|
Post by ryantoworkman on Jun 8, 2016 16:55:23 GMT -5
I don't buy that the Sox used Swihart in LF because they don't believe in him to catch. I think it speeks to more of a need in LF and Swihart being so athletic to do it. In this case his ability worked "against" him and his development at catcher. The Sox definitely still viewed him as a long term at catcher. Agree completely, the LF move was a Job 1 decision by the FO. Job 1 is always making the playoffs. They needed a LH bat, and he was the best option available inside the organization. Swihart had shown himself offensively capable as a 23 year old thrust into the starting Catcher role. It's logical to think, relieved of the time and physical rigors of Catching, his offensive development might accelerate. If indeed his offense came up to league average for LFers, which he was approaching before the injury, then the team has a Catcher who hits like a LFer, and that has high value. The other thing I don't get in the CV vs BS discussion is the disregard for talent evaluator opinions; who, almost across the board, have CV as the better choice at Catcher. There seems a tendency to also forget the Molina brothers were all pretty weak hitters early in their careers. None of that is a knock on BS. It's just that CVs defensive prowess has him in a separate space for talent evaluators. BS remains a premier young Catcher and if they were to offer him in trade, they would find willing buyers. I however expect we'll see him on the Red Sox next year.
|
|