With the Sox trading for Hanigan to be the lefty hitting backup to Vazquez it looks like the Sox are now set to wait for when Swihart is ready. When does anyone think we will see Swihart in Boston?
With the Sox trading for Hanigan to be the lefty hitting backup to Vazquez it looks like the Sox are now set to wait for when Swihart is ready. When does anyone think we will see Swihart in Boston?
They are going to wait until one of their current catchers gets hurt, or starts being ineffective. There are enough good qualities in the Vazquez/Hannigan that I doubt they'll rush another young prospect here.
He has very few games under his belt in AAA. I hope that he stays there for the entire 2015 and then gets a crack if ready in 2016.
Of course he may tear it up in Pawtucket and convince the FO that he is ready at some point this season ( 2015 ).
I think that they should give him some time at 1st base. That would seem prudent given the current MLB roster and his projected greatness with the bat.
Unless he implodes in 2015, he should get a chance to crack the roster in 2016. If Vasquez blows up in 2015 and Swihart is doing well in AAA he could get his shot after the first half of 2015. If Hanigan or Vasquez hit the DL, Swihart could come up for a short stint in 2015.
If some guys we're counting on in 2015 pull a Bogaerts, Middlebrooks or, God forbid, a Bradley, and Vasquez proves to be the poor hitter that he is, Blake could find himself behind the plate buy the middle of 2015. Ideally, it would be great to see him get a full season at Pawtucket, hit well there and crack the lineup in 2016. He and Betts are two prospects we must keep at all costs.
He's a catcher. You try your best to grow him and go slowly with him if he is to stick at the position
Hal sucks
If Vasquez is batting .190, I'd still want him starting 100 games. He needs the experience. His bat is not his priority right now. We'll see if he grows into a .250 hitter.
Vazquez is your future backup. I know there is a lot of helium on him, but the league is flush with defensive catchers who cannot hit. Swihart and Sanchez from NY are true offensive difference makers in the making. These guys are rare.
Hal sucks
I'm not at all worried about Vazquez's hitting. He has a solid K/BB rate and he makes contact. His defense and framing is elite.
But they're really not. In the age of the defensive catcher, having a defense first catcher isn't exactly mold breaking. Maybe his defense and framing are a tick better than most, but how much is that worth when he's probably gonna hit .200 as a regular? The goal is to stand tall amongst the competition, not shrink down to them. I think Vazquez is a good backup, the kind of guy a single pitcher on your staff gets comfortable with and gets him every turn. Hanigan is gonna be your starting catcher this season.
Hal sucks
Hanigan once topped 300AB, just once. That was ages ago. He is definition of backup. He is brought in to replace Ross.
He wasn't signed as a catcher but was converted there and has taken to it like a duck to water. Right now everyone is talking about Vazquez who is a terrific defensive catcher, but if some people like Castillo and Bogaerts don't hit, and Napoli and Ramirez are in and out with injuries, we will need every bat we can get into that lineup. People are talking like we can carry Vaz easily but forget what kind of starting rotation we have right now......C minus at best.
Your starting catcher in September will be Swihart.
Hal sucks
Fred, you're right. If you're gonna be a playoff team, you're gonna need to bludgeon your opponents. Carrying a catcher who cannot hit his weight decreases that likelihood
Hal sucks