Mets’ catcher Travis d’Arnaud has had more than his share of injuries during his career and this has severely limited his playing time and his productivity. Some of his injuries have included three concussions, a chipped elbow, a fractured foot and a torn PCL in his left knee. These injuries were all before 2015 and 2016, the injuries in those years will be examined further down.
Of course catchers play the most physically demanding position, and tend to be more vulnerable to injuries. For example, one of d’Arnaud’s concussions came when he was hit by a batter’s backswing. Because of this injury history, some fans and sportswriters feel it may be time for the Mets to look into another catcher, either via a free agent acquisition or a trade. Such a move may be premature, it’s too early to write him off.
Injuries continued to hinder d’Arnaud in 2015 and 2016. There was a big difference between those two seasons. In 2015 when d’Arnaud was playing, he was good. In 2016, when he was playing, he was not.
In 2015 d’Arnaud only played in 67 games during the regular season. This was primarily due to injury. d’Arnaud suffered a fractured hand due to a hit by pitch, then after a stint on the DL he injured his elbow on a play at the plate, resulting in more time on the DL. He did return in time for the Mets successful pennant run.
When he was playing, he had a pretty good season. His slash line in 2015 was .268/.340/.485. That last SLG figure was particularly impressive for a catcher. His defense was respectable as well in 2015, he was credited with a 33% CS figure.
The 2016 season saw d’Arnaud again plagued by injury, and he played in 75 games. His production fell off with a slash line of .247/.307/.323, and defensively his CS rate fell to only 22%, below average for a Major League receiver.
It is important to note the nature of the 2016 injury: it was described as a strain of his right rotator cuff. This type of shoulder injury would impact both his batting and throwing. A strain is no where near as bad as tear in the rotator cuff, which could mean the end of a career. Checking several medical web sites, they agreed that a rotator cuff strain can be healed by sufficient rest combined with a regimen of physical therapy to strengthen the tendons in the rotator cuff.
I know from personal experience with a rotator cuff injury that physical therapy can do wonders.
It’s quite possible in 2016 d’Arnaud’s shoulder was never completely healed properly, but off season rest and physical therapy could well bring the shoulder back to normal. And that could mean his 2016 was an aberration, that his 2015 numbers could be what we might expect going forward.
d’Arnaud is going to turn 28 in 2017, right about the prime age for a baseball player. If his shoulder is what caused his poor season, we could have hopes for a very productive season from him in 2017 with a healed shoulder. If he bats fifth or sixth in the batting order for 140 games or more in 2017, it would be very possible that there would be plenty of October baseball at Citi Field, and maybe even games into November.
I would not give up on either D’Arnaud or Plawecki. They’re Cheap on Salary, and they are extremely under-valued for trade.
Oh No it’s d’Arnaud”. I hear that every time he comes to bat. His at bats are that of a rookie. Every swing is a Babe Ruth type of swing. He has an awful approach at the plate. Has to learn how to make productive at bats with a man on second and no one out.
John, when I first read your headline, I said: “Here come the masses, you’re going to get fried”. But, there is a fear with TDA less with his ability but rather a worry that the next concussion may force him from the position, and at that point he won’t have any real value.
However, parallel to his health issues are his production issues. While I like TDA and I’m a believer in accumulating talent and let it show, I’m becoming afraid that TDA is one bad season away from hitting the “Clearance” rack, but several good seasons away from establishing real trust in his production since he hasn’t shown consistency. Hence, you might as well keep him and get what you can because his value is quite low and even worse, his arbitration clock has just started.
Had to chuckle, Gus, yes I have been “fried” a few times since I started writing these articles.
Travis gets half year final try out, 80 games, if he is healthy, that is, which in itself is stretch. His swing is a mess, he cannot throw out a decent % of runners, coupled with the fact that Mets pitchers don’t hold runners well, is a very bad toxic formula. 80 games and the Mets will know if they have a catcher or not. They cannot keep waiting for him after that. He still will be ‘cheap’ with not much commitment financially. Mets can then find a way to part with him if need be, hand over the reigns for the other 80 games to Rivera and Plawecki and either find a full time catcher in the offseason next year, or perhaps T.Nido is ready in 2018. Mets, therefore have options and will give Travis half a year, in my opinion, to demonstrate he belongs or is adios, or, rather
‘bon voyage’..d’Arnaud.
TDA was bad last year, a point no one argues.
And while his supporters absolutely have to acknowledge how bad he was in 2016, his detractors aren’t allowed to sweep 2015 under the rug, either. He threw out 33% of opposing baserunners that year (Rivera threw out 30% in 2016) and had an .825 OPS. Catchers like that don’t grow on trees. It wasn’t until his 10th year in the league that Brian McCann threw out that many baserunners.
He’s no good if he can’t stay off the DL for months at a time.
But there’s a better chance of TDA playing 130 games in 2017 than there is of Nido coming within 40 points of his wOBA last year. That was a home park fluke that won’t be repeated.
I still have hope for Travis, and believe that the shoulder injury sapped his power. His GB/FB rate went off the rails last season. Can’t hit HRs when the ball is bouncing on the grass.
If healthy, he can hit. If healthy, he’s okay-enough at catcher.
Best scenario, he’s the key to the Mets revived offense in 2017.
Worst scenario, he’s hurt or unproductive, and the position becomes a black hole.
I believed that the Mets should have upgraded over Rivera, giving Travis competition and rest at the position, and giving the Mets a decent “plan B.”
Right now, an awful lot depends on the right shoulder of Travis d’Arnaud. It’s worrisome. At a certain point, all the missed time begins to take a toll on a player’s performance. My concern is almost 100% centered on his health. I think if he’s a “go,” the bat will be there. Guy needs to stay on the field.
He might be cursed.
While the string hasn’t run out yet, it’s getting seriously short considering that his batting mechanics are now clearly discombobulated…the waggle…bat point at mound…leg kick timing or not….the dwindling, if not already non-existent bat control…and especially, if he cannot stay on the field to develop consistency, then what value is his admittedly excellent framing skills…given that shoulders take forever to return to normal…and considering that firing from a crouch adds further degrees of difficulty and strain comparatively…and with his history of concussions, has to subconsciously engender psychologically a reasonable fear of the high and tight, moreover, knowing full well that one more beaning in the coconut could spell the end of his career…Good luck to us and him, but i wouldn’t eliminate a contingency plan…i agree half the season to evaluate, then execute plan B…
Meticated, yes his swing was not right in 2016, but there is a good chance that is related to the strained rotator cuff. Rest and treatment should heal the shoulder, and if that’s the case my point is that we could see the 2015 swing from d’Arnaud in 2017.
As long as D’No continues that stupid batting style where he has the bat pointing at the pitcher, he won’t be any good. It is 3/4 of a circle just to try to put the bat on the ball. By then, the ball is passed him.
But, if he is either to stubborn or stupid to change it, so be it and lets get Plawecki another shot as the starting catcher.
I agree very much with your point. I have been saying the same thing since he adopted this stance.
I am more or less of the thought TdA is a back up catcher. The on field numbers pretty much dictate that. Aside from his rookie season, he’s never even approached 100 GP. Thats not starting catcher material. I completely disagree that age 28 is the prime on “age” alone. This is a prime year for players that have steadily built on their resume. Unfortunately in TdA’s case, those building years of improvement are not on his side however. As a result, he comes to his age 28 season, still with giant question marks looming over his head. In the last 3 years, by comparison, Sal Perez has caught a minimum of 139 games per season. So whether it be his shoulder, his concussions, or something lurking between his ears, he basically looks like a rookie at this point.
While those that recognize d’Arnaud did put up a nice stretch in 2015, they also cannot sweep under the carpet those numbers are buoyed by only 239 ABs in 67 GP, a shade over 40% of a whole season. Jim Duquette recently said its not just the one odd stance with the bat top pointing at the pitcher, its that every other day of the week its a new stance — looking for a magic pill. Clearly the Mets dont have the $ or will or chips to acquire a top catcher like a Carter or Piazza, and so they invested in a catching coach, which I think given theor constrains was an excellent move. But I think expecting much from him is likely beyond reach at this point. Im glad they resigned Rivera if for one reason that Noah seems to love pitching to him.
We have little to lose by giving TDA half a season to sink or swim. While we’re on the subject, does anyone here have any confidence in Plawecki making a major league career for himself?
unfortunately big league pitching, as it is prone to do, exposed holes in KPs offensive approach. Hes lost like .250 in OPS facing big league arms. So the question arises is do you invest in him for an extended period in the bigs to see if he can be a general behind the plate *and* learn a better hitting approach. I think a team not in contention might be willing to take that risk. The Mets dont have the luxury to have 2 young catchers trying to figure the world out, TdA is bad enough.
One time I went to a Braves v Mets game in ATL and went early enough for batting practice. Met some of KPs family at the gate and had a great chat with them. Grew up in a family of rabid Cubs fans. Through high school never hit under .600 or something like that. Apparently a wild standout at all the developmental levels. Super nice family to chat with! As a result, I certainly root for him, but it seems like he’s got no real chance as the prime starter for the Mets unless TdA succumbs to injury again.
Uggh. That stupid bat point…it drove me insane last year.
Well, I posted this last week but worth repeating as it breaks down TDA’s batting stance and just how much he was out of whack.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-link-between-travis-darnauds-set-up-and-struggles/
I’ll read that Fangraphs article. Thanks!!
There were 33 National League catchers with 100 AB’s or more. None of the three Met catchers ranked in the top 15 offensively therefore the Met catching core were all backend, backup catchers offensively. Rivera did crack the top 15 defensively (based on Fangraphs) but only at 13th which is still much better than d’Arnaud and Plawecki. The Mets need to upgrade this position to a better player than Rivera and have the new player become their starting catcher or at least a platoon player. The Mets could then keep d’Arnaud and/or Plawecki as backups because neither has proven themselves as starting catchers. d’Arnaud and Plawecki are both younger, controlled, and have a higher ceiling than the 33 year old Rivera. Rene Rivera is not the solution as a starter.
I believe Plawecki will eventually become a very competitive hitter and a good receiver….. I have never been a D’Arnaud believer. His bat has upside and lots of flaws, and his game rides on his bat, as I find his defensive game even more uneven than his hitting.
When I watch Plawecki bat, the word that springs to mind is “feeble.”
I don’t think he’s a player.
The results in the majors have absolutely been feeble.
That being said, when I watch KP set up in the box and swing, it doesn’t turn me off. It looks like there’s a hitter in there somewhere. But to this point, looks have been 100% deceiving.
I’m not a believer.
He needs to go to Triple-A and hit better than Roger Bernadina and Ty Kelly over a significant number of PA for me to change my tune.