SoxProspects News
|
|
|
|
Legal
Forum Ground Rules
The views expressed by the members of this Forum do not necessarily reflect the views of SoxProspects, LLC.
© 2003-2024 SoxProspects, LLC
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Home | Search | My Profile | Messages | Members | Help |
Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.
|
Post by mgoetze on May 17, 2014 12:40:36 GMT -5
The Sox might do well to extend Pierczinski for one more year to mentor Vasquez. What's he gonna teach him, how to GIDP? If any mentoring is needed I'd prefer David Ross. Sign him as a catching coach if he doesn't want to play anymore.
|
|
|
Post by moonstone2 on May 17, 2014 22:44:27 GMT -5
The Sox might do well to extend Pierczinski for one more year to mentor Vasquez. Then, in 2016, when Swihart is expected to make the ML roster, they'll be an experienced catcher there to help him with the transition.. I would imagine that they will extend Ross.
|
|
|
Post by jmei on May 17, 2014 23:13:10 GMT -5
Is Ross good enough to be worth extending? He's still an excellent defensive catcher with elite pitch-framing ability and a great rapport with the pitchers, but I'm not sure he can hit enough to even be a backup anymore. With the caveat that it's a tiny sample (44 PAs), his strikeout rate is a preposterous 37.5%, and his bat speed has slowed to the point where he can't catch up to anything faster than low-90s heat (his contact rate on pitches in the zone is by far the worst in the league; he also has the second-highest swinging strike rate). He still has the sort of peripherals (a solid walk rate and some power) to make him merely a bad hitter (a 66 wRC+, which ironically ties him with Brian McCann) as opposed to an unplayable one. But he'll be 38 next year, and I'm not sure we can count on him as the Vazquez caddy next year. For instance, if Vazquez struggles (a la Bradley this year) or is injured, Ross has no shot at being a full-time guy, and I don't have a lot of faith in the next MLB-ready guy (Butler? Lavarnway?), either. But all of the above analysis is eight months premature, so we'll see where we're at at the end of the year and go from there.
|
|
|
Post by okin15 on May 19, 2014 14:27:10 GMT -5
I'd obviously love to see Vasquez force his way onto the roster this year. But that would solve some of the rookie issues we're worried about. Can we afford a) for Vasquez to sit part time on the MLB roster? and b) to have another rookie hitting below the mendoza line? Well, absolutely not to the latter, so we'll see, but that'd be the best possible solution. If Ross continues the way he has been, maybe it's irrelevant how bad Vasquez is at bat?
|
|
|
Post by moonstone2 on May 19, 2014 22:03:21 GMT -5
Jmei Alex Spier said on the radio earlier this year that they are going to have a veteran catcher to pair with either Vazquez or Swihart next year. I know you generally look at statistics and don't care about real world situations but there are many reasons why many teams prefer not to go with two rookie catchers.
Also I think it should be clear by now that I have a better chance of being the backup catcher than Ryan Lavarnway.
I think they will resign Ross as long as he's healthy. If you want a veteran backup catcher you aren't getting much of an bat anyways.
|
|
|
Post by moonstone2 on May 19, 2014 22:11:55 GMT -5
I'd obviously love to see Vasquez force his way onto the roster this year. But that would solve some of the rookie issues we're worried about. Can we afford a) for Vasquez to sit part time on the MLB roster? and b) to have another rookie hitting below the mendoza line? Well, absolutely not to the latter, so we'll see, but that'd be the best possible solution. If Ross continues the way he has been, maybe it's irrelevant how bad Vasquez is at bat? I am going to say that around mid-August or so Vazquez comes up and becomes the full time catcher.
|
|
|
Post by jimed14 on May 19, 2014 22:23:52 GMT -5
It's probably more like Russell Martin than Ross. I really have no opinion on Vazquez and Swihart until I see how smart they are calling games. That's something that Ross has made me appreciate. To me, that might be the most important aspect of catching.
|
|
|
Post by jmei on May 19, 2014 22:41:21 GMT -5
If they just re-sign Ross to be the backup, they're relying on a rookie as their primary catcher with no real safety net if he struggles or gets injured. If you're planning on starting a rookie, you can't have your backup plan be a 38-year-old career backup who has struggled with concussions and doesn't look like he can hit anymore. That's especially true if your next best options are a bad defensive catcher who hasn't hit for power in three years and a 29-year-old who has always been three years too old for his level and is the spitting image of replacement level. It might not be Martin, but the Red Sox need a better backup than an aging David Ross. I think they'll end up with Suzuki or Soto or Hundley.
|
|
|
Post by thelavarnwayguy on May 19, 2014 23:18:23 GMT -5
I think the Sox will be in a bind next year as well at catcher. I think i would like to take moonstone up on that bet but there is little doubt that Lavarnway is not the starter. I don't think it's Vasquez either though guys. I wouldn't be surprised if it were actually Pierzynski again and Swihart. Vasquez as injury depth. Lavarnway on another team by then probably. He's out of options after this year right?
You have to look for a while to not like Swihart. We are talking about his size and he's not some wimpy guy. He just happens to be an athletic catcher. Would you rather see him with a Molina body type? That's part of what makes him so good. They took a guy who was athletic enough to play just about anywhere and they made him a catcher. Great call as far as I'm concerned. Plus defense, plus offense, average base running. A potential 4-5 war guy at catcher.
He's Posey light. That's how you win championships. Outside the box, long term planning and quality execution.
|
|
|
Post by iakovos11 on May 20, 2014 8:08:30 GMT -5
I love Swihart, but he won't be ready for Boston next year. He'll need a year in AAA.
I'd love to sign Ross as some type of coach. Seems like he'd be great at working with the catchers in the system - although they already have Varitek.
|
|
|
Post by garnotte12 on May 20, 2014 14:49:21 GMT -5
It's probably more like Russell Martin than Ross. I really have no opinion on Vazquez and Swihart until I see how smart they are calling games. That's something that Ross has made me appreciate. To me, that might be the most important aspect of catching. i disagree. If Vasquez, Swihart or anyone else has all the catching tools + decent bat, if game calling is the only thing missing, pitching coach should call games until he's able to do so. To me...catching balls for strikes or as important...not loosing strikes because of a soft left hand is the most important thing in catching.,,then the blocking (happens a lot in a game), then the throwing (needed less frequent then blocking)...
|
|
|
Post by jimed14 on May 20, 2014 14:51:30 GMT -5
It's probably more like Russell Martin than Ross. I really have no opinion on Vazquez and Swihart until I see how smart they are calling games. That's something that Ross has made me appreciate. To me, that might be the most important aspect of catching. i disagree. If Vasquez, Swihart or anyone else has all the catching tools + decent bat, if game calling is the only thing missing, pitching coach should call games until he's able to do so. That never happens, does it? And there's no way a pitching coach can call a game better than a catcher. They're not seeing what a catcher sees.
|
|
|
Post by garnotte12 on May 20, 2014 14:58:17 GMT -5
Larussa did it for the start of Molina's career!!! look at him now!!! If the Cards would have left him in the minors because of bad game calling, they might not have the best catcher in the bigs!!!
|
|
|
Post by jimed14 on May 20, 2014 15:31:28 GMT -5
Larussa did it for the start of Molina's career!!! look at him now!!! If the Cards would have left him in the minors because of bad game calling, they might not have the best catcher in the bigs!!! He called every pitch?
|
|
|
Post by garnotte12 on May 21, 2014 10:40:50 GMT -5
Larussa did it for the start of Molina's career!!! look at him now!!! If the Cards would have left him in the minors because of bad game calling, they might not have the best catcher in the bigs!!! He called every pitch? At the start of his career, it was every pitch but after a year or 2...he was on his own. The Cards realized how good he was to get strikes. To me, thats THE most important skill in a catcher. Remember at the start of his career, he was hitting 8th or 9th. Larussa said, if he would hit below 200, he would still be my every day catcher. 1) catching balls for strikes or not loosing strikes, 2) blocking, 3) throwing, 4) game calling, 5) hitting... Remember that veterant pitchers calls their own game with a rookie catcher. Once confidence or connection is good, then catcher calls the games.
|
|
|
Post by godot on May 21, 2014 11:06:20 GMT -5
Speaking of Vasquez, he is not exactly shinning with the bat at AAA, but it is too early. He is hitting some doubles, about one-third of his hits and seems to have contact skills. At AA he had some surges, but overall, meh, at least to me. Is there any updates in scouting reports.
|
|
|
Post by jimed14 on May 21, 2014 11:18:28 GMT -5
If Vazquez can at least foul off pitches that are faster than 93 mph, he's a better hitter than Ross. I find it highly likely that this is his last year.
|
|
|
Post by godot on May 21, 2014 11:47:43 GMT -5
We are in tough shape if the endorsement of one prospect is that he dies not suck like what we have. That said, you are right though.
|
|
|
Post by mgoetze on May 21, 2014 16:08:20 GMT -5
If Vazquez can at least foul off pitches that are faster than 9389 mph, he's a better hitter than Ross. I find it highly likely that this is his last year. FTFY.
|
|
|
Post by jmei on May 28, 2014 12:46:04 GMT -5
Old friend Chris Mellen with an updated scouting report on Swihart. Here's an excerpt: He also notes that Swihart's left-handed swing looks much more crisp and fluid than it did earlier in his career, and that he's driving pitches from that half of the plate much more than he has in the past.
|
|
|
Post by brianthetaoist on May 28, 2014 14:53:12 GMT -5
I really like Swihart's game ... I'm probably more confident in his ability to play at a level consistent with a Red Sox starter than any player in the system not named Mookie.
|
|
|
Post by brendan98 on May 28, 2014 15:01:05 GMT -5
I really like the catch and throw element of Vazquez’ game, and he seems to have, at the very least, adequate offensive ability for a catcher. As a HS baseball coach, the #1 position I would sacrifice offense for top notch defense is the catcher position. Not saying Swihart is not, or cannot become a top defensive catcher, but according to almost anyone who has offered an opinion on Vazquez, his defensive skillset would make him an excellent defensive MLB catcher right now.
I look at the current Red Sox, and the system right now, and what stands out to me like a sore thumb, is where are the impact OF’s? Not withstanding Mookie’s recent transition to the OF, it is a glaring weakness at every level of the Red Sox system. At the MLB level, I don’t expect Victorino, Gomes or Carp to be around for more than couple more years, Bradley has proven he can play the position exceptionally well (but as of yet is a bottom of the order type hitter), and who know what the future is for Nava or Sizemore (but I’d hesitate to pencil either in as a starting caliber OF in 3 years). In AAA Brentz potentially has an impact bat, but currently is struggling trying to make improvements to his plate discipline, Henry Ramos is an interesting guy to watch in AA, and Margot is a guy to keep an eye on in A Ball, but even throwing Betts into that equation, the cupboard still feels pretty bare. To tie this into the Vazquez/Swihart thread, I really want to see Vazquez become a MLB starting caliber catcher, because I think Swihart’s athleticism could translate well to RF. I realize, much like the Xander to 3B argument, Swihart loses value in the OF, but if Vazquez can handle catcher, I am more than fine with that potential loss of positional value for Swihart, especially since I think it would allow his offensive development to accelerate and it would likely allow him to play in more games and stay healthier than he would as a catcher. I think that most projections that I’ve seen for Swihart’s potential offensively, are probably understated due to the position he plays, the kid is sporting a .480 slg% right now, and from what I understand his HR’s are laser beams (not moonshots), and while there is no guarantee that the kid will learn to elevate the ball, it is often something that happens quite naturally. I feel like as he continues to mature physically, Swihart would be the type of hitter to hit 20+ HR’s annually, if he were playing a position other than catcher.
|
|
|
Post by thelavarnwayguy on May 28, 2014 18:08:27 GMT -5
If Middlebrooks would just slam dunk his position we could consider Cechinni as a LF. I know his numbers are down a little now but my guess is he still makes it and would be at least an average defender in LF.
|
|
radiohix
Veteran
'At the end of the day, we bang. We bang. We're going to swing.' Alex Verdugo
Posts: 6,322
|
Post by radiohix on May 28, 2014 18:09:13 GMT -5
He also notes that Swihart's left-handed swing looks much more crisp and fluid than it did earlier in his career, and that he's driving pitches from that half of the plate much more than he has in the past. He got his OPS to a respectable .728 vs RHP now.
|
|
radiohix
Veteran
'At the end of the day, we bang. We bang. We're going to swing.' Alex Verdugo
Posts: 6,322
|
Post by radiohix on May 28, 2014 18:15:27 GMT -5
|
|
|