Wakefield's New Catcher

[a700hitter]

whatever you want but i dont root against any red sox players in spring training. maybe thats me.

He's not a Red Sox player until he suits up for a regular season game, and I hope that day doesn't come.

[Cityofchampions33]

True dat

[soxtoxguy34]

So out of the four candidates, who'll be catching Wakefield this season, now that Mirabelli's gone: Varitek, Flaherty, Huckaby, or Bard? I put Tek in there, but I don't seriously think he'll be doing the job.

I personally am pulling for Huckaby. I recently read an article that talked about how Huckaby visited Wakefield in the offseason to try to practice catching the knuckleball and the dedication Huckaby put forth. Someone who does that type of work really deserves a spot on the bench in my opinion.

[Cityofchampions33]

I'm fine with whoever can catch Wakefiled the most effectively, offense is a non-issue in my opinion.

[whereisnomar]

I don't care, just don't let the balls get passed you!

[seabeachfred]

If Bard is the successor to Tek then the Red Sox are in big trouble indeed. The guy has developed a rag arm, cannot hit a lick, has little if any power, and ought to be arrrested for loitering every time he steps up to home plate. I'd go with Flaherty. At least he's a good club house guy, and has had experience catching a star pitcher. Randy Johnson loved pitching to him; Wake might. My question is, do we have a young catcher down on the farm who can throw and hit with some regularity?

[jsinger121]

If Bard is the successor to Tek then the Red Sox are in big trouble indeed. The guy has developed a rag arm, cannot hit a lick, has little if any power, and ought to be arrrested for loitering every time he steps up to home plate. I'd go with Flaherty. At least he's a good club house guy, and has had experience catching a star pitcher. Randy Johnson loved pitching to him; Wake might. My question is, do we have a young catcher down on the farm who can throw and hit with some regularity?

 

bard is not the successor varitek. he was basically a throw-in to this deal.....as for a young catcher on the farm watch out for jon egan. played in the GCL last year. shows some promise. will start the season in extended spring training before going to lowell for the year. had some legal problems this past offseason and hopefully he is over them.

[seabeachfred]

Jsing, I have gotten the same info on another Red Sox website but when I downloaded Egan's stats last year they looked pretty bad. I just hope he was having first year jitters, though. The book on him is that he is a good reciever with a strong arm and power at the plate. I hope he shows it at Lowell this summer. I have been looking at our prospects in the minors and catcher and possibly first base are the areas where we might need help.

[jsinger121]

Jsing, I have gotten the same info on another Red Sox website but when I downloaded Egan's stats last year they looked pretty bad. I just hope he was having first year jitters, though. The book on him is that he is a good reciever with a strong arm and power at the plate. I hope he shows it at Lowell this summer. I have been looking at our prospects in the minors and catcher and possibly first base are the areas where we might need help.

 

Egan starting in Lowell might be alittle more challenging because he will be going up against advanced pitchers that have already pitched in college. He really needs to show something this year in order for the red sox justifying picking him that early.

[seabeachfred]

Well J, if he is as valued as the Red Sox claim him to be they will give him a few years to show his stuff. If Lowell turns out to be a little advanced for him they could always send him down to a lower classification to give him some confidence. Hopefully, he will show some real grit this year and be on this wayh.