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Post by juniorp90 on Jul 19, 2014 23:37:34 GMT -5
It is easy to compare prospects to established players or retired, while it is difficult for the player not to feel pressure so .. But Blake Swihart is due to quite similar (Batsman both hands, not wearing mitts, power, avg, defense ) next Jorge Posada?
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Post by larrycook on Jul 20, 2014 0:11:44 GMT -5
This may sound contradictory but a like watching swihart play more than Vazquez, and in my opinion at the end of the day, I think the pitchers like throwing to Vazquez more than to swihart.
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Post by philsbosoxfan on Jul 20, 2014 2:45:20 GMT -5
Jim Callis:
"Buster Posey tool kit".
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Post by juniorp90 on Jul 20, 2014 7:40:33 GMT -5
Jim Callis: "Buster Posey tool kit". With more defensive skills, Swihart would be a star! |
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alnipper
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Post by alnipper on Jul 20, 2014 10:10:32 GMT -5
Jim Callis: "Buster Posey tool kit". With more defensive skills, Swihart would be a star! Swihart will be better defensively than Posada, and if his offense is close to Posada we'll have a special player to watch. |
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Post by templeusox on Jul 20, 2014 10:14:50 GMT -5
How about Jason Kendall?
Either way, the bar isn't very high for switch-hitting catchers. If he has a 100 OPS+ in the majors, he's one of the ten best ever.
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Post by soxfan06 on Jul 20, 2014 10:37:43 GMT -5
Question: What kind of defensive catcher is Swihart? Obviously Vazquez is seemingly an elite defensive backstop, how would you compare Swihart? As someone who has never actually seen him catch, what would you say his defensive strengths and his defensive weaknesses are? Pitch framing, how good is he at that important task?
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Post by cologneredsox on Jul 20, 2014 13:49:57 GMT -5
Without ever having him seen play his throwing percentages of the last two years indicate he has got a good arm and a quick release and good awareness. Would be great if someone who has see him can tell, if this is true.
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bmac
New Member
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Post by bmac on Jul 20, 2014 14:22:34 GMT -5
He has a really complete tool set. I have watched him several times(Portland) and this kid can flat out play. He has a good rapport with pitchers and swings the bat like a young Joe Mauer. I think the Red Sox have a tough decision looming Swihart the complete package or Vasquez the superior receiver of the two.
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Post by Guidas on Jul 20, 2014 19:39:50 GMT -5
Posada was a substandard defensive catcher. Swihart is trending toward becoming an above average defensive catcher. The offense could be similar though I think Swihart has the approach that will make him a higher OBP guy.
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Post by Oregon Norm on Jul 20, 2014 19:51:24 GMT -5
Also Posada was never as athletic as Swihart. The switch-hitting they have in common, I'm not sure about much else.
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Post by terriblehondo on Jul 20, 2014 20:27:16 GMT -5
I sure as hell hope he is not like Posada. If he is move him off catcher and let me have Christian behind the plate. All the scouting reports say that Swihart is going to be an above average defensive catcher and that is something Posada only could dream of being. I love that we have two above average defensive catchers in the system. Now I just hope at least one pans out as a star. I am a huge fan of Christian so I am really pulling for him. But Swihart really is starting to look like someone special.
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Post by Don Caballero on Jul 20, 2014 21:53:59 GMT -5
Better question, is there a better catching prospect in the minors?
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Post by larrycook on Jul 20, 2014 22:19:44 GMT -5
Better question, is there a better catching prospect in the minors? No not since Atlanta called up that kid to catch while gattis is out. |
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Post by mkeyboots on Jul 21, 2014 0:14:53 GMT -5
Question: What kind of defensive catcher is Swihart? Obviously Vazquez is seemingly an elite defensive backstop, how would you compare Swihart? As someone who has never actually seen him catch, what would you say his defensive strengths and his defensive weaknesses are? Pitch framing, how good is he at that important task? I saw him play down here in VA. Defensively he was athletically as advertised. Got the the one bunt pretty quickly and showed off his gun. He had one base stolen on him, although the ball was dropped during the tag, the consensus among my friends and I was that the ball had to have left his hand at 85. Pitch framing we couldn't tell from where we were, but he never showed the umpire up on close pitches, and blocked some pretty hard sliders without issue. Also of note, he chased down a strikeout that got away from him and threw the guy out. it was impressive in how much faster and more agile he looked than the other guys we watched. He also went oppo from both sides of the plate. He might not be on par as Vasquez, but when I saw him he was 2 years from what he is now. 40plus% cs ratio
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Post by philsbosoxfan on Jul 21, 2014 7:23:14 GMT -5
Better question, is there a better catching prospect in the minors? No not since Atlanta called up that kid to catch while gattis is out. It's been a while since analysts have included Bethencourt (Atl) or Sanchez (NY) when talking about the top catching prospects, neither made the gains that were expected this year. Right now generally it comes down to Swihart, Hedges (SD) or Alfaro (Tex). |
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Post by jmei on Jul 21, 2014 7:45:29 GMT -5
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Post by okin15 on Jul 21, 2014 8:38:01 GMT -5
Biggest knock on Swihart prior to last year was his body type and resultant durability. It's one more reason I don't want to jettison Vasquez any time soon. I don't buy the lack of a catcher's body in terms of performing at the position, but I do understand the possibility that he might not be able to play every day for 6-12 years. Is he athletic enough to play RF once a week, maybe on the road? Does that help him save his body at all? Otherwise, he could be part of the DH rotation in a few years (though I'm not sure that's really the way it works out.) In any case, in that respect, I'm not sure he's Posada-esque, though I guess it' pretty tough to predict. Plus, I'd rather be wrong here.
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Post by jmei on Jul 23, 2014 8:36:25 GMT -5
Detailed scouting report of Swihart from old friend Chris Mellen for BP (should be available without subscription): www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=24226As one would expect, it's a fairly glowing report. I'm particularly impressed by how quickly Blake has improved his hitting from the left side of the plate. As recently as last year, his lefty swing lacked fluidity, and he had huge platoon splits because of it. He's almost entirely closed that hole this year. Just incredibly impressive. |
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radiohix
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Post by radiohix on Jul 23, 2014 9:38:41 GMT -5
Maybe it's just nipticking here but his k rate is up to 29% in the month of July.
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Post by moonstone2 on Jul 23, 2014 10:00:45 GMT -5
The report sounds like Varitek and not Posada. Not as much power as Posada but maybe would hit for slightly more batting average and has a better glove. Always impressed by plus plus makeup, very underrated especially for a catcher.
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Post by brianthetaoist on Jul 24, 2014 5:55:04 GMT -5
Swihart's the guy in the minors I'm most confident about being a regular on the Red Sox; I may put him #2 on a ranking of the Sox under-26 (well, probably #3 behind Mookie). He's at least an above average defender at C and possibly more than that (he was the Defensive POY last year in the system), and his bat potentially plays in the top 5 of a lineup. That's a really, really solid player, and he may get better than that. He could be an anchor on championship teams.
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badfishnbc
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Doing you all a favor and leaving through the gate in right field since 2012.
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Post by badfishnbc on Jul 24, 2014 14:54:45 GMT -5
Number 1 on ESPN.com's Top 10 catcher prospects list (Insider). Standard write-up ("he may not be a superstar"), with an expected every day arrival in 2015. Grading was interesting: Alfaro, Sanchez, Susac, Pentecost round out the top 5. |
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Post by larrycook on Jul 25, 2014 22:53:38 GMT -5
He has earned the number one ranking. If you look at him back when he was at Greenville, you have to say wow at how far he had come this far.
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Post by Oregon Norm on Jul 26, 2014 0:01:42 GMT -5
Number 1 on ESPN.com's Top 10 catcher prospects list (Insider). Standard write-up (" he may not be a superstar"), with an expected every day arrival in 2015. Grading was interesting: Alfaro, Sanchez, Susac, Pentecost round out the top 5. ... but then again he may be. Players who become this good this fast at this many facets of the game sometimes just stay on that trajectory. Watch him move and he looks superbly athletic. Could happen. |
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