Josh Thole reported improvement with his concussion symptoms Saturday.

Thole has a history of concussions, so the Mets aren't likely to active him from the 7-day disabled list when first eligible. Mike Nickeas should continue to see regular at-bats during his absence.

Josh Thole (head) will travel back to New York on Tuesday for further evaluation.

Thole left Monday's game against the Phillies after taking a shoulder to the head from Ty Wigginton, who was sliding into home plate. He told trainers that he was experiencing dizziness, but the Mets have yet to release an official diagnosis on his condition. If he needs to be placed on the seven-day disabled list for concussions, Mike Nickeas would get the bulk of the playing time behind the plate while either Rob Johnson or Lucas May would be called up from Triple-A Buffalo.

Josh Thole left Monday's game against the Phillies in the eighth inning after taking a shoulder to the head at home plate.

Ty Wigginton was out on a slide into the plate, but his shoulder inadvertently leveled Thole, who fell face-down in the dirt before being attended to by a team trainer. While the 25-year-old backstop walked off the field under his own power, he will almost certainly undergo tests for a possible concussion. Stay tuned for an update on his status.

Josh Thole is not in Friday's lineup against the Giants.

He's just getting the day off. Mike Nickeas will start behind the plate and bat eighth.

Josh Thole will head to Dallas within the next two weeks to begin workouts with Mets catching coordinator Bob Natal.

"It's going to be about receiving the baseball," said Thole. "As I think it was well known, I had a bit of an issue early in the season with catching the baseball. I don't want that, and I need to get back where I was previously." Thole led the National League with 16 passed balls this past season, although many of them came with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey on the mound. The 25-year-old backstop has a .276/.350/.356 batting line over his first 204 games in the majors and could be asked to carry a heavier load in 2012 after Ronny Paulino was non-tendered earlier this month.

Josh Thole (thumb) returned to action by pinch-hitting on Sunday.

Thole tested out his left hand in the batting cage Sunday morning and everything went well. He should return to the starting lineup soon. Thole hadn't played since Thursday, when he suffered the injury after getting hit by a Miguel Batista pitch.

Josh Thole (thumb) is available to pinch-hit Sunday and should return to the starting lineup soon.

Thole tested out his left hand in the batting cage Sunday morning and everything went well. He hasn't played since Thursday, when he suffered the injury after being crossed up by a pitch.

Josh Thole left Thursday with a wrist contusion.

Thole is listed as day-to-day and will be reevaluated on Friday. He was replaced at catcher by Mike Nickeas.

Josh Thole went 4-for-5 with two runs scored in New York's loss to the Padres on Wednesday.

All four knocks were singles. Thole's first four-hit night of the season ups his average from .258 to .269.

Mets activated C Josh Thole from the paternity leave list.

Thole missed Tuesday's game to be present for the birth for the birth of his son. He's back in the starting lineup Wednesday night against the Cardinals. The Mets haven't announced a corresponding roster move, though Ruben Tejada is likely Buffalo-bound.

Josh Thole (paternity list) is expected to return Wednesday.

Thole was placed on the paternity list earlier Tuesday and evidently will need only a day. It will be a short stay for Mike Nickeas.

Mets placed C Josh Thole on the paternity leave list.

Thole's wife is in labor with their first child, so he'll be away from the team for the next day or two. Mike Nickeas will replace him on the active roster.

Josh Thole went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI in New York's 9-5 win over the Phillies on Sunday.

The three-hit day was just Thole's third of the season, while the multi-RBI effort was his first since April 26 (20 games). He is now batting .230 through 122 at-bats, and is a borderline option in one-catcher NL-only leagues.

Doug Mirabelli, Tim Wakefield's former personal catcher, recently got in contact with Mets back-stop Josh Thole, giving him pointers on how to catch a knuckleball.

The chat came at the behest of Amazins knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who has received advice on the knuckleball from Wakefield in the past. Thole has been struggling with Dickey's knuckler of late, turning Ronny Paulino into a personal catcher of sorts for Dickey. While it's not unusual for knuckleballers to have personal catchers, it's unideal in Paulino's case, since he mashes left-handed pitching but struggles against righties. If Mirabelli was able to help Thole unlock the secrets of catching a knuckler, it would be a nice break for the Mets.

Josh Thole is out of Wednesday's lineup against the Giants.

Thole had three hits on Tuesday night, but looks completely lost behind the plate right now. A few days off wouldn't be surprising. Ronny Paulino will start and bat sixth against right-hander Tim Lincecum.

Mets manager Terry Collins said there's a "possibility" Ronny Paulino may start behind the plate for a string of games so that Josh Thole can clear his head.

We're not sure if it's a case of the yips or what, but Thole has really struggled behind the plate recently. Paulino was brought in over the winter to be Thole's caddy against left-handed pitching, but there's a chance he could play himself into a more prominent role. Worth watching in NL-only leagues.

Josh Thole picked up three singles in four at-bats in Thursday's loss to the Nationals.

It's just his second multi-hit game in the last 11 contests for the catcher, as Thole has gotten off to a slow start this season. His average is now up to .250, but he's managed just three extra-base hits (all doubles).

Josh Thole went 2-for-4 with two RBI in the Mets win over the Braves on Sunday.

The RBI were just his second and third of the season, but the two-hit day was his fourth. Thole will provide you with almost no run production, but should be able to hold a steady average for the majority of 2011.

Josh Thole went 2-for-3 with a walk Friday in the loss to the Nationals.

Since Terry Collins seems to want to experiment with Angel Pagan in other lineup spots, why not try hitting Thole second? No, he's not fast, but he had a .357 OBP last year and he's hitting .368 with three walks in 19 at-bats so far this season. Wasted in the eighth spot, he's scored just one run to date.

Josh Thole went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer and two runs scored in a 7-2 win over the Astros on Wednesday.

We probably won't see many home runs from Thole this season, but we'll gladly take it. The 24-year-old is expected to be the primary catcher for the Mets this season after batting .277/.357/.366 with three homers, 18 RBI and a 25/24 K/BB ratio over 227 plate appearances last season. He might not have much value in mixed leagues, but he could prove to be a nice bargain in NL-only formats.