra bases
With Eduardo Escobar (strained left oblique) due back by Saturday, Showalter said he would be comfortable using him as a backup shortstop. “He has done it, and he’s capable of doing it for a short period of time,” Showalter said. The Mets will have to decide whether to keep third baseman Brett Baty or utility infielder Yolmer Sanchez on the roster . . . Carlos Carrasco (strained left oblique) threw his first bullpen session since getting hurt. He is due back the first days of September, perhaps earlier than the initial minimum of three weeks that the Mets expected . . . Showalter said the atmosphere at Yankee Stadium this week “was almost as good as ours” at Citi Field . . . Showalter on Baty: “We gotta make sure he gets plenty of sunscreen in the day games. He’s a pretty pale guy.”
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
