Let's talk catchers

[a700hitter]

Just shows you how much Middlebrooks' value has bottomed out. He needs a fresh start somewhere else. The arrival of Sandoval meant the end of the Middlebrooks era.

 

At least Hanigan gives us some value defensively. Maybe... it might make Vazquez expendible if we plan on pairing Swihart with Hanigan in the near future. One young offensive catcher + 1 vet defensive catcher.

The Middlebrooks era in Boston ended when he refused to play winter ball to work out his issues.

[Spudboy]

The Middlebrooks era in Boston ended when he refused to play winter ball to work out his issues.

 

In defense of WMB his decision came down to a winter of titty f***ing Jenny Dell or playing sandlot ball with a bunch of smelly fringe players.

 

I'm not a "Big Tit" man. But I can see how he would be swayed.

[a700hitter]

In defense of WMB his decision came down to a winter of titty f***ing Jenny Dell or playing sandlot ball with a bunch of smelly fringe players.

 

I'm not a "Big Tit" man. But I can see how he would be swayed.

lol!! You make a point, but I still prefer Heidi to Jenny.

[Palodios]

Dell has been screwed in the whole process. First she loses her NESN gig over her relationship, and then she gets a job with CBS as a sideline reporter, and he gets traded to San Diego.

[Spudboy]

My heart pumps piss for both of them.

[GomesBeard]

I think this was a great deal for the Sox - trading what WMB IS (vs what he could be) for a solid back-up catcher who can hit a bit. WMB wasn't going to sniff the big club with the Sox, and Ben turned it ionto a good trade for us.

[jacksonianmarch]

You kinda had to do the deal. WMB wasn't gonna get the chance to recoup his value and he wasn't really the kind of guy to shine when the lights were brightest. A year on the beaches in SD where the fans are too high to care will likely allow him to flourish. I bet you by this time next yr, SD is dangling him for some big fish after he has a 25+HR season

[mvp 78]

@danconnollysun: Orioles have claimed OF/C Ryan Lavarnway from Cubs. They tried to claim him one other time this offseason. He's been waived/claimed 3 times

 

He's the real deal.

[Bellhorn04]

@danconnollysun: Orioles have claimed OF/C Ryan Lavarnway from Cubs. They tried to claim him one other time this offseason. He's been waived/claimed 3 times

 

Getting shuffled around in limbo like that must be a weird feeling.

[Spudboy]

Getting shuffled around in limbo like that must be a weird feeling.

 

Well he does have an Ivy League education to fall back on.

[seabeachfred]

lol!! You make a point, but I still prefer Heidi to Jenny.

 

Please Ted, not Heidi. She was a walking hex. In four years with us we went into the tank, blowing the pennant in 2008 and ending up with that collapse in 2011 before he got her ass out of Boston. What made it worse, she came to LA and almost immediately the Lakers fell into a hole they may not get out of for the next half dozen years. Give Heidi Deidi a one was ticket to Zanzibar. Good looks or not, I wouldn't want that Jonah within a thousand yards of me.

[Spudboy]

Actually Heidi is a nice woman.

[Bellhorn04]

Please Ted, not Heidi. She was a walking hex. In four years with us we went into the tank, blowing the pennant in 2008 and ending up with that collapse in 2011 before he got her ass out of Boston. What made it worse, she came to LA and almost immediately the Lakers fell into a hole they may not get out of for the next half dozen years. Give Heidi Deidi a one was ticket to Zanzibar. Good looks or not, I wouldn't want that Jonah within a thousand yards of me.

 

LOL you really are too much Fred.

[mvp 78]

I, for one, am EXTREMELY concerned about the curse of Gary Striewski. This team is done for as long as that piece of wood is around. It just makes me sick to my stomach that pruneface and that muppet Tom Werner would allow our beloved institution to be tethered to that anchor. Whenever he is on my television, I'm haunted by those dead eyes of his.

[Spudboy]

I, for one, am EXTREMELY concerned about the curse of Gary Striewski. This team is done for as long as that piece of wood is around. It just makes me sick to my stomach that pruneface and that muppet Tom Werner would allow our beloved institution to be tethered to that anchor. Whenever he is on my television, I'm haunted by those dead eyes of his.

 

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!1!!

 

He needs implants at the minimum.

[GomesBeard]

Ok, let's stop giving Dan Shaughnessy ideas for a new book, guys.....

[a700hitter]

Gary has to go, He brings nothing to the table.

[mvp 78]

He just f***ed the Pats too...

 

"@garystriewski: Dear Pro Bowl,

 

Thanks but we're gonna be busy that week gettin ready for the Super Bowl.

 

Love Always,

Brady, Gronk, Gost, Revis, Slater"

[mvp 78]

What a monster....

[Spudboy]

Gary has to go, He brings nothing to the table.

 

Maybe and maybe not. He is not eye candy for the bulk of Sox fans. But he does seem to have a better rapport with the players and coaches. I can recall a nice dugout interview he did with Mookie Betts in 2014. That is just one example of his good work.

 

I don't think that sideline reporters are an essential part of the game. I don't like the fluff stuff they have to squeeze in during each telecast. But it is now part of the entire game experience and I just have to accept it.

 

Tina Cervasio was my favorite. She seemed genuine and was pretty good talking to players.

[seabeachfred]

Maybe and maybe not. He is not eye candy for the bulk of Sox fans. But he does seem to have a better rapport with the players and coaches. I can recall a nice dugout interview he did with Mookie Betts in 2014. That is just one example of his good work.

 

I don't think that sideline reporters are an essential part of the game. I don't like the fluff stuff they have to squeeze in during each telecast. But it is now part of the entire game experience and I just have to accept it.

 

Tina Cervasio was my favorite. She seemed genuine and was pretty good talking to players.

 

Bingo Spud-----Tina Cervasio was my favorite too. She brought a lot of genuine likeability as well as some real talent in those interviews. Besides, her last year with the Red Sox was 2007, my favorite Red Sox year by a mile.

[Behindenemylines]

Excited about the potential of Vazquez in 2015, and Swihart down the road. These guys are being compared to some of the best catchers in the last decade. Some are comparing Swihart to Posey. I've seen him play and he looks like the real deal.

[Kimmi]

Excited about the potential of Vazquez in 2015, and Swihart down the road. These guys are being compared to some of the best catchers in the last decade. Some are comparing Swihart to Posey. I've seen him play and he looks like the real deal.

 

 

When it comes to catchers, it's all about defense. And when I say defense, I mean the way a catcher handles the pitching staff. Throwing out baserunners is important, but overrated. Vazquez and Hanigan are both considered not just good, but elite when it comes to pitch framing. I couldn't care less if they don't hit very well. Anything they give us offensively is gravy, IMO.

[jacksonianmarch]

I wouldn't go so far as considering Vazquez "elite" just yet. He's a defensive player who has all the tools to be a top notch catcher. He's not a finished product yet.

[Kimmi]

I wouldn't go so far as considering Vazquez "elite" just yet. He's a defensive player who has all the tools to be a top notch catcher. He's not a finished product yet.

 

 

Point taken. Vazquez is still largely unproven in the majors. That said, going back to the minors and during his short stint in the bigs, his pitch framing ability has been considered to be in the "elite" category, coming from both the scouts and the stat geeks.

[User Name]

Defense is not like offense. Defense tends to translate almost perfectly to the MLB level.

[sk7326]

Defense is not like offense. Defense tends to translate almost perfectly to the MLB level.

 

Defense is also one of the areas which gets better at the MLB level. Often the orgs best fielding instruction is at the big league level - for the Sox that is the case (Butterfield). Vasquez is going to be a quality starter for somebody for quite some time - if he can just hit enough.

[seabeachfred]

Defense is also one of the areas which gets better at the MLB level. Often the orgs best fielding instruction is at the big league level - for the Sox that is the case (Butterfield). Vasquez is going to be a quality starter for somebody for quite some time - if he can just hit enough.

 

Vasquez is a fine catcher.....Swihart has the ability to be a great all around catcher because there is little doubt that the guy has the ability to be a solid hitter with decent power. I've found that too many times in the 14+ years I've been a Red Sox fan there always seems to be two or three players in the lineup who pick that particular year to have an off season with the bat and we find ourselves scrounging to see if our stalwarts can carry the load. When you ask five or six to do that day in and day out there could be a date of infamy when the season ends. In fact, save for 2003 and 2004 it seems to me that we have had this problem year after year. I want every bat we can get in that lineup........and with the questionable starting rotation we have this coming year and maybe for the next two or three, we cannot afford to be stingy in the offensive department because some of these pitchers are going to need plenty of run support.

[Spudboy]

My guess is that at some point Swihart gets moved to first base. He is athletic enough from what I have read.

 

If his bat is that good it only makes sense. Maybe if the Sox don't retain Napoli after this season and Swihart is ready?

[Ogden]

My guess is that at some point Swihart gets moved to first base. He is athletic enough from what I have read.

 

If his bat is that good it only makes sense. Maybe if the Sox don't retain Napoli after this season and Swihart is ready?

 

 

I'll believe Swihart is a 1B possibility once the thought comes from somebody other than a writer.