SAN DIEGO — Travis d’Arnaud has been among the bright spots offensively for the Mets over the last three weeks, but the rookie catcher has experienced defensive lapses.
On Saturday, he was charged with two passed balls in the Mets’ 6-0 loss to the Padres. The last of those passed balls, with Josh Edgin pitching in the eighth inning, allowed Chase Headley to score from third base for the Padres’ final run.
“We’re not that concerned,” manager Terry Collins said. “He’s a young guy who is catching up here, and he’s got to realize there’s going to be things that you’ve got to be ready for. It was one of those days.”
D’Arnaud’s first passed ball of the day came in the sixth inning, allowing Chris Nelson to reach second.
“[D’Arnaud] said the first one he was a little careless, he took his eye off it,” catching instructor Bob Geren said. “The other one, it extremely cut more than usual. It was kind of a weird pitch [from Edgin].”
Overall, d’Arnaud has been charged with eight passed balls this season. But Geren said Saturday’s performance was no cause for alarm.
“I thought he blocked the ball fantastic,” Geren said. “He had great blocks today. He’s been fine.”
Jon Niese is expected to return from the disabled list to pitch Monday against the Mariners, but the Mets are waiting to make it official. The left-hander has spent the last two weeks resting a sore left shoulder.
Bartolo Colon still was “sluggish,” according to Collins, a day after trying to pitch through an upset stomach. The right-hander weakened in the fifth inning on Friday, when he allowed four runs to the Padres.
But Collins praised Colon for taking the ball when he clearly was sick.
“I bet you nine out of 10 guys wouldn’t have pitched,” Collins said.
Though Collins is trying to be careful with Jeurys Familia’s workload, the manager said he would have sent the right-hander back to the mound Friday for a second inning of work if the Mets hadn’t taken the lead in the top of the frame. Collins cited the fact Familia had needed just eight pitches to get through the eighth inning.