Yeah, but he's going to be at the plate, also.Call it whatever you want, but I'm in the minority camp that is pretty ok with the call to get Sandy back behind the plate at this point.
Yeah, but he's going to be at the plate, also.Call it whatever you want, but I'm in the minority camp that is pretty ok with the call to get Sandy back behind the plate at this point.
I don't think he has options, but didn't they sign Gorkys Hernandez to be the 4th/5th OF to stash down in AAA?It's certainly true that the roster doesn't make a lot of sense. Things I would have done before this move:
- Returned Pedroia to the IL. He needs to post an .800 OPS in a meaningful Pawtucket rehab stint before I want him back with the club. Having him rehab as the major league team's DH is a luxury we simply cannot afford.
- DFA'd Núñez. He's doing exactly nothing well.
- Promoted Lin. We need someone who can play 2B/3B/CF on the roster.
- Acquired a minor league OF with options. Like... anyone with any kind of upside whatsoever. A classic 4th OF.
- Stopped playing JDM in the OF, where he's been awful. I know small sample defensive stats aren't worth anything, but... his are real gross, and correspond with the visual impression. Except in emergencies, he shouldn't be out there.
- After all that, think about the catchers.
just to pile on, Swihart was in LF to cover Beni on Sunday. So no, very likely not.I am wondering if he refused to play LF yesterday, and Cora said goodbye.
Edit: Emphasis added.
McAdam's take is up at BSJ: A snippet:
And look how badly that turned out!And given Jackie Bradley Jr’s all-too-familiar early-season struggles at the plate, the Red Sox again find themselves with a black hole in the bottom of the third lineup — the very same issue they experienced in the first half of last season.
You don't understand. The earth revolves around Sandy LeonI'm not sold on Sandy that he is the game changer. If so, why was HE released and NO ONE picked him up? Ultimately he is gonna have to hit and the moment Chris Sale goes South, do we blame Sandy? I find it real hard to believe that the lack of Sale's success is "the catcher". So swapping out one shitty player for another.
Didn’t they close the road and give Mirabelli a police escort?Showing my age here, but the Sox are doing this on a night Sale is pitching against the Yankees. Very reminiscent of the Sox re-acquring Mirabelli from SD in a "panic" trade and rushing to get him to the park in time to catch Wake against...the Yankees.
Both trades very early in the season as well.
Why not? If he's hurt, he's hurt. Doesn't matter if he's a day off the IL or six years off the IL, there are no rules preventing Pedroia from going back on the IL.You can't just send a guy who just completed a rehab assignment back to the IL like that.
(edit - re: Pedroia)
I think they just gave him a police escort - no road closure. And then Dougie Going Deep caught at least an inning without a cup.Didn’t they close the road and give Mirabelli a police escort?
Dude killed it.I think they just gave him a police escort - no road closure. And then Dougie Going Deep caught at least an inning without a cup.
http://chickenparm.blogspot.com/2005/06/dougies-diary.htmlI think they just gave him a police escort - no road closure. And then Dougie Going Deep caught at least an inning without a cup.
As opposed to Leon, who is 30 and can't hit.Who cares if he is a switch hitter if he can't hit? I understand he's been one of SoSH's biggest binkies ever...but he is 27 and simply can't hit .
Is this a joke? He's on the team and guys are hurt -- why is he not playing every day if DD thinks he needs to play more?‘(Swihart) really, for his own development, needs to go out and play.’
Last year everything went right. Cora's every move played out perfectly.
So far this year, nothing has. This team has sucked in every facet. This move screams of desperation.
I'm very curious to watch how the team and Cora forge this season and all its strife.
I don't necessarily hate it, I just don't understand it. Actually it's not just this move, it's the entire Blake Swihart era that baffles me.I'll join the growing list of people who hate this move.
A more nebulous description than for Hanley's release for sure.DD spoke to the media
Swihart never got much opportunity to catch at the major league level. He was brought up at age 23 when Vazquez was injured at caught 688.0 innings.Since then, he has caught 52.0, 12.0 (moved to LF and injured after Vazquez came back), 154.0, 54.0 innings. He did catch in the minors but he bounced back and forth and basically became a utility player, C/1B,2B,3B,LF,DH. In 2016 when Vazquez took over catching again, he batted .227/.277/.308/.585, which wasn't exactly great. The other thing that kept Swihart down was that Leon hit .310/.369/.476/.845 in 2016 (the two years before that Leon batted .156, .184 and the two years after, he hit .225,.177.It has been a long time since he's displayed major league skills.
Did I miss an injury? My bad if I did. However, if the suggestion is all of a sudden the Sox are going to say "jk we think you need more time on the shelf + more rehab' I don't buy that they could pull that off for a second. We're talking about the guy who famously took grounders on his knees because he's such a "gamer" and who has the full backing of a very powerful union. Unless there's a new injury or Pedroia retires they cast their die by rehabbing him and activating him. Personally, I think the guy is cooked and I hope he rides off into the sunset.Why not? If he's hurt, he's hurt. Doesn't matter if he's a day off the IL or six years off the IL, there are no rules preventing Pedroia from going back on the IL
Throwing guys out? (this year) I don't think he's wonderful, but he seems better at that than Swihart.What part of good defensively is Christian Vazquez?
My point of view exactly. Too much stock is put into a pitchers success on the catcher. You still have to make pitches. Wonder if Sale had any input?As opposed to Leon, who is 30 and can't hit.
And cleared waivers three weeks ago.
I'm saying that it's been three straight days since he played the field. Yesterday I understand because of the weather, but why is he not playing tonight? Lefty on the mound, so it's not a match up thing. My concern is that his knee is still not up to the rigors of playing every day or even every other day. And if it's a matter of a roster crunch, perhaps putting him on the IL for 10 days, especially if during those 10 days he would only play 4 times, might have been a better alternative to cutting Swihart loose entirely.Did I miss an injury? My bad if I did. However, if the suggestion is all of a sudden the Sox are going to say "jk we think you need more time on the shelf + more rehab' I don't buy that they could pull that off for a second. We're talking about the guy who famously took grounders on his knees because he's such a "gamer" and who has the full backing of a very powerful union. Unless there's a new injury or Pedroia retires they cast their die by rehabbing him and activating him. Personally, I think the guy is cooked and I hope he rides off into the sunset.
Since they're rolling with 13 pitchers at the moment, I assume Holt comes back and Ramirez or whomever his replacement might be in the meantime is the player who goes to make room.When Holt comes back, who goes? Nunes?
Who would you have replaced him with?I can understand giving up on Swihart. I don't understand replacing him with Sandy Leon. Sandy Leon is not a good player. And Vaz is the most overrated defensive catcher in baseball. Very strange.
Well, of course. The GM and manager met about just that fact and decided this was the course they were going to take for now. I think the whole thing is kind of dumb, but you don’t have conversations like this because things are going well.If they were 11-6 and not 6-11 this move doesn't happen.
This team has three quality starts in 17 tries. Even if you take out the two Velazquez bullpen games, 20% is awful.Is the bullpen so thin that the team couldn’t carry three catchers for a week...
Nunez is tied for 6th in pitcher WAR with Marcus Walden (at 0.0). We can't gut the bullpen depth by losing Eduardo.When Holt comes back, who goes? Nunes?
Right. I think the 13 pitchers thing was in part due to the 11 straight games to start, but turned into a different sort of need. I assume management prefers 12 for the longer haul.Since they're rolling with 13 pitchers at the moment, I assume Holt comes back and Ramirez or whomever his replacement might be in the meantime is the player who goes to make room.
Or Pedroia back to the IL if he's going to be an every three to four day player.
because there are better options on the Sox. He hasn't earned playing time. He should be playing every day... in AAA or on some awful team. He's not good.Is this a joke? He's on the team and guys are hurt -- why is he not playing every day if DD thinks he needs to play more?
Christian Vazquez is worse than Swihart in every offensive and defensive statistic.because there are better options on the Sox. He hasn't earned playing time. He should be playing every day... in AAA or on some awful team. He's not good.
This season? Who cares? It's been less than three weeks. Over their careers? Simply not true.Christian Vazquez is worse than Swihart in every offensive and defensive statistic.
He may still. Just not for Boston.Theo's last first rounder with the Sox. Always thought he was going to hit. Pretty swing.
Technically, that's Jackie Bradley Jr.Theo's last first rounder with the Sox.