In the big scheme of things, the three walks that Dodgers back-up catcher Austin Barnes drew in Thursday night’s 6-3 win over the struggling New York Mets meant very little. Oh sure, they certainly helped up Barnes’ on-base percentage a little and he did pick up an RBI with his seventh-inning / bases loaded walk, but the extremely quiet 27-year-old Riverside, California native ended up going 0-for-1 in his four plate appearances on the night and his 97th of the season. Such is life for a back-up catcher in the MLB.

But Barnes did something on Thursday night that very few – if any – Dodger catcher has ever done before. After drawing a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fourth inning, he promptly stole second base off of Mets left-hander Steven Matz and catcher Travis d’Arnaud, and then promptly stole third base off of them – and did so with relative ease.

Although it will be Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud who will forever be charged with Austin Barnes’ two stolen bases on Thursday night, could there be someone else responsible for the two thefts?
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

While the consecutive stolen bases by the Dodgers back-up catcher may have caught the Mets by surprise, they most certainly did not for Dodger fans, who are very well aware that Barnes is also a utility infielder and a very good one at that. They are also very well aware that he is exceptionally quick on his feet, not only as a catcher behind the plate but also as an infielder and on the basepaths.

Even though Barnes was left stranded at third base and, as such, did not factor into the final score, the fact that he was even there brings up the burning question: Why were the Mets not aware of Barnes’ above average speed?

Sure enough, within minutes (seconds actually) of Barnes’ second stolen base, former MLB manager and longtime Dodgers broadcaster and MLB Network Radio analyst Kevin Kennedy posted this exact point on Twitter.

The Mets struggles appear to go well beyond their play on the field, as noted by Kennedy.

Here again, even though Barnes’ two stolen bases meant nothing in the outcome of the game, at least this time, they most definitely could have. But what they did mean is that the Mets current deficiencies extend deeper than what’s happening between the lines, and the Dodgers and their fans thank them for that.

…oh, and for giving us Justin Turner.