Long Drive for a Car Pitchman

It's been a while since we treated Brian Schneider like an All-Star. But can you blame us? Schneider arrived from Washington as either the first or second "Who?" we offered after the Mets exiled Lastings Milledge (along with his mouth, rap career and casual schedule) to the Nats. Installed as the Mets catcher by default, Schneider immediately began doffing his helmet into the path of metaphorical boom mikes: He allowed an alarming number of passed balls and runners scoring in his vicinity and was hurt sufficiently often that we got to bask in the wan light of the Robinson Cancel-Raul Casanova-Gustavo Molina era. Schneider's final line for 2008 -- .257 AVG, 9 HR 38 RBI in 110 games played -- all but stands up in its seat and yells "average catcher." The only thing he does that's demonstrably better than average is throw out runners, and even there a historical-minded fan is mostly left wondering why today's catchers nab so few. When Schneider go...