2014 Offseason Thread

[sk7326]

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

 

Our catcher depth does show here. I think Hanigan-Quintero makes sense if this injury is a matter of "weeks" or less. If this is something like a UCL injury and Swihart continues to show what he has shown recently - he should be in the Show.

[cp176]

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.

 

The value of a better than good catcher is unargueable going forward. He is unproven in some areas but in the ones that count the most he could be superb. I think that his impact will be felt more greatly when we have a pitching staff that can stay healthy and get people out on a regular basis.

[mvp 78]

Swihart has only played 18 games above AA. He needs time to learn how to be a catcher before he's up here.

[Bellhorn04]

Vazquez is going to see Dr. James Andrews. Sounds like TJ surgery and see you in 2016.

 

Also looks like Mujica is our Opening Day closer.

[Dojji]

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.

 

 

 

Here's why I disagree with you: we have replacements for all these guys that are good bets to perform at way above replacement level indefinitely. Betts features prominently in that list but Marrero, Castillo, JBJ, and some b guys like Coyle, Shaw, Brentz and Cecchini all have the potential to be at least tolerable big leaguers, even if they're not on the level of the guy they're replacing.

 

The only one that has the potential to send as many ripples down the rest of the team as the injury to Vazquez, is an injury to Ortiz. Maybe Pedroia, but I'd put good money that Betts could cover second pretty danged well if he had to, by all accounts he's a pretty solid defensive 2B, and even if he's not available because he's knocking the lights out as a CF and the decision is not to mess with that, Marrero and Coyle are both worth a try before really hitting the panic button.

 

We don't have a replacement that can start at catcher right now and we don't even really have that solid B guy. Hanigan can hold down the fort for awhile, but if we lose CV for the season, we're going to be needing to go find someone, because Hanigan is not a full season starter and I don't want Swihart up here until the team is sure. That's not a guy you muck around with.

 

He's the only guy we could have lost right now that would have rung alarm bells in my head right now because we have a list of options a mile wide and the full month of April to find out what we have with any other position, and yes that includes DH. Our options at catcher are backups and AAA caliber scrubs until Swihart is ready, and my biggest fear right now is that Swihart is rushed in response to the injury and it hurts his development. That's what I mean when I say the worst thing that could have happened.

Edited March 29, 2015 by Dojji

[Spudboy]

Swihart has only played 18 games above AA. He needs time to learn how to be a catcher before he's up here.

 

Yup. I've said this before.

[Dojji]

Kinda surprised they didn't give Taz more of a look as the closer TBPH. I know he's probably going to be the setup man anyway, but I honestly trust him more than I trust Mujica.

[Spudboy]

Well if Vasquez is out for the season maybe the Sox could work a deal with the Blue Jays for Navaro?

 

Just an idea.

[Dojji]

You know who'd look pretty good in a Sox uniform right now?

 

Former Sox farmhand Tim Federowicz. He's currently stuck behind a great catcher and a very solid backup, he may be available for a reasonable price, and the Dodgers are a traditional trading partner.

Edited March 29, 2015 by Dojji

[Ogden]

Mike Hazen was on with Joe Costig just now and said the Sox went after Hannigan because of his talent at handling a pitching staff.

[Dojji]

That's absolutely true. They also went after him because he was the best available backup catcher. And he really is a very very good backup catcher. But he is a backup catcher, he's proven again and again that he can't handle starting.

[Kimmi]

Our catcher depth does show here. I think Hanigan-Quintero makes sense if this injury is a matter of "weeks" or less. If this is something like a UCL injury and Swihart continues to show what he has shown recently - he should be in the Show.

 

 

Believe me, I am very glad that we have Hanigan. Hanigan and Quintero should be fine for a couple of months. However, neither one of them is a full-time catcher. Swihart definitely gives us excellent depth, but from everything I've read, he is not ready yet. My concern is that the Sox call him up too soon and somehow harm his development.

 

It sounds like Vazquez is headed for season ending surgery. I guess we can hope that Hanigan and Quintero can get the job done for 2 or 3 months and that Swihart will be ready to be called up at that time.

[Kimmi]

Swihart has only played 18 games above AA. He needs time to learn how to be a catcher before he's up here.

 

 

Farrell has said that who will catch along with Hanigan will be based on defense and who can lead the pitching staff. That makes it sound like Quintero. Swihart is not ready behind the plate. OTOH, Swihart is on the 40 man roster and Quintero is not. Adding Quintero means having to drop another player.

 

All that said, I think the Sox have to go with Quintero.

[Kimmi]

Mike Hazen was on with Joe Costig just now and said the Sox went after Hannigan because of his talent at handling a pitching staff.

 

 

Hanigan is an excellent pitch framer and defensive catcher. If we had to lose Vazquez, he is one of the best backups we could hope for.

[Dojji]

Farrell has said that who will catch along with Hanigan will be based on defense and who can lead the pitching staff. That makes it sound like Quintero. Swihart is not ready behind the plate. OTOH, Swihart is on the 40 man roster and Quintero is not. Adding Quintero means having to drop another player.

 

All that said, I think the Sox have to go with Quintero.

 

If Vazquez is out for the year, he goes on the 60 day DL and his slot is open on the 40

[Kimmi]

If Vazquez is out for the year, he goes on the 60 day DL and his slot is open on the 40

 

 

Good point. It sounds more and more like Vazquez will miss the whole season, so roster problem solved.

[sk7326]

Believe me, I am very glad that we have Hanigan. Hanigan and Quintero should be fine for a couple of months. However, neither one of them is a full-time catcher. Swihart definitely gives us excellent depth, but from everything I've read, he is not ready yet. My concern is that the Sox call him up too soon and somehow harm his development.

 

It sounds like Vazquez is headed for season ending surgery. I guess we can hope that Hanigan and Quintero can get the job done for 2 or 3 months and that Swihart will be ready to be called up at that time.

 

I expect that is the "ideal path". Given they are starting Swihart in AAA, they had plans for him to potentially get to the Show for some time. They have enough catching depth not to rush it. And - to be fair - in losing Vasquez we lost a guy who had a lot of promise, but not a guy who was a sure thing stud either. The idea that Hanigan and Quintero as a two fisted solution is not a huge dropoff from Vasquez is not unreasonable.

 

And Swihart also has an above average-elite defensive projection as well. The pitch framing is something that AAA will help evolve (and where much of Vasquez' promise as), but in terms of throwing arm and athletic ability - there is not a lot lost there. But yeah, you want to give him time to make his developmental targets.

[SeanJohn93]

Sox acquired Sandy Leon from Nationals

[seabeachfred]

Sox acquired Sandy Leon from Nationals

 

Good field and absolutely a black hole in the lineup when he plays. The Nats didn't think much of him otherwise they wouldn't have cashiered him for a song....if they even got that.

[BSN07]

No one was reasonably expecting a lot from the C position offensively this season. We were expecting good defense tho, and from what I can gather on this guy, that will still be the case.

[SoxnCycles]

No one was reasonably expecting a lot from the C position offensively this season. We were expecting good defense tho, and from what I can gather on this guy, that will still be the case.

 

Yup, with this line up, the Sox can afford to to think defense first at catcher.

[Spudboy]

Yup, with this line up, the Sox can afford to to think defense first at catcher.

 

Until injuries and under performance elsewhere in the lineup hits.

 

Under performing expectations ( which seem very high ).

[seabeachfred]

Until injuries and under performance elsewhere in the lineup hits.

 

Under performing expectations ( which seem very high ).

 

What Mark (SoxCycles) says at first does seem to make sense----a team can afford to carry one or even two weak bats, but what you wrote is usually what happens. Under performing people (think Bradley, Middlebrooks and Bogaerts last year) and injuries (think Pedroia, Napoli, Victorino last season) and you have a total debacle on your hands. Still we may have to bite the bullet Spud. I do not want to rush Blake Swihart up to the Bigs this year because he is now our best prospect now that Mookie is ensconced in the lineup for the Red Sox. We don't need any more floperoos a la JB, Bogey and MLB as we have endured the past season. When Swihart is ready, then bring him up and put him in the lineup and not before.

[cp176]

No one likes it when a plan gets screwed up but I don't see losing Vasquez as a devastating blow to the Red Sox. I feel badly for the kid. Outstanding defensive catcher - all the tools that you could ask for. Totally unproven at the plate - just like Swihart. If both were healthy, in one year I don't think that they both would have been playing for the Sox anyway.

[mvp 78]

I'm pissing down my leg because the backup catcher can't hit!!!

[cp176]

I'm pissing down my leg because the backup catcher can't hit!!!

 

A Mechanic's helper is what you need.

[a700hitter]

Depends, plumber?

[Thunder]

I'm pissing down my leg because the backup catcher can't hit!!!

 

When have we ever had a backup catcher who can?

 

Ross's occasional HR the last two years don't count.

[a700hitter]

When is the last time that we had a backup catcher catch 70-80 games in a season, which Leon will have to do if Hanigan tops out at 90 games as has been his history? 80 games is 2 seasons for a backup catcher.

[seabeachfred]

I'm pissing down my leg because the backup catcher can't hit!!!

 

A case of toilet paper and a box of depends is on the way mvp. Don't fret.