Thole hopes to make most of expected brief stay
Mets catcher Josh Thole participates in fielding drills during spring training. (Feb. 24, 2010) Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Josh Thole may have just gotten here, but he's veteran enough to know he likely won't stay. At 23, he already knows how fleeting the thrill of major- league call-ups can be.
"I can't look at three days from now when I haven't gotten through today," said Thole, who was called up from Triple-A Buffalo Monday to replace backup catcher Henry Blanco, who is on bereavement leave.
"It's just one day at a time for me and just kind of see where it takes me. If I end up going back to Buffalo - which is the realistic thing - if I do, I'll just try to make whatever's possible that I can do up here."
Thole was last recalled from Double-A Binghamton on Sept. 1 and made his major-league debut two days later. He batted .321 in 17 games with the Mets in 2009 but was sent down to Buffalo in March.
"Getting back up here is a boatload of confidence for me, so I'm sure this is going to help me out a lot," he said before last night's 3-2 loss to the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
"I know my spot, and the biggest thing is just to come up here and have a chance. Whether it's for one day, two days, five days, however long, if I get a chance, I'm going to be ready."
Jerry Manuel said he isn't sure when Thole will start. "It just depends on how Rod feels," he said, referring to regular catcher Barajas. But the manager said he is pleased with Thole's improvement behind the plate, an area the young catcher said he has spent a great deal of time working on.
"I feel good catching right now; just more consistent with my throwing, receiving, blocking, all that," he said. "And I think it came a long way even from spring training."
Thole was hitting .203 (16-for-79) with eight doubles, one triple and 10 RBIs in 21 games for the Bisons.
Thole said it has been frustrating, but he senses he has turned the corner at the plate.
"It's the first time I've struggled in my career, but I'm slowly digging my way out now," he said. "Any time you're going through a struggle, you want to change something, fix something that's not broke. And that's what I was doing."
