Boomerangs wrote:

---

We know Shoppach was signed. We do not know if the Redsox think he's better than Lavarnway right now. It's entirely possible that Shoppach starts the year over Lavarnway to keep his service time under control, and when he can be brought up without wasting a year of control, they bring him up. What options will the sub .200 hitting Shoppach have then? He probably waits in Pawtucket as an injury back up or is traded. That scenario is at least as plausible as Shoppach being our platoon catcher for the year.

Why is it so difficult to believe that the Sox want Lavarnway to get more work in behind the plate before they jump him into the majors for good?

I doubt anybody on this board would prefer to see Shoppach swing the bat over Lavarnway, but the fact is that Lavarnway has limited experience catching and is a major work-in-progress.  The Red Sox would prefer that he gain that experience and make his mistakes in AAA instead of up in Boston, so that when he gets the call to Boston, he'll be at least an adequate receiver.

The other thing is that the man needs to play everyday.  What good does it do him to be stuck behind Saltalamacchia in a platoon situation?

From everything I read, it sounds like Salty was also a work in progress last year defensively, but at least had the tools to be a decent catcher.  From my understanding, Lavarnway doesn't have those tools, but he'll have to work his butt off to even be acceptable.  There are plenty of scouts who don't think that will happen. 

Others point to his improvements, such as his improved and solid CS%, or the fact that his passed balls were way down last year.

I tend to think he at least has a chance to be a presentable catcher, but he probably needs more work on his footwork and calling a game.  No better place to learn than Pawtucket.  If he succeeds on some level in those areas, then we'll be sure to see him soon, and I look forward to it, but I have no issue with the Sox getting a decent defensive catcher to back up Salty.  It makes all the sense in the world.
  

Boomerangs wrote:

---

I think the Redsox "expect" Lavarnway emerging to contribute at the mlb level before mid year. They probably think that is more likely than not. I don't think they "expect" Shoppach as being their back up catcher all year.

I'm a fan of Ryan Lavarnway, too.  I'm very intrigued by his bat and am encouraged by some of the progress he's made defensively, but if he's not the regular catcher then it makes no sense to waste him on the bench in Boston when he can be working on his defense in Pawtucket so that when he does come up he can challenge for the starting job.

If his defense was up to snuff, don't you think the Sox would have him challenging for the starting job?  It's not like Salty is Johnny Bench.  So you have to know the Sox still think he needs work on his defense, game calling, pitch blocking, etc.

Meanwhile it makes perfect sense to get a RH complement who can handle lefties and be a guy that the opponents don't run on at will (unlike Varitek).

Are you seriously advocating having Salty and Lavarnway platoon where Lavarnway sits on the bench four or five days per week?  What good does that do him?  He needs to play every day and improve his defense to the point where he's a viable everyday catcher, something that he might never really do.

I'm optimistic that if he does continue to work diligently on his defense he can be an adequate receiver whose bat puts him in the upper half of catchers.

Don't misunderstand - I, like alot of people here, are bullish on Lavarnway.  We're just not ready to anoint him starting catcher yet.  I hope he forces the issue by mid-season as the Sox could use a strong RH bat, and yeah, I think Shoppach can be disposeable, but unless he forces himself into a full-time gig based on his bat AND glove, there's very little value in having him waste away on the bench.  Let him hone his craft.

Meanwhile, the Sox need a backup catcher, so enter Kelly Shoppach.