One Chance

A really great interview with Mike Nickeas was done by MetsMerizedOnline.com and I recommend you all go read it.

There has been so much negativity surround the Mets bench and the fact that Mike Nickeas (gasp!) of all people is going to be the backup catcher and this was nice breath of fresh air.  It's not like the Mets didn't make it clear that they weren't spending money in places they didn't have to.  Well, the Mets have Nickeas already and they did in fact spend some (minimal) money on catchers.  But there is absolutely nothing wrong with having Mike Nickeas as the backup catcher.

There is nobody who has worked harder than Mike.  He has given everything to this organization.  He worked through injuries to finally have a chance to play everyday.  Even when he wasn't playing in AA he was working with Josh Thole, who was in-effect taking his potential job, on being a better defender.  Then in 2010 he finally had some luck.  He finally was the healthy one.  He could finally focus on his game while Thole kept moving through the system.  He finally figured things out with Luis Natera.  Yet he was still helping the future when the Mets wanted to keep him with Jenrry Mejia.

Now he is actually getting a chance to live the dream.  He could start the year on the Mets roster and stay there all season.  He will have Spring Training to work with Dave Hudgens and whichever other coaches he needs to improve his own game.  And he will still be there to help Josh Thole and the pitchers.  So if the Mets decide he is their backup catcher it goes beyond the field and beyond his own game.  Just remember that.

Let's Go Mets!