4/23 @ The Houston Altuves

[a700hitter]

Why the hell are we still saddled with him, with his track record?

Supposedly, picking up his option for $13 million was a no-brainer for half a season of work. To me, it was a waste of money and opportunity to go in a different direction.

[FredLynn]

Castillo's looked clueless against MLB pitching. In fact, clueless about most facets of the game.

 

First, thats an exaggeration. He has a lifetime MLB .265 BA and a career 1.8 dWAR. Also, he was out of baseball for so long that its likely he would improve. Chris Young is a lifetime .235 hitter and isn't as good defensively. Castillo at least has a chance to be good with regular reps; we all know Young sucks.

[User Name]

They should trade Buch for a dildo and jam it up Farrell's ass to wake him up.

[Northern Star]

Because he has great stuff and has gone on unreal runs of dominance like he did in 2013?

 

Oh, you mean three years ago he did something? Who would you rather have on the rotation in 2016, Bucholz or Lackey?

[Jasonbay44]

Young is good at literally one thing, hitting LHP. However, John Farrell thinks Chris Young needs a lot of AB's against RHP because.. why not? f*** logic. I'm not counting today because Xander is hurt and that forced Farrell's hand, but Young has seen way too many AB's against RHP this year.

[FredLynn]

Yeah, let's cut our best catcher. That makes sense.

 

You don't cut him, of course. If he cannot start hitting the ball I would give Swihart a chance as the #1 catcher and make Vasquez a backup. You HAVE TO hit the baseball. Because he is so good defensively I would give him more time and allow less production offensively to keep his job. But at some point he cannot be an automatic out.

[Northern Star]

First, thats an exaggeration. He has a lifetime MLB .265 BA and a career 1.8 dWAR. Also, he was out of baseball for so long that its likely he would improve. Chris Young is a lifetime .235 hitter and isn't as good defensively. Castillo at least has a chance to be good with regular reps; we all know Young sucks.

 

He's not being paid $11 mil a year for .265 BA and .688 OPS.

[User Name]

Oh, you mean three years ago he did something? Who would you rather have on the rotation in 2016, Bucholz or Lackey?

 

A young guy they could have traded Lackey for, and that doesn't enjoy fried chicken and beer.

[User Name]

You don't cut him, of course. If he cannot start hitting the ball I would give Swihart a chance as the #1 catcher and make Vasquez a backup. You HAVE TO hit the baseball. Because he is so good defensively I would give him more time and allow less production offensively to keep his job. But at some point he cannot be an automatic out.

 

I don't quite think you understand how important the defensive aspect of catching is. That's a terrible idea.

[Northern Star]

You don't cut him, of course. If he cannot start hitting the ball I would give Swihart a chance as the #1 catcher and make Vasquez a backup. You HAVE TO hit the baseball. Because he is so good defensively I would give him more time and allow less production offensively to keep his job. But at some point he cannot be an automatic out.

 

Why do people insist on offense from catcher? It's one of the top defensive positions. Swihart probably needs to change position if his defense doesn't come around.

[FredLynn]

Young is good at literally one thing, hitting LHP. However, John Farrell thinks Chris Young needs a lot of AB's against RHP because.. why not? f*** logic. I'm not counting today because Xander is hurt and that forced Farrell's hand, but Young has seen way too many AB's against RHP this year.

 

He isn't even consistently good at that. He was good at it last year, but his OPS vs LHP in 2014 was .561 and in 2013 it was .712. Sometimes he is good vs LHP. Its a mysterious move to get him when we already seemed to have that position covered.

[FredLynn]

I don't quite think you understand how important the defensive aspect of catching is. That's a terrible idea.

 

I don't mind one guy in the lineup not hitting the ball. But when Vasquez is at .146/.498 he IS a problem. He is even a problem if your CF is hitting only .240/.631. You cannot have both of those guys in your lineup hitting like that all year. Right now guys like Shaw and Holt etc are picking up the slack; that can't last at that pace.

[User Name]

I don't mind one guy in the lineup not hitting the ball. But when Vasquez is at .146/.498 he IS a problem. He is even a problem if your CF is hitting only .240/.631. You cannot have both of those guys in your lineup hitting like that all year. Right now guys like Shaw and Holt etc are picking up the slack; that can't last at that pace.

 

Red Sox: First in the AL in runs.

Red Sox: 25th in MLB in ERA.

 

You want to trade run prevention ability for offense because?

[FredLynn]

Red Sox: First in the AL in runs.

Red Sox: 25th in MLB in ERA.

 

You want to trade run prevention ability for offense because?

 

So you are saying that because our pitching sucks that means that Vasquez and Bradley have acceptable numbers? Perhaps we can score more runs with Swihart or Castillo.

[FredLynn]

I am not saying that something has to be done about our production from our catcher and starting CF right now; I would give them until June. But if we want to compete for October baseball we cannot have BOTH of those guys stinking it up at the plate. And of course the pitchers have to be much better. Thats a separate issue entirely. One black hole only.

[Jasonbay44]

I wasn't defending the Young signing, I was expressing my displeasure that Farrell has a hard on for him and loves getting him AB's for no reason and feels the need to PH him for guys like Shaw and Holt, who have been two of the best hitters on this team.

[cp176]

They should trade Buch for a dildo and jam it up Farrell's ass to wake him up.

 

owooga - where does this stuff cum from? oh man Altuve!

[Northern Star]

I don't mind one guy in the lineup not hitting the ball. But when Vasquez is at .146/.498 he IS a problem. He is even a problem if your CF is hitting only .240/.631. You cannot have both of those guys in your lineup hitting like that all year. Right now guys like Shaw and Holt etc are picking up the slack; that can't last at that pace.

 

He's played five f***ing games. Give me a break. He hit .240 in 55 in 2014. Not great, but tolerable with plus defense.

[Jasonbay44]

On that play, two things.

 

1. One of Mookie or JBJ needs to backup the play and not dive, that was awful communication.

 

2. What the f*** was Altuve doing?

[NativeBostonian]

I don't mind one guy in the lineup not hitting the ball. But when Vasquez is at .146/.498 he IS a problem. He is even a problem if your CF is hitting only .240/.631. You cannot have both of those guys in your lineup hitting like that all year. Right now guys like Shaw and Holt etc are picking up the slack; that can't last at that pace.

 

I'd rather have a catcher that can't hit. JBJ has some flashes of awesomeness. But, for the most part, he can't hit a side of a barn.

[User Name]

owooga - where does this stuff cum from? oh man Altuve!

 

I am just stating a possible solution to the Farrell problem.

[User Name]

Not even Altuve is very Altuve on that team right now.

[a700hitter]

Pedey with a great relay on that play. He got rid of it so fast and Shaw made a very fast tag. Nice play by those two.

[Jasonbay44]

Houston announcers actually made a good point, the 3rd base coach was pretty clearly telling Altuve to stand up and pointing at the bag, which is why Altuve slowed down.. What a horrible job by the coach lol.

[NativeBostonian]

He's played five f***ing games. Give me a break. He hit .240 in 55 in 2014. Not great, but tolerable with plus defense.

 

I'm going to be that jackass who tells you that isn't a good sample size. Only because people told me that last night, when trying to make the case for swihart.

[Northern Star]

On that play, two things.

 

1. One of Mookie or JBJ needs to backup the play and not dive, that was awful communication.

 

2. What the f*** was Altuve doing?

 

Altuve gonna Altuve.

[User Name]

I'm going to be that jackass who tells you that isn't a good sample size. Only because people told me that last night, when trying to make the case for swihart.

 

It's true in both instances, and that doesn't make you a jackass. On the other hand, statements like that make you a jackass.

[Jasonbay44]

Noe Ramirez is another guy who sucks.

[NativeBostonian]

It's true in both instances, and that doesn't make you a jackass. On the other hand, statements like that make you a jackass.

 

Well, I guess I am one big mule.

[Northern Star]

Noe Ramirez is another guy who sucks.

 

What do you expect from someone whose first name is NO-ee?