lasitter

I'm in favor of bargains that have a pathway forward in player development. While there are all sorts of salary caps and luxury taxes, expenditures in player development are an area not subject similar limitations. Every year, there are a certain number of games (5-10?) lost to an absence of situational awareness. What if we were to focus on the opportunity these represented in the form of player training and development? What if, at every minor league level, we had coaches that developed skills in base running and stealing? What if we had coaches that taught nothing other than how to lay down a bunt or defend against a bunt? Specialists that could drill players in certain defensive situations? What would it be worth to never throw the ball into the dugout? To never miss a cutoff man? This is of course already being done, but not nearly intensively as might be possible. And in terms of player salaries, it could be incredibly cheap in terms of bidding for players with better WAR / other stats. Of course this is easier said than done -- but if you have JH money, why not leverage that advantage?

What could it hurt? We're really not spending that much at the position. Mid-season? If he helps out as part of a more important trade then you'd still have him for that. There's always a demand for catching talent because the position is so hard on the body.

If Swihart has already been on the roster, and has at least a fair bat at that position, why would we keep him before and not now? I just don't see him as a throw-away piece in a trade. What is our other (cheaper?) option at catcher? Does he handle a stick better? Playing catcher is not like being a utility infielder or outfielder. It is a very specific skill set. What are we going to do when one of them gets a concussion or breaks something? Considering that we're already allocating a roster spot for this, I just don't see it as that big of a deal. We're just talking about whether to continue an aspect of the roster that produced a ring ...

I think the other catchers only have the option of DH as another playing position.

I love Vaz, but when he was out with that broken finger, I was really glad for another option.

His career slash is .256 / .314 / .678. Vaz: .246 / .296 / .632. Leon just .226 / .288 / .626. He might do better with a bit more playing time.

I thought he did better with the bat this year, just simple stats, than the other two. Was it my imagination, or did I see him play LF in Fenway before?

So here's a few questions about the value of our three catchers: Isn't Swi at least as good with the bat as the other two? What might he do if he had more PAs? Swi can play left field. Isn't it nice to have an extra outfielder like that? My impression was that he was a heck of a lot better in the OF than Hanley ... Vas has the best gun for steals of the three, or does he? Catcher is a major injury prone position, or seems to have been, for us. And for concussion injuries too. Having an extra catcher in these situations is a great luxury. Doesn't being able to pinch hit in a catcher's spot give us offensive flexibility, especially at a position where some people are hitting below the Mendoza line? None of these guys are costing us that much. I would argue against dealing them unless it brought something we really needed ...

Having Swi and the others gives us incredible flexibility in the NL parks. I do not regret having him for a moment.

I think it's unreasonable that we could repeat. The real question is what could we get for a couple of our quality pieces in their final year of team control, as opposed to just a rental. I'd also like to find out if anyone other than Pedroia would take a long team friendly contract to become a franchise player. I'm not sorry about paying him for unproductive years specifically because he did.

So after tonight I'm ready for another "Wake's washed up" cheering section.

"Jon Lester has allowed 16 earned runs on 21 hits and eight walks over 13.2 innings in his last three starts." When's the last time Wake collapsed like that guys? Right now he's one of the most consistent pitchers we have. You can call that sad if you want, but it's true.

After today's 9-1 hammering, I think we're going to have to play with two outfielders, one catcher and a backstop and let Wake win this thing for us ...

I'm not opposed to the idea of them looking at just about anyone earlier in September. That would make calling them up easier at this stage.

Francona bears sole responsibility for making sure the team is ready to play fundamentally sound baseball, even when the lineup's not hitting well. He is responsible for all the tactical decisions made in the game. He's primarily responsible for motivating the team. It's easy to manage a team that's on fire, but he has failed on all accounts this month. Right now it looks like the only thing that can save him is the rain.