Mets Articles

Travis d’Arnaud Stays with Mets

Mark this date down because this doesn’t happen very often — the Mets made a smart decision. They have decided that Travis d’Arnaud will stay with the club after John Buck returns from paternity leave.

travis d'arnaud
Travis d’Arnaud sticks with the Mets.

“In our opinion… the only way this guy is going to improve is to be here,” Terry Collins told ESPNNewYork.com.

When Buck’s wife began her long and grueling labor, the Mets said d’Arnaud would only be up for three days, then return to Las Vegas to await a September call-up. Then Sandy Alderson said if he does well, he might stay. Then Alderson suggested he would stay regardless of performance.

It is difficult to assess Travis d’Arnaud thus far. He is hitless in seven official at bats, but he has drawn five walks in his three games. He hasn’t been perfect behind the plate, but he appears to know what he is doing back there. So keeping him on the club will give the Mets more time to see what they have in d’Arnaud and give him more experience at the major league level.

Travis d’Arnaud to set to start, but Buck will not be the forgotten man.

“They’re going to both play,” Collins said. “John Buck deserves some playing time, and he’s going to get playing time. I’ll discuss that when I get to see John.”

Anthony Recker is the odd man out.

“Anthony Recker has done an outstanding job,” Collins said. “That is a tough job, to sit here and play once a week, once every eight or nine days. As I told him when I sent him out — I don’t have the exact numbers — but we’ve won more games than we’ve lost when he’s caught (16-11 in Recker’s starts). He’s handled the pitching very well. He’s dangerous. He’s big and strong. He’s done an outstanding job. He’s going to be back in a couple of weeks.”

Let’s hope this decision begins a trend of smart moves by the Mets front office.

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