Sale-Vasquez battery

[papajoe222]

Does anyone else think that changing from Leon to Vasquez may be helpful to Sale's woes? It seems to me that Leon calls for pitches that Sale is struggling with, way too often. The resulting pitching from behind and allowing hitters to sit on a pitch, are where he and the teem get hurt. Switching backstops could help get him out of his funk. The guy still gets the strike outs, but with the number and type of hits he has been giving up, you'd assume he's lost the stuff he had in previous seasons.

[dannycater]

I think Sale needs to hit his spots, and quit worrying about who is catching him. It's a cop out.

[vegasbob]

I think Sale needs to hit his spots, and quit worrying about who is catching him. It's a cop out.

 

There is a reason one is called the pitcher and the other the catcher. Sale and all others are fully free to shake off the catcher's sign. Sale does not do that , but I doubt he throws meatballs to spite Leon (or Vaz). Sale needs to learn to pitch to spots and use his slider as a wipe out pitch when he gets to 2 strikes. Same can be said about a few of the other starters as well. Rodriguez's 3-2 counts, 2 out hits, 2 out walks, etc. are more a product of his weak confidence in his own stuff when the chips are on the line. His mechanics are awful, rarely finishing on balance in the same place on the mound. He is a thrower.

[moonslav59]

I think Sale needs to hit his spots, and quit worrying about who is catching him. It's a cop out.

 

I doubt Sale worries about Vaz & Leon. Leon just calls a better game and gets the most out of him.

 

Maybe it is psychological. Maybe Leon is his "binky." If that's the case, it would help to "get over it," but since Vaz can't catch every game, I don't see an issue with giving him every 5th game off.

[Kimmi]

I doubt Sale worries about Vaz & Leon. Leon just calls a better game and gets the most out of him.

 

Maybe it is psychological. Maybe Leon is his "binky." If that's the case, it would help to "get over it," but since Vaz can't catch every game, I don't see an issue with giving him every 5th game off.

 

Sale is probably the last person who would blame any of his problems on who is catching him. He knows the onus is on himself.

 

That said, some pitchers just have a greater comfort and confidence level with certain catchers. Sale has that with Leon. As you said, there's no harm in letting Leon catch Sale because Vaz cannot catch every day.

[notin]

I think Sale needs to hit his spots, and quit worrying about who is catching him. It's a cop out.

 

Which is why Sale isn’t saying it.

 

Sale’s velocity is down this year. Do people think that is Leon’s fault too?

[dannycater]

Sale looked like vintage every year but 2019 Sale last night. Electric stuff. Leon caught him and I do think he's the binky for Sale. Wakefield had his in Mirabelli. However, Vasquez has had a wonderful year offensively and I think is becoming a better catcher at calling pitches--or he sucks and that's the reason the staff sucks--or the staff sucks. Starting staff underwhelming all year as a whole, basically a weak link to the team.

[notin]

Sale looked like vintage every year but 2019 Sale last night. Electric stuff. Leon caught him and I do think he's the binky for Sale. Wakefield had his in Mirabelli. However, Vasquez has had a wonderful year offensively and I think is becoming a better catcher at calling pitches--or he sucks and that's the reason the staff sucks--or the staff sucks. Starting staff underwhelming all year as a whole, basically a weak link to the team.

 

Certainly some pitchers have faith in certain catchers handling their stuff and keeping it from going to the backstop. Nomo greatly preferred Varitek to Mirabelli. Greg Maddux never wanted Javy Lopez.

 

Sale has a comfort level with Leon. I’m fine with that. Leon is a weak hitter, but what do people expect from a backup catcher?

[Nick]

Sale never shakes off catchers because he can execute throwing every pitch at highest level or he did. He's that confident.

 

Surely no one here is dumb enough to think Sale and Leon is 100% in sync. More likely, Sale trusts Leon and has confidence in all his pitches.

[bosoxmal]

Vasquez is a far better catcher than Lepn. I guess that does't count.

[Bellhorn04]

Vasquez is a far better catcher than Lepn. I guess that does't count.

 

Vazquez is much better than Leon, and that's why he's the #1 catcher. But Chris Sale has historically done much better with Leon behind the plate.

[moonslav59]

Which is why Sale isn’t saying it.

 

Sale’s velocity is down this year. Do people think that is Leon’s fault too?

 

The thing is, even with the velo drop, the comps are astoundingly divergent:

 

2019 Sale with...

 

3.78 with Leon .616 OPS against

 

6.68 with Vaz .956 OPS against.

 

I don't care what the reason is; I want Leon catching Sale. Period. Eclamation mark!

 

Vaz could go 4-4 every day, but allowing a .956 OPS agaainst for the opposing 9 batters can never make that up.

 

[moonslav59]

Vasquez is a far better catcher than Lepn. I guess that does't count.

 

Of course it counts, but not with Sale.

 

What's the problem with scheduling Vaz's day off catching when Sale pitches?

 

Vaz cannot and should not catch every game or more than 4 out of 5 games.

[moonslav59]

Sale never shakes off catchers because he can execute throwing every pitch at highest level or he did. He's that confident.

 

Surely no one here is dumb enough to think Sale and Leon is 100% in sync. More likely, Sale trusts Leon and has confidence in all his pitches.

 

Better said than I.