Let the Swihart watch begin

[Behindenemylines]

With the Sox trading for Hanigan to be the lefty hitting backup to Vazquez it looks like the Sox are now set to wait for when Swihart is ready. When does anyone think we will see Swihart in Boston?

[Palodios]

They are going to wait until one of their current catchers gets hurt, or starts being ineffective. There are enough good qualities in the Vazquez/Hannigan that I doubt they'll rush another young prospect here.

[Spudboy]

He has very few games under his belt in AAA. I hope that he stays there for the entire 2015 and then gets a crack if ready in 2016.

 

Of course he may tear it up in Pawtucket and convince the FO that he is ready at some point this season ( 2015 ).

 

I think that they should give him some time at 1st base. That would seem prudent given the current MLB roster and his projected greatness with the bat.

[a700hitter]

Unless he implodes in 2015, he should get a chance to crack the roster in 2016. If Vasquez blows up in 2015 and Swihart is doing well in AAA he could get his shot after the first half of 2015. If Hanigan or Vasquez hit the DL, Swihart could come up for a short stint in 2015.

[seabeachfred]

Unless he implodes in 2015, he should get a chance to crack the roster in 2016. If Vasquez blows up in 2015 and Swihart is doing well in AAA he could get his shot after the first half of 2015. If Hanigan or Vasquez hit the DL, Swihart could come up for a short stint in 2015.

 

If some guys we're counting on in 2015 pull a Bogaerts, Middlebrooks or, God forbid, a Bradley, and Vasquez proves to be the poor hitter that he is, Blake could find himself behind the plate buy the middle of 2015. Ideally, it would be great to see him get a full season at Pawtucket, hit well there and crack the lineup in 2016. He and Betts are two prospects we must keep at all costs.

[jacksonianmarch]

He's a catcher. You try your best to grow him and go slowly with him if he is to stick at the position

[mvp 78]

If Vasquez is batting .190, I'd still want him starting 100 games. He needs the experience. His bat is not his priority right now. We'll see if he grows into a .250 hitter.

[jacksonianmarch]

Vazquez is your future backup. I know there is a lot of helium on him, but the league is flush with defensive catchers who cannot hit. Swihart and Sanchez from NY are true offensive difference makers in the making. These guys are rare.

[Station 13]

I'm not at all worried about Vazquez's hitting. He has a solid K/BB rate and he makes contact. His defense and framing is elite.

[jacksonianmarch]

I'm not at all worried about Vazquez's hitting. He has a solid K/BB rate and he makes contact. His defense and framing is elite.

 

But they're really not. In the age of the defensive catcher, having a defense first catcher isn't exactly mold breaking. Maybe his defense and framing are a tick better than most, but how much is that worth when he's probably gonna hit .200 as a regular? The goal is to stand tall amongst the competition, not shrink down to them. I think Vazquez is a good backup, the kind of guy a single pitcher on your staff gets comfortable with and gets him every turn. Hanigan is gonna be your starting catcher this season.

[Station 13]

Hanigan once topped 300AB, just once. That was ages ago. He is definition of backup. He is brought in to replace Ross.

[Spudboy]

Hanigan once topped 300AB, just once. That was ages ago. He is definition of backup. He is brought in to replace Ross.

 

Well his games played and other stats are down I don't think that they preclude Hanigan from playing a more major role in the Sox roster than Ross would likely have.

 

Does he have major injury issues that will prevent him from playing 80-110 games?

[seabeachfred]

He's a catcher. You try your best to grow him and go slowly with him if he is to stick at the position

 

He wasn't signed as a catcher but was converted there and has taken to it like a duck to water. Right now everyone is talking about Vazquez who is a terrific defensive catcher, but if some people like Castillo and Bogaerts don't hit, and Napoli and Ramirez are in and out with injuries, we will need every bat we can get into that lineup. People are talking like we can carry Vaz easily but forget what kind of starting rotation we have right now......C minus at best.

[jacksonianmarch]

Your starting catcher in September will be Swihart.

[jacksonianmarch]

Fred, you're right. If you're gonna be a playoff team, you're gonna need to bludgeon your opponents. Carrying a catcher who cannot hit his weight decreases that likelihood

[BSN07]

But they're really not. In the age of the defensive catcher, having a defense first catcher isn't exactly mold breaking. Maybe his defense and framing are a tick better than most, but how much is that worth when he's probably gonna hit .200 as a regular? The goal is to stand tall amongst the competition, not shrink down to them. I think Vazquez is a good backup, the kind of guy a single pitcher on your staff gets comfortable with and gets him every turn. Hanigan is gonna be your starting catcher this season.

 

I was with you til the last bit. No way Hanigan is the starter. No way. This season will be a showcase for Vazquez for better or worse. Hanigan is Ross 2.0

[BSN07]

Your starting catcher in September will be Swihart.

I think it be great to see him, but from what I read 2015 seems a bit early.

[jacksonianmarch]

I am just gonna throw this out there. Hanigan flourished in a hitters park in Cincy until 2013 when the wheels fell off the bus. Last yr, he was in TB where offense goes to die. I bet you he starts the year as a time share candidate with Vazquez. Once they figure out that they're gonna need more offense since their pitching staff sucks ass, they'll go with the hotter hitter, and that will be Hanigan. Also, Hanigan is on a one year deal. If the sox are middling or bad this yr and are looking to sell off parts, they won't be moving Vasquez, they'll move Hanigan. My guess is that Hanigan is moved before the July 31st waiver period and a AAAA guy will come up to caddy for Vasquez until the MiLB season is over. Then Swihart will come up

[jacksonianmarch]

And the reason I believe this is because Hanigan is a good defensive catcher. This isn't a Posada and Girardi kind of veteran and kid relationship. You're gonna have two defensive minded players out there and the one with the best bat will play the lion's share until the sox either see they're in it or fall out of it completely. I know everyone wants to groom Vasquez, but the fan base wont support that if Hanigan is reaching base 35% of the time and Vasquez is puttering around the Mendoza line

[Bellhorn04]

I am just gonna throw this out there. Hanigan flourished in a hitters park in Cincy until 2013 when the wheels fell off the bus. Last yr, he was in TB where offense goes to die. I bet you he starts the year as a time share candidate with Vazquez. Once they figure out that they're gonna need more offense since their pitching staff sucks ass, they'll go with the hotter hitter, and that will be Hanigan. Also, Hanigan is on a one year deal. If the sox are middling or bad this yr and are looking to sell off parts, they won't be moving Vasquez, they'll move Hanigan. My guess is that Hanigan is moved before the July 31st waiver period and a AAAA guy will come up to caddy for Vasquez until the MiLB season is over. Then Swihart will come up

 

Hanigan is signed through 2016.

[Bellhorn04]

And the reason I believe this is because Hanigan is a good defensive catcher. This isn't a Posada and Girardi kind of veteran and kid relationship. You're gonna have two defensive minded players out there and the one with the best bat will play the lion's share until the sox either see they're in it or fall out of it completely. I know everyone wants to groom Vasquez, but the fan base wont support that if Hanigan is reaching base 35% of the time and Vasquez is puttering around the Mendoza line

 

Vazquez hit .275 in AAA ball and .240 in his MLB stint. I think he can muster a .235-.240 average.

[Spudboy]

Vazquez hit .275 in AAA ball and .240 in his MLB stint. I think he can muster a .235-.240 average.

 

Me too. He may not be at or above league average in BA but I don't see him as Mendoza or below except for short slumps. Who came up with the idea that Vasquez can not hit?

 

Obviously his offensive numbers are looked at differently because Swihart is in the picture with gobs of promise ( supposedly ).

[Palodios]

Vazquez seemed like he always got a big hit with runners on base.

 

I looked it up -- he had a .733 OPS with runners on, .773 with RISP, .872 with RISP and 2 outs, and 1.250 with the bases loaded. I'm fine with him being in the 9 spot if he makes the staff better.

[cp176]

Great irony. Most of you could live with a great defensive catcher who can't hit his weight but see it differently with respect to the ss position. I don't! Up the middle, fielding has to be first. 2,4,6,8!

[User Name]

Because c has a greater impact in overall run prevention and a ss's deficiencies can be covered by the overall quality of the rest of the infield. Bogaerts is also 22 with the possibility of defensive improvement and superstar offensive potential. There is no irony, it's common sense.

[jacksonianmarch]

UN, I don't ascribe to your deficiencies of the SS being covered by good guys around him. It isn't like Panda is gonna get to the balls Bogaerts cannot get to and it isn't as if he's gonna make the throws for him. SS is a critically important position defensively. If you have a minus SS defensively, you better get impressive offensive production to make up for it. Trust me dude, I have seen some pretty slick defenders alongside Jeter. It didn't help when the ball in the hole or up the middle should have been snagged and wasn't. The thing Jeter had over most of these guys is that he fielded nearly everything that was hit to him. And the .300+BA didn't hurt. Once Jeter couldn't hit anymore, he was an anchor dragging us way the f*** down. Bogaerts does have the chance to improve, but he has a big mans body and will likely fill in over time. That being said, if he fills out and hits like he was projected to, you wont care about his defensive inefficiencies

[cp176]

Because c has a greater impact in overall run prevention and a ss's deficiencies can be covered by the overall quality of the rest of the infield. Bogaerts is also 22 with the possibility of defensive improvement and superstar offensive potential. There is no irony, it's common sense.

 

Hopefully no one questions the need to be strong up the middle defensively. If you think our third baseman is going to help Bogaerts out with that ball in the hole, I want some of what you are drinking. A good catcher's strength is closely followed by a solid shortstop. Once again, I find it quite ironic that some don't recognize that fact. I can't say that that is my opinion because it is simply a fact.

[a700hitter]

It's pretty hard to cover for a bad SS. The quality of the SS makes or breaks your IF defense. If your SS stinks, you need big strikeout pitchers, not a bunch of sinkerballers.

[iortiz]

It's pretty hard to cover for a bad SS. The quality of the SS makes or breaks your IF defense. If your SS stinks, you need big strikeout pitchers, not a bunch of sinkerballers.

 

Hopefully XB improves his glove otherwise our "GB" pitchers could have a loooooong season.

[Spudboy]

It's pretty hard to cover for a bad SS. The quality of the SS makes or breaks your IF defense. If your SS stinks, you need big strikeout pitchers, not a bunch of sinkerballers.

 

Yup.

 

I have been critical of XB's defense noting his footwork and range to his left as deficiencies. He is below average defensively in my book. However, I can see him playing nearly well enough that he will not be a dramatic shortcoming for the Sox.

 

Also, I do not buy into the idea that IF he has big offensive numbers that his defensive shortcomings would somehow be negated. He has to improve both parts of his game to be a good player. He is still very young so If he has the desire and the determination to work hard I see no reason that he won't achieve success eventually.

 

I still think he will eventually be a 1st baseman. He has the body for it and he will not have the demands on his arm there.