During a weekly interview between WEEI and Red Sox manager John Farrell, the Boston skipper announced that his starting catcher, AJ Pierzynski had been designated for assignment. The decision was not without reason as Pierzynski has tailed off offensively in the past few months but nevertheless, it does tear down a solid plan that was set forth going into this season.
After the tumultuous defensive collapse suffered by former starting catcher, Jarrod Saltalamaccia last season, the three year veteran of the system was not offered a qualifying offer prior to free agency. Looking for a catcher with better defense than that given by Saltalamaccia, coupled with the same average offence he brought to the table, the Sox went south as they were intrigued by current Rangers catcher: AJ Pierzynski.
Pierzynski, a 37 year old left handed hitter had logged 15 years of MLB experience playing extensively for the Twins and White Sox and briefly for the Giants and Rangers. In that time, AJ had employed a strong powerful swing to clock an average of more than 60 RBI's a season and assemble a batting average of .282. While those numbers may not be all that impressive when compared to some of the other power hitters the Sox already had, compared to the catcher Pierzynski would eventually replace in Boston, he was not half bad.
For example, in the 2013 season where AJ played a whopping 119 games, Pierzynski clocked 17 home runs and 77 RBI's for a batting average of .271. Those numbers were actually partially better than those assembled by Saltalamaccia. Playing in 2 more games than AJ, Salty hit 14 home runs, 66 RBI's and assembled a batting average of .273. With nearly identical statistical seasons at the plate, the Sox looked to defense where they quickly saw the subordinate nature of a Saltalamaccia/Pierzynski comparison.
As good as Salty was for Boston in his few years with the team, Saltalamaccia was never one to gun potential base theifs down at second and in the few times he tried, errors were of commonplace. In 332 games with Boston, Saltalamaccia committed 20 errors, the most infamous of which being the historic botched throw to third base in game three of last year’s World Series that cost the Red Sox a chance for a series lead.
After the realization that the Sox needed a defensive catcher, Pierzynski was signed. In the same span of time that Saltalamaccia played for the Sox, Pierzynski amassed a caught stealing percentage of .265 as opposed to the 24.7% of runner Saltalamaccia gunned down. For reasons like these, the Sox inked a 1 year 8.25 million dollar deal with AJ that would help them bridge the gap between Saltalamaccia and the barrage of prospects that the teams was developing down in Pawtuket.
Pierzynski had hit .254 this year in Boston with 4 home runs and just 31 RBI's making 2014 one of his worst offensive seasons on record. While the Sox insisted that Pierzynski's dismissal had more to do with the play of the guys behind him on the depth chart than his, it is no secret that had AJ put up some of the offensive numbers that even a few years ago were normal for him he would still be a Red Sox.
But what did the Sox have to say about the decision? John Farrell defended the move in the interview with WEEI
"It's an opportunity for us to invest in players that are going to be here beyond 2014," Farrell said "and while there may be other decisions that are forthcoming, we felt like the place we were going to start was behind the plate."
The Red Sox have gone the route of younger players of late, bumping Brock Holt up full time earlier in the year and then moving Mookie Betts up behind him and will follow the same path as they fill the hole left by Pierzynski.
For a few years now, the Sox have been eyeing a player who was climbing through their system with grace and great intrigue. That player, Christian Vasquez was promoted today and logged his first start in the MLB Wednesday night against the White Sox.
"That brings Christian to us, a guy we are high on his abilities, particularly as a defender and his ability to shut down the running game, and someone who continues to develop as an offensive player."
Also, in contrast to the general tension that almost every MLB player had with the fiery AJ Piersynski, much of the team has nothing but good things to say about the young Vasquez. Backup catcher David Ross praised his play back in Spring Training today.
"I think he's a great young prospect. Love his attitude. He's got a cannon for an arm; you're going to see a kid that can really throw. I'm anxious to be a part of the catching corps with him. I think he's got the mentality. Talking to him in spring training, he cares a lot. He wants to help the pitchers. He's not just about hitting, he's not just about catching, he's about both. I think he's going to be a good bright spot for us."
So what does this all mean?
Let’s face it, the Sox will not repeat as World Champions this year and we have known that for a long time now. And yet prior to today, it seemed that the Sox were still trying to hold on to the last shreds of their preseason plan for this year. Today they gave it all up by dropping AJ Pierzynski. All and all, the Sox are using the rest of this season to test out their very deep prospect pool. With 5 rookies starting in Wednesday's game, there was no argument in regards to statements like that.
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