The Blake Swihart Thread

[FredLynn]

1.034 OPS since July 6th! Only 4 games started though.

 

The other thing that Swihart can do that neither Vasquez nor Leon can do is RUN. How many games will he change the outcome of with speed? We aren't likely to run away with the ALE; a game or two could make the difference between the ALE crown and the WC. Its still very early, but if Swihart proves he is better than Vasquez then I would award him the job based on his performance.

[notin]

The other thing that Swihart can do that neither Vasquez nor Leon can do is RUN. How many games will he change the outcome of with speed? We aren't likely to run away with the ALE; a game or two could make the difference between the ALE crown and the WC. Its still very early, but if Swihart proves he is better than Vasquez then I would award him the job based on his performance.

 

It’s a bit early to start worrying about Swihart’s impact on the depth chart. The numbers about his offense that you like could look a lot less impressive in 10 more at bats.

 

Vazquez is apparently out for a while. So unless Swihart becomes worthwhile trade fodder, we are likely to learn a lot more about him...

[Bellhorn04]

I know its still very early, but what if Swihart continues to prove he can hit the baseball and is at least decent behind the plate? Does he beat out one of our two existing catchers for a job? The two guys we have are good defensively, but neither can hit. I would not rule out Swihart earning a job.

 

Most catchers can't hit. The average OPS for a catcher this year is .678.

 

Leon's .636 OPS is not bad for a backup catcher.

[moonslav59]

Most catchers can't hit. The average OPS for a catcher this year is .678.

 

Leon's .636 OPS is not bad for a backup catcher.

 

Exactly!

 

Leon has hit .677 the last 28 days. (He was at .747 in June.)

[FredLynn]

Most catchers can't hit. The average OPS for a catcher this year is .678.

 

Leon's .636 OPS is not bad for a backup catcher.

 

All I am saying is that WHAT IF Swihart CAN hit and is holding his own behind the plate as well? There is a .350 point difference between him and Leon, approximately, and he can also impact the game with his feet. I am certainly not going to award Swihart Leon's job (or Vasquez's job) based on 10 games, but we will have more information in 3-4 weeks. If Swihart is a much superior offensive force and if he deserves the job because he earned it, if I am Cora I am keeping an open mind about the possibility of delaying Vasquez's return until September when the rosters expand.

[Spudboy]

All I am saying is that WHAT IF Swihart CAN hit and is holding his own behind the plate as well? There is a .350 point difference between him and Leon, approximately, and he can also impact the game with his feet. I am certainly not going to award Swihart Leon's job (or Vasquez's job) based on 10 games, but we will have more information in 3-4 weeks. If Swihart is a much superior offensive force and if he deserves the job because he earned it, if I am Cora I am keeping an open mind about the possibility of delaying Vasquez's return until September when the rosters expand.

 

Almost everybody on this board wants Swihart gone.

 

Of course there are some hypocrites singing his praises now.

 

Predictable.

[moonslav59]

Anybody getting excited about Swihart's recent tiny sample size of doing well is falling into a trap often fallen into by some.

 

He's 9 for his last 23 PAs. That's hardly a large enough sample size to make any determination.

 

Swihart is probably not as bad as he looked over his scattered playing time earlier this year, but he's almost certainly not this good either.

 

That eing said, I could see why we tried to keep him in the system for as long as possible. I was fine with DFA'ing HRam to keep Swi around. I don't think there was any other move we made, where it was clear we should have DFA'd Swihart instead.

[Hitch]

So... likelihood he is still in Boston on August 1?

 

Let's hope so!

[FredLynn]

Anybody getting excited about Swihart's recent tiny sample size of doing well is falling into a trap often fallen into by some.

 

He's 9 for his last 23 PAs. That's hardly a large enough sample size to make any determination.

 

Swihart is probably not as bad as he looked over his scattered playing time earlier this year, but he's almost certainly not this good either.

 

That eing said, I could see why we tried to keep him in the system for as long as possible. I was fine with DFA'ing HRam to keep Swi around. I don't think there was any other move we made, where it was clear we should have DFA'd Swihart instead.

 

No one is claiming that Swihart has enough ABs to draw any conclusions as yet. What I wrote is that if, hypothetically, he still has an OPS of .750-.800 and hasn't embarrassed himself defensively when Vasquez is ready to come back, has he then earned a job? I would submit that he has....hypothetically. Just because "catchers can't hit" doesn't mean HE can't hit. Maybe he can. Maybe not. I for one am not completely happy with the guys we have and if we can improve offensively at catcher without compromising too much the defensive part of the job, why not do it.

[Kimmi]

So... likelihood he is still in Boston on August 1?

 

Definitely more likely than he was about 2 weeks ago. With Vazquez' injury and uncertainty, I think Swihart has to stay.

[Kimmi]

If this continues to be the case, what will happen when Vasquez comes back? There will be no room for him on the bench with Holt, Pearce, Leon, and probably Phillips or some other second baseman.

 

If Vazquez returns before the rosters expand, the Sox will find a way to make it work. Maybe Phillips isn't called up before September? Maybe someone goes on the phantom DL?

[Kimmi]

I know its still very early, but what if Swihart continues to prove he can hit the baseball and is at least decent behind the plate? Does he beat out one of our two existing catchers for a job? The two guys we have are good defensively, but neither can hit. I would not rule out Swihart earning a job.

 

For the remainder of this season? I can't see it. Cora and Dombrowski seem to be really high on the work that Vaz and Leon do behind the plate.

 

I could see that for next year, IF Swihart shows that he is better overall than one of the others.

[Kimmi]

Maybe, but getting another backup catcher is never a struggle...

 

Small sample, but Leon's offense has really struggled since he started catching the majority of games. Not that he was hitting that great to start with, but it seemed like he was on a better roll, until Vazquez got injured.

 

What I like about Vaz and Leon is how well they seem to complement each other as a tandem, with neither one really being a 'backup'.

[dgalehouse]

Whoever gives you the best chance of winning should get most of the starts behind the plate. Up to Cora to determine that. Right now , he clearly favors Leon. It is possible that could change . Swihart still has much to prove. I will say that hanging on to Swihart was the correct decision.

[moonslav59]

Small sample, but Leon's offense has really struggled since he started catching the majority of games. Not that he was hitting that great to start with, but it seemed like he was on a better roll, until Vazquez got injured.

 

What I like about Vaz and Leon is how well they seem to complement each other as a tandem, with neither one really being a 'backup'.

 

Leon is 6 for 34 since Vaz went out. He has 3 BBs.

 

It's a small sample size, but he has not been overworked.

 

1/2 game July 7th

Off day July 10th

4 days off for allstar break (July 16-19)

Off day July 21

 

That's probably more days off than when Vaz was healthy.

[moonslav59]

No one is claiming that Swihart has enough ABs to draw any conclusions as yet. What I wrote is that if, hypothetically, he still has an OPS of .750-.800 and hasn't embarrassed himself defensively when Vasquez is ready to come back, has he then earned a job? I would submit that he has....hypothetically. Just because "catchers can't hit" doesn't mean HE can't hit. Maybe he can. Maybe not. I for one am not completely happy with the guys we have and if we can improve offensively at catcher without compromising too much the defensive part of the job, why not do it.

 

I've never given up hope on Swihart's offense, but he has yet to prove he can hit well in the bigs.

 

I've never been high on his defense, but he's looked okay on defense in his tiny sample size behind the plate.

 

I'm pulling hard for him to show he belongs.

[Slasher9]

Most catchers can't hit. The average OPS for a catcher this year is .678.

 

Leon's .636 OPS is not bad for a backup catcher.

 

They take such a beating both mentally and physically on the defensive side that greatly affects the offensive side...

[Slasher9]

Almost everybody on this board wants Swihart gone.

 

Of course there are some hypocrites singing his praises now.

 

Predictable.

 

Not singing his praises but with the injury to Vaz, Swihart is no longer the dead weight he was for the first 3 months of the season....

[Slasher9]

Definitely more likely than he was about 2 weeks ago. With Vazquez' injury and uncertainty, I think Swihart has to stay.

 

Yup.

[Spudboy]

Not singing his praises but with the injury to Vaz, Swihart is no longer the dead weight he was for the first 3 months of the season....

 

True. And I was not referring to you.

[Slasher9]

True. And I was not referring to you.

 

I think Cora will be giving him more starts behind the plate soon. He will have a chance which I never thought he would this season. It would be awesome if he took off on both sides.

[Spudboy]

I think Cora will be giving him more starts behind the plate soon. He will have a chance which I never thought he would this season. It would be awesome if he took off on both sides.

 

Yes it would be awesome.

 

I just enjoy watching him play and hope he does not s*** himself. He has had one game where he looked stupid. Most of the time he is getting the job done. His hitting will pick-up with consistent at bats, I THINK.

 

Vazquez has that pin in the pinky of his throwing hand. How confident are you that he will recover and be productive by October? Is the pin going to be a problem? Are they planning on removing it before he attempts to return? This is one of those cases where your favorite poster comes in handy.

 

I have seen no weaknesses behind the plate with Swi. We have it on ultimate authority that his "framing" is substandard. Looks okay to me.

 

He has done a fine job blocking s*** in the dirt. Improvement there.

[oldtimer]

I think Cora will be giving him more starts behind the plate soon. He will have a chance which I never thought he would this season. It would be awesome if he took off on both sides.

 

Running Leon out there every day is asking for trouble. Swihart can give him a break now and then and should.

[Kimmi]

Leon is 6 for 34 since Vaz went out. He has 3 BBs.

 

It's a small sample size, but he has not been overworked.

 

1/2 game July 7th

Off day July 10th

4 days off for allstar break (July 16-19)

Off day July 21

 

That's probably more days off than when Vaz was healthy.

 

From May 6, when Leon started improving with the bat, until July 7, the last game before Vaz went on the DL, Leon's slash line was .322/.362/.529/.890. Granted, that was with an unsustainable .414 BABIP.

 

Since Vaz went on the DL, which is July 8, to the present, Leon's slash line is .118/.211/.147/.358. Granted, that is also with an unsustainable .182 BABIP, and both are small sample sizes.

 

The difference in performance might not have anything to do with Leon catching more games so far (he caught 5 days in a row and 7 out of 8 days), but as the season and postseason wear on, it's bound to have an impact.

[Kimmi]

I think Cora will be giving him more starts behind the plate soon. He will have a chance which I never thought he would this season. It would be awesome if he took off on both sides.

 

Agreed.

 

I read this morning that Vazquez is not expected back until September, which answers the roster decision questions.

[oldtimer]

Agreed.

 

I read this morning that Vazquez is not expected back until September, which answers the roster decision questions.

 

It certainly does. With the dog days of August ahead, Swihart will have to give Leon regular rest periods unless somehow we trade for a catcher. I doubt that, so Swihart will get his chances.

[SoxHop]

Watch Swihart kickass and get demoted again.

[S5Dewey]

Watch Swihart kickass and get demoted again.

 

IMO if he starts to kickass someone will go, and it may not be Swihart.

[dgalehouse]

Bottom line is you want your best nine out there. If Swihart can out perform Leon for the next couple of weeks , he should get the majority of the starts.

[dustcover]

I seem to recall that the Sox have always been impressed with Swihart's bat in that he has hit well at every level throughout his minor league career right up until he sustained his injury coming in contact with the wall along Fenway's foul line in left field. The hope is that he can resume the proficiency at the plate that he has displayed throughout his career. Personally, I believe he will. I can envision him hitting in the .275 range and becoming a force in the bottom 3rd of the lineup that to date has been woesome.