The Blake Swihart Thread

[OH FOY]

He played 2nd for Cuba, long time ago. If you can play Swihart at 3rd, no reason not to give him a shot at Pawtucket. Edited July 29, 2018 by OH FOY!

[a700hitter]

I guess we will find out about Swihart.

[OH FOY]

Yep

[dustcover]

Finally, someone paying attention to my prescient managerial observations!

[a700hitter]

Finally, someone paying attention to my prescient managerial observations!

Good call. maybe Cora follows your on Twitter?

[cp176]

Looks like the answer is yes based on he looks today!

[dustcover]

I don't even have a cell phone, and if I did I don't even know how to tweet!

[dustcover]

No sooner did I post the previous tongue-in-cheek thought, than my man Blake makes an outstanding play at the hot corner and starts a double play! And so far he's 2 for 2 at the plate. Way to go Blake!

[OH FOY]

Brooks please, not Blake.

[dustcover]

Things are certainly going well for DD. Pearce acquisition, Eovaldi acquisition, and Swihart success at 3B. Now if Dave could just find a decent tailor and get rid of that atrocious checkered sports jacket!

[Dojji]

No sooner did I post the previous tongue-in-cheek thought, than my man Blake makes an outstanding play at the hot corner and starts a double play! And so far he's 2 for 2 at the plate. Way to go Blake!

 

I honestly hope Swihart sticks around at this point. He's a good utility catcher, and that's valuable. If he can play the corner infield positions and back up behind the plate and hit a little, that's a little too useful to walk away from lightly. I could see him playing a role on a team similar to Matt LeCroy where even if he's not the consensus starter, he manages to make himself useful.

 

I could also see him start to earn a job for himself starting at catcher if he continues to hit. Sandy Leon is a decent starter, but you know what else he'd be? A fantastic David Ross style backup to mentor a guy like Swihart whose biggest weakness is technique, and to caddy some starter who isn't confident throwing to an offensive guy.

 

I was a total Swihart skeptic, mostly because I didn't think he would get a chance due to 2 competent young incumbents ahead of him. He's getting the chance thanks to Vazquez' injury, and he's showing enough that Christian Vazquez had better watch his tailfeathers. Vaz isn't playing so well that he couldn't wind up back in Pawtucket next year if Swihart continues to hit like this. At this point Swihart has to be in consideration to start taking time from Leon as a catcher, if only because Leon hasn't shown the ability to be a fulltime starter and Swihart is showing progress.

 

Worth mentioning as well, that a lot of catchers who wound up being very good at their jobs, only came into their own at about the age Swihart is now, including Jason Varitek, Jorge Posada and all of the Flying Molina Brothers. Swihart has gone from the outside looking in to possibly solidifying himself as the team's second catcher, and he has plenty of opportunity for the rest of this season (by the time Vazquez is back in the lineup, we'll probably have expanded rosters to make room for all 3 catchers) to prove that this run of success is the real deal. Obviously I wish him the best of luck. If he succeeds this team just got enormously better, going from a satisfactory tandem at the most key position in baseball to possibly even an elite one.

 

If Swihart can just get to the level offensively that he's already shown us he's capable of, roughly equalling his 2015 numbers, combined with the notable improvement in his defense, he's probably the best catcher on the team. If he can get his offense up into the .700-.750 range and hit a few over the wall, then he's already the best starting catcher we've had in awhile. That's very achievable with a bit of luck given the man's skillset.

Edited July 29, 2018 by Dojji

[Spudboy]

Things are certainly going well for DD. Pearce acquisition, Eovaldi acquisition, and Swihart success at 3B. Now if Dave could just find a decent tailor and get rid of that atrocious checkered sports jacket!

 

He does look like a used car sales manager.

[Dojji]

Oh and for the record, after an abysmal start to his season he's actually pretty close to reaching the benchmark I just set him.

 

Since June 1, Swihart is hitting .259/.317/.362/.680, which actually makes him our best offensive option at catcher. If he can get his batting average up into the .270 range and bring his OBP over the .330 mark for the rest of the year, and he's already shown us he's at least theoretically capable of that, the overall offensive package is going to be quite nice and he's going to be able to make a case to fight Leon for starts and keep earning field time

Edited July 29, 2018 by Dojji

[OH FOY]

I honestly hope Swihart sticks around at this point. He's a good utility catcher, and that's valuable. If he can play the corner infield positions and back up behind the plate and hit a little, that's a little too useful to walk away from lightly. I could see him playing a role on a team similar to Matt LeCroy where even if he's not the consensus starter, he manages to make himself useful.

 

I could also see him start to earn a job for himself starting at catcher if he continues to hit. Sandy Leon is a decent starter, but you know what else he'd be? A fantastic David Ross style backup to mentor a guy like Swihart whose biggest weakness is technique, and to caddy some starter who isn't confident throwing to an offensive guy.

 

I was a total Swihart skeptic, mostly because I didn't think he would get a chance due to 2 competent young incumbents ahead of him. He's getting the chance thanks to Vazquez' injury, and he's showing enough that Christian Vazquez had better watch his tailfeathers. Vaz isn't playing so well that he couldn't wind up back in Pawtucket next year if Swihart continues to hit like this. At this point Swihart has to be in consideration to start taking time from Leon as a catcher, if only because Leon hasn't shown the ability to be a fulltime starter and Swihart is showing progress.

 

Worth mentioning as well, that a lot of catchers who wound up being very good at their jobs, only came into their own at about the age Swihart is now, including Jason Varitek, Jorge Posada and all of the Flying Molina Brothers. Swihart has gone from the outside looking in to possibly solidifying himself as the team's second catcher, and he has plenty of opportunity for the rest of this season (by the time Vazquez is back in the lineup, we'll probably have expanded rosters to make room for all 3 catchers) to prove that this run of success is the real deal. Obviously I wish him the best of luck. If he succeeds this team just got enormously better, going from a satisfactory tandem at the most key position in baseball to possibly even an elite one.

 

If Swihart can just get to the level offensively that he's already shown us he's capable of, roughly equalling his 2015 numbers, combined with the notable improvement in his defense, he's probably the best catcher on the team. If he can get his offense up into the .700-.750 range and hit a few over the wall, then he's already the best starting catcher we've had in awhile. That's very achievable with a bit of luck given the man's skillset.

 

Great Post. Thanks

[dustcover]

O.K., so here's a hypothetical, and I'm not suggesting a Wally Pipp scenario. Let's say Cora leaves Swihart, who I've been touting for the past month or so, in at 3B for the next 10 days and he catches on fire at the plate and mans 3B adequately during that span. When Devers comes off the DL, what do you do with Blake? Does he remain at 3B or, here's an interesting thought. Although he's purportedly the back up catcher, he did alright when they tried him in LF, likewise at 1B, and now 3B. So how about giving him a shot at 2B which keeps his bat in the starting lineup, while at the same time puts Holt and Nunez back on the bench as utility players which they were initially earmarked for?

[a700hitter]

O.K., so here's a hypothetical, and I'm not suggesting a Wally Pipp scenario. Let's say Cora leaves Swihart, who I've been touting for the past month or so, in at 3B for the next 10 days and he catches on fire at the plate and mans 3B adequately during that span. When Devers comes off the DL, what do you do with Blake? Does he remain at 3B or, here's an interesting thought. Although he's purportedly the back up catcher, he did alright when they tried him in LF, likewise at 1B, and now 3B. So how about giving him a shot at 2B which keeps his bat in the starting lineup, while at the same time puts Holt and Nunez back on the bench as utility players which they were initially earmarked for?

Maybe you can start a thread asking whether Swihart can play 2B?

[Spudboy]

I honestly hope Swihart sticks around at this point. He's a good utility catcher, and that's valuable. If he can play the corner infield positions and back up behind the plate and hit a little, that's a little too useful to walk away from lightly. I could see him playing a role on a team similar to Matt LeCroy where even if he's not the consensus starter, he manages to make himself useful.

 

I could also see him start to earn a job for himself starting at catcher if he continues to hit. Sandy Leon is a decent starter, but you know what else he'd be? A fantastic David Ross style backup to mentor a guy like Swihart whose biggest weakness is technique, and to caddy some starter who isn't confident throwing to an offensive guy.

 

I was a total Swihart skeptic, mostly because I didn't think he would get a chance due to 2 competent young incumbents ahead of him. He's getting the chance thanks to Vazquez' injury, and he's showing enough that Christian Vazquez had better watch his tailfeathers. Vaz isn't playing so well that he couldn't wind up back in Pawtucket next year if Swihart continues to hit like this. At this point Swihart has to be in consideration to start taking time from Leon as a catcher, if only because Leon hasn't shown the ability to be a fulltime starter and Swihart is showing progress.

 

Worth mentioning as well, that a lot of catchers who wound up being very good at their jobs, only came into their own at about the age Swihart is now, including Jason Varitek, Jorge Posada and all of the Flying Molina Brothers. Swihart has gone from the outside looking in to possibly solidifying himself as the team's second catcher, and he has plenty of opportunity for the rest of this season (by the time Vazquez is back in the lineup, we'll probably have expanded rosters to make room for all 3 catchers) to prove that this run of success is the real deal. Obviously I wish him the best of luck. If he succeeds this team just got enormously better, going from a satisfactory tandem at the most key position in baseball to possibly even an elite one.

 

If Swihart can just get to the level offensively that he's already shown us he's capable of, roughly equalling his 2015 numbers, combined with the notable improvement in his defense, he's probably the best catcher on the team. If he can get his offense up into the .700-.750 range and hit a few over the wall, then he's already the best starting catcher we've had in awhile. That's very achievable with a bit of luck given the man's skillset.

 

Good stuff Dojji.

[Dojji]

I remember 2016 a little too well to be excited about throwing Swihart to the wolves at a new position. He's showed massive improvements behind the plate. I want him there first and foremost. It's useful to his utility that Swihart CAN play third base, I could see him doing it on an emergency basis a few times in a given year. I do not want Swihart to become our starting 3B.

 

First of all, as raw as Devers is, how raw do you think a guy who hasn't even played the positions in at least 5 years would be over the long run. Yeah he made a few good plays today, but I'm talking about consistency over the course of the season, which is a different thing from showing up to play for one game once in awhile. Devers can make good plays too, but because of inexperience he makes some stinkers too. Swihart is a good bet to have that problem even worse, simply due to experience and lack of comfort playing at the big league level.

 

I mean for comparison's sake -- they stuck Kevin Youkilis at second base one game in 2005 because Graffanino got hurt and there was no one else. Anyone seriously think Youk would have made a great 2B just because he played there once and didn't screw up? Of course not. It didn't hurt Swihart at all that he can do it in an emergency, but I feel the need to emphasize, "in an emergency."

 

TBH I'd actually rather revive a crazy old idea of mine and move Mookie Betts to second base. At least Bets has actually played the position at the big league level before and for multiple games at a time. He played the last half of his rookie year at second because Pedey got hurt, and while he was below average, he wasn't so bad he couldn't make up for it with his bat. With Pedey out of the way, if we're considering ideas as crazy as Swi to 3B, moving Betts back to his old position is significantly LESS insane, especially because an outfield of Beni-JBJ-JD puts 3 players at familiar outfield positions as well.

[oldtimer]

I remember 2016 a little too well to be excited about throwing Swihart to the wolves at a new position. He's showed massive improvements behind the plate. I want him there first and foremost. It's useful to his utility that Swihart CAN play third base, I could see him doing it on an emergency basis a few times in a given year. I do not want Swihart to become our starting 3B.

 

First of all, as raw as Devers is, how raw do you think a guy who hasn't even played the positions in at least 5 years would be over the long run. Yeah he made a few good plays today, but I'm talking about consistency over the course of the season, which is a different thing from showing up to play for one game once in awhile. Devers can make good plays too, but because of inexperience he makes some stinkers too. Swihart is a good bet to have that problem even worse, simply due to experience and lack of comfort playing at the big league level.

 

I mean for comparison's sake -- they stuck Kevin Youkilis at second base one game in 2005 because Graffanino got hurt and there was no one else. Anyone seriously think Youk would have made a great 2B just because he played there once and didn't screw up? Of course not. It didn't hurt Swihart at all that he can do it in an emergency, but I feel the need to emphasize, "in an emergency."

 

TBH I'd actually rather revive a crazy old idea of mine and move Mookie Betts to second base. At least Bets has actually played the position at the big league level before and for multiple games at a time. He played the last half of his rookie year at second because Pedey got hurt, and while he was below average, he wasn't so bad he couldn't make up for it with his bat. With Pedey out of the way, if we're considering ideas as crazy as Swi to 3B, moving Betts back to his old position is significantly LESS insane, especially because an outfield of Beni-JBJ-JD puts 3 players at familiar outfield positions as well.

 

Now only 2 days for DD to make a move. Maybe he can get something positive done but if he can't we still have the best team in baseball. The Eovaldi trade helped us today. We start to play the big boys going forward. Like to be our best against them. Price against the Yankees is worrisome, but at least Judge won't be in uniform for that series.

[Bellhorn04]

TBH I'd actually rather revive a crazy old idea of mine and move Mookie Betts to second base. At least Bets has actually played the position at the big league level before and for multiple games at a time. He played the last half of his rookie year at second because Pedey got hurt, and while he was below average, he wasn't so bad he couldn't make up for it with his bat. With Pedey out of the way, if we're considering ideas as crazy as Swi to 3B, moving Betts back to his old position is significantly LESS insane, especially because an outfield of Beni-JBJ-JD puts 3 players at familiar outfield positions as well.

 

Swihart playing a few games at 3B is considerably less crazy than moving Mookie to 2B and JD to everyday OF.

[Dojji]

Price is at the top of my list for pitchers I want Leon caddying, even if Swihart somehow steals his job. He's learning how to be more of a finesse pitcher and his confidence is very fragile over the last couple seasons. Want to give him the best possible chance to succeed.

 

Sale, Porky, I'm less concerned about. I think Sale can throw to anyone, and Porky is a durability guy, prototypical 3rd starter who knows how to grind, he can get the job done even when he doesn't have his best stuff. They're both veterans that I expect to be able to handle being hit around a bit.

 

We'll see about Eovaldi, good start today. We'll also see who winds up claiming that last spot, if it's Johnson or Wright, I won't worry about who's catching, Swihart showed awhile back that he could handle Wright if he had to,

 

but if they're still somehow wedded to the idea of Pomeranz in the last slot despite 2 options that currently look more reliable and possibly Velazquez representing a third better option, I'll want the veteran doing the job with him as well, at least until DD finally sobers up and puts the best team on the field, rather than the team he wants to be the best (I hate, HATE HATE it when GMs do that, it's understandable, but it still sucks to see as a fan of the game).

Edited July 29, 2018 by Dojji

[Dojji]

Swihart playing a few games at 3B is considerably less crazy than moving Mookie to 2B and JD to everyday OF.

 

No it really, really isn't. if Betts was a full time OF in the minors, it would be, but playing a guy at a position he last played in high school is demonstrably more insane than putting a player who came up through the minors at 2B, and played at 2B in the major leagues in his rookie year, back at his old position to see if he can make it work.

 

I mean there's plenty of good reasons not to do either one, but when it comes to the "playing out of position" argument, Swihart is far more "out of position" at third base than Mookie would be if he did move back to second.

[OH FOY]

A great Right Fielder in Fenway makes a CF there more proficient. The ground between the Foul Pole in right to Left Center, is incredible. You absolutely cannot weaken the Defense in Right Field, over a 2nd baseman. That would be counter-productive. Edited July 29, 2018 by OH FOY!

[Bellhorn04]

No it really, really isn't. if Betts was a full time OF in the minors, it would be, but playing a guy at a position he last played in high school is demonstrably more insane than putting a player who came up through the minors at 2B, and played at 2B in the major leagues in his rookie year, back at his old position to see if he can make it work.

 

I mean there's plenty of good reasons not to do either one, but when it comes to the "playing out of position" argument, Swihart is far more "out of position" at third base than Mookie would be if he did move back to second.

 

Oh sure, Mookie might be able to handle a switch to second. But that's only a small part of it. You're talking about making radical changes with 2 MVP candidates when the team is playing .700 ball. You're talking about downgrading the outfield defense, increasing the chances of JDM getting injured, and probably increasing the chances of Mookie getting injured as well.

 

That's out of the box thinking gone too far.

[Dojji]

Oh sure, Mookie might be able to handle a switch to second. But that's only a small part of it. You're talking about making radical changes with 2 MVP candidates when the team is playing .700 ball. You're talking about downgrading the outfield defense, increasing the chances of JDM getting injured, and probably increasing the chances of Mookie getting injured as well.

 

That's out of the box thinking gone too far.

 

And yet playing a guy who HAS gotten injured ALREADY by playing out of position, out of position AGAIN, just for the grins and giggles (we by no means had to play Swihart at 3B today), doesn't have exactly the same issues?

 

Even your argument that Mookie is valuable right where he is isn't really logical on the face of it, mostly because it's first and foremost an emotional argument built on fear. A comparison between what Mookie provides at right field and what that same offense would mean in a premium position like 2B is absurdly easy to make, and it's a valid argument.

 

What valid argument is there to play a guy who's only just starting to find his stride, at a position he hasn't played in over 7 years, when he's already shown that playing out of position is a high risk move and already had his whole career derailed once by trying to shoehorn him into a far LESS strenuous defensive position?

 

Or would you like to argue that the Swihart-to-left-field experiment wasn't a hugely opportunity-expensive, unmitigated disaster, and that we should be trying it again in a much more defensively taxing infield position, immediately the moment Swihart shows signs of recovering from the sandbagging we gave him last time we tried this stunt?

Edited July 29, 2018 by Dojji

[Dojji]

A great Right Fielder in Fenway makes a CF there more proficient. The ground between the Foul Pole in right to Left Center, is incredible. You absolutely cannot weaken the Defense in Right Field, over a 2nd baseman. That would be counter-productive.

 

Mookie Betts is not the only great right fielder that ever existed. he's the best right fielder we've had in a very, very, long time, perhaps the best we've ever had, but if we moved him to 2B he'd instantly supplant Joe Cronin as the best 2B we ever had, especially if his defense is up to snuff (and it wasn't too bad back in 2014 IIRC)

 

The only reason Mookie isn't our starting 2B right now is Pedey. An alternative universe where we didn't sign Pedroia to that ill advised extension probably sees Betts breaking our all time 2B records wide open on both sides of the ball.

 

And need I add, that as valuable as a great RF is, a great 2B is at least that valuable, possibly more so.

[notin]

Mookie Betts is not the only great right fielder that ever existed. he's the best right fielder we've had in a very, very, long time, perhaps the best we've ever had, but if we moved him to 2B he'd instantly supplant Joe Cronin as the best 2B we ever had, especially if his defense is up to snuff (and it wasn't too bad back in 2014 IIRC)

 

The only reason Mookie isn't our starting 2B right now is Pedey. An alternative universe where we didn't sign Pedroia to that ill advised extension probably sees Betts breaking our all time 2B records wide open on both sides of the ball.

 

And need I add, that as valuable as a great RF is, a great 2B is at least that valuable, possibly more so.

 

Mookie is too valuable to put in position to be taken out in DP like Pedroia was...

[Dojji]

Mookie is too valuable to put in position to be taken out in DP like Pedroia was...

 

And how valuable is our last remaining big league quality backup catcher? Not an area where I'd be taking big risks either, if I'm being honest.

 

Again, not necessarily arguing that Mookie to 2B is a sane move. I just take umbrage at the idea that it's somehow LESS sane than the carousel of madness we've been inflicting on Blake Swihart over the last 2 years.

 

If people are insane enough to risk their only remaining backup catcher playing him out of position in a game that probably doesn't have any particular bearing on the outcome of the season given position in the standings, anything is possible.

[Bellhorn04]

And how valuable is our last remaining big league quality backup catcher? Not an area where I'd be taking big risks either, if I'm being honest.

 

Again, not necessarily arguing that Mookie to 2B is a sane move. I just take umbrage at the idea that it's somehow LESS sane than the carousel of madness we've been inflicting on Blake Swihart over the last 2 years.

 

If people are insane enough to risk their only remaining backup catcher playing him out of position in a game that probably doesn't have any particular bearing on the outcome of the season given position in the standings, anything is possible.

 

Hey, I like Swihart too and wish him only success. But he is vastly easier to replace than Mookie Betts.

[Dojji]

Hey, I like Swihart too and wish him only success. But he is vastly easier to replace than Mookie Betts.

 

once again I disagree, unless you preface your argument by arguing that he's easier to replace perfectly.

 

It's actually much harder to find a guy with Swihart's potential, even if that potential is somewhat orphaned at the moment, than it is to find a RF who could come into right field and be a good right fielder.

If you're basing that argiment on the idea of someone coming in and being Mookie Betts, that is of course different but would also apply to whatever position Mookie happened to be playing