The Catcher and SS positions

[boston22407]

he can only get better

[Dojji]

He's shown over the last few games that he can get the job done, the question is consistency, and that can only be answered over a long sample.

 

I think you all know where I stand on Scutaro v. Lowrie. The fact that Scutaro has started every game at shortstop is making me bleed out the eyes. There is no justification for it other than veteranositude, and that is just an awful way to run a baseball franchise. At the very least you give him a chance to blow the doors off the hinges. That can only happen, though, IF HE PLAYS.

[Lackeyfan38]

Still waiting for Lowrie.

[rwb]

Should have kept VMart!!

[Wasatch]

I'm not a fan of Marco. Salty sucks right now. Go with TEK great defense, but bat sucks, but then again early last year he was on a tear. Hopefully the front office is looking around.

[redsoxfreak91]

marco blows, he cant hit anything right now....might as well give lowrie a chance

[Will617]

I'd like to give Salty some time with the bat, but I"m a little concerned with how he's handled the pitching staff. It's possible that the early season struggles could be due to how he's handled them, and Varitek caught Beckett's terrific game against the Yankees. I feel like that's just coincidence, but part of me isn't too sure. A new catcher probably wouldn't solve this issue, though (unless we happened to get one of the Molinas, and only Yadier really does stuff with the bat out of them).

Lowrie should be playing shortstop because he is the best shortstop the Sox have. I like Scutaro a lot, but Lowrie's just a better player IMO.

[SoxSport]

I think Salty has done OK so far--for a kid without a lot of big league experience behind the plate. He had some trouble with Wake last night, but who doesn't. Give the kid an A for effort.

 

I do think Tek needs to play more. It's possible pitch calling could be one of their problems.

 

No doubt they should have signed Martin as insurance. Theo should have known Salty would need some time. This club needs a little more catching depth--instead of carrying Wakefield as ballast, for example.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

I'd like to give Salty some time with the bat, but I"m a little concerned with how he's handled the pitching staff. It's possible that the early season struggles could be due to how he's handled them, and Varitek caught Beckett's terrific game against the Yankees. I feel like that's just coincidence, but part of me isn't too sure. A new catcher probably wouldn't solve this issue, though (unless we happened to get one of the Molinas, and only Yadier really does stuff with the bat out of them).

Lowrie should be playing shortstop because he is the best shortstop the Sox have. I like Scutaro a lot, but Lowrie's just a better player IMO.

 

That whole handling a staff thing is overrated. I read an article earlier today that mentioned how Beckett is more comfortable with Varitek, and how his ERA was like 1 or 2 points higher without him. But they posted a few other pitchers on the team and the comparison of their ERA with and without Varitek and their ERAs were not much different without him. Buccholz actually had a lower ERA without him. So I mostly think it's in Beckett's head, and for the rest of the staff it makes no difference for them, they are just struggling. Salty will be fine eventually. He's never had an opportunity top play a full season, and in the one season he played 80+ games he put up good numbers

[Pass the Buch]

I'm definitely on the Lowrie train right now.

[Palodios]

That whole handling a staff thing is overrated. I read an article earlier today that mentioned how Beckett is more comfortable with Varitek' date=' and how his ERA was like 1 or 2 points higher without him. But they posted a few other pitchers on the team and the comparison of their ERA with and without Varitek and their ERAs were not much different without him. Buccholz actually had a lower ERA without him. So I mostly think it's in Beckett's head, and for the rest of the staff it makes no difference for them, they are just struggling. Salty will be fine eventually. He's never had an opportunity top play a full season, and in the one season he played 80+ games he put up good numbers[/quote']

 

This stat for Beckett showed up on a game for ESPN. Beckett 3.90 with Tek, 5.60+ without.

 

However, this is misleading. Varitek has been the Sox's primary catcher for quite some time. The only time when another catcher took significant time from him was the end of 2009 and 2010 when VMart came in. Beckett had a rough end of the season in 2009, and had a lot of issues in 2010. Buchholz's best season came in 2010. See why the Varitek/Non-Varitek numbers aren't necessarily relevant?

[boy racer]

I've been saying this, Lowrie is a 10x better player than Scutaro. Give him as many plate appearances as Scoot in 2010 and he'd outdo him. He's also better in the clutch.

[Station 13]

The Dodgers need a 2B, will Scooter be that?

[Meh]

The Dodgers need a 2B' date=' will Scooter be that?[/quote']

 

Ivan DeJesus Jr came up, right? That kid has some good skills. Might as well let him give it a shot first.

[boy racer]

The Dodgers need a 2B' date=' will Scooter be that?[/quote']

 

Can't be too eager to send him away yet.

[WhiskeyBreath]

http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2011/04/13/sox-looking-to-give-lowrie-more-playing-time/

[Palodios]

Varitek is engaged again. Didn't he just get divorced two years ago?

[WhiskeyBreath]

Sorry, but who gives a s***?

[Palodios]

I dunno, slow news day? It was big news two years ago when his divorce seemed to be getting in the way of his hitting, maybe having a muse will help him hit?

[Marty McFly]

Lowrie is 2-4 so far today with a 2-run homer. He's batting .476 on the season. Think he should be starting much? If Tito doesn't find a way to get Jed into the lineup, he needs to be replaced with someone who will.

[Palodios]

Salty's catching ERA - 8.04

Varitek's catching ERA - 2.75

[Dojji]

Lowrie is 2-4 so far today with a 2-run homer. He's batting .476 on the season. Think he should be starting much? If Tito doesn't find a way to get Jed into the lineup' date=' he needs to be replaced with someone who will.[/quote']

 

Pretty much. Lowrie hits. Scutaro may or may not.

 

At least give him a chance to play his way out of the starting spot.

[Taz]

Re the catching, am I the only one concerned about how Saltalamacchia seems to be one-hopping the ball to 2B all the time? It's giving anyone who gets to 1B a real chance of stealing. Surely someone in the organization can help sort this out?

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Salty can't throw runners out but Varitek really isn't much of an upgrade at throwing out runners at this point of his career. We can only hope Salty develops into a better catcher. As for the SS position, Jed Lowrie. Answer is pretty obvious, he's playing better baseball on both sides.

[SCM33]

Re the catching' date=' am I the only one concerned about how Saltalamacchia seems to be one-hopping the ball to 2B all the time? It's giving anyone who gets to 1B a real chance of stealing. Surely someone in the organization can help sort this out?[/quote']

 

Doubtful.

 

Salty has had throwing issues for 2 years now.

[Station 13]

Salty can't throw runners out but Varitek really isn't much of an upgrade at throwing out runners at this point of his career. We can only hope Salty develops into a better catcher. As for the SS position' date=' Jed Lowrie. Answer is pretty obvious, he's playing better baseball on both sides.[/quote']

 

Our pitchers doesn't give the catcher much of a chance anyway.

[jacksonianmarch]

Imagine how good the sox would be if they signed Martin away from the Yanks

[Keeper]

Imagine how good the sox would be if they signed Martin away from the Yanks

 

Imagine how good the Yanks would be if they had signed Haren and/or Lee.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Fight fire with fire. Very nice Keeper.

[snydersminipretzels]

Imagine how good the sox would be if they signed Martin away from the Yanks

 

They'd probably be 5-9.