Christian Vazquez breaks finger, headed for DL

[Spudboy]

My thinking is about the same. The best thing that can happen for him is that he does well over the next few weeks and some other team notices and gives him a chance.

 

Given the lack of opportunity to play full time in Boston I agree.

[Spudboy]

Why do you go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on about Swihart?

 

Maybe because he is still and very good athlete and has shown promise at the plate and blazing speed on the base paths.

 

Maybe because he has had his career derailed through no fault of his own.

[a700hitter]

Maybe because he is still and very good athlete and has shown promise at the plate and blazing speed on the base paths.

 

Maybe because he has had his career derailed through no fault of his own.

I think that most teams would have cut bait with Swihart already, but the organization likes him. I was talking to my Fenway ticket host and he was telling me after Hanley was released that they love Swihart’s athleticism and think he will succeed. No one has an answer as to what his future role will be.

[vegasbob]

Cora said in an interview that his team "sucks" at sliding and they would need to work on it.

 

Very true , just watch Devers tumble into bases or get caught off them. Bogaerts often misses also.

[Kimmi]

Like or dislike Vaz, even be neutral about Vaz. At this point, anything that rocks the boat is not good in my mind. Keep the good times rolling.

 

I agree. I really don't like losing one of our catching tandem.

 

I posted a while back that I would let Swihart catch Sale. Sale is the guy that seems least likely to be affected by any shortcomings Swihart might have behind the plate.

 

Either that or let Swihart catch Price. It can't get any worse than his last two starts, right? Maybe it will even have a reverse effect on Price.

[cp176]

and Oldtimer was right - 6 to 8 before we get to see Vazquez again. He clearly does not heal any faster than you do! lol

[cp176]

I agree. I really don't like losing one of our catching tandem.

 

I posted a while back that I would let Swihart catch Sale. Sale is the guy that seems least likely to be affected by any shortcomings Swihart might have behind the plate.

 

Either that or let Swihart catch Price. It can't get any worse than his last two starts, right? Maybe it will even have a reverse effect on Price.

 

Sale would be the only one I would not let him catch. One of the very best pitchers in the game deserves the best we have to offer. I'm pulling for Swihart but I'm thinking that he might not be the best.

[FredLynn]

and Oldtimer was right - 6 to 8 before we get to see Vazquez again. He clearly does not heal any faster than you do! lol

 

Seems the injury is worse than I originally thought....six to eight weeks is correct. Given that situation I would be looking for a backup catcher.

 

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24050455/red-sox-say-christian-vazquez-finger-surgery-expected-miss-6-8-weeks

[mvp 78]

They already have Swihart.

[cp176]

Seems the injury is worse than I originally thought....six to eight weeks is correct. Given that situation I would be looking for a backup catcher.

 

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24050455/red-sox-say-christian-vazquez-finger-surgery-expected-miss-6-8-weeks

 

Not me, I think they have their man in Swihart. Now if the question is could the catching we have be upgraded at some point - yup I think it could be.

[Hitch]

This is why keeping Swilhart was always on the agenda. Cheap. An okay back up (at the moment) but with the possibility of adding something offensively to the team. It's always made sense to keep him if we could.

 

I still have a lot of faith in the kid. I'm hoping he will grab this opportunity and run with it.

[cp176]

This is why keeping Swilhart was always on the agenda. Cheap. An okay back up (at the moment) but with the possibility of adding something offensively to the team. It's always made sense to keep him if we could.

 

I still have a lot of faith in the kid. I'm hoping he will grab this opportunity and run with it.

 

Good post Hitch - i think there are quite a few of us who are really pulling for this kid!

[Emp9]

I think that most teams would have cut bait with Swihart already, but the organization likes him. I was talking to my Fenway ticket host and he was telling me after Hanley was released that they love Swihart’s athleticism and think he will succeed. No one has an answer as to what his future role will be.

 

Only because he was out of options... maybe? I don’t over-value Swihart. But I also don’t over-value the 25th roster spot. I think that’s where my divide has been on the subject. I felt, not just posters on here, but many writers & bloggers and podcasters really hated or felt confused as to why Swihart was taking up the last roster spot at all. Way too much drama about the last spot on the team, for me anyway.

[Spudboy]

They already have Swihart.

 

That's right, of course.

 

And Butler is a 45 minute ride away.

 

Why spend money and chips unnecessarily for 3+ months rental when money and chips are tight?

 

If Swihart sucks donkey dicks hard that is another matter.

 

Both Sox primary catchers were sub-Mendoza for a few months this season. The Sox kept motoring on despite their futility.

[a700hitter]

Only because he was out of options... maybe? I don’t over-value Swihart. But I also don’t over-value the 25th roster spot. I think that’s where my divide has been on the subject. I felt, not just posters on here, but many writers & bloggers and podcasters really hated or felt confused as to why Swihart was taking up the last roster spot at all. Way too much drama about the last spot on the team, for me anyway.

The only reason why the 25th spot carries any importance, because benches are very short in today's game.

[Emp9]

The only reason why the 25th spot carries any importance, because benches are very short in today's game.

 

I seem to remember a lot of players over the years that were the same or worse talent-wise, utilized or not, on the active roster at some point in time. I’ve also forgetten more players like this than I remember as well. To me there’s always been enough talent there to justify keeping Swihart on, considering he was one of our better prospects and got rushed and then got hurt. I guess we could’ve upgraded our bench this season, in both name and/or salary with his spot. There’s no guarantee Cora gives said player any more playing time than he’s given Swihart either though.

 

IDK... IMO, a lot of gnashing of teeth over, as one podcaster actually put it, The Swihart “Situation” and how they needed to “solve” the “Situation” and quick . {rolls eyes} Really? Give me a break. What was the hurry?

 

I’m a Celtics fan too, but I don’t recall staying up nights worrying over Shane Larkins’ playing time. Jesus christ ... these kinda things usually sort themselves out.

[Maxbialystock]

Pretty good discussion on Swihart. As it turns out, hanging onto him was a good idea if he can fill in for Vazquez. I think he can do all the physical stuff, but the concern has to be how much confidence the pitchers have in him. He has been on the active 25 man roster for over half a season and has caught one game and smidgens of maybe a couple more. He has spent more innings at DH than at catcher. Of course, every other MLB only carries two catchers, so it should not surprise too much that Swihart hasn't been used because Vazquez and Leon have both been healthy.

 

Maybe it just boils down to how many games Leon can catch. 4 of 5 would be ideal but probably wear him out. 3 of 5 would be easy for Leon but possibly expose Swihart--or not.

Edited July 10, 2018 by Maxbialystock

[Emp9]

Yeah. 1 of 5 for Swi to start, then eventually 2 of 5 I would guess. We’ve been getting some big leads lately. Maybe give Leon some late inning rest if at all possible if the runs keep coming. As long it’s not a complete shitshow. I expect Vaz to be a good teammate, get in his ear and help communicate some do’s & don’ts when he can.

[S5Dewey]

Pretty good discussion on Swihart. As it turns out, hanging onto him was a good idea if he can fill in for Vazquez. I think he can do all the physical stuff, but the concern has to be how much confidence the pitchers have in him. He has been on the active 25 man roster for over half a season and has caught one game and smidgens of maybe a couple more. He has spent more innings at DH than at catcher. Of course, every other MLB only carries two catchers, so it should not surprise too much that Swihart hasn't been used because Vazquez and Leon have both been healthy.

 

Maybe it just boils down to how many games Leon can catch. 4 of 5 would be ideal but probably wear him out. 3 of 5 would be easy for Leon but possibly expose Swihart--or not.

 

The logical question right now is "Where would we be without Swihart?" Would we be trading for another catcher using our already depleted farm system or would we be calling up Dan Butler, who was released by the Sox last year and had no other clubs wanting to sign him? Or maybe Oscar Hernandez, who's caught exactly 22 games in MLB, the last one being in 2016?

 

The FO's preparing for this eventuality is exactly why Swihart has been kept on the roster. Let's see what he can do now before we break out the tar and feathers and ride him out of town on a rail. It may be a bad idea but right now it's the best bad idea we've got.

[jung]

Its clear that the Sox are almost treating this as an emergency catcher. Does it at all appear that they are working Swi into some sort of rotation behind the plate? NO

Does it look like they are confident that he would pull off even a light rotation? NO

However, do we think Sandy can suddenly jump in and handle what Vaz was handling? NO

 

The Sox are going to get by with this unless the league suddenly turns into a league chock full of sold teams... That is not going to happen.

 

The real beneficiary here could be Swi himself though I doubt it. He is going to be tossed into a circumstance not much different than the one he has faced all year with the Sox only now with more visibility. Swi's LH swing has fallen into complete disrepair for one thing and his RH swing has never been a thing of beauty.

 

I have one qualifier. the Sox will get away with this as long as the pitchers don't throw up on their shoelaces, a distinct possibility.

Edited July 10, 2018 by jung

[cp176]

Its clear that the Sox are almost treating this as an emergency catcher. Does it at all appear that they are working Swi into some sort of rotation behind the plate? NO

Does it look like they are confident that he would pull off even a light rotation? NO

However, do we think Sandy can suddenly jump in and handle what Vaz was handling? NO

 

The Sox are going to get by with this unless the league suddenly turns into a league chock full of sold teams... That is not going to happen.

 

The real beneficiary here could be Swi himself though I doubt it. He is going to be tossed into a circumstance not much different than the one he has faced all year with the Sox only now with more visibility. Swi's LH swing has fallen into complete disrepair for one thing and his RH swing has never been a thing of beauty.

 

I have one qualifier. the Sox will get away with this as long as the pitchers don't throw up on their shoelaces, a distinct possibility.

 

Sandy Leon is a very competent catcher. He is as good as Vazquez. I believe he is very capable of doing the job with a few days off here and there.

[Hitch]

The logical question right now is "Where would we be without Swihart?" Would we be trading for another catcher using our already depleted farm system or would we be calling up Dan Butler, who was released by the Sox last year and had no other clubs wanting to sign him? Or maybe Oscar Hernandez, who's caught exactly 22 games in MLB, the last one being in 2016?

 

The FO's preparing for this eventuality is exactly why Swihart has been kept on the roster. Let's see what he can do now before we break out the tar and feathers and ride him out of town on a rail. It may be a bad idea but right now it's the best bad idea we've got.

 

Yup. All of this.

[mvp 78]

Swihart will be given a long enough rope to hang himself on. If they have to get another catcher, I think they do a low key deal for a glove first backup.

[jung]

Sandy Leon is a very competent catcher. He is as good as Vazquez. I believe he is very capable of doing the job with a few days off here and there.

 

He is a very competent catcher. Its the work load that will be an issue for him. He was not getting half the load to this point in the season and won't stand up to a big increase in playing time. But in truth the league is such a mess, that as long as the pitchers don't revolt this is likely a period the Sox can get through.

 

But that actually brings into question this opinion that "this" is why they hung onto Swihart. They could have found somebody to do this job and Swi has on more than one occasion this season caused Cora to have to juggle players because he did not have a player to slot into a spot where he needed him. Either they had to go with one less pitcher or have somebody more capable as the 25th man on the bench.

 

You could make the argument either way and it still takes you back to the same place. The Sox can get away with this because the league is a mess. Actually the entirety of MLB is a mess. "Parity" or at least MLB's insane efforts to compel parity have been a complete failure and has contributed mightily to what is now an utter s*** show of guys that are too broken down but still playing, guys that are too young but forced up in an effort to create some sizzle where none actually is and players that are just flat not MLB quality no matter how young or old they are surrounding a core of stars that is as good as the league's core stars ever were.

 

But the bulk of players playing MLB is not and never were stars and it is everything outside the stars of baseball that has gone to utter s*** most evidenced by the pitching which is now abysmal. So the Sox themselves are the only thing that might prevent them from getting away with this. Outside of themselves, who in baseball is to stop them, the other 3-4 teams in the league that are actually worth a darn???? I don't think so. The Red Sox pitchers are the whole story regarding this situation.

[notin]

Swihart will be given a long enough rope to hang himself on. If they have to get another catcher, I think they do a low key deal for a glove first backup.

 

Bryan Holaday reunion?

 

I could also see the Sox moving on Jeff Mathis or Raffy Lopez or Dombrowski draftee Alex Avila...

[notin]

The logical question right now is "Where would we be without Swihart?" Would we be trading for another catcher using our already depleted farm system or would we be calling up Dan Butler, who was released by the Sox last year and had no other clubs wanting to sign him? Or maybe Oscar Hernandez, who's caught exactly 22 games in MLB, the last one being in 2016?

 

The FO's preparing for this eventuality is exactly why Swihart has been kept on the roster. Let's see what he can do now before we break out the tar and feathers and ride him out of town on a rail. It may be a bad idea but right now it's the best bad idea we've got.

 

It didn't look that way to me. If they got an offer they liked for Swihart 6 weeks ago, he'd be gone. It looked like they only kept him around because they feared losing him for nothing.

 

If the Sox do think they need a BUC, they will not have trouble finding one. Those guys go from team to team as if they were the punters of MLB...

[cp176]

I basically agree with your whole post here though I do think that Leon is likely capable of handling 60 to 80 % of the load going forward. I suppose the Sox might have been keeping Swihart on the 25 man in a sort of planning ahead if something unfortunate were to happen kind of way. My guess though would be that they really wanted and probably still want to find out if he is really worth hanging onto going forward. With respect to ml baseball in general, the overall level of play sort of stinks. I'm really happy that we are one of the few have teams at this time. We are going to find out about Swihart pretty soon for sure.

[S5Dewey]

It didn't look that way to me. If they got an offer they liked for Swihart 6 weeks ago, he'd be gone. It looked like they only kept him around because they feared losing him for nothing.

 

If the Sox do think they need a BUC, they will not have trouble finding one. Those guys go from team to team as if they were the punters of MLB...

 

Anything can be sold if the price is right. In this case if the Sox got offers for Swihart they didn't think that what they would get outweighed what they thought he is worth - which is interesting because some posters here felt he was essentially worthless. The only position he's ever played semi-successfully is catcher. It's my opinion that the FO saw him as insurance against exactly what happened and his worth to the team in that capacity outweighed the value of the offers they got.

[FredLynn]

I basically agree with your whole post here though I do think that Leon is likely capable of handling 60 to 80 % of the load going forward. I suppose the Sox might have been keeping Swihart on the 25 man in a sort of planning ahead if something unfortunate were to happen kind of way. My guess though would be that they really wanted and probably still want to find out if he is really worth hanging onto going forward. With respect to ml baseball in general, the overall level of play sort of stinks. I'm really happy that we are one of the few have teams at this time. We are going to find out about Swihart pretty soon for sure.

 

I don't think Leon should be catching more than 3/5 games. The team is in it for the long haul, and asking him to catch 80% of the games is asking for trouble IMO. Time for Swihart to sink or swim....if he can't cut it as catcher we need outside help.

 

What's Mirabelli doing nowadays.....was that him I saw exiting from the cab on Landsdown St?

[oldtimer]

I basically agree with your whole post here though I do think that Leon is likely capable of handling 60 to 80 % of the load going forward. I suppose the Sox might have been keeping Swihart on the 25 man in a sort of planning ahead if something unfortunate were to happen kind of way. My guess though would be that they really wanted and probably still want to find out if he is really worth hanging onto going forward. With respect to ml baseball in general, the overall level of play sort of stinks. I'm really happy that we are one of the few have teams at this time. We are going to find out about Swihart pretty soon for sure.

 

Leon is a veteran catcher with miles on him and is 5'11" and around 230 pounds. Catching in the hot weather is grueling and I suspect he will have to be relegated to 3 days in 5 to keep him in playing condition. One also has to worry about what happens if he gets injured. Catchers are injury prone. Either Swihart is looked upon as a real sub or the Sox need to look for one right now.