Let's talk catchers

[cp176]

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

 

 

I still have a hard time seeing this one happening. If what has been written and said is true, Swihart is also the real deal behind the plate. I don't see Vasquez and Swihart on the same roster long term because of this. If he is the catcher people think that he is, I don't see him changing positions or serving in a backup role.

[sk7326]

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?

 

reduces his positional value. If he can be an All-Star catcher, then it is a poor use of resources to keep them both - and not great for either guy's career to boot.

[Spudboy]

reduces his positional value. If he can be an All-Star catcher, then it is a poor use of resources to keep them both - and not great for either guy's career to boot.

 

A move to 1st may prevent him from sustaining career influencing injury and certainly reduce wear and tear. That would be a good way of protecting his value.

 

And with a very good defensive catcher in Vasquez, it would be a good way of deriving value out of both players and both positions.

 

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

[Palodios]

Swihart's career may begin around the same time Ortiz's ends. Having the DH spot available for Swihart gives him the opportunity to backup Vazquez, stay healthy, and still get the ABs.

[sk7326]

Swihart's career may begin around the same time Ortiz's ends. Having the DH spot available for Swihart gives him the opportunity to backup Vazquez, stay healthy, and still get the ABs.

 

Oh i don't dismiss it out of hand - but wait for injuries for that to happen. Also, the quality of his bat matters. What is interesting is that Swihart and Vasquez are so close together developmentally. If Swihart is what he is - he is here for 2016.

[Dojji]

I'm perfectly content to have the ultimate end game be, let the two young catchers fight it out and prove who between them should be the #1 going forward. Swihart has a lot of potential sure but we've heard that song and dance before, I'm attracted to Vazquez's high floor nearly as much as to Swihart's high ceiling.

[cp176]

Swihart's career may begin around the same time Ortiz's ends. Having the DH spot available for Swihart gives him the opportunity to backup Vazquez, stay healthy, and still get the ABs.

 

Assuming Swihart is going to become what we he hope he becomes for a moment. If Vasquez becomes just an adequate hitter and continues to be an outstanding catcher, do you think that the Sox would keep two hopefully outstanding catchers and use one of them as a dh? It probably is the most important defensive position in the game - If both are top quality catchers, I think one gets moved. In any event, if one becomes the backup, my guess would be that the better hitter would become your everyday catcher. All that being said, I think that this is a big year for both of these guys to prove themselves. To me it seems like the whole team is pretty much like that.. Been a lot of predictions, but nobody knows what will happen when the games start being played. Kelly says he is winning a cy young this year. Hope he does but I wouldn't bet on that one either.

[cp176]

I'm perfectly content to have the ultimate end game be, let the two young catchers fight it out and prove who between them should be the #1 going forward. Swihart has a lot of potential sure but we've heard that song and dance before, I'm attracted to Vazquez's high floor nearly as much as to Swihart's high ceiling.

 

 

Interesting - I think I know what you mean. The only thing that we really know about either of these two is that Vasquez is solid behind the plate and might become an outstanding catcher. He looks good back there. Calls a good game and frames the plate very well. His major league experience is still a small sample but he looked very good defensively and not so good at the plate. Swihart looks to have great potential both at the plate as well as behind it. We just don't know what will happen. Might turn out to be a good problem to have.

[Dojji]

I think we all agree it's a good problem to have. Personally though if you're going to throw the game open for the younger catchers, I'd make an effort to stash some aging veteran in AAA in case both kids lose.

 

EDIT: Ahh, I see the Red Sox sighed Humberto Quintero while I wasn't looking. Very wise.

[Spudboy]

Vasquez is not my binky but I really have to say that I see more upside to his AB than most here do. Maybe it's just that he is adjacent to Bradley in the lineup. Maybe he looks like less of a black hole?

 

The kid is still young and developing. I see no reason to believe that he will not become at least league average offensively. He just needs a chance to get enough at bats.

 

This is all just my opinion, of course!

 

In any case, the catching position looks to be a strength for this team if both players pan out.

 

We should celebrate that and try to see how it all fits together without trading one just because the other may hit a little better at the moment.

[User Name]

I'm not saying the two are comparable, but it's not unheard of that a catcher with a compact stroke improves on a yearly basis to a competent hitter: See Molina, Yadier.

[sk7326]

I'm not saying the two are comparable, but it's not unheard of that a catcher with a compact stroke improves on a yearly basis to a competent hitter: See Molina, Yadier.

 

I think the chances are pretty good Vasquez rises to adequate offensively. Contact rates in lower levels were good. Power was not, but he can add value offensively, no doubt. It's a good problem to have - in a sport where there is very little catching to go around, the Sox might have two true starters.

[Spudboy]

I'm not saying the two are comparable, but it's not unheard of that a catcher with a compact stroke improves on a yearly basis to a competent hitter: See Molina, Yadier.

 

Honestly I'll admit that I am no expert on batting mechanics.

 

However, Vasquez does not seem to have a glaring deficiency at the plate and the kid has intelligence and strong desire to excel.

 

He may end up being just a journeyman with great defense. I'm betting that he becomes more than that.

 

I hope so.

[Spudboy]

I think the chances are pretty good Vasquez rises to adequate offensively. Contact rates in lower levels were good. Power was not, but he can add value offensively, no doubt. It's a good problem to have - in a sport where there is very little catching to go around, the Sox might have two true starters.

 

This is what I attempted to say in an earlier post.

 

It is far to early to say given the relatively small sample size in the majors. But I see him as about average offensively already.

 

I see no reason why he will not continue to become better.

 

He does have some gap power now. I see many doubles in his future!!! The long balls will come, I suspect.

[Kimmi]

I still have a hard time seeing this one happening. If what has been written and said is true, Swihart is also the real deal behind the plate. I don't see Vasquez and Swihart on the same roster long term because of this. If he is the catcher people think that he is, I don't see him changing positions or serving in a backup role.

 

 

I agree with this. If both catchers are as good as we hope they will be, one of them will be traded.

 

I fell in love with Vazquez last year, and it's been hard for me to believe that Swihart is potentially the better overall catcher. Like others, I think that Vazquez will have adequate enough offense to warrant him being an everyday catcher. At any rate, defense is the priority for me behind the plate, and any offense provided is gravy. It will be interesting to see how the catcher situation shakes out over the next couple of years.

[cp176]

I agree with this. If both catchers are as good as we hope they will be, one of them will be traded.

 

I fell in love with Vazquez last year, and it's been hard for me to believe that Swihart is potentially the better overall catcher. Like others, I think that Vazquez will have adequate enough offense to warrant him being an everyday catcher. At any rate, defense is the priority for me behind the plate, and any offense provided is gravy. It will be interesting to see how the catcher situation shakes out over the next couple of years.

 

I hope that simply for the sake of greatness that we are wrong but I also find it tough to believe that we will have a better man behind the plate than Vasquez. If Swihart is, let's hope we don't let another Carlton Fisk get away!

[Ogden]

Both guys are very young. To contemplate trading one in the next couple years would be crazy. Let the guys play a lot of games at Boston/Pawtucket and see what the situation is (both offensively and defensively) before jumping to any conclusions.

[Ogden]

A.J. Pierzynski showed up early to Braves spring training today. Since he had trouble with passed balls recently, he brought his new glove.

 

 

[cp176]

Both guys are very young. To contemplate trading one in the next couple years would be crazy. Let the guys play a lot of games at Boston/Pawtucket and see what the situation is (both offensively and defensively) before jumping to any conclusions.

 

A couple meaning two hopefully everyone would agree with . The only conclusion that could be jumped to at this time is that Vasquez is a solid major league catcher. It is early, but I think that he looks pretty good. Another conclusion might be that various other teams would like to trade for Swihart.

[cp176]

A.J. Pierzynski showed up early to Braves spring training today. Since he had trouble with passed balls recently, he brought his new glove.

 

 

 

That looks like the mitt Gus Triandoos used to catch Hoyt Wilhelm.