Christian Vazquez

[mvp 78]

OTOH, his 2014 stats say maybe. So do his 2015 stats.

 

And, as you so often like to respond to me: sss

 

I would never hiss at anyone.

[cp176]

Yeah, Im not saying that Leon couldnt be the man in boston. Vaz needs to hit more. No arguing that.

 

he needs to catch more too. he really isn't superior to Leon in any phase of the game right now. Maybe someday but not now.

[moonslav59]

I'm a huge Vaz fan, and have supported him in the Vaz Vs Swi debate, based significantly on speculation I might add, but the only reason Leon has stuck around so long despite his horrendous hitting numbers is that he is known as a very good defensive catcher. This includes the intangible aspects of catching.

 

I super high on Vaz's defense, but I'm not going to pretend I know he's better than Leon on defense or ever will be.

 

If Leon can continue hitting between .700 and .750 OPS, Vaz has his work cut out for him.

 

The Swihart injury is very unfortunate. He was already at best 3rd on the catching depth chart, and now it's all put on hold for months as he recovers. During that time, we'll know more about Leon and Vaz, so I'm not counting Swihart out of the catcher sweepstakes right now.

 

[Bellhorn04]

I would never hiss at anyone.

 

OK that was funny. There is actually a movie about a half-man/half-snake called 'Sssssss'.

 

Edited August 11, 2016 by Bellhorn04

[S5Dewey]

I'm a huge Vaz fan, and have supported him in the Vaz Vs Swi debate, based significantly on speculation I might add, but the only reason Leon has stuck around so long despite his horrendous hitting numbers is that he is known as a very good defensive catcher. This includes the intangible aspects of catching.

 

I super high on Vaz's defense, but I'm not going to pretend I know he's better than Leon on defense or ever will be.

 

If Leon can continue hitting between .700 and .750 OPS, Vaz has his work cut out for him.

 

The Swihart injury is very unfortunate. He was already at best 3rd on the catching depth chart, and now it's all put on hold for months as he recovers. During that time, we'll know more about Leon and Vaz, so I'm not counting Swihart out of the catcher sweepstakes right now.

 

 

Ahhh..the irony in this entire situation....

 

I've always been a Vasquez cheerleader, mostly because I put a higher value than most people do on defense. That's why when he got injured and lost all of the 2015 season I was concerned that his absence would give Swihart the advantage in getting the starting spot in 2016.

 

Now it's 2016 and while Swihart was playing LF and doing limited catching in the minors with Vaz catching for the Sox, Swihart has gotten injured, essentially negating any advantage Swi may have gotten by remaining healthy.

 

And now at the end of the day Leon has come out of nowhere to capture the starting job while Vaz has been sent down to Pawtucket.

 

"As sands pass through the hourglass....."

[moonslav59]

Ahhh..the irony in this entire situation....

 

I've always been a Vasquez cheerleader, mostly because I put a higher value than most people do on defense. That's why when he got injured and lost all of the 2015 season I was concerned that his absence would give Swihart the advantage in getting the starting spot in 2016.

 

Now it's 2016 and while Swihart was playing LF and doing limited catching in the minors with Vaz catching for the Sox, Swihart has gotten injured, essentially negating any advantage Swi may have gotten by remaining healthy.

 

And now at the end of the day Leon has come out of nowhere to capture the starting job while Vaz has been sent down to Pawtucket.

 

"As sands pass through the hourglass....."

 

The catching situation with the Sox has gone through some tough times since VTek's glory years.

 

David Ross

Kelly Shopach

Ryan Lavarnway

Jarrod Saltalamacchia

AJ Pierzynski

Ryan Hanigan

 

Don't these three names sound a lot better right now?

Sandy Leon

Christian Vazquez

Blake Swihart

[southpaw777]

he needs to catch more too. he really isn't superior to Leon in any phase of the game right now. Maybe someday but not now.

 

I agree, thats why i said when both are at their best. i do think Vaz is better on D, but Its not by much. Certainly not enough to have Him start over Leon right now... If Sandy keeps up a steady pace hitting, and his D is already very solid, then someone may go. If Vaz ends up all glove and no bat then he will be Leons BU.

We'll have to wait and see how the rest of the season plays out. also depends how Swiharts injury heals. Hes going to still get reps as a catcher when hes ready.

[notin]

I agree, thats why i said when both are at their best. i do think Vaz is better on D, but Its not by much. Certainly not enough to have Him start over Leon right now... If Sandy keeps up a steady pace hitting, and his D is already very solid, then someone may go. If Vaz ends up all glove and no bat then he will be Leons BU.

We'll have to wait and see how the rest of the season plays out. also depends how Swiharts injury heals. Hes going to still get reps as a catcher when hes ready.

 

Christian Vazquez is a backup catcher. Everyone raved about his defense before he started hitting .226. The truth is, while he is good defensively, he isn't and never was an amazing game changer that many praised him for being. (No catcher is defensively; it's not a big deal.) The truth is, he is closer to Jose Molina than Yadier. And always was.

 

Leon is having a terrific year and will continue to do so as long as that .473 BABIP can last...

Edited August 14, 2016 by notin

[Kimmi]

Christian Vazquez is a backup catcher. Everyone raved about his defense before he started hitting .226. The truth is, while he is good defensively, he isn't and never was an amazing game changer that many praised him for being. (No catcher is defensively; it's not a big deal.) The truth is, he is closer to Jose Molina than Yadier. And always was.

 

Leon is having a terrific year and will continue to do so as long as that .473 BABIP can last...

 

 

I usually agree with you, but I take exception to this statement.

[notin]

Well you had to be there for the accolades Vazquez was receiving towards the end of the BDC board. No catcher has the lofty level of impact Vazquez was reported to have when compared to other mere mortal catchers...

[Nick]

The catching situation with the Sox has gone through some tough times since VTek's glory years.

 

David Ross

Kelly Shopach

Ryan Lavarnway

Jarrod Saltalamacchia

AJ Pierzynski

Ryan Hanigan

 

Don't these three names sound a lot better right now?

Sandy Leon

Christian Vazquez

Blake Swihart

 

Typical Sox FO to overpay for AJ...the biggest prick in major league baseball......Agents must love us.....we love giving out retirement/severance pay for has been, over the hill, broken body baseball players. Pablo Sandoval was our latest Power Ball jackpot winner.

 

And this is why we should develop Swihart as a catcher.

Edited August 14, 2016 by Nick

[Behindenemylines]

Typical Sox FO to overpay for AJ...the biggest prick in major league baseball......Agents must love us.....we love giving out retirement/severance pay for has been, over the hill, broken body baseball players. Pablo Sandoval was our latest Power Ball jackpot winner.

 

And this is why we should develop Swihart as a catcher.

 

Agree. Swihart's is greatest value to the Sox as a catcher. Leon is the starter until proven otherwise. Vazquez starts 2017 as backup and Swihart gets all of the reps at AAA. Swihart's ability to prove he is an everyday starter at catcher gives the Sox the most value.

[moonslav59]

Agree. Swihart's is greatest value to the Sox as a catcher. Leon is the starter until proven otherwise. Vazquez starts 2017 as backup and Swihart gets all of the reps at AAA. Swihart's ability to prove he is an everyday starter at catcher gives the Sox the most value.

 

...even if it ends up being trade value.

 

A lot can happen before Swihart gets back into 100% health, so we should not trade him before then (unless someone does not devalue him due to his injury status), and we may end up needing him as our catcher, if Leon fizzles out or Vaz never learns how to hit MLB pitching above the .600 to .625 OPS line.

[moonslav59]

Christian Vazquez is a backup catcher. Everyone raved about his defense before he started hitting .226. The truth is, while he is good defensively, he isn't and never was an amazing game changer that many praised him for being. (No catcher is defensively; it's not a big deal.) The truth is, he is closer to Jose Molina than Yadier. And always was.

 

Leon is having a terrific year and will continue to do so as long as that .473 BABIP can last...

 

Good to see you around, notin. Your input is always insightful.

 

While I don't disagree here, I think Vazquez still has time to improve his hitting to a point somewhere closer the middle of Jose and Yadir.

[cp176]

Agree. Swihart's is greatest value to the Sox as a catcher. Leon is the starter until proven otherwise. Vazquez starts 2017 as backup and Swihart gets all of the reps at AAA. Swihart's ability to prove he is an everyday starter at catcher gives the Sox the most value.

 

i think that if Swihart's greatest value to the Sox is as a catcher it would only be for trade purposes. He has the potential to be too good a hitter to sit daily as a backup catcher for Boston. Too many people are writing off too many players way too early. it is still conceivable that Swihart eventually winds up in our outfield. Moncada may as well. Lots of questions still to be answered going forward.

[Nick]

i think that if Swihart's greatest value to the Sox is as a catcher it would only be for trade purposes. He has the potential to be too good a hitter to sit daily as a backup catcher for Boston. Too many people are writing off too many players way too early. it is still conceivable that Swihart eventually winds up in our outfield. Moncada may as well. Lots of questions still to be answered going forward.

 

You have Betts (MVP candidate) Bradley (best defensive CF) and Benintendi and you want to muck the issue by introducing Swihart and Moncada to the mix?

[moonslav59]

You have Betts (MVP candidate) Bradley (best defensive CF) and Benintendi and you want to muck the issue by introducing Swihart and Moncada to the mix?

 

I don't think anybody wants to, but what if Moncada can't become a competent 3Bman defensively, yet his bat looks to be close to Mookie's bat?

 

Personally, I think Moncada will become decent enough to play 3B at some point next year.

[Behindenemylines]

Leon is an example when things seem to finally click. At least for 2016 Leon is a threat at the plate. You look at the past and he was a no-hit backup. So there is still hope for Vazquez. At worst he is a solid backup.

[Dojji]

If Vazquez becomes a capable backup he'll have beaten the curve for prospects. It's not the outcome we want, but far fewer prospects successfully become big leaguers than people like to think when looking at peoples' potential in the minors.

 

If our tandem is Leon as starter, Vazquez as the backup and Swihart playing another position (first perhaps?), we'll have done very very well for ourselves.

[S5Dewey]

I don't see Vaz becoming our backup catcher for the same reason I didn't see Swihart becoming our backup catcher in the pre-Leon days. Both of them are too good to be a backup. Assuming Leon isn't a one-season wonder their best value to the club is as trade bait.

[cp176]

You have Betts (MVP candidate) Bradley (best defensive CF) and Benintendi and you want to muck the issue by introducing Swihart and Moncada to the mix?

 

i wouldn't really call having more talent then some think we need mucking anything up first of all. Swihart has already been introduced to the mix also. I'm not as convinced as some that Moncada should be penciled in at third base just yet as well. Benintendi should be out there going forward but I don't see him as a sure thing yet either. just saying - somebody (maybe more than one) won't be on the roster next year. Somebody is going to get traded. it will be interesting to see what does happen. going to be some great competition.

[Kimmi]

I don't see Vaz becoming our backup catcher for the same reason I didn't see Swihart becoming our backup catcher in the pre-Leon days. Both of them are too good to be a backup. Assuming Leon isn't a one-season wonder their best value to the club is as trade bait.

 

Agreed.

[southpaw777]

I don't see Vaz becoming our backup catcher for the same reason I didn't see Swihart becoming our backup catcher in the pre-Leon days. Both of them are too good to be a backup. Assuming Leon isn't a one-season wonder their best value to the club is as trade bait.

 

Swihart isnt too good to be a backup seeing hes not good enough defensively to be a starter yet...maybe one day he will, but his time behind the plate cost this team runs. He wasnt that good yet. Maybe after a year in AAA taking every rep, but I wouldnt throw him behind the plate in Boston as a starter right now. No way.

[moonslav59]

We have a starting catcher, until further notification.

 

Vaz and Swihart are both fine as back-ups without any further development. The problem is, they could both use further development, and they wouldn't really get that as a back-up to the best catcher in MLB.

[Dojji]

I don't see Vaz becoming our backup catcher for the same reason I didn't see Swihart becoming our backup catcher in the pre-Leon days. Both of them are too good to be a backup. Assuming Leon isn't a one-season wonder their best value to the club is as trade bait.

I would be comfortable with Vazquez as a backup-that-can-hit-a-bit. A guy you could give the reins for 3 weeks and be fine, that's a top quality backup. That's always been his floor. They'll try to get his bat going if they can, but even if they can't, Vazquez is a major leaguer for his defense alone.

[oldtimer]

I would be comfortable with Vazquez as a backup-that-can-hit-a-bit. A guy you could give the reins for 3 weeks and be fine, that's a top quality backup. That's always been his floor. They'll try to get his bat going if they can, but even if they can't, Vazquez is a major leaguer for his defense alone.

 

Vazquez is around 26 years old and is a proven defensive catcher. Would he prefer to be in the majors? I can guess the answer to that one. How much more development can be expected from a guy with his experience? Bryan Holaday on the other hand is batting 174 for us so we need an improvement there. Did we bring Holaday in to catch for Pomeranz? It seems like a bad deal to me.

[a700hitter]

I think Vasquez can learn to hit. His contact rate isn't bad, so I think he can improve.

[Dojji]

I would rather have Vazquez in the bigs right now than Holaday. Even if he doesn't hit. And I like Holaday.

[S5Dewey]

Vazquez is around 26 years old and is a proven defensive catcher. Would he prefer to be in the majors? I can guess the answer to that one. How much more development can be expected from a guy with his experience? Bryan Holaday on the other hand is batting 174 for us so we need an improvement there. Did we bring Holaday in to catch for Pomeranz? It seems like a bad deal to me.

 

If Vaz/Holaday is my choice, it's Vaz every day. And can we play double-headers on Sunday?

[Kimmi]

I believe I read that the Sox burned Vazquez' last option this year by sending him down and leaving him there more than 20 days.

 

That will factor into decisions made next year regarding our catchers.