Catching losses stinging

[jacksonianmarch]

I know a lot of people are ripping the pitching, me included, but having a rookie catcher doesn't help either. Especially one not really lauded for handling pitchers. The sox are 1-6 since Hanigan went down. Now the offense has sucked incredibly during that time as well, but losing good defensive catchers and good handlers of pitchers can make mediocre pitching look awful

[User Name]

This thread is bad, and you should feel bad.

[mvp 78]

I agree with Jacko in this matter. 100%.

 

Should have gone with Hurricane Sandy and grabbed another vet.

[Kimmi]

Jacko, when you are not trolling, you are actually a decent poster. That's why I am so disappointed in your trollish and childish behavior.

 

This rotation was supposed to be helped greatly by the defensive duo of Vazquez/Hanigan. How can losing your #1 and #2 catchers so early in the season not hurt? This is not to take anything away from Swihart and Leon. Both of those guys are solid, even very good, defensively.

 

One problem is that Swihart is not ready. He needed more time in AAA. The other problem is that neither Swihart nor Leon have very much major league experience, and more importantly, very little familiarity with our pitching staff. No matter how good they are, developing that pitcher/catcher comfort and confidence level takes time, and a learning curve is to be expected.

 

They are doing the best they can, but I'm sure part of our pitching woes are due to not having Vazquez/Hanigan behind the plate.

[a700hitter]

Jacko, when you are not trolling, you are actually a decent poster. That's why I am so disappointed in your trollish and childish behavior.

I am pretty sure that he doesn't care about this ^. He's a Yankee fan. His team is in first place and our team is sucking it. He is pretty tame if you ask me. Leave the poster editorial out of it. Save it for the end of year awards vote. Jacko is a good poster. He brings substance and entertainment to the board. We are not going to like many of his posts, because they are coming from a Yankee perspective.

[Kimmi]

I don't mind posts in which he is critical of the Sox or complimentary of the Yankees. He's a Yankees fan. I expect that, and have even defended that in the Yankees threads. His post in this thread is mostly spot on. It's the teacher in me. I don't accept C work when I know one is capable of A work. I expect better. People tend to rise to the level of your expectations. It doesn't always work, but I can at least try.

[sk7326]

There is some merit although SSS abounds for the catchers - the more important thing is that there is little here that a few of our hitters who are supposed to be decent being decent can't fix.

[Mr Tibbs]

I agree that some of the blame can be put on the rookie catching staff, but IMO it is very little. Miley sucked ass long before Hanigan went down and the entire starting pitching staff was having trouble getting out of the third inning and has been HORRENDOUS with men on base or two outs in the inning. How much of that do you really want to put on the rookie catchers???

[Kimmi]

Small samples, but here are the numbers for our staff pitching to different catchers:

 

Hanigan: ERA 4.34, K/W 2.57, Opposing hitters slash .251/.321/.389/.710

Swihart: ERA 5.37 K/W 1.67, Opposing hitters slash .292/.362/.469/.831

Leon: ERA 5.97 K/W 2.00, Opposing hitters slash .277/.349/.467/.816

 

Again, these are small samples, but the differences are noticeable.

[Spitball]

Small samples, but here are the numbers for our staff pitching to different catchers:

 

Hanigan: ERA 4.34, K/W 2.57, Opposing hitters slash .251/.321/.389/.710

Swihart: ERA 5.37 K/W 1.67, Opposing hitters slash .292/.362/.469/.831

Leon: ERA 5.97 K/W 2.00, Opposing hitters slash .277/.349/.467/.816

 

Again, these are small samples, but the differences are noticeable.

 

Small but telling. Thanks for the research, Kimmi.

[mvp 78]

I agree with Jacko in this matter. 100%.

 

Should have gone with Hurricane Sandy and grabbed another vet.

 

Hi Spud.

[Spudboy]

What? How am I evolved in this old thread?

[mvp 78]

What? How am I evolved in this old thread?

 

You said that you didn't believe we cared about Swihart's defense last year. This was the only evidence I could find to the contrary.

[Spudboy]

Oh.

 

In thinking about this massive thread of Swihart doubt, what were we all saying the rest of the season when he started to hit?

 

Overall, I don't remember vast numbers of people bitching about his D.

 

I'm a Swihart fanboy, I guess.

 

I wish things had been different for him. He could have used a solid season in Pawtucket before coming up. As it was, he came up in an emergency. After a slow start he seemed to be doing well. Now one of the best prospects in the system has no defined roll going forward.