Christian Vazquez

[notin]

I have always believed that men, kids, and dogs are all the same species. Really, what's the difference?

 

Kids aren't afraid of vacuum cleaners...

[S5Dewey]

Kids aren't afraid of vacuum cleaners...

 

Men's toys are more expensive.

[bosoxmal]

I'd rather see Swihart playing every day in Pawtucket than being the backup catcher in Boston. Agree on the move to left field, though, as I'm not sure his bat is or will be good enough to make a positional move worth it and I'd rather see him focusing on becoming a top-flight catcher.

 

I'm thinking he goes in a trade for a pitcher this summer regardless, though.

 

He'll never be a top flight catcher. In fact I don't thing he wass A catcher until genius in the organization decided he should be! He's been jerked around enough. He looked pretty damned good in LF (while he was in there)

[moonslav59]

He'll never be a top flight catcher. In fact I don't thing he wass A catcher until genius in the organization decided he should be! He's been jerked around enough. He looked pretty damned good in LF (while he was in there)

 

He became a catcher in his junior year in college.

 

He was a pitcher before that.

[moonslav59]

This from MLBTR...

 

Blake Swihart's Catching Future

By Mark Polishuk | February 4, 2017 at 11:52am CDT

 

Blake Swihart’s eventual role with the Red Sox could be serving a multi-positional threat who can catch 90 games while also contributing at first, third, DH and the outfield, Peter Gammons writes in his latest piece at GammonsDaily.com. Boston moved Swihart to left field last season due to defensive issues behind the plate, though Swihart is intent on carving out a niche for himself as a catcher. Since Sandy Leon and Christian Vazquez both have their own question marks, Swihart could still emerge as a catching option for the Sox in 2017. As Gammons and Sox bullpen coach Dana LeVangie both mention, Swihart doesn’t have all that much actual catching experience in his career, and got precious little time as a catcher last year due to the position switch and the ankle injury that shortened his season.

[Kimmi]

This from MLBTR...

 

Blake Swihart's Catching Future

By Mark Polishuk | February 4, 2017 at 11:52am CDT

 

Blake Swihart’s eventual role with the Red Sox could be serving a multi-positional threat who can catch 90 games while also contributing at first, third, DH and the outfield, Peter Gammons writes in his latest piece at GammonsDaily.com. Boston moved Swihart to left field last season due to defensive issues behind the plate, though Swihart is intent on carving out a niche for himself as a catcher. Since Sandy Leon and Christian Vazquez both have their own question marks, Swihart could still emerge as a catching option for the Sox in 2017. As Gammons and Sox bullpen coach Dana LeVangie both mention, Swihart doesn’t have all that much actual catching experience in his career, and got precious little time as a catcher last year due to the position switch and the ankle injury that shortened his season.

 

Varitek recently stated that he thinks Swihart could be a very good catcher. He reminded the team that his development will take time and not to panic. The team needs more guys like Varitek making the decisions.

 

If they want Swihart to succeed as a catcher. put him behind the plate and leave him there.

[Dojji]

Annnd then we all remembered that the team made the same noises about Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

 

They are not going to come out and say "we doubt this kid's future as a catcher" even if they doubt this kid's future as a catcher. He's a potential trade asset that they have no intention of deliberately devaluing, why would they? These puff pieces say less than nothing.

[Fisk]

What says something is the Red Sox have held onto him, after trading so many prospects they kept him. It has also been reported that he has been in demand this offseason.

[notin]

What says something is the Red Sox have held onto him, after trading so many prospects they kept him. It has also been reported that he has been in demand this offseason.

 

If he's a Sox prospect that's in demand and still with the team, they clearly want him as part of the future. The Sox didn't unload all those lower level guys like Basabe and Dubon when Swihart would have worked just as well, unless they liked Swihart.

 

And for those who think his defense won't cut it, wake up. The Sox are being run by a man who once moved Miguel Cabrera back to third base in order to accomodate Victor Martinez at DH (while Martinez was already out for the year, no less).

 

The only "defense" Dombrowski cares about is the one Sox batters hit da ball over...

[Dojji]

Which perfectly explains why Swihart was hustled out of the catcher's role last year in favor of defense first guys.

 

Oh wait. It absolutely doesn't.

 

Remember this is also the guy who went out and got Gerald Laird, who was definitely a defense first guy, in order to augment his team and try to get it over the top in the middle of Detroit's peak seasons and bridge to Alex Avila, their young all-rounder.

Edited February 5, 2017 by Dojji

[Fisk]

The sox had a need in left field at the time and with his athleticism it became an easy transition. All along they said they were moving him back to catcher.

[S5Dewey]

If he's a Sox prospect that's in demand and still with the team, they clearly want him as part of the future. The Sox didn't unload all those lower level guys like Basabe and Dubon when Swihart would have worked just as well, unless they liked Swihart.

 

And for those who think his defense won't cut it, wake up. The Sox are being run by a man who once moved Miguel Cabrera back to third base in order to accomodate Victor Martinez at DH (while Martinez was already out for the year, no less).

 

The only "defense" Dombrowski cares about is the one Sox batters hit da ball over...

 

Isn't this the same Dombrowski who traded for Iggy when Iggy's best stock in trade was his defense? And the same Dombrowski who tried to lure JBJ away from Boston when fans here were saying that he was nothing more than an adequate platoon player because he couldn't hit?

 

It's DD's focus on up-the-middle defense that makes me like him!

[Spudboy]

The sox had a need in left field at the time and with his athleticism it became an easy transition. All along they said they were moving him back to catcher.

 

Yup. People have a short and convenient memory.

[notin]

Which perfectly explains why Swihart was hustled out of the catcher's role last year in favor of defense first guys.

 

Oh wait. It absolutely doesn't.

 

Remember this is also the guy who went out and got Gerald Laird, who was definitely a defense first guy, in order to augment his team and try to get it over the top in the middle of Detroit's peak seasons and bridge to Alex Avila, their young all-rounder.

 

His use of Laird as a one season stopgap doesn't convince me of his commitment to defense. And his use of Swihart last year over the temps in LF just confirms this..

[notin]

Isn't this the same Dombrowski who traded for Iggy when Iggy's best stock in trade was his defense? And the same Dombrowski who tried to lure JBJ away from Boston when fans here were saying that he was nothing more than an adequate platoon player because he couldn't hit?

 

It's DD's focus on up-the-middle defense that makes me like him!

 

His trade for Iglesias probably never happens if Peralta, who can hit a little, doesn't test positive foe PEDs

[Kimmi]

Annnd then we all remembered that the team made the same noises about Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

 

They are not going to come out and say "we doubt this kid's future as a catcher" even if they doubt this kid's future as a catcher. He's a potential trade asset that they have no intention of deliberately devaluing, why would they? These puff pieces say less than nothing.

 

Fair enough that the team is not going advertise any doubts they have about Swihart.

 

That said, I don't remember what specific 'noises' were made about Saltalamacchia, but I believe his defense was always in question. That's not the case with Swihart's defense. Swihart was projected to be an above average defensive catcher. The only knocks against him so far is that he doesn't measure up to Vazquez' reputation of being elite defensively and that he hasn't been given the time and opportunity to develop behind the plate.

[Kimmi]

If he's a Sox prospect that's in demand and still with the team, they clearly want him as part of the future. The Sox didn't unload all those lower level guys like Basabe and Dubon when Swihart would have worked just as well, unless they liked Swihart.

 

And for those who think his defense won't cut it, wake up. The Sox are being run by a man who once moved Miguel Cabrera back to third base in order to accomodate Victor Martinez at DH (while Martinez was already out for the year, no less).

 

The only "defense" Dombrowski cares about is the one Sox batters hit da ball over...

 

I think Dombrowski cares about defense, but I think he's willing to sacrifice defense if it means keeping an offensive 'juggernaut' in the game.

 

Dombrowski seems really high on Swihart. It's possible that we have not heard much about Vazquez because he has indeed fallen out of favor with the FO, not because of something he did, but because Swihart is Dombrowski's catcher of choice.

[moonslav59]

One good thing we have left over after this wild'n'crazy winter are these 4 bright spots currently not projected to be on our 25 man roster:

 

Swihart

 

Devers

 

Groome

 

Travis

 

Our highest need areas in the next 2-3 years project to be:

 

3B

 

1B/DH

 

P

 

C

 

Matches up pretty well.

[Fisk]

Yes a lot of people have forgotten about Swihart as an up coming big part of our future, but not considered a prospect in reality still a prospect. Last year I would have put him in the same class as a Betts and Boegarts.

[S5Dewey]

His trade for Iglesias probably never happens if Peralta, who can hit a little, doesn't test positive foe PEDs

 

True enough, but Peralta did test positive and DD went looking for a SS. He then thought enough of Iggy's defense @ SS that he left Iggy there and moved Peralta - who had been the regular SS before the positive test - into the OF when Peralta came back for the playoffs.

[notin]

True enough, but Peralta did test positive and DD went looking for a SS. He then thought enough of Iggy's defense @ SS that he left Iggy there and moved Peralta - who had been the regular SS before the positive test - into the OF when Peralta came back for the playoffs.

 

Or he thought that little of Andy Dirks offense that Dombrowski figured he needed to get him out of the lineup. I wouldn't blame him there. I'd take Iglesias' glove over Dirks' bat any day. But that doesn't mean defense was the primary factor in that decision. (Not to mention, technically it was Leyland putting Peralta in left and Iglesias at short, and not Dombrowski. )

[harmony]

Yes a lot of people have forgotten about Swihart as an up coming big part of our future, but not considered a prospect in reality still a prospect. Last year I would have put him in the same class as a Betts and Boegarts.

ZiPS projects a 2017 WAR of a negative 0.1 in 342 plate appearances for Blake Swihart in his age 25 season:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2017-zips-projections-boston-red-sox/

 

FanGraphs Depth Charts and Steamer project Swihart with 2017 WAR of 0.2 and 0.1, respectively, in only 16 games:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2017-zips-projections-boston-red-sox/

 

Steamer600, which assumes 450 plate appearances for most catchers but 600 plate appearances for Swihart, projects Swihart with a 2017 WAR of 1.4:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/projections.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&type=steamer600&team=3&lg=all&players=

 

In his age 25 season, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, another switch-hitting catcher once ranked a Top 18 prospect, posted an WAR of 0.1 in 12 games:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=5557&position=C

 

Swihart may be the second coming of Saltalamacchia ... or not.

[Fisk]

ZiPS projects a 2017 WAR of a negative 0.1 in 342 plate appearances for Blake Swihart in his age 25 season:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2017-zips-projections-boston-red-sox/

 

FanGraphs Depth Charts and Steamer project Swihart with 2017 WAR of 0.2 and 0.1, respectively, in only 16 games:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2017-zips-projections-boston-red-sox/

 

Steamer600, which assumes 450 plate appearances for most catchers but 600 plate appearances for Swihart, projects Swihart with a 2017 WAR of 1.4:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/projections.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&type=steamer600&team=3&lg=all&players=

 

In his age 25 season, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, another switch-hitting catcher once ranked a Top 18 prospect, posted an WAR of 0.1 in 12 games:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=5557&position=C

 

Swihart may be the second coming of Saltalamacchia ... or not.

 

I trust the sox evaluation and their refusal to trade him this offseason. He also has proved he can hit already. My guess is you have never seen him play.

[Fisk]

The comparison to Salty is weak, totally different players. Swihart has that pure line drive swing. Salty was all or nothing.

[Bellhorn04]

Swihart is simply an unknown quantity. This is his year to show us what he has.

[cp176]

Swihart is simply an unknown quantity. This is his year to show us what he has.

 

Agree - I actually think that both Vazquez and Swihart are unknown quantities. Leon certainly is no sure thing but we at least have an idea of what we might have. If Swihart is ever going to catch at the major league level, he needs to prove that he can catch better! that shouldn't happen in Boston. If Vazquez is ever going to start behind the plate in Boston, he needs to prove that he is a better overall catcher than Leon. No small task. I get what all of the projections say about both Swihart and Vazquez but to date they haven't reached those lofty projections. Sticking either one of them behind the plate in Boston and letting them learn as you go wouldn't be a very smart thing for this franchise to do in my opinion. For these two guys we should find out this year (if you will pardon the expression) whether or not the bear shits in the buckwheat! Time for these boys to get it done.

[moonslav59]

The comparison to Salty is weak, totally different players. Swihart has that pure line drive swing. Salty was all or nothing.

 

Salty was also poor at throwing out base runners. Swihart is not.

 

The only thing I see in common is questionable defensive skills.

[moonslav59]

Agree - I actually think that both Vazquez and Swihart are unknown quantities. Leon certainly is no sure thing but we at least have an idea of what we might have. If Swihart is ever going to catch at the major league level, he needs to prove that he can catch better! that shouldn't happen in Boston. If Vazquez is ever going to start behind the plate in Boston, he needs to prove that he is a better overall catcher than Leon. No small task. I get what all of the projections say about both Swihart and Vazquez but to date they haven't reached those lofty projections. Sticking either one of them behind the plate in Boston and letting them learn as you go wouldn't be a very smart thing for this franchise to do in my opinion. For these two guys we should find out this year (if you will pardon the expression) whether or not the bear shits in the buckwheat! Time for these boys to get it done.

 

Catchers are notoriously hard to project accurately.

 

There is also a significant subgroup of good catchers who don't really become "good" until they reach 30 and older.

 

We have three question mark catchers, but they all have significant promise. Flipping a coin three times to try to get one heads is not bad odds.

 

I'd say we have a 50-50 chance two end up being plus catchers overall (and I count how a catcher handles the staff).

[harmony]

I trust the sox evaluation and their refusal to trade him this offseason. He also has proved he can hit already. My guess is you have never seen him play.

ZiPS projects Blake Swihart, who has a career OPS+ of 90, with a 2017 OPS+ of 80:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2017-zips-projections-boston-red-sox/

 

FanGraphs Depth Charts and Steamer each project Swihart, who has a career wRC+ of 92, with 2017 wRC+ of 87:

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=13176&position=C

[harmony]

The comparison to Salty is weak, totally different players. Swihart has that pure line drive swing. Salty was all or nothing.

 

From a 2007 Baseball America scouting report on Jarrod Saltalamacchia:

 

Strengths: Saltalamacchia's calling card is his ability to hit and drive the ball from both sides of the plate. He has one of the sweetest swings in the game from the left side, displaying a natural loft that should produce solid home run numbers.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2007/263051.html