The bench thread

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

I still think that this is one of the strangest benches I’ve seen. If JDM was only a DH then it’d make more sense but since he’s now the 4th OF’er, it creates a major playing time problem for Swihart since DD opted (wrongly, IMO) to hold onto Holt and seems committed to Leon as 2nd C.
When Pedroia returns i don’t know how it’s going to work in the slightest unless Holt or Leon get released.
Injuries both recent and in the future change this- especially to Betts now and to any possible C above him.

 

[judyb]

I still believe the reason they kept Holt is because he has an option left so they wouldn't have to release him if the team ever gets healthy enough for Lin and Swihart to steal his job and he clears option waivers, so they'd still have him in the minors for more depth if they stop being healthy enough later.

 

[Merkle's Boner]

The other interesting thing about the bench is that, at Fenway at least, I think JBJ is the backup RF. Cora doesn't want to see JDM or Swihart out there, and Benny needs to play CF when Jackie's in right.

 

[pantsparty]

It will probably depend by park, Martinez played a game in right when the Sox were in Miami. And I think what Cora did today after Mookie left the game made perfect sense - Benny's also a good defender, but I trust JBJ more when it comes to picking up Fenway's weird RF dimensions on the fly plus he has a stronger arm.

 

[Buzzkill Pauley]

I still believe the reason they kept Holt is because he has an option left so they wouldn't have to release him if the team ever gets healthy enough for Lin and Swihart to steal his job and he clears option waivers, so they'd still have him in the minors for more depth if they stop being healthy enough later.

And I believe the reason the Sox kept Holt is because they were able to get an offer on Marrero, after putting out feelers on both.

I don’t see him sticking on the roster after Bogaerts gets back, though. Lin isn’t showing a lot of power, but he’s doing a great job squaring up balls for line drive singles and spraying them all over the field.

Lin actually sort of reminds me of Christian Vazquez ca. 2014 that way. And while that may not be great, it’s certainly competent enough for a team’s backup middle infielder.

 

[simplicio]

It will probably depend by park, Martinez played a game in right when the Sox were in Miami. And I think what Cora did today after Mookie left the game made perfect sense - Benny's also a good defender, but I trust JBJ more when it comes to picking up Fenway's weird RF dimensions on the fly plus he has a stronger arm.

Cora announced early on Martinez would be playing left at Fenway and right on the road.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/clubhouse_insider/2018/03/jd_martinez_to_play_both_corner_of_spots_mookie_betts_could#.Wpsh3PBxmIs.twitter

 

[grimshaw]

Even using this bench liberally they have managed to go 12-2 despite a .217/.307/.282 slash.

Once Pedey and Marco Hernandez return, this looks completely different, but it hasn't been pretty.

 

[judyb]

And I believe the reason the Sox kept Holt is because they were able to get an offer on Marrero, after putting out feelers on both.

I don’t see him sticking on the roster after Bogaerts gets back, though. Lin isn’t showing a lot of power, but he’s doing a great job squaring up balls for line drive singles and spraying them all over the field.

Lin actually sort of reminds me of Christian Vazquez ca. 2014 that way. And while that may not be great, it’s certainly competent enough for a team’s backup middle infielder.

Yeah, Lin seems like a fine replacement for Marrero, and the MI part of Holt, as long as Swihart or someone else can cover the 5th OF part of Holt, I do expect Holt to be optioned when Bogaerts comes back, unless he starts playing better enough that there is a team willing to trade for him then.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

It strikes me as wishful thinking that Holt will be the one sent down when Bogaerts returns. Sure, Lin is the better defender and has thus far swung the bat better, but between that and his age, wouldn't he be better off playing every day in Pawtucket than once or twice a week for the big club? Holt is the sort of veteran they can sit 5 out of every 6 games with no guilt and no worry of stunting his development. It would not surprise me in the least if that is the way they go.

I think Lin's path to staying once Bogaerts returns is if he's still hitting well enough, they DL Nunez and move Lin to 2B for a while. It gives Nunez a chance to get off his balky knee for a couple weeks without much ill effect to the lineup. He may be productive at the plate despite the knee, but I fear he's not going to make it to whenever Pedroia returns.

 

[Buzzkill Pauley]

I don’t really agree - if only because Bogaerts has an ankle injury and Nunez appears inconvenienced at least by his knee. Each of those guys is going to be needing extra time off to take it easier, and Lin is not only the better defender but also hitting better.

It’s a different animal when Pedroia pushes Nunez to the bench, but I think it would be more justifiable for the team to drop down to 11 pitchers than for them to send Lin back down.

[edit] I don’t see the team DL’ing Nunez for his knee until Bogaerts has a few games to prove his ankle is good. And I think DDski cares fuck-all about development time in the minors (see Devers, Rafael and Poyner, Bobby).

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

[edit] I don’t see the team DL’ing Nunez for his knee until Bogaerts has a few games to prove his ankle is good. And I think DDski cares fuck-all about development time in the minors (see Devers, Rafael and Poyner, Bobby).

There's a significant difference between advancing a guy to the big leagues to play as often as he would in the minors and advancing a guy to the big leagues to sit the bench four or five games a week. The former isn't a potential curb on development at all.

 

[Buzzkill Pauley]

There's a significant difference between advancing a guy to the big leagues to play as often as he would in the minors and advancing a guy to the big leagues to sit the bench four or five games a week. The former isn't a potential curb on development at all.

That may be true, but what have you seen from DDski’s decision-making since joining the Red Sox that would indicate he’s concerned at all with polishing positional prospects in the minor leagues?

2018 - Poyner
2017 - Devers, Lin
2016 - Benintendi, Moncada, Swihart

Lin himself didn’t get any time above AA before being called up, so the idea that he needs more seasoning in Pawtucket is, I believe, a dot blipping somewhere outside DDski’s radar. It may be true, but it’s another historical anachronism of the Theo/Cherington years, which time has passed, for better or worse.

I don’t know if Lin will stick, but he’s making it an awfully hard decision to send him back down.

 

[Byrdbrain]

It isn't a matter of polishing them in the minors but more simply a matter of getting regular playing time. If it looks like Lin will only end up playing once a week then it probably would be better for him to go down and give Holt that one game.
If Nunez is banged up and they want to ease X back in and it looks like they could get Lin 3-4 games a week then it would be better to keep him around.

This type thinking may have been why they kept Holt up instead of Lin at the start of the year since Lin can play OF as well.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Development /= "seasoning"

You're misunderstanding my point. I'm not saying that he shouldn't be calling players up too early. I'm saying that a younger player should be playing every day as opposed to sitting on the bench. All the players you mention, with the exception of Moncada who was simply a cup of coffee guy after the minor league season ended, were brought up specifically to play regularly. And when the opportunity to play often disappeared (ineffectiveness, the return of an injured player, or a new acquisition), they were sent down.

Benintendi has been the starting LF since the day he was called up. Devers the starting 3B since the day he was called up. Poyner has been a regular contributor out of the bullpen, with no less usage than he'd have gotten being in Pawtucket or Portland. Lin was called up last year to play 3B after Sandoval and Hernandez and Holt and Marrero were either hurt or ineffective. And when regular playing time dried up after the Nunez acquisition, they sent Lin back to the minors in order to keep playing every day. That's all I'm proposing that they'll do when Bogaerts comes back and there are no more regular starting opportunities for Lin with the Red Sox.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

Even using this bench liberally

I was curious about this, so I ran some numbers--the Sox are right in the middle of the pack as far as bench usage, as measured by percentage of total PA taken by guys who are not among the top 9 on their team in PA. The Jays, Rays and Yankees lead the league with 18.0%, 17.8% and 17.8% respectively. The Sox are 8th at 15.6%. League average is 15.1% (slightly less than the median because there's a wider range of values at the bottom of the list -- the White Sox have only given 10.6% of their PA to bench players).

So maybe liberal compared to our expectations, but pretty ordinary compared to league norms.

 

[grimshaw]

I was curious about this, so I ran some numbers--the Sox are right in the middle of the pack as far as bench usage, as measured by percentage of total PA taken by guys who are not among the top 9 on their team in PA. The Jays, Rays and Yankees lead the league with 18.0%, 17.8% and 17.8% respectively. The Sox are 8th at 15.6%. League average is 15.1% (slightly less than the median because there's a wider range of values at the bottom of the list -- the White Sox have only given 10.6% of their PA to bench players).

So maybe liberal compared to our expectations, but pretty ordinary compared to league norms.

Ya liberally compared to our expectations is better put since most of our starting lineup doesn't require much mixing and matching . I'm very happy to sacrifice that to keep guys rested. The larger point is that they suck but will get better - though I guess that should also be weighed vs. the rest of the league too.

 

[JimD]

I found Cora's public comments about Holt's struggles to be very telling (“He can do better and he knows it”). I think Lin stays unless Holt does something pretty soon to change the manager's mind.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

I found Cora's public comments about Holt's struggles to be very telling (“He can do better and he knows it”). I think Lin stays unless Holt does something pretty soon to change the manager's mind.

That's interesting. I would interpret that comment as a vote of confidence, if anything. But I hope you're right, because I think Holt is toast, and we will be a better team with Lin in that role.

 

[Jerry’s Curl]

Ya liberally compared to our expectations is better put since most of our starting lineup doesn't require much mixing and matching . I'm very happy to sacrifice that to keep guys rested. The larger point is that they suck but will get better - though I guess that should also be weighed vs. the rest of the league too.

I think the team originally went with Holt over Marrero because of what he did offensively prior to last year’s concussion problems and a hope he would return to Brock star. He clearly isn’t the same player. I don’t think he is long for this team. Lin has shown to be the superior defender and now with his bat.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

I think it is waaay too soon to judge post concussion Brock Holt based on how many ABs he has had this year .

What's the rush?

 

[Coachster]

I think it is waaay too soon to judge post concussion Brock Holt based on how many ABs he has had this year .

What's the rush?

No real rush, but if Xander is ready in 10 days, would you be OK with them sending Lin back down (and keeping Holt)? I think what's going on is in anticipation of the roster crunch to come.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Yes, yes I would.

Considering what Holt has done in the past, I would give him at least a couple months to see if he can regain regain that form.

More options for the team > fewer options for the team.

 

[trekfan55]

Yes, yes I would.

Considering what Holt has done in the past, I would give him at least a couple months to see if he can regain regain that form.

More options for the team > fewer options for the team.

Agreed. Like it or not, teams always work this way. It is unusual for a team, especially the Sox, to dump a player in favor of one with options.

Now, if one team in need makes a good offer for Holt, or other injuries work themselves into the conversation then obviously things change.

Back in 2005, with the dual hangover of the 2004 playoffs, plus their consistent rotation throughout 2004 this place (previous version of SOSH) was discussing who to send to the bullpen when x pitcher was healthy. And because of various heath issues there was never a need. Oh, and let's not forget the needless trade of Arroyo for Willy Mo Pena, with the thinking that they had a surplus of starters.

 

[Byrdbrain]

No real rush, but if Xander is ready in 10 days, would you be OK with them sending Lin back down (and keeping Holt)? I think what's going on is in anticipation of the roster crunch to come.

This was discussed a bit up thread. I'd rather have Lin in AAA playing 6 days a week than in Boston playing 1 or 2. If the team is banged up and if it looks like Lin could play 3 or 4 days a week then sure I'd rather have him.

This isn't really about options for the team though since both players have (minor league) options.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

Considering what Holt has done in the past, I would give him at least a couple months to see if he can regain regain that form.

You mean that for a couple of years at ages 26 and 27, he was almost a league average hitter thanks to a pretty gaudy BABIP?

I mean, sure, being a league average hitter is nice for a bench guy, but it's not like we're talking about a high ceiling here. You don't have to decline all that far from Holt's peak to become fungible.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

He also can play 7 positions. OK, not as well as other options, but that flexibility is helpful

 

[tonyarmasjr]

He also can play 7 positions. OK, not as well as other options, but that flexibility is helpful

This is how I see the depth chart:
C - Vaz, Leon, Swihart
1B - Hanley, Moreland, Holt/Swihart
2B - Pedroia, Nunez, (Lin), Holt, Swihart
3B - Devers, Nunez, Holt, Swihart/(Lin)
SS - X, (Lin), Holt/Nunez
LF - Beni, Martinez, Holt/Swihart
CF - JBJ, Beni, Betts, (Lin), Holt
RF - Betts, JBJ, Martinez, Holt/Swihart

In my opinion, the value of his positional flexibility is negated by the fact that, even with both middle infielders currently on the DL, he should really only see the field at SS, 3B, and maybe LF. I'd rather see Swihart get the LF ABs whenever possible. This leaves out the other potential options of Marrero and Hernandez, who would be better at SS/3B if available. If an OFer misses an extended period, JDM becomes the LF, with Hanley/Moreland at DH. If a 1B goes down, Travis comes up. Off the 40-man, AAA also includes DeJesus, Barfield, Castillo, and Tavarez who I'd expect to provide similar or greater performance at the positions Holt plays if the need arose. This isn't a team that will need a lot of PAs from PHs, catcher being the only starter where it would really make any sense. And Holt isn't a guy that inspires any more confidence than Vazquez (or even Leon). The fact that Holt can play a bunch of positions adequately doesn't mean he ever should. The problem is, that's where a lot of his value lies. If that's not utilized, he just isn't worth very much at all. Holt was useful when he was the top utility guy on teams where we had a DH who didn't play the field and holes/timeshares at 3B or LF, but none of those situations apply in 2018.

 

[Unin10D]

Holt has an option remaining, doesn't he? I wonder if giving him regular playing time at Pawtucket for a month would help him regain his stroke.

I agree that concussions are injuries without a specific timetable. And when Holt is good, he's one of if not the best utility player in the league. So giving him time to try and regain that would be good. I just wish it didn't have to come at the major league level, because he's clearly not right at the moment. When he's in the lineup it feels like an NL team having to clear the pitcher

 

[Merkle's Boner]

Holt has an option remaining, doesn't he? I wonder if giving him regular playing time at Pawtucket for a month would help him regain his stroke.

I agree that concussions are injuries without a specific timetable. And when Holt is good, he's one of if not the best utility player in the league. So giving him time to try and regain that would be good. I just wish it didn't have to come at the major league level, because he's clearly not right at the moment. When he's in the lineup it feels like an NL team having to clear the pitcher

Yeah, I'm not buying this anymore. He may have at one point been one of the most versatile utility players in the game, but I really don't see a scenario where Holt will ever give you more than Lin (or Swihart) moving forward. Lin is far superior defensively and, thus far, has proven to be able to handle the bat. Holt had his time, and was valuable for us, but his time has passed.

 

[Mike F]

Holt has an option left. Doesn't Lin have 2 options left? This might be a consideration IF all else were equal.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Holt has an option left. Doesn't Lin have 2 options left? This might be a consideration IF all else were equal.

A single option covers the whole year, so how many options shouldn't be a factor unless they're concerned about conserving them for future years. Gotta think that if Lin sticks around all year and doesn't use an option, he's not a likely candidate to need options going forward barring him turning back into the pumpkin at the plate that he was pre-2017.

I think the more over-arching factor in terms of who may get sent down between the two of them is potential playing time. If the guy who stays is only looking at 1-2 games a week, it would behoove them to send Lin down for more regular playing time. Holt is who he is. Regular playing time probably won't change that.

 

[judyb]

No reason they should care about saving Holt's option year for the future, preserving another LIn option for future years might make some sense, otherwise, if they option Holt first, and Lin isn't getting enough playing time, they only have to wait 10 days to swap them, not even that long to swap Lin for someone else, or if someone goes on the DL, it's not like they're forced to keep Lin on the bench all season if he's not getting the playing time they want him to get.

 

[joe dokes]

A single option covers the whole year, so how many options shouldn't be a factor unless they're concerned about conserving them for future years. Gotta think that if Lin sticks around all year and doesn't use an option, he's not a likely candidate to need options going forward barring him turning back into the pumpkin at the plate that he was pre-2017.

I think the more over-arching factor in terms of who may get sent down between the two of them is potential playing time. If the guy who stays is only looking at 1-2 games a week, it would behoove them to send Lin down for more regular playing time. Holt is who he is. Regular playing time probably won't change that.

Already burned Lin's option for this year in March.

Overall I agree that Lin should get regular time as a fulltime fill in rather than once a week, but I think this will sort itself out between Bogaerts injury, Nunez gimpiness and Pedroia's return.

If Holt still can hit in whatever role he's got by June 1 (when I suspect all the regulars will be back in with some sort of regularity), I'm fine with giving Lin the job. Development is important, but not as important as helping the big club. Unless they think Lin will actually be worse than Holt at the 1-2 games a week thing, then I think that's what he should get, unless Holt manages to rebound.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Already burned Lin's option for this year in March

He wasn't down 20 days. It isn't officially burned until he spends at least 20 days on an optional assignment.

 

[joe dokes]

He wasn't down 20 days. It isn't officially burned until he spends at least 20 days on an optional assignment.

Ahh, forgot about that part....24th to the 10th......so not quite.....

 

[grimshaw]

I think the more over-arching factor in terms of who may get sent down between the two of them is potential playing time. If the guy who stays is only looking at 1-2 games a week, it would behoove them to send Lin down for more regular playing time.

Just some counterarguments with the caveat that regular playing time is always beneficial if you don't know what you have yet with a player. I just don't think it is necessarily the most beneficial to this team when you consider two other factors.

-He has 2100+ PA in the minors, so its really down to whether his work with Hyers is going to pay off. Whatever gains he had last year, he lost in AAA. I don't know what the difference in a AAA and MLB hitting coach is, but maybe he benefits more by being up and working with him as well as Febles.

-He's very unlikely to be a regular on this team unless Bogaerts leaves which is two years away, so really he is just going to be a fill in, or be injury insurance before then. If he is the fill in then he will need to get used to not playing everyday. He hasn't looked helpless at the plate in sporadic playing time in either stint.

Personally, I just want this team to have the best 25 players up.

 

[tonyarmasjr]

Already burned Lin's option for this year in March.

Overall I agree that Lin should get regular time as a fulltime fill in rather than once a week, but I think this will sort itself out between Bogaerts injury, Nunez gimpiness and Pedroia's return.

If Holt still can hit in whatever role he's got by June 1 (when I suspect all the regulars will be back in with some sort of regularity), I'm fine with giving Lin the job. Development is important, but not as important as helping the big club. Unless they think Lin will actually be worse than Holt at the 1-2 games a week thing, then I think that's what he should get, unless Holt manages to rebound.

I don't think anyone can make a valid argument that Lin shouldn't be getting at least 80% of the starts at SS with Bogaerts out. He's the only would who can actually play the position well. So, yes, he should be the fulltime fill in there. Lin is X's replacement at SS if it's more than just a game every week or two. Once Xander's back, it's less imperative to have a decent fielding SS to back him up.

Aside from that, though, it's hard to get three bench guys regular ABs. So, who should be getting the most among Moreland, Swihart, Holt, and eventually Nunez and Lin? To me, Moreland and Nunez are clearly the best hitters and should get the most. Swihart is the one guy who has projectable upside and could be an important piece both this year and in the future. I also think he is a better utility option than Holt (when considering we wouldn't need him to play CF or SS) and expect him to outhit him (and Lin). I want him getting all the ABs available behind Moreland and Nunez.

 

[Coachster]

Yeah, I'm not buying this anymore. He may have at one point been one of the most versatile utility players in the game, but I really don't see a scenario where Holt will ever give you more than Lin (or Swihart) moving forward. Lin is far superior defensively and, thus far, has proven to be able to handle the bat. Holt had his time, and was valuable for us, but his time has passed.

And tonight Holt is in the lineup and Lin on the pine. It’s wrong on every level. This is just conjecture, but I wonder if Cora has a binkie in Holt; he sees something of himself in Brock, and is going to play him regardless of what he isn’t (or can’t) do.

God, I hope not.

 

[Pozo the Clown]

And tonight Holt is in the lineup and Lin on the pine. It’s wrong on every level...

It's definitely wrong on the "who can get around on Ohtani's heat" level.

From the article linked below:

Since the start of 2017, Major Leaguers have hit just .237 and slugged .463 against four-seam fastballs thrown 95 mph or harder...Tzu-Wei Lin...has hit .429 against that kind of heat. That's the best of the 481 hitters who have had at least 25 plate appearances end with a fastball like that since the start of last year.

https://www.mlb.com/news/how-red-soxs-bats-can-approach-shohei-ohtani/c-272434464

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

And Holt goes 2 for 5 with a HR and 3 RBI last night. 5 for 13 in the last three games after starting the year 1 for 16. Maybe he's starting to heat up. Maybe Cora knows what he's doing.

 

[CoffeeNerdness]

Plus Lin got in the game in the fifth inning, so Cora found a way to get Holt more ABs to turn around his early season funk and get Lin more MLB innings. Win win.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

I am giving Mookie Betts credit for that, not the manager

 

[joe dokes]

And Holt goes 2 for 5 with a HR and 3 RBI last night. 5 for 13 in the last three games after starting the year 1 for 16. Maybe he's starting to heat up. Maybe Cora knows what he's doing.

I dont think its anything more than taking advantage of the team winning and having 3 hobbled/missing infielders to see if Holt has something to offer, post-concussion. He had a 762 OPS vs RHP as recently as 2016. I think Cora has a reasonable sense of what he has in Lin, and is trying to gauge where Holt is at.

 

[uk_sox_fan]

I think credit for Brock's recent productiveness should go entirely to his barber. Since chopping that ridiculous mop he's put up a 915 OPS with as many HRs as K's. And thanks to the unnamed barber, he's looked sharp doing it too. Give Cora credit for recognising the potential that the new haircut would bring though.

 

[joe dokes]

And tonight Holt is in the lineup and Lin on the pine. It’s wrong on every level. This is just conjecture, but I wonder if Cora has a binkie in Holt; he sees something of himself in Brock, and is going to play him regardless of what he isn’t (or can’t) do.

God, I hope not.

Yeah that's it. Binkie.
Or maybe Cora thought about it:
http://www.masslive.com/redsox/index.ssf/2018/04/brock_holt_over_tzu-wei_lin_re.html

So why Holt today vs. 23-year-old Japanese rookie Shohei Ohtani?
"It's just a matter of we feel that with his (Ohtani's) stuff and Holt's swing, it's a good matchup for us," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "Actually tomorrow, Lin will play short. It's just a matter of the matchup, but we're happy with the way he's playing."
It makes sense for Lin, the better defender, to play shortstop tomorrow with sinker baller Rick Porcello starting.
Lin's elite defense at shortstop is a factor when Cora plans lineups for days when Porcello pitches.
"The analytical department is adding a lot of information," Cora said. "And the defensive alignments are not the same for each group. Like with Lin at short, it's different than with Brock at short or Xander. There's a lot of stuff that goes into play. I feel like we've been in the right spot for a while now with the job they're doing.

There's room for disagreement. Lin's (actual) defense vs. Holt's (potential) offense vs. seeing if Holt is cooked vs. whatever analysis Cora is looking at, all inthe context if Boagerts and Pedroia playing someday. I'm not sure binkie-fear fits in there.

 

[Buzzkill Pauley]

So 10% of the season down, here’s the depth chart for Cora using the bench to give guys days off (with GS usage).

C — Vazquez (12), Leon (4),
1B - Ramirez (10), Moreland (6)
2B - [Pedroia (0)], Nunez (12), Holt (4)
SS - [Bogaerts (9)], Holt (4), Lin (3)
3B - Devers (15), Nunez (1)
LF - Benintendi (11), Martinez (5)
CF - Bradley (13), Benintendi (3)
RF - Betts (14), Bradley (1), Martinez (1)
DH - Martinez (9), Ramirez (4), Swihart (1)

Cora’s using 9 “full time” starters:
15 GS - Martinez, Devers
14 GS - Betts, Benintendi, Ramirez, Bradley
13 GS - Nunez
12 GS - Vazquez
9 GS (of 9 G) - Bogaerts

+ 3-4 “part-time” subs to give starters their days off or provide injury fill-in:
8 GS - Holt
6 GS - Moreland
4 GS - Leon
3 GS (of 7 G) - Lin

+ 1 in-game tactical replacement:
1 GS (at DH!) - Swihart (+3 PH, +3 PR).

It’s clear that unless an injury to either primary catcher occurs, Swihart’s real job is to keep a positive attitude and be a clubhouse guy who doesn’t kvetch about playing time. Of course, Leon is “hitting” .167/.167/.167, so this state of affairs might only hold through May, or until Pedroia is ready to be activated.

 

[joe dokes]

It’s clear that unless an injury to either primary catcher occurs, Swihart’s real job is to keep a positive attitude and be a clubhouse guy who doesn’t kvetch about playing time. Of course, Leon is “hitting” .167/.167/.167, so this state of affairs might only hold through May, or until Pedroia is ready to be activated.

The fact that Vazquez has started 75% of the games might be an indication that Cora doesn't value Leon's contributions *that* much, and may be willing to part with him whenever the roster shakes out. Its hard to know without any sense of what the team's view of Swihart's defense is, and the team's tolerance for risk, given what's behind them at AAA.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

The fact that Vazquez has started 75% of the games might be an indication that Cora doesn't value Leon's contributions *that* much, and may be willing to part with him whenever the roster shakes out. Its hard to know without any sense of what the team's view of Swihart's defense is, and the team's tolerance for risk, given what's behind them at AAA.

The bolded is the single biggest thing working in Leon's favor. I think the only chance that the Red Sox move Leon or Swihart this year is if the return includes a MLB-capable catcher with options. The lack of viable options in the minors is why they're carrying all of their catching depth on the big league roster right now. If one of them was destined to be shipped out when Pedroia returns, I would think all three guys would be getting turns behind the plate rather than just two. Swihart is the break glass catcher if one of the other two goes down. I just don't see them choosing to use him by willfully getting rid of Leon. He'll catch if they're forced to use him only.

 

[nvalvo]

As to our catching depth: keep an eye on Isaias Lucena, just promoted to Portland.

 

[Minneapolis Millers]

As to our catching depth: keep an eye on Isaias Lucena, just promoted to Portland.

He's throwing out 67% of the baserunners in Portland!! Sweet!

He's not listed in Soxprospects' top 60. Hitting stats look middling. What's his profile?