Schneider On Fire - Enjoy It While It Lasts

by James Kannengieser on Jul 17, 2009 12:00 PM EDT Comment 15 comments

From the time he came off the DL in late May through the All Star Break, Brian Schneider hit .258/.351/.500 in 74 plate appearances. Small sample size, but this is a respectable line at any position, and outstanding for a catcher. Also, all 3 of his home runs were hit at Citi Field. This hot streak has helped compensate for a brutal first 2 weeks of the season that saw him post an OPS of .440 over 25 plate appearances. Here is how his wOBA stacks up to league average for National League catchers, with last year's numbers included for reference:

Year	Schneider wOBA	Avg NL Catcher wOBA
2008	.309	.313
2009	.328	.317

Schneider has been about league average offensively. Defensively, his caught stealing %'s of 33% and 31% in 2008 and 2009 have been slightly above average. League average production at a premium position has value, even from a part time player.

I would suggest trading Schneider because productive catchers are scarce right now and the Mets would be selling high. The power display won't last. His isoP is a career high .193, and it's not as if his .219 BABIP is entirely a product of bad luck - his line-drive % is an anemic 12.8%. The ZiPS rest of season projection forecasts a .315 wOBA and .119 isoP. Rays catchers have posted a wOBA of .265 this year; .260 for Mariners catchers. The Brewers have given awful Jason Kendall 300 plate appearances this year. Surely these playoff hopefuls could spare something, anything, in return for half a season of Schneider. Unfortunately this is not a great option for the Mets, as Omir Santos and Robinson Cancel sharing time would be about as awful as the Alex Cora/Angel Berroa tandem at shortstop. The best we can hope for is even less playing time for Santos and that Schneider's power streak ends later rather than sooner.

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why not trade him?

A half-season of suck behind the plate in exchange for whatever Schneider brings at basically the all-time peak of his trade value? Seems like a fine exchange for a team that’s going nowhere this season. Obviously if Santos and Cancel are the plan for 2010 I’ll scream my head off along with you, but cutting bait on 2009 and getting value back for a temporarily hot bat seems to me like a good idea.

by anonymous on Jul 17, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

I think I am just dreading the thought of Santos and Cancel the rest of the way

but honestly it wouldn’t be the most awful thing in the world.

by James Kannengieser on Jul 17, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

No reason not to see what is out there for him...

Start putting it out there and if we’re 11 out by the trade deadline, there is no point not to.

Start laying the groundwork for guys like Schneider, Livan, Shef and Feliciano (if we can get a good haul from a desperate contender) to be traded at the deadline if we keep playing as we are.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jul 17, 2009 12:29 PM EDT reply actions

agreed

"I told him the next time he does that, I’m going to get my blade out and cut him, right on the field. Hey, I’m a gangsta now. You go gangsta on me, I’m gonna have to get you now."
- Jerry Manuel

by dave the rave on Jul 17, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions

The only way I'd be happy with a Schneider trade

would be if they promote Thole to the big league club.

by meigs1414 on Jul 17, 2009 1:27 PM EDT reply actions

Well it's a good thing we didn't trade Castro for a bag of peanuts

wait, what?

by cjmulrain on Jul 17, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions

They absolutely should trade him

along with Sheffield, Cora and Wagner/Putz when they return. Anyone not part of the plan for 2010 and beyond should be moved for the best return possible, assuming that they won’t be Type A FAs this winter who might yield draft picks. That includes Delgado, should he return in August. I know it’s hard to accept two or three months with guys like Santos and Berroa but it’s in the best interest of the team to do so and build for next year. I realize it’s a PR hit for the team to do so but with 7.5 game deficit (and rising), 2009 is over.

by Zwill on Jul 17, 2009 4:08 PM EDT reply actions

Schnider cost them the game last night with his defense

His inability to block the plate when McCann came home was inexcusable and it isn’t the first time Mets catchers have had this problem. Schnider’s defense as a Met has been nowhere near as good as advertised when he came over(although he did make some nice plays on balls in the dirt last night). Hopefully if the Mets do trade him, other teams won’t pick up on the fact that his def rep is inflated. .

by Endys Game on Jul 17, 2009 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

He's been average defensively this season, where Santos has been abysmal.

There’s nothing wrong with a player like Brian Schneider on a good team. It’s just that you shouldn’t be relying on him.

by All Shook Down on Jul 17, 2009 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

By relying on him I mean "relying on him to help carry the team."

by All Shook Down on Jul 17, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions

average defensively isn't good enough when you can't hit a lick.

And he can’t, this hot streak aside. And I think his ability to block balls and block the plate have been below average although I admit I have nothing to measure it by other than my own subjective viewing.

by Endys Game on Jul 18, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Santos sucks and I have said so from the start

This isn’t about Santos

by Endys Game on Jul 18, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Um, the point of this post is that Schneider has value

He “hits a lick” because his offensive output is on par with that of your average National League catcher. You combine that with average-to-slightly-above average D and you have an average Major League catcher. There’s nothing wrong with this! Would you rather have Schneider or Kenji Johjima/Rob Johnson/Jason Kendall/Pudge/Rod Barajas?

by All Shook Down on Jul 18, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

you are talking about less than two months worth of at-bats

much too small of a sample size considering he wasn’t even really the regular catcher during that whole time since Santos still started a lot of games. Schneider has proven his whole career that he can’t hit a lick. look at the 2008 numbers James posted. And that inclued a hot September. He is a terrible offensive player. And yes there are other catchers who are better. We had one of them untill we gave him away for nothing.

by Endys Game on Jul 18, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions