Luis Exposito: Catcher of the Future? in SoxProspects Discussion Forum

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Luis Exposito: Catcher of the Future?

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drivfan08

#41

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08/27/09 11:51 AM

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firstfruitsfarm wrote:

drivfan08 wrote:
My comments are not concerning potential but instead what performance I had seen when they played for Greenville. Some of the power difference could be Expo's younger age when he was with the team. Either catcher is solid but I would lean toward Fed-Ex because of the way he worked with the pitching staff and his defense is a tad better.

I think their performances in Greenville were too close to call both offensively and defensively. It is way too premature to pick one over the other. The real proof is how they adjust to AA ball. Expo is seemingly making a good transition. Fed-X has yet to prove himself at that level.

POS

G

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

TB

BB

SO

SB

CS

OBP

SLG

AVG

OPS

E

Fed-Ex

C

55

226

34

78

19

0

10

34

127

15

42

1

0

.393

.562

.345

.955

6

Expo

49

191

34

54

8

1

11

31

97

12

42

1

.328

.508

.283

.836

2

Other than the errors, I believe it is not too close to call offensively. And while I can't find the stats - I know Fed-Ex was stronger defensively - When they played in Greenville.
That was the original inquiry into the differences asked by WillyCoPapi3 and thus, I won't comment on your other statements.

Iglesias (from Adam Foster): # Just saw Iglesias miss a grounder for the first time ever. A two-headed albino alligator was conceived simultaneously.

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firstfruitsfarm

#42

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08/28/09 7:34 AM

drivfan08 wrote:
Other than the errors, I believe it is not too close to call offensively. And while I can't find the stats - I know Fed-Ex was stronger defensively - When they played in Greenville.
That was the original inquiry into the differences asked by WillyCoPapi3 and thus, I won't comment on your other statements.

It's your choice to base your opinion on a small sample size of a half season of stats. But I think jimricerocks was interested in observations instead of stats. The most telling point is that the front office determined that both had no more to prove after a half season of Low-A. They both showed good plate discipline for their level, good catching tools and a good knowledge of the game. Expo was more athletic. There arms were close enough in strength that refining and mechanics would tell the difference. Fed-X had a really hot streak just before he was promoted. As I recall, Expo's development at the plate was more gradual. This is sort of a theoretical consideration, anyway, because they were separated by more than a year; different managers, working with different pitching coaches (Kipper was at Lancaster). A more interesting question today would be, if someone were proposing a trade involving minor league catchers and wanted either Fed-X or Expo, which one would you trade?

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ancientsoxfogey

#43

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08/28/09 7:48 AM

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Having seen Expo play recently, I have become a big fan. Not because of what I saw of his offense, though he looked like he was on pretty much everything. Not because of his arm, which is definitely major-league strong, but may be a little erratic at this point. Not because of his catching mechanics, which look good but probably need more refining before he is ready for the majors. But because he is a leader, which is invaluable out of the catching position. If Expo can accomplish the last parts of the skills development he needs, I have the feeling that he could be the same type of field general and team leader, and quite possibly the same quality of baseball player, that Varitek has been for the last decade +. In the best case scenario, maybe even a bit better player

I can offer nothing on the Expo/Fed-eX comparison, because I haven't seen Fed-eX play.

One thing when considering how good prospects are, and how they compare, is just that. They are prospects. They are developing. So what happened a year or two ago, while it is useful, may not tell the story of where they are today. It isn't fair for me to say that I know the current story either, off observations at two games. But I sure was encouraged by what I saw from Expo.

Last Edited By: ancientsoxfogey 08/28/09 7:53 AM. Edited 1 time.

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Cem21

#44

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08/31/09 9:34 AM

Chris Mellen
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That is a good point on the leadership characteristics of Exposito, ASF. One of the things that we heard Mike Hazen mention last year in his post-season interview on this Site when commenting on the development of the catchers was about the "nuances" of catching at the upper levels of the system. I think this is a pretty important piece of any catcher's development and I find it interesting that out of all the things you observed with Exposito, that was the thing that stuck out to you the most in your observation.

On the defensive development side of things for Exposito, one of the main things that has jumped out this season in terms of scouting has been in his arm action and release of the baseball. Exposito grades out as having an above average arm and one that should play up as a strong one at the MLB level. During warm-ups, he shows off a very nice arm down to second base. However, he struggles with the length of his arm action and rushing throws. This causes him to not get full power behind his throws and for them to tail into the runner from time to time. Cleaning up his technique and getting more fluid will be something he'll need to master to be a successful manager of the running game, and a key development point to watch going forward.

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ancientsoxfogey

#45

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08/31/09 11:56 AM

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About Expo's arm: I said it looked a little erratic, and it did, but what I saw (admittedly during warmups) was a little problem with release point and a few of his throws sometimes being "pulled" to the 3B side - not tailing toward a would-be runner. It looked to me as if Expo's throws down at the end of warmups were not just flips down, but he was working on his throwing in those circumstances.

Regarding his lack of success in throwing out runners, I wonder how much of that is running on the pitchers, and I wonder how many cases the throwout rate is based on. The two games I saw no one even tried to run on Expo until that ill-fated double steal in the 8th of the Bowie game. Both games were close all the way, so there would have been reasons to try to steal bases if the other teams were inclined to. And in the Bowie game especially, leadoff batter Figueroa was a pest and getting on base - but he wasn't stealing. Either the teams in those games weren't interested in stealing in those games for some reason, the Sox pitchers were holding them close (and I didn't see notable competence in that area by the Sox hurlers), or there was respect for Expo. But I don't know the explanation.

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TheGoldenGreek33

#46

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09/12/09 4:22 PM

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Greg (DC): Ben, what can you tell us about Luis Exposito? Is he the catcher of the future for the Red Sox?

Ben Badler: Probably not, but he's got a chance. He can hit for power and has a good arm, but the swing gets long, which is something he needs to continue to work at.

link

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ancientsoxfogey

#47

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09/12/09 4:55 PM

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Let me get this straight: This guy says the odds are against Expo being the catcher of the future, and then gives as his reason that, AS A 22-YEAR-OLD, his swing "gets long" (which I presume means that his swing discipline comes and goes) and is something he needs to continue working on?????

Surely there has to be more in the total package to make him skeptical of Expo's chances than just swing length. That's something that is eminently correctable over time if someone has the self-discipline to work on it, more so than, say, plate discipline or pitch recognition, which is a skill some players seem to have great difficulty ever developing. Now I must admit that Badler says he has a chance, but he'd better have, at least in his mind, a more convincing and multi-dimensional argument than that about why he thinks the odds are against him.

Of course, sound bite media being what it is, he probably threw out one thing on his mind and went on to the next question.

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DCRi

#48

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09/13/09 7:37 AM

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Pretty limp critique, I think. Varitek always has had a long swing, yet has had a fairly decent career. The fact that Expo went from A+ to AA without breathing hard ought to be a lot more meaningful. Not many do it that easily.

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ancientsoxfogey

#49

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09/13/09 7:58 AM

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True, DC, but since we just got burned by Lars this year at AA after a hot transition last year, we'd better wait to see if Expo can consolidate his gains at AA in the first half of 2010 before we get too enamoured. The other part of the equation for him, as it is for all catchers, is the defensive side, which is more extensive than it is for any other position. It may be that he is good enough to be at least an adequate catcher offensively in the bigs (which, given the state of offense from the catching position, may not take too much) before he is ready defensively. And at 23 next year, there is still plenty of time to bring him through the system gradually.

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DCRi

#50

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09/13/09 9:12 AM

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Sure, more has to be shown. Lars, however, I think is an aberration. I don't think we know the whole story there. I think the ETA for expo is 2011, probably as the backup, assuming he makes the transition to AAA next year and does well there. If not then it is possible that Fedex or Lavarnway may be pushing up as well.

Speaking of aberrations, Weiters is showing that, with great talent and a team that can give a player a chance, a catcher can make it in the bigs at a young age. He is, of course, a true exception.

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adiospaydro2005

#51

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09/13/09 9:21 AM

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Wieters has the potential to be a good catcher, but he isn't exactly setting the world on fire with either his offense or defense in 2009. Given his size, I suspect that he will eventually move to first base or DH.

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards
2009	23	BAL	AL	75	294	273	24	73	11	1	5	26	0	0	19	65	.267	.316	.370	.686	78	101	9	1	0	1	1	2/D

Year	Tm	Lg	Age	Pos	G	GS	Inn	Ch	PO	A	E	DP	Fld%	RF/9	RF/G	lgFld%	lgRF9	lgRFG	PB	WP	SB	CS	CS%	Awards
2009	BAL	AL	23	C	71	69	609.1	440	404	31	5	12	.989	6.43	6.13	.993	7.51	6.75	3		53	18	25%

Poorest spending of $3 million that I have ever seen.-fcastig 0220

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carltonfiskga

#52

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09/13/09 10:48 AM

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Why would you say he would have to change positions? IF I recall correctly, he seems to be about the same size physically as Carlton Fisk and he played what? for 20 years in the show as a big guy catcher?

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DCRi

#53

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09/13/09 10:55 AM

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Wieters is only in his second year of pro ball. Those numbers thus are very deceptive. They also are better than a number of experienced major league catchers. So I don't think you can conclude that he eventually is going to be moved. He always was rated as superior defensively as well as having the potential to be an elite hitter.

Becoming a major league catcher in the second year of a player's career is extremely rare. Give the kid a break. He's doing OK and I am willing to bet a lot that he gets a whole lot better in the next couple of years, both defensively and offensively.

The Orioles are on the verge of becoming a very good team. Their pitching is going to improve dramatically over the next two years. I would not be surprised if they are the Texas of next season. I think they will finish ahead of Toronto. If they are able to fill a couple of holes, 1B and 3B, they could be contenders in two years or so.

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adiospaydro2005

#54

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09/13/09 4:05 PM

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carltonfiskga wrote:
Why would you say he would have to change positions? IF I recall correctly, he seems to be about the same size physically as Carlton Fisk and he played what? for 20 years in the show as a big guy catcher?

Wieters is 6'5" and 230 lbs. He also is not nearly as athletic as Fisk.

Poorest spending of $3 million that I have ever seen.-fcastig 0220

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Bury the Hammer

#55

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09/13/09 7:13 PM

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And his pretty good performance this year in a relatively small sample size hasn't diminished his superstar potential one iota.

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TheGoldenGreek33

#56

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09/13/09 8:31 PM

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Superstar potential? Explain.

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Bury the Hammer

#57

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09/14/09 7:25 AM

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Talking about Wieters, not Expo.

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Luis Exposito: Catcher of the Future?