The Blake Swihart Thread

[S5Dewey]

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.

 

I agree with this post. The rub may come when Vaz comes back and Cora has to decide between the better hitter and the better catcher.

[sk7326]

Swihart played 2B in high school ... I am surprised they have not given him some reps there yet.

[mvp 78]

Swihart played 2B in high school ... I am surprised they have not given him some reps there yet.

 

I'd rather him spend 100% of his time working on catching now that Vaz is out.

[sk7326]

I'd rather him spend 100% of his time working on catching now that Vaz is out.

 

Agreed - he has always been their highest ceiling catcher.

[Spudboy]

Swihart played 2B in high school ... I am surprised they have not given him some reps there yet.

 

His mother told me that he played SS and 3rd.

 

And he played catcher "a couple of times in All Star games at the request of scouts".

 

Who says he played 2nd in HS?

[S5Dewey]

His mother told me that he played SS and 3rd.

 

And he played catcher "a couple of times in All Star games at the request of scouts".

 

Who says he played 2nd in HS?

 

Being somewhat familiar with high school players and knowing that most coaches put their best athlete at SS, what I want to know is this: if Swihart played 2b, who was the shortstop!?

[Spudboy]

Being somewhat familiar with high school players and knowing that most coaches put their best athlete at SS, what I want to know is this: if Swihart played 2b, who was the shortstop!?

 

Mom told me that he was primarily a SS.

 

I have no doubt that he could learn to be a 2nd baseman if his ankle is healthy. He has quick feet, speed, quick hands, and a strong arm.

 

But with Vasquez out he will be playing 20-40% of games at catcher, I would think.

 

Who the f*** knows what Cora will do?

[Maxbialystock]

Soon we will start a thread about how Swihart was a pretty good pitcher in middle school and should be available for relief duties now and then, maybe even while he is catching. Would that be cool or what?

 

Me, I'm happy DD and Cora kept Swihart on the active roster as a 3d catcher but not much more. Great decision now paying off.

[oldtimer]

Soon we will start a thread about how Swihart was a pretty good pitcher in middle school and should be available for relief duties now and then, maybe even while he is catching. Would that be cool or what?

 

Me, I'm happy DD and Cora kept Swihart on the active roster as a 3d catcher but not much more. Great decision now paying off.

 

Turns out to have been a very good decision.

[Kimmi]

I agree with this post. The rub may come when Vaz comes back and Cora has to decide between the better hitter and the better catcher.

 

I would go with the better catcher. That said, Swihart has not done anything behind the plate yet that makes me think that he's not fully capable.

[FredLynn]

I would go with the better catcher. That said, Swihart has not done anything behind the plate yet that makes me think that he's not fully capable.

 

I would go with the better overall player.

[Bellhorn04]

I would go with the better overall player.

 

Offensive stats of catchers are easy to compare. The defensive side of catching is much harder to compare. None of us are really qualified to do it.

[Kimmi]

I would go with the better overall player.

 

For sure.

 

I was answering in terms of the 2 players being relatively equal. I'd go with the stronger defender over the stronger offense.

[cp176]

Soon we will start a thread about how Swihart was a pretty good pitcher in middle school and should be available for relief duties now and then, maybe even while he is catching. Would that be cool or what?

 

Me, I'm happy DD and Cora kept Swihart on the active roster as a 3d catcher but not much more. Great decision now paying off.

 

As an aside to this, that really is where most high schools had there very best athletes playing - pitcher , then whatever else. Swihart's head must be swimming. this young man has played all over the place. He continues to be just an outstanding athlete - better athlete but not catcher than both Vazquez and Leon. I think this guy still could be a damn good catcher. Give him a chance and leave him alone. No outfield - no third base - no first base - no second base - CATCHER. Let's see what happens.

[S5Dewey]

As an aside to this, that really is where most high schools had there very best athletes playing - pitcher , then whatever else. Swihart's head must be swimming. this young man has played all over the place. He continues to be just an outstanding athlete - better athlete but not catcher than both Vazquez and Leon. I think this guy still could be a damn good catcher. Give him a chance and leave him alone. No outfield - no third base - no first base - no second base - CATCHER. Let's see what happens.

 

I'm good with that approach, and this may be the best time to do it while Vaz is out. It's make or break time for Swihart.

 

And BTW, I agree that most high school coaches will use their best athlete as a pitcher. I was referring in a previous post to the position they play when they aren't pitching.

 

[Although my point may be a bit passe now as the governing body of athletics in this (our) state now "strongly encourages" coaches to not use their pitchers as catchers on days when they're not pitching due to the repeated throws. They're also suggesting that it may also hurt a pitcher's arm by playing on the left side of the infield. Some coaches abide by this and some don't.]

[Spudboy]

Offensive stats of catchers are easy to compare. The defensive side of catching is much harder to compare. None of us are really qualified to do it.

 

Oh my f***ing Gawd you did not just say that!

 

Here I was laboring under the notion that we had at least one expert on framing, blocking, handling pitchers , and dealing with base runners.

 

I am so disappoint.

[Spudboy]

I'm good with that approach, and this may be the best time to do it while Vaz is out. It's make or break time for Swihart.

 

And BTW, I agree that most high school coaches will use their best athlete as a pitcher. I was referring in a previous post to the position they play when they aren't pitching.

 

[Although my point may be a bit passe now as the governing body of athletics in this (our) state now "strongly encourages" coaches to not use their pitchers as catchers on days when they're not pitching due to the repeated throws. They're also suggesting that it may also hurt a pitcher's arm by playing on the left side of the infield. Some coaches abide by this and some don't.]

 

This sound like a very good idea.

 

A 15-18 year old body is far from mature. Too much repetition on all that young tissue can and does do harm.

[S5Dewey]

This sound like a very good idea.

 

A 15-18 year old body is far from mature. Too much repetition on all that young tissue can and does do harm.

 

This state also instituted a pitch count for high school pitchers three (IIRC) years ago. In the past a pitcher's eligibility was determined by how many innings he'd pitched over the previous days but it got changed to a pitch count after a coach had a 17 year old pitcher throw 162 pitches in the State Championship game. No, that's not a typo. 162.

[Spudboy]

This state also instituted a pitch count for high school pitchers three (IIRC) years ago. In the past a pitcher's eligibility was determined by how many innings he'd pitched over the previous days but it got changed to a pitch count after a coach had a 17 year old pitcher throw 162 pitches in the State Championship game. No, that's not a typo. 162.

 

That's a coach I would not want my child playing for.

[Slasher9]

I have Manny pitching, catching, and playing 3b. he gets November, December, and January off tho.

[illinoisredsox]

This state also instituted a pitch count for high school pitchers three (IIRC) years ago. In the past a pitcher's eligibility was determined by how many innings he'd pitched over the previous days but it got changed to a pitch count after a coach had a 17 year old pitcher throw 162 pitches in the State Championship game. No, that's not a typo. 162.

 

Pitch counts make so much more sense than innings. You can throw 40 pitches in 1 inning or that could be 3-4 innings work.

[cp176]

This state also instituted a pitch count for high school pitchers three (IIRC) years ago. In the past a pitcher's eligibility was determined by how many innings he'd pitched over the previous days but it got changed to a pitch count after a coach had a 17 year old pitcher throw 162 pitches in the State Championship game. No, that's not a typo. 162.

 

I think that what we have done here is wonderful. When kids are concerned, someone needs to step up to help them. I still kind of long for the 3 sport athlete and a day when summer was for baseball and not an extra season for everything else.

[notin]

Being somewhat familiar with high school players and knowing that most coaches put their best athlete at SS, what I want to know is this: if Swihart played 2b, who was the shortstop!?

 

According to Wikipedia, Swihart played SS. And catcher. And had a 98mph fastball.

 

I think he played everywhere on that team at once. Like Bugs Bunny against the Gas House Gorillas..

[notin]

This sound like a very good idea.

 

A 15-18 year old body is far from mature. Too much repetition on all that young tissue can and does do harm.

 

... which is why Lucas Giolito had TJ surgery in high school..,

[S5Dewey]

... which is why Lucas Giolito had TJ surgery in high school..,

 

I know. And I'm hearing that he's not the only one. It could be an Urban Legend, but I've heard that some parents are now opting for TJ surgery for their sons because sometimes a pitcher can throw harder after the surgery.

 

Sick.

[Slasher9]

I know. And I'm hearing that he's not the only one. It could be an Urban Legend, but I've heard that some parents are now opting for TJ surgery for their sons because sometimes a pitcher can throw harder after the surgery.

 

Sick.

not an urban legend. this is 100% true.

i'm not gonna do it tho. just gonna keep giving Manny the "cream & clear"....

[mvp 78]

I know. And I'm hearing that he's not the only one. It could be an Urban Legend, but I've heard that some parents are now opting for TJ surgery for their sons because sometimes a pitcher can throw harder after the surgery.

 

Sick.

 

Sick? It's no different than a lot of other elective surgeries people have.

[Bellhorn04]

Sick? It's no different than a lot of other elective surgeries people have.

 

It is kind of sick IMO, as are many of the elective surgeries you're referencing IMO.

[FredLynn]

... which is why Lucas Giolito had TJ surgery in high school..,

 

He had TJ surgery after he was out of HS. But the injury that caused him to need it occurred in HS. It wasn't elective surgery if he wanted to continue to play ball. He got two opinions and both doctors recommended the procedure. No doctor who wants to maintain his license would perform surgery of this nature just to increase the velocity on a man's fastball.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/post/nationals-first-pick-lucas-giolito-to-undergo-tommy-john-surgery/2012/08/23/71683bd0-ed7b-11e1-9ddc-340d5efb1e9c_blog.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.1151d6902ea4

[notin]

He had TJ surgery after he was out of HS. But the injury that caused him to need it occurred in HS. It wasn't elective surgery if he wanted to continue to play ball. He got two opinions and both doctors recommended the procedure. No doctor who wants to maintain his license would perform surgery of this nature just to increase the velocity on a man's fastball.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/post/nationals-first-pick-lucas-giolito-to-undergo-tommy-john-surgery/2012/08/23/71683bd0-ed7b-11e1-9ddc-340d5efb1e9c_blog.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.1151d6902ea4

 

He had the surgery before he was drafted, which happened out of high school.

 

I wasn’t talking about elective surgeries, but rather these 17 and 18yo kids who think they need to challenge the radar gun repeatedly to get a scholarship or signing bonus...