PORT ST. LUCIE — Now that the admitted shock of playing full-time on the big stage in New York has worn off, Brian Schneider will be counted on to carry a heavy load for the Mets behind the plate this season. Jerry Manuel revealed here yesterday that any thoughts of a platoon situation between Schneider, Ramon Castro and Robinson Cancel at catcher aren’t coming from the manager’s office.
According to Manuel, Schneider is going to be his anchor behind the plate.
“I’m looking at getting him a lot more [at-bats],” Manuel said of the 33-year-old veteran. “As we sit here today, we feel that Schneider in his second year probably should get the bulk of the catching.”
Schneider played 110 games last season, and the Mets were 53-45 in games that he started. They were 36-28 with everyone else.