We've seen the numbers. The Sox are 29-2 in Leon's last 31 starts.
We heard what Rick Porcello said about him last night. That he's the best defensive catcher Porcello has ever thrown to.
We've heard what Alex Cora has said about him. That he's the best catcher in baseball.
To the Cora point:
https://www.pressherald.com/2018/08/09/commentary-red-sox-catcher-leon-quietly-stands-out/
Leon has made some extraordinary plays over the last few weeks, one of which is discussed in the linked article. His play on last night's final out -- completing the out on the K/passed ball -- wasn't too shabby.
Yet, Leon has been released several times and has never been widely viewed as a star.
So what exactly do the Sox have here? Are Cora and Porcello just caught up in the moment and overly excited? Can 29-2 be credibly minimized because Leon is playing on such an incredible team? Or is Leon indeed a major difference maker?
We heard what Rick Porcello said about him last night. That he's the best defensive catcher Porcello has ever thrown to.
We've heard what Alex Cora has said about him. That he's the best catcher in baseball.
To the Cora point:
https://www.pressherald.com/2018/08/09/commentary-red-sox-catcher-leon-quietly-stands-out/
Leon has made some extraordinary plays over the last few weeks, one of which is discussed in the linked article. His play on last night's final out -- completing the out on the K/passed ball -- wasn't too shabby.
Yet, Leon has been released several times and has never been widely viewed as a star.
So what exactly do the Sox have here? Are Cora and Porcello just caught up in the moment and overly excited? Can 29-2 be credibly minimized because Leon is playing on such an incredible team? Or is Leon indeed a major difference maker?