Swihart DFA

[Slasher9]

which makes me even more frustrated that we couldn’t find a role for the guy. He is athletic enough that he could play the corners of the INF, OF and C

 

so who are we ditching to get the formidable Blake Swihart into the lineup at those positions you just mentioned? devers? moreland? betts? Beni? Vaz?

[Slasher9]

Both guys are 1-11 since the transaction. Really tearing the cover off the ball.

 

one is playing a position that demands offense (corner OF), the other is playing a defense first position and since his arrival the SP ERA has plummeted. so which 1-11 matters more? (or less?)

[notin]

which makes me even more frustrated that we couldn’t find a role for the guy. He is athletic enough that he could play the corners of the INF, OF and C

 

But the only positions he’s shown any aptitude for are 1b and LF. Players who play lots of positions and suck defensively at them aren’t hard to find. And players limited to 1b/LF who hit better than Swihart aren’t hard to find either...

[Spudboy]

But can he hit? It's yet to be proven.

 

In my opinion he proved that he could hit well enough to stick ( pun not intended ) in the second half of 2015.

 

Kind of difficult to establish consistency at the plate when you have only a handful of ABs each week.

 

Unfortunately, he is confronted with the same scenario in Arizona.

 

Too bad.

[Spudboy]

But the only positions he’s shown any aptitude for are 1b and LF. Players who play lots of positions and suck defensively at them aren’t hard to find. And players limited to 1b/LF who hit better than Swihart aren’t hard to find either...

 

He was a shortsop and occasional 3rd baseman in HS.

 

The Sox f***ed up his natural progression at those positions by forcing the conversion to catcher.

 

Why was he seen as one of the nation's finest HS talents if he could not field his position or hit?

[notin]

He was a shortsop and occasional 3rd baseman in HS.

 

The Sox f***ed up his natural progression at those positions by forcing the conversion to catcher.

 

Why was he seen as one of the nation's finest HS talents if he could not field his position or hit?

 

There is a big difference between hitting high school pitching and MLB pitching.

 

He also started catching junior year in high school . And when e played on Team USA for 18 and under, he played 1b and of. He did play SS for two years in high school, but nearly half the players in MLB played shortstop in high school. At that level, shortstop is just where the best player plays in most high schools...,

[Slasher9]

There is a big difference between hitting high school pitching and MLB pitching.

 

He also started catching junior year in high school . And when e played on Team USA for 18 and under, he played 1b and of. He did play SS for two years in high school, but nearly half the players in MLB played shortstop in high school. At that level, shortstop is just where the best player plays in most high schools...,

 

yup. HS/Legion baseball the best player plays: SS, Pitch, CF. more and more we are seeing Catcher as well but SS is THE spot.

[moonslav59]

In my opinion he proved that he could hit well enough to stick ( pun not intended ) in the second half of 2015.

 

Kind of difficult to establish consistency at the plate when you have only a handful of ABs each week.

 

Unfortunately, he is confronted with the same scenario in Arizona.

 

Too bad.

 

It's not "too bad."

 

It's what he deserves.

 

You only get a handful of ABs each week, when you don't distinguish yourself during countless chances and seasons of mediocrity or worse on offense.

[mvp 78]

He was a shortsop and occasional 3rd baseman in HS.

 

The Sox f***ed up his natural progression at those positions by forcing the conversion to catcher.

 

Why was he seen as one of the nation's finest HS talents if he could not field his position or hit?

 

Everybody was a SS in highschool, even David Ortiz.

[Kimmi]

Did you notice he's not catching with AZ?

 

We did him a favor by letting him learn other positions.

 

He was never going to be our catcher. Either it was LF or DFA.

 

That's fine if Swihart was not meant to be a catcher. But after he played left field for a brief stint, then returned from injury, the Sox committed to having Swihart play only at catcher.

 

But then gave him no playing time.

[Kimmi]

He was a shortsop and occasional 3rd baseman in HS.

 

The Sox f***ed up his natural progression at those positions by forcing the conversion to catcher.

 

Why was he seen as one of the nation's finest HS talents if he could not field his position or hit?

 

The Sox definitely handled Swihart poorly.

[moonslav59]

That's fine if Swihart was not meant to be a catcher. But after he played left field for a brief stint, then returned from injury, the Sox committed to having Swihart play only at catcher.

 

But then gave him no playing time.

 

There was no opening in the OF.

 

You keep saying he needed more PAs. Who did he deserve to take PAs away on our 108 win team?

[moonslav59]

The Sox definitely handled Swihart poorly.

 

The only "poor-handling" was not trading him before it got to the point where his value was low and we had no place to play a guy out of options.

[vegasbob]

Can anyone let this poor guy die a natural death by baseball mediocrity ? Endless moaning pro/con about Blake Swihart while the team that is on the field is dying by a thousand paper cuts. Let Blake go and focus on WTF is wrong with the overall play of the guys who are here.

[Swiharts Ghost]

The only "poor-handling" was not trading him before it got to the point where his value was low and we had no place to play a guy out of options.

 

This is right .

[SCM33]

So when do we talk about Leon’s 6.62 catcher ERA?

 

BUT HES SOO GOOD!!!

[vegasbob]

So when do we talk about Leon’s 6.62 catcher ERA?

 

BUT HES SOO GOOD!!!

 

That would be the Leon DFA thread to be found right before the Pearce DFA thread , and the Trade JBJr thread.

[SCM33]

That would be the Leon DFA thread to be found right before the Pearce DFA thread , and the Trade JBJr thread.

 

LOVE the fact that Vasquez caught Sale the other day and Sale thew 7 innings, while Leon watched from the bench.

[Kimmi]

LOVE the fact that Vasquez caught Sale the other day and Sale thew 7 innings, while Leon watched from the bench.

 

It was never a choice between Leon or Vazquez. Vazquez is a highly touted defensive catcher in his own right.

 

It was a decision between Leon or Swihart. No contest who is better defensively between those two.

[SCM33]

It was never a choice between Leon or Vazquez. Vazquez is a highly touted defensive catcher in his own right.

 

It was a decision between Leon or Swihart. No contest who is better defensively between those two.

 

Also, no question as to who was the better overall player. Swihart has the ability to play 4 positions. Leon is capable of being a fat s*** on the bench.

[a700hitter]

Also, no question as to who was the better overall player. Swihart has the ability to play 4 positions. Leon is capable of being a fat s*** on the bench.

People here get very upset about fat comments. When I called Pablo Sandoval a fat slob, I was accused of attacking his character. I was attacking his belt buckle breaking waistline. LOL!

[Bellhorn04]

Also, no question as to who was the better overall player. Swihart has the ability to play 4 positions.

 

Swihart sucks.

[moonslav59]

Swihart sucks.

 

No question about it.

[Swiharts Ghost]

Love the truth from this .Brutal but truth on both sides of the coin .shows we may be in need of an upgrade this upcoming winter .vaz has raked he's won the job going away . Edited May 2, 2019 by Swiharts Ghost

[Kimmi]

Also, no question as to who was the better overall player. Swihart has the ability to play 4 positions. Leon is capable of being a fat s*** on the bench.

 

I think there is a lot of question as to who is the better player. Swihart has proven nothing yet.

[mvp 78]

I think there is a lot of question as to who is the better player. Swihart has proven nothing yet.

 

You don't like his 237 OPS for AZ? What about that ZIPS projected him to hit 594 as a bat first catcher?

 

Even AZ fans aren't high on Swihart. https://www.azsnakepit.com/2019/4/23/18509990/mike-hazen-and-team-expect-blake-swihart-to-hit-diamondbacks-red-sox

 

While Swihart clearly had some promise as a hitter for a catcher I think it’s important to look at his track record in the context of a non catcher position player, because that is his intended use here in Arizona. While his contact rates and K% in the low minors were above average, he never had a double digit walk rate, and most years was below average in taking the base on balls. He did not exhibit much power at all, except the one year in AA, and even that was moderate...

 

There are plenty of anecdotal examples of players that were progressing through the early stages of their careers, got derailed by injury and circumstance, and after some time of poor or mediocre performance, managed to get back on track and surprise everyone. Mike Hazen and his team believe Blake Swihart has a good chance to be one of those guys. Obviously I think it’s a long shot.

 

LEON IS BETTAH KEHD...

[Kimmi]

You don't like his 237 OPS for AZ? What about that ZIPS projected him to hit 594 as a bat first catcher?

 

Even AZ fans aren't high on Swihart. https://www.azsnakepit.com/2019/4/23/18509990/mike-hazen-and-team-expect-blake-swihart-to-hit-diamondbacks-red-sox

 

While Swihart clearly had some promise as a hitter for a catcher I think it’s important to look at his track record in the context of a non catcher position player, because that is his intended use here in Arizona. While his contact rates and K% in the low minors were above average, he never had a double digit walk rate, and most years was below average in taking the base on balls. He did not exhibit much power at all, except the one year in AA, and even that was moderate...

 

There are plenty of anecdotal examples of players that were progressing through the early stages of their careers, got derailed by injury and circumstance, and after some time of poor or mediocre performance, managed to get back on track and surprise everyone. Mike Hazen and his team believe Blake Swihart has a good chance to be one of those guys. Obviously I think it’s a long shot.

 

LEON IS BETTAH KEHD...

 

I am not down on Swihart. I have always liked the guy. I think he could have and might still be good, given the proper chance.

 

That said, when it came down to a choice between Swihart or either Vaz/Leon, I am 100% going with the latter.

[devildavid]

which makes me even more frustrated that we couldn’t find a role for the guy. He is athletic enough that he could play the corners of the INF, OF and C

 

Being athletic doesn't mean being a good baseball player. Ask John Kruk.

[devildavid]

LOVE the fact that Vasquez caught Sale the other day and Sale thew 7 innings, while Leon watched from the bench.

 

Do you love the fact that Leon just caught 6 innings of shutout ball with Sale and gunned down ex Sox prospect Moncada trying to steal?

[Kimmi]

Do you love the fact that Leon just caught 6 innings of shutout ball with Sale and gunned down ex Sox prospect Moncada trying to steal?

 

Sale would have improved over the beginning of the season one way or the other, but Leon is good for Sale. No question about it.