It’s really a non-factor.
Much like who will be playing shortstop for the 2022 Red Sox, we also know who will be the starting catcher. And no amount of stats on this or any other forum will change this…
A lot of presumption over things that have not happened yet. What if they don’t sweep the Yankees? Heck, what if they get swept?
The Yankees do end the season with Tampa, but as things stand now, those games with the Rays might be completely meaningless. So it’s not like Tampa can be counted on for any help…
That’s fine but first order of business is getting in, followed by clinching home field for the WC game. Getting players ready is last. Possibly even behind setting up the postseason rotation…
Fun thought: this year, Red Sox outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Kyle Schwarber have combined for 59 home runs on the season. Both players were non-tendered last off-season…
It might have more to do with regularly resting Vazquez, especially since catcher is a fairly grueling position physically.
Over the season, Plawecki has caught Eovaldi 16 times to 12 for Vazquez, so this is not a new radical change…
That’s why Bartolo Colon beat Johan Santana for the Cy Young Award. He had more wins and was therefore the better pitcher. And we can ignore that Santana was better in all the other pitching stats…
It could be a decision by Cora, but I wouldn’t rule out good ol’ fashioned superstition. Baseball players are notoriously superstitious and Eovaldi might prefer Plawecki because he feels he has his best games with him.
Of course, I have no idea if Eovaldi himself is actually superstitious.
Also, I do not recall the Scarecrow talking about catchers….