The Catcher and SS positions

[boy racer]

Bottom line = Pitchers perform better when Varitek catches.

[Dojji]

Salty just got done catching a fairly well pitched game.

 

But yeah, Tek's the master of handling pitchers.

[SoxSport]

Actually, the SS and catcher issues are quite different. At SS, they have two good players, though Lowrie's upside gives him an advantage. At catcher, they are thin and vulnerable. Theo clearly gambled putting all his eggs in Salty--and not signing insurance in Martin. Martin has as much chance of lasting the season healthy as Colon does in NY, but right now they are doing the job. And all Theo has backing up Salty is old Tek.

[SoxSport]

Salty's catching ERA - 8.04

Varitek's catching ERA - 2.75

 

Yikes.

[ORS]

Salty's catching ERA - 8.04

Varitek's catching ERA - 2.75

While Varitek is clearly a superior reciever, I think who they've caught plays a big role there.

 

Saltalamacchia has caught the majority of Lackey's, Matsuzaka's, and Buchholz's starts. Varitek has primarily caught Lester and Beckett. This is kind of an important distinction when looking at that split.

[jacksonianmarch]

Yesterday, Lester pitched to Salty and did just fine. cERA is a stupid stat

[ORS]

That it is. Too much variance, even for good pitchers, from start to start. Too much variance from pitcher to pitcher as well. I don't think there's an objective measure for comparing catchers as receivers.

[Palodios]

cERA is a stupid stat

 

Normally I agree with this completely. It is usually all about luck and circumstance, and most competent catchers would have very similar ERAs if catching the same pitcher. What I'm suggesting is simple: Salty is not a competent catcher.

[WhiskeyBreath]

Yesterday' date=' Lester pitched to Salty and did just fine. cERA is a stupid stat[/quote']

 

That's because he is Jon Lester. He's immune to this whole catcher situation.

[DirtDog]

That's because he is Jon Lester. He's immune to this whole catcher situation.

 

Lester wasn't that vintage imo. He had a decent line but wasn't really pitching all that great he got out of some jams and got some help.

[WhiskeyBreath]

Lester wasn't that vintage imo. He had a decent line but wasn't really pitching all that great he got out of some jams and got some help.

 

I wasn't referring to just that one start.

 

It doesn't matter who the hell catches him. It doesn't matter.

[Dojji]

I think that at this point you have to wait until Lowrie slumps or gets hurt to slip Scutaro a start. Any standard you want to throw at Lowrie to make him beat Scoot, he's meeting it right now. He's carried us the last couple games, time to come along for the ride.

[The Celtbot]

Isn't Scutaro a free agent at the end of the year? I would just continue playing Lowrie as long as he shows he's capable of hitting above .270 and shop Lowrie around when the trade deadline comes. I guess there are some if's in there, but I think it's clear who our better SS is.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

We have Iglesias coming up next year right?

[Dojji]

I don't know why you guys think Iglesias is going to come right up and dominate. That almost never happens. Even Pedroia had a short adjustment period. Lowrie's useful for at least the next few years, until it becomes obvious that Iglesias is the better player, and will be especially useful if that doesn't happen for some reason.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I'm sorry? I missed the part where I said he was going to come to the show and be dominant? :dunno:

[ORS]

We have Iglesias coming up next year right?

If he plays like it, yeah. Although, if Lowrie keeps playing like he has at the tail end of last year and early this year, they should move him for a player at a spot where they have need. Drew and Ortiz have expiring contracts, and it would be nice to see a competent catcher.

[WhiskeyBreath]

If he plays like it' date=' yeah. Although, if Lowrie keeps playing like he has at the tail end of last year and early this year, they should move him for a player at a spot where they have need. Drew and Ortiz have expiring contracts, and it would be nice to see a competent catcher.[/quote']

 

Sounds good to me but there might be a problem with Theo and his boner for Saltalamacchia.

[Dojji]

I'm not sure that moving the incumbent to make room for the prospect is a MO Theo is fond of. I mean if you have a guy, and he's getting it done, why go through the all the risks of promoting a rookie?

 

Lowrie would be a more than adequate full time starting SS if his body can hold up to a 120+ start schedule, and since he's still an arb player himself, it's not like you're realizing significant cash savings. There's no shame in making Iglesias earn the job in a shared time situation, and there's nothing wrong with trading Iglesias either, if the return is right. and you think Lowrie has turned the corner and can handle the workload with only a guy like Navarro behind him. It'll come down to what Jed proves he can handle, if he does well this year and shows the injury bug is in his rear view mirror, I don't think Iglesias should be presumed to automatically supplant him. Let the two fight it out.

 

After all, you pick up the kind of veteran 1-5 rotation we've got on the theory that then you don't have to sacrifice offense for defense as much just to get by, because you have high level pro pitchers.

[Will617]

I don't think Iglesias will be coming up next year. Unless he can show that he can get on-base at a good clip (and Lowrie stops hitting), I think that Lowrie is actually the better player. Iglesias is a much better fielder, but it's not like Lowrie is the shortstop version of Edwin Encarnacion. I think that unless Iglesias shows marked improvement within 3 years (or whenever Lowrie's arbitration years finish) or Lowrie is constantly injured/not hitting, Iglesias won't be sticking with the team.

[8191]

I think Lowrie (for now at least) is the ss. Igleias will have to beat him out next spring if he's .285 or under this year. if over then it's JL's job to lose.

Catcher is another story. A great mystery.

[Dojji]

I think Salty's the guy, at least for now. I want him to have a good long chance to learn the game alongside Varitek before we throw him to the wolves. Right now there are few real quality replacement catchers in their primes available -- one of the reasons I got real worked up this offseason when we passed Russel Martin up, as he was one of the few that at least maintained a solid OBP. Regardless, with Martin off the market for the forseeable future, pairing a veteran with a younger high potential guy is one of the less bad gambles out there. It might as well be Saltalamacchia because if it wasn't it'd be a guy very much like him but with less upside -- say Brayan Pena, or Jeff Clement, or Jason Jaramillo, or John Buck, or one of the universe of catchers like that that aren't great but have the potential to play up in a good year. Of those, Salty has about the best breakout potential so he sticks around unless we get incredibly lucky with one of our prospects.

[8191]

The Ballad of Jed Lowrie

(to the tune The Beverly Hillbillies Theam)

 

 

Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed.

The poor engineer couldn't keep his team ahead.

Then one day, the sox were sick of being booed

So they sent to the plate that hot swingin' dude

 

Jed that is, Number 12, first round draftee

 

Well the next thing ya know Jed 'll be a millionaire

Franconna said "Jed's a hittin over there"

Said "Short stop is the place you ought to be"

So Jed loaded up his truck and he moved to Beverly.

 

Mass that is, Gated house, Fancy cars.

 

Well now its time to say good bye to Jed and all his kin.

And they would like to thank the Jays fer kindly droppin’ in.

You're all invited back a gain to this locality

To have a heapin’ helpin’ of his speciality

 

Hittin that is. Set a spell, Take your shoes off.

 

Y'all come back now, y'hear?.

[Palodios]

Peter Abraham mentioned today that if the Sox call up a catcher, Federowicz is probably first on the list. Good arm, good play calling, but he'll probably only hit a little bit better than Salty.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Bengie Molina anyone??

[Palodios]

Abraham also mentioned he asked that question to some higher ups and didn't really get an answer. He sounded like it was a possibility, and also that San Francisco's pitching staff was not happy to see him go.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Abraham also mentioned he asked that question to some higher ups and didn't really get an answer. He sounded like it was a possibility' date=' and also that San Francisco's pitching staff was not happy to see him go.[/quote']

 

As long as Molina calls a game like Varitek or close to it, he can go 0-fer the season. I see no reason to not go get him right now.

[BornToRun]

Although I was really pulling for Salty, I'd jump at the chance to land Molina at this point.

[RedSoxFaithful]

I think after Salty's pathetic performance tonight it might be time to make a move and go get a catcher, who if he isn't going to hit, can at least catch and throw a ball.

[Jasonbay44]

Sign Bengie Molina, please.