Let the Swihart watch begin

[Dojji]

A contender yes. One of the 3 or 4 teams in the AL most likely to appear in the World Series? No.

[User Name]

A contender yes. One of the 3 or 4 teams in the AL most likely to appear in the World Series? No.

 

Are you serious with this stuff?

[Kimmi]

A contender yes. One of the 3 or 4 teams in the AL most likely to appear in the World Series? No.

 

 

Personally, I think the Sox have as good a chance or better of appearing in the WS than any other AL team except for the Angels. That's not to say that the Sox will breeze into the postseason. It will be a tough battle all the way.

 

I have the Sox as the favorites to win the division, but I will say that they could just as easily finish 4th.

[cp176]

Pretty fair assessment I think. It should be close. No team really stands out as a clear favorite. They all have their issues. Betts isn't going anywhere. Although some would tell us that all spring stats are meaningless. Doesn't mean a thing till the games start for real right? I don't buy that at all. Betts has made it even more apparent that he is for real by having the spring that he has had. I wish that we had seen a little more of Castillo but he won't be pushing Betts out of that lineup. The East will be fun to watch for sure.

[Kimmi]

Pretty fair assessment I think. It should be close. No team really stands out as a clear favorite. They all have their issues. Betts isn't going anywhere. Although some would tell us that all spring stats are meaningless. Doesn't mean a thing till the games start for real right? I don't buy that at all. Betts has made it even more apparent that he is for real by having the spring that he has had. I wish that we had seen a little more of Castillo but he won't be pushing Betts out of that lineup. The East will be fun to watch for sure.

 

 

I don't think you can put too much stock into ST stats. I'm not trying to say that Mookie isn't the real deal, but ST stats just don't correlate much with regular season stats, for various reasons. JBJ's spring training a couple of years ago is Exhibit A.

 

All of the hype surrounding Betts concerns me a little. We had the same thing going on with Bogaerts last year. Bogaerts recently admitted that all the hype and having the spotlight on him affected him last season, and that he prefers sort of being in the background, like he has been this year. Hopefully, Betts' mental makeup will allow him to deal with it better than Bogaerts did. Either way, I'm sure that Betts will have his fair share of growing pains, but you get the sense that he will make his adjustments quickly.

[cp176]

I don't think you can put too much stock into ST stats. I'm not trying to say that Mookie isn't the real deal, but ST stats just don't correlate much with regular season stats, for various reasons. JBJ's spring training a couple of years ago is Exhibit A.

 

All of the hype surrounding Betts concerns me a little. We had the same thing going on with Bogaerts last year. Bogaerts recently admitted that all the hype and having the spotlight on him affected him last season, and that he prefers sort of being in the background, like he has been this year. Hopefully, Betts' mental makeup will allow him to deal with it better than Bogaerts did. Either way, I'm sure that Betts will have his fair share of growing pains, but you get the sense that he will make his adjustments quickly.

 

Agreed - you can't place too much value on spring training stats in general but the overall play of anybody during spring training certainly has value. Not a case where I would use spring training stats as a springboard to future success but it is poor sell if anyone suggests they are meaningless. Performance which kind of has to include stats mean a great to many players. In the spring for sure, you can paint any picture you want with them but they do have meaning. I agree with respect to the hype surrounding many players but Mookie's hype isn't just coming out of New England. Ramirez's comments certainly count for something. Wait - he is in New England again. Statistics can be deceptive at any time of year (obviously in ST) if you don't watch the games. I guess that means I rely on my eyes.

[Kimmi]

Agreed - you can't place too much value on spring training stats in general but the overall play of anybody during spring training certainly has value. Not a case where I would use spring training stats as a springboard to future success but it is poor sell if anyone suggests they are meaningless. Performance which kind of has to include stats mean a great to many players. In the spring for sure, you can paint any picture you want with them but they do have meaning. I agree with respect to the hype surrounding many players but Mookie's hype isn't just coming out of New England. Ramirez's comments certainly count for something. Wait - he is in New England again. Statistics can be deceptive at any time of year (obviously in ST) if you don't watch the games. I guess that means I rely on my eyes.

 

 

I haven't been able to watch a lot of ST games, so I've had to go by what I've been reading. I am mostly encouraged by what I've read and what little I've seen.

 

I'm hearing that Bogaerts defense is much improved over last year. That's encouraging not only because better D is obviously better, but also because it shows me that Bogaerts took his struggles to heart during the offseason, and that he has the right attitude and work ethic.

[cp176]

I haven't been able to watch a lot of ST games, so I've had to go by what I've been reading. I am mostly encouraged by what I've read and what little I've seen.

 

I'm hearing that Bogaerts defense is much improved over last year. That's encouraging not only because better D is obviously better, but also because it shows me that Bogaerts took his struggles to heart during the offseason, and that he has the right attitude and work ethic.

 

I am excited to see how this season plays out. I know I might sound a little negative on occasion but to me its just my way of trying to be realistic. I like not really knowing what to expect from these guys. Every indication is that they are coming together as a team. Chemistry means a lot. Bogaerts looks a lot different from the way he looked last year.

I don't want to see them trade anyone with a potential future for any pitcher in his 30's right now. Their issue will be who they decide to keep and who doesn't get kept. It will be very interesting to see what happens with Castillo. If he goes to Pawtucket and rips up minor league pitching - ???. Is there ultimately going to be room for both Nava and Craig? I'm not sure I want to lose either one. I think that Betts will eventually be more than just solid in center but I'm not sure that anyone is better than JBJ in the field. All tough decisions that I am glad I don't have to make. They might not all be all-stars but there is an awful lot of talent on the roster.

[Spudboy]

I don't think you can put too much stock into ST stats. I'm not trying to say that Mookie isn't the real deal, but ST stats just don't correlate much with regular season stats, for various reasons. JBJ's spring training a couple of years ago is Exhibit A.

 

All of the hype surrounding Betts concerns me a little. We had the same thing going on with Bogaerts last year. Bogaerts recently admitted that all the hype and having the spotlight on him affected him last season, and that he prefers sort of being in the background, like he has been this year. Hopefully, Betts' mental makeup will allow him to deal with it better than Bogaerts did. Either way, I'm sure that Betts will have his fair share of growing pains, but you get the sense that he will make his adjustments quickly.

 

 

Yup the hype on Betts has been massive. And for once, it seems justified. Betts is a much better athlete that Boegarts. It is that simple.

 

However what really sets him apart from X is his batting eye and approach. Now we all know that I do not have 30 years of high school coaching experience. I saw several Pawtucket games and all of the MLB games Betts played. Two things stuck out. His ability to put good wood on the ball and his speed.

 

He is no Ellsbury on the base paths but is easily the fastest player on the Sox.

 

I expect a sophomore slump. But as you said, I expect him to make the adjustments quickly and become a premier lead-off hitter and game changer.

[cp176]

Yup the hype on Betts has been massive. And for once, it seems justified. Betts is a much better athlete that Boegarts. It is that simple.

 

However what really sets him apart from X is his batting eye and approach. Now we all know that I do not have 30 years of high school coaching experience. I saw several Pawtucket games and all of the MLB games Betts played. Two things stuck out. His ability to put good wood on the ball and his speed.

 

He is no Ellsbury on the base paths but is easily the fastest player on the Sox.

 

I expect a sophomore slump. But as you said, I expect him to make the adjustments quickly and become a premier lead-off hitter and game changer.

 

Regardless of your coaching experience or whatever, it looks like you have good vision. He is going to have his ups and downs but people will continue loving this kid. He is a great contact hitter with a little pop in that stroke as well. He has some work to do like all of them, but I think he is off to a great start. I'm not expecting a sophomore slump though. I really do think that he is the real deal. A Pedroia type of player and I love it.

[User Name]

I still think Bogaerts is going to end up being the better ballplayer of the two, but that's just my opinion.

[cp176]

I still think Bogaerts is going to end up being the better ballplayer of the two, but that's just my opinion.

 

I actually think that that could happen. I do think they are two different types of ballplayer. I would certainly have a hard time saying that Betts is a better athlete than Bogaerts for sure. I think that Bogaerts will surprise people who have not been paying attention. It's good for the him that Betts is getting this attention. In terms of athleteticism, I depends on what you are looking for. I like them both.

[Kimmi]

I am excited to see how this season plays out. I know I might sound a little negative on occasion but to me its just my way of trying to be realistic. I like not really knowing what to expect from these guys. Every indication is that they are coming together as a team. Chemistry means a lot. Bogaerts looks a lot different from the way he looked last year.

I don't want to see them trade anyone with a potential future for any pitcher in his 30's right now. Their issue will be who they decide to keep and who doesn't get kept. It will be very interesting to see what happens with Castillo. If he goes to Pawtucket and rips up minor league pitching - ???. Is there ultimately going to be room for both Nava and Craig? I'm not sure I want to lose either one. I think that Betts will eventually be more than just solid in center but I'm not sure that anyone is better than JBJ in the field. All tough decisions that I am glad I don't have to make. They might not all be all-stars but there is an awful lot of talent on the roster.

 

 

I realize that you have to give up talent to get good talent, but I would really hate to see any of our players traded right now, JBJ and Craig included. I love defense, and am really pulling for JBJ to hit decently so that he can make it back to the big league roster. As you said, I am glad that I don't have to make the decisions. I could never be a GM. I get too attached to the players.

[Kimmi]

Yup the hype on Betts has been massive. And for once, it seems justified. Betts is a much better athlete that Boegarts. It is that simple.

 

However what really sets him apart from X is his batting eye and approach. Now we all know that I do not have 30 years of high school coaching experience. I saw several Pawtucket games and all of the MLB games Betts played. Two things stuck out. His ability to put good wood on the ball and his speed.

 

He is no Ellsbury on the base paths but is easily the fastest player on the Sox.

 

I expect a sophomore slump. But as you said, I expect him to make the adjustments quickly and become a premier lead-off hitter and game changer.

 

 

I love Betts. Then again, I love Bogaerts too. Everything I've seen and heard points to Betts being the real deal, and many have projected that he could be the best player on the team this year. I'm excited about watching him play and develop this year, but I'm trying to keep my expectations in check. If he lives up to all of the hype, that would be awesome!

[Kimmi]

I still think Bogaerts is going to end up being the better ballplayer of the two, but that's just my opinion.

 

 

I wouldn't be surprised.

[Dojji]

So with the injury to Vazquez, I decided to do some digging and figure out who our next highest catching prospect was.

 

So I dug.

 

And I dug.

 

And I dug.

 

We have no catching prospects other than Swihart in our top 20 according to Soxprospects.com. Hmm.

 

Also true that we have no other catching prospects in our top 40. Oh dear.

 

I had to go all the way down to #57. Our 57th best prospect in the Red Sox system is a catcher by the name of Romanski. He's 24 and played last year in high A ball with no particular distinction and not much chance of rapid promotion frrom A ball, much less actually getting all the way to the majors.

 

That's our next guy among actual prospects (as opposed to MLFA's and AAA depth) behind the big two.

 

Checking last year's draft, we did draft 2 catchers who aren't ranked yet that probably will be.

 

Ben Moore profiles as Ryan Lavarnway without the power, he's a college C/OF who's going to try to stick at catcher fulltime mostly because his bat doesn't justify a big league signing bonus as an outfielder. there's a chance, but looks more like a backup with a bit of versatility than a real starting catcher option.

 

The other guy, Procyshen, I have absolutely no idea about because there just seems to be no info about his defense at all and he's only had 80 or so plate appearances in A ball.

 

Might just want to see about drafting another catcher or two, Mr. Cherington.

Edited March 29, 2015 by Dojji

[Kimmi]

Might just want to see about drafting another catcher or two, Mr. Cherington.

 

 

Good information about catchers in our system Dojii.

 

The thing about drafting another catcher or two though, is that most teams are not going to draft based on position or need. Most teams will draft the best available players, regardless of what position they play.

[Dojji]

I get that, but if you draft with zero regard for need, these little problems happen occasionally, because catchers are rarely the best or most athletic players on the market in any round.

[User Name]

No, the idea of drafting the best available talent is perfectly fine. Teams run into "the little problem" we have, because it's literally impossible to have good depth at every possible position. Notice the "good" part. By trading the best available player every round you give yourself the opportunity to use the depth you've built to cover holes in your roster.

[cp176]

Johnson pitched well tonight - Castillo had a couple of hits.

[Behindenemylines]

Harrigab coming back this week. What are the Sox going to do with Swihart? If 2015 is over I rather see him get the majority of games behind the plate. He is starting to hit the ball and major league experience behind the dish would be a positive moving forward. I think Vazquez's injury has cost him a shot at being the Sox everyday catcher.