Playoff Roster - 2018

[Maxbialystock]

To me the only reason to carry three catchers in the postseason is to be able to pinch hit for one of them.

[OH FOY]

Curious if your Pinch Hitting early in the game, are you using another Catcher to hit or another Position Player? Once you use a Positional Player, unless you do a Double switch, you lose him the rest of the game. Might not be good idea. Might need Defensive replacement late in the game, or Match-up with another Pitcher late in the game. Usually score, Match-up, and situation, would dictate Pinch Hitting situation. Don't panic early in the game, in another words.

 

None of these Catchers are Johnny Bench. If your ahead no need to do anything. Your not gaining by Pinch Hitting, weak hitting Catchers, especially with another weak hitting Catcher. You don't want to lose Positional Players for later in the game, because as the game goes on you might need them. 2 Catchers in the AL series, maybe 3 in the WS, if you get that far.

In the WS you also have to think about Pinch hitting for a Pitcher too. That's when I would want 3 Catchers.

Edited September 13, 2018 by OH FOY!

[Maxbialystock]

Curious if your Pinch Hitting early in the game, are you using another Catcher to hit or another Position Player? Once you use a Positional Player, unless you do a Double switch, you lose him the rest of the game. Might not be good idea. Might need Defensive replacement late in the game, or Match-up with another Pitcher late in the game. Usually score would dictate Pinch Hitting situation.

 

None of these Catchers are Johnny Bench. If your ahead no need to do anything. Your not gaining by Pinch Hitting, weak hitting Catchers, especially with another weak hitting Catcher. You don't want to lose Positional Players for later in the game, because as the game goes on you might need them. 2 Catchers in the AL series, maybe 3 in the WS, if you get that far.

 

Meh. Swihart has been on the active roster from day 1. Keeping him there is not some bold step into the unknown. He is a pretty decent catcher, but can also switch hit, run, play 3b/1b and the outfield.

[OH FOY]

Like I said 3 Catchers for WS makes more sense, since in National League Park you have to think about Pinch hitting for Pitchers too. AL series, I'll want more flexibility in other Positions, Leon to Vazquez the same to me. You also might need speed later in the game. Edited September 13, 2018 by OH FOY!

[Bellhorn04]

Like I said 3 Catchers for WS makes more sense, since in National League Park you have to think about Pinch hitting for Pitchers too.

 

Max is right though, Swihart has a package of skills that make him more than just a third catcher.

[Slasher9]

Like I said 3 Catchers for WS makes more sense, since in National League Park you have to think about Pinch hitting for Pitchers too. AL series, I'll want more flexibility in other Positions, Leon to Vazquez the same to me. You also might need speed later in the game.

 

you can PH for a pitcher with anyone. it doesnt have to be a catcher......

[OH FOY]

Maybe I'm not getting my point across, you want Swihart, because of his versatility in AL Play-offs, Vazquez and Leon the same to me, only need 1 of these. In WS you will all 3.

[OH FOY]

you can PH for a pitcher with anyone. it doesnt have to be a catcher......

 

Of course, but bench might get depleted quickly. You PH for a Pitcher, you'll want to Double Switch.

Edited September 13, 2018 by OH FOY!

[Slasher9]

Of course, but bench might get depleted quickly. You mph for a Pitcher, you'll want to Double Switch.

 

Fair. plus double switch but i would imagine C will be 8th and P will be 9th in NL parks.

[OH FOY]

One last thing, Price's turn around since Leon has been Catching him is ridiculous. Don't know why it is but it is. Leon has to be on Roster.

Leon Catching Price this year, 1.84 ERA 11 starts 73 innings, 9 BB's

Vazquez, this year with Price, 4.68 ERA 17 starts 92 innings 34 BB's

 

Not that small sample anymore.

Edited September 13, 2018 by OH FOY!

[moonslav59]

We mayhave a unique situation with catchers who are terrible offensively. How many other teams will carry 3 catchers on a 25 man roster?

 

How many have a 3rd catcher who can run and field 2+ other positions?

[moonslav59]

To me the only reason to carry three catchers in the postseason is to be able to pinch hit for one of them.

 

Exactly.

 

We aren't PH'ing for JD, Betts, Beni, JBJ or Kinsler. We aren't putting anyone in for defensive upgrades, except maybe for Devers, but even with him, Nunez & Holt are not much of an upgrade.

 

We have the Moreland-Pearce platoon and PH situation, and that's about it for this team, except at the catcher position. Since Swihart offers depth or emergency depth at several positions, it makes sense, to me, to carry 3 catchers like we did all year when all were healthy at the same time.

[moonslav59]

Might not be good idea. Might need Defensive replacement late in the game, or Match-up with another Pitcher late in the game. .

 

We have no defensive upgrades on the bench. All of our starters, except maybe Devers is better on defense than anyone on the bench.

 

We do have some players with poor L-R splits, but that's mostly at 1B with Moreland and Pearce. I can't see a time when we will need to PH for the 3Bman twice in a game. I can for our catcher position.

[moonslav59]

One last thing, Price's turn around since Leon has been Catching him is ridiculous. Don't know why it is but it is. Leon has to be on Roster.

Leon Catching Price this year, 1.84 ERA 11 starts 73 innings, 9 BB's

Vazquez, this year with Price, 4.68 ERA 17 starts 92 innings 34 BB's

 

Not that small sample anymore.

 

We don't need to know why. It is what it is. We should not mess with success.

 

It reminds me of when we used Vtek, I believe, with Beckett all year, and then in the playoffs, we suddenly felt offense was more important, and he got lit up.

 

I'll say it again, "Sandy for the Cy Young Award!"

[mvp 78]

How many have a 3rd catcher who can run and field 2+ other positions?

 

If only he could hit.

[moonslav59]

2018 OPS with...

 

Leon/Vaz

Sale .502/.572

Price .514/.780

Porcello .703/ n/a

 

2017

Sale .585/ 1.138 (27 PAs)

Price n/a/ .666

Porcello .824/.831

 

2016

Porcello .588/.694

 

Career ERA

 

Sale

2.39 Leon

3.38 Vaz

(I'll take oh for 4 and 1 less run allowed every day of the week.)

 

Price

2.65 Leon

4.32 Vaz

(I'll take oh for 5 and 1.5 less runs allowed per game everyday of the week.)

 

Porcello

4.14 Leon

4.15 Vaz

4.55 Swihart

(Swihart has zero IP with Sale and Price-- ZERO!)

 

[moonslav59]

If only he could hit.

 

I certainly did not expect sub .600 from our catchers, but our staff is doing well.

[OH FOY]

Exactly.

 

We aren't PH'ing for JD, Betts, Beni, JBJ or Kinsler. We aren't putting anyone in for defensive upgrades, except maybe for Devers, but even with him, Nunez & Holt are not much of an upgrade.

 

We have the Moreland-Pearce platoon and PH situation, and that's about it for this team, except at the catcher position. Since Swihart offers depth or emergency depth at several positions, it makes sense, to me, to carry 3 catchers like we did all year when all were healthy at the same time.

 

3 Catchers for 7 games, No Except WS.

3 Catchers for 162 games Yes.

Remember for almost 2 Months we only had 2 Catchers. You should get by in 7 games with just 2.

When CV got hurt it was only Swihart and Leon, when Swihart got hurt it was Butler and Leon for a while.

Vazquez got hurt on July 7, and didn't come back till Sept. 1, only had 2 Catchers in that span.

Edited September 13, 2018 by OH FOY!

[moonslav59]

3 Catchers for 7 games, No

3 Catchers for 162 games Yes.

 

Why do we need 3 third basemen?

[mvp 78]

Why do we need 3 third basemen?

 

What are you even talking about with this? There is only one guy who can only play 3b (Devers). Everyone else that can play 3b, can also back up at other positions.

[OH FOY]

What are you even talking about with this? There is only one guy who can only play 3b (Devers). Everyone else that can play 3b, can also back up at other positions.

 

This ^^^

[OH FOY]

Besides we didn't have 3 Catchers the whole season. Missed almost 2 Months with 3 Catchers. I don't understand we played the whole season thing with 3 Catchers. Edited September 13, 2018 by OH FOY!

[Slasher9]

i would rather have the 3 catchers than adding Lin in....

[OH FOY]

https://soxsphere.com/2018/09/07/predicting-the-red-sox-25-man-playoff-roster/

 

Seam McAdam has only 2 Catchers too on his Roster, Leon, and Swihart

Have to wait for Cora.

Edited September 13, 2018 by OH FOY!

[oldtimer]

During the PO's, we will be playing teams who are nearly as good as us, better in some areas and worse in others. Because of that an extra hit here or a good play there may well make a significant difference duriing the series. We have only two questionable area in the field that Cora needs to focus on and they are catcher and 3rd base. Tough decisions loom for him there as has been discussed on this thread.

 

At catcher we have two very weak offensive players who are good to very good defensively. The starters seem to like them. Then we have a more versatile player who is a better hitter and can catch but has little to no experience with the majority of the staff. As we discussed, there is an option of taking all three and pinch hitting for the weaker offensive players in key situations. An alternative is to take the best defensive catcher and the best hitter. We can always replace a guy at the end of a series should we sustain an injury. Both are non-optimum decisions but Cora is being paid to make the tough ones.

 

At third base we have a pro and seasoned hitter who is a so-so fielder and a young player who is neither hitting or a reliable fielder but offers the possibility of running into one as a left handed bat. Phillips is not in the discussion now so Cora needs to choose. It would be nice to have better at third but those are the choices. We can possibly take both if we go with 2 catchers.

 

Next year, both those positions need to be given real thought with the possibility of some moves to improve, possibly from the FA market.

 

As far as pitching, I still think it comes down to deciding between Kelly, Thornburg, Workman and Hembree for the last spot. I don't recommend 12 pitchers, but if we do I see it as two of those 4.

[moonslav59]

What are you even talking about with this? There is only one guy who can only play 3b (Devers). Everyone else that can play 3b, can also back up at other positions.

 

If Vaz does not make the roster, it means Devers, Nunez and Holt will. Kinsler is our 2Bman, so I don't see any of these guys playing there (PH'ing or defensive subbing at 2B), so basically all 3 would be for 3B and emergency coverage in the OF or 2B/SS.

 

Swihart can play the OF and 1B and maybe 3B in a pinch.

 

Or, we keep Holt & Nunez/Devers on the roster along with 3 catcher and go with 11 pitchers (my choice).

[moonslav59]

Besides we didn't have 3 Catchers the whole season. Missed almost 2 Months with 3 Catchers. I don't understand we played the whole season thing with 3 Catchers.

 

I said the whole season, except when vaz was hurt. If Vaz did not get hurt, it would have been all season.

[moonslav59]

i would rather have the 3 catchers than adding Lin in....

 

Adding Lin would be more about having a pinch runner and late inning defensive replacement at 3B. It is a value, but to me, not as great as being able to PH for our catchers twice in a game.

 

To me, the only argument worth discussing is the 12th pitcher vs the 3rd catcher with Leon being a lock.

[mvp 78]

i would rather have the 3 catchers than adding Lin in....

 

Phillips?

[mvp 78]

If Vaz does not make the roster, it means Devers, Nunez and Holt will. Kinsler is our 2Bman, so I don't see any of these guys playing there (PH'ing or defensive subbing at 2B), so basically all 3 would be for 3B and emergency coverage in the OF or 2B/SS.

 

Swihart can play the OF and 1B and maybe 3B in a pinch.

 

Or, we keep Holt & Nunez/Devers on the roster along with 3 catcher and go with 11 pitchers (my choice).

 

Swihart is probably as good at 3b as Pearce is at C.