ATLANTA — Josh Thole has made significant defensive strides over the last few months, but that doesn’t mean he has conquered his demons.
The Mets catcher said he isn’t happy with his season, and yesterday, he vowed to change the conversation in 2012.
“I don’t want to be what’s called a defensive liability,” Thole said before the Mets’ 1-0 loss to the Braves at Turner Field. “You lead the league in passed balls, and I’m sure that is raising questions. I don’t want those questions anymore. I don’t want to hear the negativity that I can’t catch in the big leagues.”
Though Thole has had the challenge of handling knuckleballer R.A. Dickey for most of the season, he said that is no excuse for his NL-leading 16 passed balls. That number has partly obscured Thole’s throwing improvement and steady game-calling this year.
Offensively there have been fewer questions, even if Thole’s .266 average with three homers and 36 RBIs in 312 at-bats haven’t exactly evoked images of Mike Piazza. But the Mets will remain patient with the 24-year-old Thole, whose role could become more pronounced next season if veteran Ronny Paulino isn’t re-signed — the team could go with a tandem of Thole and Mike Nickeas behind the plate.
Thole is already planning an offseason centered on defensive improvement. He says his priorities were not in the right place last winter.
“Last year I spent way too much time in the gym,” Thole said. “At this point in my career it’s not all about coming into camp all shredded and jacked up, strong, it’s about being ready to play baseball the right way.
“I’ve always caught bullpen [sessions] in the offseason starting in January, but it’s not about the repetition of catching the ball. It’s beneficial for me to block balls. That is stuff I can do on my own, but it’s something I really have to take focus on more than my weight training this year.”
Manager Terry Collins said sharing time with Paulino behind the plate has been an adjustment for Thole, who caught everyday at Triple-A. But that hasn’t stopped Thole from improving his throwing, to the point his arm is considered respectable.
“Since the beginning of the year he’s made huge strides defensively,” Collins said. “He’s much more comfortable back there and moving much better. I always thought he was going to hit. I think he’s going to be a good hitter. I think he’s going to hit more than he’s hitting right now. He’s going to hit some homers. He’s got some strength.”
Thole has thrown out 17 of 75 (23 percent) of runners attempting to steal. He credits the hours spent with catching instructor Jon DeBus for helping make the number respectable after struggling in April and May.
“I would think, overall, this is the best I’ve felt throwing a baseball,” Thole said. “What the numbers are, I don’t have any idea, but this is the best my arm has felt and I’ve finally gotten to the point where I have a strong arm.”
Now he wants to take that next step and shed the perception he is a defensive liability.
“I believe in myself that I can do it,” Thole said. “It’s just going to keep taking the amount of work I’m going to put into it.”