Christian Vazquez

[SinceYaz]

Has he ever been injured? I'm sure that poor mechanics can lead to all types of problems, but he appears to have been pretty healthy for the last 5 years or so. For some of these guys, I think that it is just the luck of the draw. You pays your money, you takes your chances.

 

He's note only good on the mound, but apparently good with scissors as well. Hopefully his foray into "design" last summer didn't foretell of future arm troubles.

[cp176]

I know he's only had 25 PAs .... but his .478 BA and .520 OBP sure looks good right now. What I like, in reality, aside from his obvious defensive skills, is the way he is swinging the bat. He shows good control, going with the pitch, going to the opposite field. Signs of maturity that are really enjoyable to see. I like his edgy little beard too. heh

 

I agree

[dustcover]

By the way, it was a little old lady in Brooklyn who wrote to Ryan and recommended brine soaks for his continued blister problem during his early days with the Mets.

[Kimmi]

I enjoyed watching Vazquez behind the plate last night. It might be his time.

 

Maybe he can help Wright 'corral' his knuckleball today.

[cp176]

i hope so. he looks quicker than in the past. i think that his fitness level is excellent. it very well may pay good dividends for him down the trail.

[Kimmi]

i hope so. he looks quicker than in the past. i think that his fitness level is excellent. it very well may pay good dividends for him down the trail.

 

He looks quicker than in the past, meaning last year? He was still recovering from injury last year.

 

In 2014, he looked great.

[cp176]

He looks quicker than in the past, meaning last year? He was still recovering from injury last year.

 

In 2014, he looked great.

 

i do not believe that his surgery retarded his fitness level certainly from an aerobic level at all - certainly shouldn't have. He looks good.

[Jasonbay44]

i hope so. he looks quicker than in the past. i think that his fitness level is excellent. it very well may pay good dividends for him down the trail.

 

I agree with this, he isn't fast by any means, but last year he seemed Ryan Hanigan slow on base paths, this year he seems in better shape.

[SinceYaz]

By the way, it was a little old lady in Brooklyn who wrote to Ryan and recommended brine soaks for his continued blister problem during his early days with the Mets.

 

Really? Interesting, Dusty. I remember the consternation among the Mets concerning this matter. One of my two best friends was from Nanuet, NY and was a die hard Mets fan. My other best friend in Rochester, NH, where I lived, was a better baseball fan than I was, but he had Ryan's Strat-o-matic card and I loved using it. '69 card ... full of k's and bb's! It was fun to bend the rules and let him start. (He did spot start)

[cp176]

Really? Interesting, Dusty. I remember the consternation among the Mets concerning this matter. One of my two best friends was from Nanuet, NY and was a die hard Mets fan. My other best friend in Rochester, NH, where I lived, was a better baseball fan than I was, but he had Ryan's Strat-o-matic card and I loved using it. '69 card ... full of k's and bb's! It was fun to bend the rules and let him start. (He did spot start)

 

so did Dick Radatz for me fellow starto guy. i always felt a little guilty doing it though.

[SoxHop]

Vaz and Leon are backup catchers.........

[a700hitter]

Vaz and Leon are backup catchers.........

You might be right about that.

[Jasonbay44]

Vazquez and Leon have the defensive abilities of a starting catcher, and there is very few catchers in baseball who actually hit decently these days. We'll be fine with them as our catchers.

[SoxHop]

You might be right about that.

 

I thought I'd throw that out there to discuss........... just for the fun of it......

 

and then just as I hit post......... I truelly beleived both of them are just backup catchers........... and the Swihart better get his stuff together soon..

[southpaw777]

Vaz has looked great with the bat. His accuracy has not fully returned it seems with guys running...I hope its not permanent. Either way, hes taken over as the #1 catcher and he earned it. Obviously the bat wont stay at 350, but I believe, just like I said in my original post, that Vaz can be a 280 hitter in MLB. With his great D and work with the pitchers Vaz should remain "The Man" behind he dish in Boston...

[oldtimer]

Vaz has looked great with the bat. His accuracy has not fully returned it seems with guys running...I hope its not permanent. Either way, hes taken over as the #1 catcher and he earned it. Obviously the bat wont stay at 350, but I believe, just like I said in my original post, that Vaz can be a 280 hitter in MLB. With his great D and work with the pitchers Vaz should remain "The Man" behind he dish in Boston...

 

If performance is rewarded, Vaz shoulld remain the #1 catcher but Leon is still a valuable guy to come in and give Vaz a rest, especially against some tough right handers.

[moonslav59]

Our .753 catcher OPS places us 10th in MLB.

 

It's over 70 points better than last year.

 

While many figured Leon would never be able to repeat 2016, they failed to account for a probable improvement from Vaz and an easy chance to improve on Hanigan and Holaday's putrid 2016 offense.

[Dojji]

Don't write off Leon just yet. He's a nonliability with the bat and getting it done with the glove, so he'll keep getting playing time. It's entirely possible he goes on another tear later in the year.

 

We actually have a pretty good situation as catcher, we have 2 guys who can spell each other and keep the tandem fresh. it's not as perfect as having one iron man, like Salvador Perez or Yadi Molina, but it'll do to keep the position from becoming a nightmare at the very least.

[Kimmi]

Don't write off Leon just yet. He's a nonliability with the bat and getting it done with the glove, so he'll keep getting playing time. It's entirely possible he goes on another tear later in the year.

 

We actually have a pretty good situation as catcher, we have 2 guys who can spell each other and keep the tandem fresh. it's not as perfect as having one iron man, like Salvador Perez or Yadi Molina, but it'll do to keep the position from becoming a nightmare at the very least.

 

I agree that we have a pretty good situation at catcher. I am a huge Vazquez fan, which isn't a knock on Leon, but I'm good with a 3-2 catching split going either way.

[moonslav59]

Vaz has almost caught Leon in PAs. He's the hot hand right now, but I suspect Leon will get hot again at some point this year.

Hopefully, Vaz will not slump too badly, but we all know he can't keep up at a .344 BA all year.

 

Leon (109 PA) .235 4 15 (.284/.392/.677)

 

Vaz (102 PA) .344 0 11 (.373/.458/.831)

 

Leon has had some clutch hits this year and still has more RBIs per PA than Vaz.

 

Vaz has been struggling on defense, so far this year. Hopefully, he can get back to where he was before the injury.

 

I'm happy continuing a 50-50 split, at least until one shows he deserves more time.

[SCM33]

Sandy Leon blows.

 

Christian Vasquez should be playing 70% of the time. Sandy Leon is recycled MLB trash.

[moonslav59]

Many catcher take a long time to reach their best. VTek was over 31-32 before he became a top catcher.

 

I'm not proclaiming Leon the next VTek, but he's still young enough to get even better.

[SCM33]

Many catcher take a long time to reach their best. VTek was over 31-32 before he became a top catcher.

 

I'm not proclaiming Leon the next VTek, but he's still young enough to get even better.

 

Varitek was a above average offensive catcher at 26 years old. Varitek went right from college to AA because of a contract dispute (Scott Boras, shocking) that set him back 2-3 years. Varitek was an extremely highly touted collegiate player and was a first round pick.....TWICE!!!!!

 

Leon has sucked since the day he signed a professional contract. You'd have a better chance at offensive success by DH'ing for Leon and letting the pitcher hit.

[moonslav59]

Varitek was a above average offensive catcher at 26 years old. Varitek went right from college to AA because of a contract dispute (Scott Boras, shocking) that set him back 2-3 years. Varitek was an extremely highly touted collegiate player and was a first round pick.....TWICE!!!!!

 

Leon has sucked since the day he signed a professional contract. You'd have a better chance at offensive success by DH'ing for Leon and letting the pitcher hit.

 

VTek played a half season at age 26. Yes, he became a plus hitter early in his career, but he did have two sub .730 seasons in his first 4 full seasons (ages 27-30).

 

Leon had been a horrible hitter for most of his career, including the minors, but he has had a few long hot stretches.

 

It took VTek years to get to plus on defense, while Leon has always been a plus defender behind the plate.

 

The two have almost opposite histories.

[Jasonbay44]

Leon is a great backup catcher.. I have no issues at all with the catcher position right now, there isn't a lot of good hitting catchers out there period.

[moonslav59]

Leon is a great backup catcher.. I have no issues at all with the catcher position right now, there isn't a lot of good hitting catchers out there period.

 

Agreed, but it's more their defense that impresses me.

[Bellhorn04]

Leon has sucked since the day he signed a professional contract. You'd have a better chance at offensive success by DH'ing for Leon and letting the pitcher hit.

 

You're talking crazy, man. Leon has been just fine the last 2 years.

[moonslav59]

You're talking crazy, man. Leon has been just fine the last 2 years.

 

It's not unheard of for catchers to get it all together after age 27-29. There's a lot to learn and improve at the catcher position, and many times hitting takes the back seat.

[cp176]

Leon is just fine. Who is the better catcher? I still think that it is a coin flip. You play the one who is at least a little warm with the bat. We are in pretty good shape with both.

[Maxbialystock]

I gotta go with Kimmi--both are good and a 3-2 split on games, either way, is fine with me. The real point is that it's rare to have two decent catchers with Swihart at Pawtucket.