NorthSideSox72 Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Trying to project 2015 roster spots is generally a huge guessing game. But for the catching position, things are a little narrower - the free agent class just doesn't have anyone likely for the Sox, and teams aren't trading away that talent if they have it. This means a strong likelihood that the team's catcher in 2015 is already in the organization. So I took a look at 5 players whose names might be in the hat, the pro and con cases for each, costs/status, and projecting what each needs to do to lay claim to one of the two slots. The article is here. It's kind of long, but since it involes MLB and MiLB guys together, I thought I'd post the link in PHT. Who do you all think gets a job? Or will they be so desperate that they sign a mediocre free agent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buehrle>Wood Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 AJP still hasn't seemed to slow yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Right now Flowers and Neito will be back, they have both earned it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buehrle>Wood Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Flowers needs to turn it around again if he wants to be back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jun 3, 2014 -> 09:09 AM) Flowers needs to turn it around again if he wants to be back. The improvements he has made defensively are enough that even if he is hitting .240, he is a starting catcher in MLB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buehrle>Wood Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 If he continues to hit like he did in May, then no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jun 3, 2014 -> 10:16 AM) If he continues to hit like he did in May, then no. Tyler put up a .621 OPS in May while hitting .208. While I'll grant that's poor, there are 4 teams in baseball that would still have been an upgrade for on the whole season 3 of whom were thought to be playoff contenders coming into the season (Rangers, Dodgers, Rays). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 Flowers had an historically lucky month in April and isn't hitting anymore. If he goes back to what he was last year, I don't think he's earned anything. Nieto certainly hasn't earned anything, I mean, he hasn't really even had a chance to. Both have some absurd BABIP numbers. Will be interesting to see where they sit around July. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buehrle>Wood Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 (edited) That certainly does not mean he'd be a starter for them if he keeps up this pace. Those mentioned teams also have starting catchers who have been better defensively than Flowers. Edited June 3, 2014 by Buehrle>Wood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 His numbers are falling faster than **insert J4L witty pun here.** Still think the sox future catcher is still not with the org yet. (trade/draft/whatever) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 If Flowers looks more like this May version for the remainder of the season, and continues to struggle with passed balls/blocking pitches (erratic at best, but still better than AJ, which isn't saying a whole lot)...then I would rather see Kevan Smith or Phegley in 2015. Almost every position other than SS can get better defensively... By the way, what's his percentage of caught stealing/opportunities compared to 2013? League average? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 3, 2014 -> 10:36 AM) If Flowers looks more like this May version for the remainder of the season, and continues to struggle with passed balls/blocking pitches (erratic at best, but still better than AJ, which isn't saying a whole lot)...then I would rather see Kevan Smith or Phegley in 2015. Almost every position other than SS can get better defensively... By the way, what's his percentage of caught stealing/opportunities compared to 2013? League average? Right now he's at 27.9%. I can't easily find the league average but that puts him 11th out of 19 qualified catchers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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