In 2012 former New York Met catchers Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas were not offensive outlets for the team. Thole and Nickeas combined for two home runs, 34 runs batted in with a combined batting average of .204. Both players were involved in a trade in the off-season that was highlighted by The Mets sending 2012 National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to The Toronto Blue Jays. As part of the compensation from The Blue Jays, The Mets received former All-Star catcher John Buck. Buck had been recently re-acquired by The Blue Jays after he spent two seasons with The Florida/Miami Marlins. 
Once Buck was dealt to The Mets, he was expected to be a stop-gap guy for The Mets at the catching position as he would keep the seat warm for prospect Travis d’Arnaud, but those plans have changed in a New York minute.
Buck has come out of the gates blazing as his 7 home runs are tied for second in The NL on this young season. Buck leads The National League in runs batted in with 22. Buck is on pace to have his best season since 2010 when he hit 20 home runs with 66 runs batted in along with a .281 batting average as a member of The Blue Jays. With Mets first baseman Ike Davis stumbling out of the starting blocks with a .167 batting average, Buck is providing much needed protection in The Met lineup behind All-Star third baseman David Wright.
In a three-game series earlier this month against The Philadelphia Phillies, Buck homered in each game of the series. On April 12 against The Minnesota Twins, Buck braved the elements in frigid Minneapolis to hit a grand slam in a 16-5 Mets victory. In Sunday’s 2-0 Mets victory over The Washington Nationals at Citi Field in Flushing, Queens, Buck launched a 448 foot solo home run. With the exception of Davis and Mets right fielder Lucas Duda, The Mets have not seen too many of their players that have been able to hit the ball consistently deep over the fence at Citi Field, but Buck has been providing some of that “big boy” power.
Buck is a pending free agent at the end of this season and he is making the most of his time in The Met lineup; especially since d’Arnaud recently broke a bone in his left foot in a game with The Mets Triple-A affiliate The Las Vegas 51s. The injury could possibly keep him out of action for up to two months. The notion of Mets general manager Sandy Alderson trading Buck to a contending team if The Mets were to fall out of the playoff race was thrown out there, but Buck could be seeing an extended stay in the blue and orange due to the d’Arnaud injury. The Mets have not had a catcher reach the double-digit mark in home runs since Rod Barajas hit 12 homers in 74 games with The Mets in 2010. At this pace Buck will surpass that more at some point in May.
It has been a few seasons since The Mets have had stability behind the plate which is evident in the franchise not being able to post a winning record since 2008. It is early, but Buck is providing a huge lift for The Mets.
Source:Baseball-reference.com
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