2014 Offseason Thread

[cp176]

I am really excited about Mookie, but I'm trying to keep my expectations in check. He's still very young and has a lot of learning to do at this level. Of course we all hope he lives up to the expectations, but remember we heard the same kind of hype regarding Bogaerts last season, and we quickly learned that Bogaerts is only human.

 

I agree. I also have to say that what I have seen from Bogaerts so far tends to make me think that he is set up for a great season both in the field and at the plate. He has worked hard. I think that there are some that still think they are looking at the same guy that played last year. They are wrong.

 

I really do have to say that I don't see Betts and Bogaerts the same way at all. It is good not to0 get to excited to soon but the sample size wasn't that small last year. He is a pure contact hitter with a little pop. It's obvious that he was going to hit. I think that Farrell knows what he has in Mookie. He will be in centerfield for a long time. I hope that the rest of the pieces can be stuck in there the right way but I don't see him going anywhere. An aggressive lead off hitter with speed. How good is that.

[Palodios]

The Rockies dropped Chacin. He's a groundball pitcher that has pitched to 200 IP/ 3ish ERAs before. Extra depth on this team would be lovely.

[User Name]

I was about to post this. Sign please.

[Spudboy]

Can never have enough pitching depth.

 

As much as I like Masterson I think he will get lit up this year.

 

I have no faith in Buch or Kelly either.

[Kimmi]

The Rockies dropped Chacin. He's a groundball pitcher that has pitched to 200 IP/ 3ish ERAs before. Extra depth on this team would be lovely.

 

 

Sounds like a decent depth signing. Couldn't hurt.

[Spudboy]

Sounds like a decent depth signing. Couldn't hurt.

 

If healthy he could be the Sox #2!!!!!!!!!!

 

Now that is depth!

[User Name]

No seriously, 0-162. Everyone on this team sucks.

[Ogden]

The Rockies finished 30 games under .500 last year - the second worst record in baseball. Their starting rotation this year is shakey at best:

1. Jorge De La Rosa

2. Kyle Kendrick

3. Jordan Lyles

4. Tyler Matzek

5. David Hale

6. Jon Gray

 

They waived Chacin even though De la Rosa and Hale are hurt. His shoulder was a problem half of last year. Don't you wonder why a team with as bad a staff as them would waive this guy even though he has pitched better away from Denver?

[seabeachfred]

The Rockies finished 30 games under .500 last year - the second worst record in baseball. Their starting rotation this year is shakey at best:

1. Jorge De La Rosa

2. Kyle Kendrick

3. Jordan Lyles

4. Tyler Matzek

5. David Hale

6. Jon Gray

 

They waived Chacin even though De la Rosa and Hale are hurt. His shoulder was a problem half of last year. Don't you wonder why a team with as bad a staff as them would waive this guy even though he has pitched better away from Denver?

 

Makes you wonder Ogden. Then, again, there are a few people here who are ready to get on Desperation Blvd. The cause is not hopeless as of yet.

[Kimmi]

Makes you wonder Ogden. Then, again, there are a few people here who are ready to get on Desperation Blvd. The cause is not hopeless as of yet.

 

 

Wanting the Sox to sign Chacin has nothing to do with desperation. I think it would be a good idea to sign him, and as you know, I am predicting an AL East title right along with you. I guess that makes you my fellow Pollyanna Fred. Welcome to the club!

[Spudboy]

Why is no one worried about Vasquez?????????

 

My guess is that he is out until early or mid May AT BEST. His season could be over pending a second opinion.

 

I think it is strange that the Sox will not mention the exact nature of the "problem" found in the first MRI.

 

I don't want Swihart to start the season in Boston. Send him down to Pawtucket until he has at least half a season of AB there.

 

The Sox can survive with Hannigan as the #1 catcher and Quintana (SP) as his back-up for now.

[Bellhorn04]

Why is no one worried about Vasquez?????????

 

My guess is that he is out until early or mid May AT BEST. His season could be over pending a second opinion.

 

I think it is strange that the Sox will not mention the exact nature of the "problem" found in the first MRI.

 

I don't want Swihart to start the season in Boston. Send him down to Pawtucket until he has at least half a season of AB there.

 

The Sox can survive with Hannigan as the #1 catcher and Quintana (SP) as his back-up for now.

 

It's a significant worry now, absolutely.

[Spudboy]

It's a shame, really. I love watching Vasquez play. I sort of worried about how his arm was going to hold up. He really pegs the ball.

 

It sucks that his development will most likely be stunted. But hey, that's part of the game.

[Northern Star]

Really worried - Vaz is one of my favorite players.

[Kimmi]

Why is no one worried about Vasquez?????????

 

My guess is that he is out until early or mid May AT BEST. His season could be over pending a second opinion.

 

I think it is strange that the Sox will not mention the exact nature of the "problem" found in the first MRI.

 

I don't want Swihart to start the season in Boston. Send him down to Pawtucket until he has at least half a season of AB there.

 

The Sox can survive with Hannigan as the #1 catcher and Quintana (SP) as his back-up for now.

 

 

This is a big worry for me. IMO, Vazquez is one of the most important pieces of this team because of what he can do for our mediocre pitching staff. Thinking of him missing a significant part of the season, or maybe even the whole season gives me a sick feeling in my stomach. I will keep my fingers crossed that it is nothing too serious, but seeking a 2nd opinion usually means that it is. This is not good.

[mvp 78]

Why is no one worried about Vasquez?????????

 

My guess is that he is out until early or mid May AT BEST. His season could be over pending a second opinion.

 

I think it is strange that the Sox will not mention the exact nature of the "problem" found in the first MRI.

 

I don't want Swihart to start the season in Boston. Send him down to Pawtucket until he has at least half a season of AB there.

 

The Sox can survive with Hannigan as the #1 catcher and Quintana (SP) as his back-up for now.

You answered your own question.

[Spudboy]

You answered your own question.

 

That's because I'm f***ing brilliant.

[Kimmi]

That's because I'm f***ing brilliant.

 

 

Thankfully, Hanigan and Quintero are both defensive catchers. The concern is that neither one of them is a full time catcher. I guess they should be able to hold down the fort until Swihart is ready, but I still feel very uneasy about Vazquez' injury.

[Spudboy]

Thankfully, Hanigan and Quintero are both defensive catchers. The concern is that neither one of them is a full time catcher. I guess they should be able to hold down the fort until Swihart is ready, but I still feel very uneasy about Vazquez' injury.

 

I wonder if Quintero is as good as Butler?

 

I hope so. Please note that I did not claim that Butler was very good.

[a700hitter]

Spring has shown some pop in his bat.

[Spudboy]

Spring has shown some pop in his bat.

 

I have seen very little of him but he is built like a brick s*** house. Our catchers are small compared to him.

[a700hitter]

I have seen very little of him but he is built like a brick s*** house. Our catchers are small compared to him.

He smoked some balls when I saw him.

[Dojji]

He's also 29 and never sniffed the big leagues. I really know very little about Matt Spring, but that doesn't seem like a guy you give starting minutes. Hanigan is probably an objectively better option for a month or two.

 

The Vazquez injury is incredibly disappointing because it's the one thing that could have gone the most wrong for us this Spring. I don't think anything else could have possibly hurt this franchise more.

[cp176]

Vasquez being injured is a blow for sure but the worst thing that could have happened to the team this spring. Super young catcher with a promising future but the worst thing that could have happened? It's a test of depth but I think it is a matter of opinion whether or not it is the worst thing that could have happened to this team. I'm not for shoving young players into the bigs before they are ready but with the incredible hype surrounding Swihart, I guess I figure if he gets a shot I'm ok with it. If he is untradeable, I think that he is playable.

[Dojji]

It's the worst thing that could have happened this Spring for three reasons.

 

First, how pivotal the catching position is, it is the most important position in baseball IMNSHO.

 

Second this is the only time our catching depth could even possibly have been exposed, and exposed is exactly what it was. Hanigan's a good backup and by June, we'd get a better idea what to expect from Swihart based on his AAA performance and be perfectly set for catching. Now the temptation to scramble for a cheap starting guy has to be pretty strong.

 

Third we're very well built to tolerate attrition in every other position. Between Marrero and JBJ alone, we have better than replacement level coverage for every other position where we might be exposed to injury, even ignoring our other depth options at certain positions (Coyle, Castillo, Cecchini, etc).

 

Only catcher is a gap, and only for the first few months. So naturally, of course we lose our catcher for the first few months. Typical really.

Edited March 29, 2015 by Dojji

[cp176]

It's the worst thing that could have happened this Spring for three reasons.

 

First, how pivotal the catching position is, it is the most important position in baseball IMNSHO.

 

Second this is the only time our catching depth could even possibly have been exposed, and exposed is exactly what it was. Hanigan's a good backup and by June, we'd get a better idea what to expect from Swihart based on his AAA performance and be perfectly set for catching. Now the temptation to scramble for a cheap starting guy has to be pretty strong.

 

Third we're very well built to tolerate attrition in every other position. Between Marrero and JBJ alone, we have better than replacement level coverage for every other position where we might be exposed to injury, even ignoring our other depth options at certain positions (Coyle, Castillo, Cecchini, etc).

 

Only catcher is a gap, and only for the first few months. So naturally, of course we lose our catcher for the first few months. Typical really.

 

No one will ever question the importance of the catching position. I think that Hanigan and anybody provides adequate backup for Vasquez. I don't know any better than anyone else whether Swihart is going to be ready or not but based on the fact that he is "untradeable" someone must think that he is damn close. I place great value on Vasquez and his future but I also think that in many ways he is as unproven as any of the other youngsters on this team. His effect on a young pitching staff going forward might be great but with the starting 5 that we currently have, I don't think so much.

[sk7326]

It's the worst thing that could have happened this Spring for three reasons.

 

First, how pivotal the catching position is, it is the most important position in baseball IMNSHO.

 

Second this is the only time our catching depth could even possibly have been exposed, and exposed is exactly what it was. Hanigan's a good backup and by June, we'd get a better idea what to expect from Swihart based on his AAA performance and be perfectly set for catching. Now the temptation to scramble for a cheap starting guy has to be pretty strong.

 

Third we're very well built to tolerate attrition in every other position. Between Marrero and JBJ alone, we have better than replacement level coverage for every other position where we might be exposed to injury, even ignoring our other depth options at certain positions (Coyle, Castillo, Cecchini, etc).

 

Only catcher is a gap, and only for the first few months. So naturally, of course we lose our catcher for the first few months. Typical really.

 

Exposed? It shows it's pretty good. They actually have a real contingency plan! Hanigan is perfectly fine. The temptation is whether to move Swihart up immediately. How many teams can actually put a tolerable starter out there with a guy like Vasquez out? I feel worse for Vasquez himself who could get Wally Pip'd for forces out of his control.

[mvp 78]

He's also 29 and never sniffed the big leagues. I really know very little about Matt Spring, but that doesn't seem like a guy you give starting minutes. Hanigan is probably an objectively better option for a month or two.

 

The Vazquez injury is incredibly disappointing because it's the one thing that could have gone the most wrong for us this Spring. I don't think anything else could have possibly hurt this franchise more.

Hyperbole at best. Porcello, Betts, Ortiz, Panda, Koji, HanRam and Pedroia injuries would all be far worse. CV is just a younger Hannigan with more upside.

[Kimmi]

I wonder if Quintero is as good as Butler?

 

I hope so. Please note that I did not claim that Butler was very good.

 

 

Offensively, Quintero should be a little better than Butler, but that's not saying much.

[Kimmi]

Vasquez being injured is a blow for sure but the worst thing that could have happened to the team this spring. Super young catcher with a promising future but the worst thing that could have happened? It's a test of depth but I think it is a matter of opinion whether or not it is the worst thing that could have happened to this team. I'm not for shoving young players into the bigs before they are ready but with the incredible hype surrounding Swihart, I guess I figure if he gets a shot I'm ok with it. If he is untradeable, I think that he is playable.

 

 

Vazquez' injury might not be the worst thing that could have happened to the team this spring, but I certainly understand where Dojii is coming from. IMO, his injury is a big blow to the pitching staff, which is the team's weakness to begin with. I think some people underestimate the positive effect a guy like Vazquez can have behind the plate, not only in terms of tangible evidence but in terms of intangibles as well.

 

That said, thankfully the Sox FO was smart enough to sign back up catchers who are also defensively strong. Hanigan and Quintero should be able to hold down the fort for a couple of months until either Swihart is ready, or maybe in a best case scenario, Vazquez will be ready to return.

 

Either way, losing Vazquez is a big blow to the team.