Montero puts on a show
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 22, 2010 
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Chan Ho Park held a press conference in South Korea, A.J. Burnett pitched to Jorge Posada in the bullpen and CC Sabathia snapped off sliders for the first time. It wasn’t exactly a slow day in spring training, but as camp was breaking up, much of the buzz centered on Jesus Montero.
Although I don’t think any reporters were there to see it, word is that Montero hit the top of the scoreboard in left field with a batting practice home run off Triple-A hitting coach Butch Wynegar.
“I didn’t turn around and look,” Wynegar said. “I made him look good today.”
Apparently the blast hit the M in George M. Steinbrenner Field. That’s a long, long way. Joe Girardi watched a lot of batting practice and called Montero, “very mature offensively.”
“I usually can’t see them go that far,” he said. “You the swing. You hear the sound. You have a good idea where it’s going.”
Montero said that he hasn’t been trying to hit big home runs this spring. He’s spent most of his batting practice sessions trying to get a good feel for his swing.
“Today, I found it a little bit,” Montero said. “… I tried to put a good swing on the ball. Put a good swing on the ball, and that’s what happened.”
He will be in Yankee Stadium at some point this season whether in September or earlier if need be.
Hi all
Wooohooo! Another post!!
Craw – I agree completely.
I think if there’s a long injury to Johnson we’ll see Montero get called up and either he or Jorge will DH.
can’t wait to see him against ml pitching
Montero is not only a great contact hitter. He has “light tower” power.
Now if he can just do his best Piazza imitation behind the plate.
I’m salivating
From Chip…SJ – You’re confusing the way the Yankees used to operate vs. the way they have been operating over the last couple of seasons.
If that kind of “chump change” was irrelevant to the Yankees then explain to me why they had the Pirates pay 500k of Hinske’s salary last year?
************
Chip, that doesn’t prove your point, in fact, it enhances what is good about Cashman and that is value matters no matter where it is. It is also why he made his deal with Damon and stuck to it, it is why they got park for about 2 mil less than the Phillies offered him etc…I think the Yanks and Hank screwed up with ARod and bid against themselves when they didn’t have to, but getting ARod was the right move. Outside of that, they have been smart
i try not to get too hyped cause hitting monster homeruns off butch wynegar isnt that much of a accomplishment
it’s been a long time since i’ve been this excited about a potential power hitter that is coming up thru our own system. any chance he’s gonna stick behind the plate in the long term is the real issue though.
Maybe Montero should be on the big club ’cause he hits the ball further than just about anyone not named Arod.
Oh yeah, he will open in AAA to refine his catching and further develop his hitting skills.
Hughes to Montero in AAA for a good part of 2010 and then Hughes to Montero for the next 15 years!
Ledger_Yankees Montero says his HR today was in his Top 5 longest of all time… but on the low end. Wow.
3 minutes ago from TweetDeck
MTU, the shocking part of most of Montero’s blasts are that they aren’t high fly balls. They’re high line drives. If you haven’t seen him live, you’re in for a treat. In a couple of years, the Yankees will start charging admission just to see him take batting practice.
GB
I agree w/ you on Coke. I will miss him. He did give up the occasional HR, but he also pitched a lot of innings in the bull pen, and pitched better than Edwar/Tomko/Alby etc. He also was a hoot to listen to in the post game. My favorite was the time he closed a game.
MTU
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:46 pm
GB-
“I’m surprised that his agent doesn’t hook him up with Coca-Cola for some local ad spots.”
Right now it would be for “new” Coke only. I kinda liked “classic” Coke. Oh well.
————————————————————
I’m most likely among the minority, but, I think that Coke is going to be missed more than any of the other pitchers that NYYs lost this off season and Bruney to a slightly lesser degree. People seem to forget that he was still a rookie and had just been converted to relieve recently.
GB-
The bat is phenomal.
The arm is strong.
The desire to be an accomplished catcher is high.
The ability to block the plate is improving.
The ability to call a good game can be learned.
What about the footwork, release and accuracy. How would you rate him ?
I find it shocking that the 11th or 12th man on the Yankee pitching staff is considered such a key member of the team.
Alfredo Aceves is to the pitching staff what Eric Hinske is to the bench. A nice guy to have but he’s not going to make or break the club.
Again, to me this is simple economics. The Yankees are not going to find a team willing to take Gaudin or Mitre given their contracts, they are not going to release one of those guys and pay their contracts for them to play elsewhere. Therefore Aceves either starts the year at AAA or he’s traded.
Chad, any quotes from AJ?
Michael Kay just reported on his show that Damon said at his press conference today that he wanted to go to Detroit after Boston. Ok, I know he has to make nice to the Tigers, but really Johnny?
I know this is a bold prediction, but I think Montero will be in NY this season, DH and catching. His bat will be too much to ignore, IMO.
The way he hit in Trenton, he should have no issue in WB/S. I, for one, plan on going to see him as often as possible while I can on the cheap since I live 5 miles from WB/S’s field.
upstate kate
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:07 pm
GB
I agree w/ you on Coke. I will miss him. He did give up the occasional HR, but he also pitched a lot of innings in the bull pen, and pitched better than Edwar/Tomko/Alby etc. He also was a hoot to listen to in the post game. My favorite was the time he closed a game.
————————————————————
Much like Hughes, he never made an excuse for not getting the job done. He gave up the occassional homer, like most rookies, but, he made a lot of hitters look silly, too. Detroit got a good one. Maybe in that park, he’ll make a good starter for them (as is the rumor), but, he might have been a good closer in a couple of years, too.
Beastly. Here’s the field for reference:
http://www.littleballparks.com.....mpa001.htm
Same dimensions as NY.
You have got to be kidding me on this one.SO I guess all the talk about wanting to stay in New York with the Yankees was just posturing to get a good deal with the Tigers?. The spin machine is farcical.
@ed_price: Johnny Damon: “This (#Tigers) is where I wanted to be from day one. … I think (Scott Boras) did a great job.”
Gonna be cool to see Montero against Hamilton in the Home Run Derby ?
Talk about some record shots.
Wont be long.
Gayle
yeah, right, b/c really who wouldn’t rather play in Detroit? after all you can octopus there w/ your favorite hockey team
Sorry, I take that back. They will be long.
“I’m most likely among the minority, but, I think that Coke is going to be missed more than any of the other pitchers that NYYs lost this off season”
I know I’ve disagreed with you on Coke’s ceiling before, but you are 100% right about that.
The unfortunate part about guys like Granderson, you’ll have to part with something to get them.
I’d bet AJax, Coke, and IPK all grow to different levels of MLB contribution.
Betsy
Maybe this will help your AJ “jones”
http://twitpic.com/14rk7w
“Michael Kay just reported on his show that Damon said at his press conference today that he wanted to go to Detroit after Boston. Ok, I know he has to make nice to the Tigers, but really Johnny?”
Maybe guilty of reading between the lines, but I think that the unsaid “Knowing the Yankees door was closed…” part of that statement had to have been implied.
Jose,
I’m so pleased that you’re thrilled with the new post.
Just a couple of things. Please don’t call people foolish. I mean yeah, you can call us foolish for hanging out here more than we should, but just because people still enjoy the blog even though Pete has departed doesn’t make people foolish.
Secondly, complaining in the comments section is just plain rude. If you have serious suggestions, e-mail them. If you don’t like the blog, there must be at least a hundred others you can visit.
http://twitpic.com/14rj9u
Photographic evidence that A.J. Burnett & Jorge Posada are best buddies. – 12 minutes ago from
ed_price Johnny Damon: “This (#Tigers) is where I wanted to be from day one. … I think (Scott Boras) did a great job.”
___
has johnny lost his mind?
MTU
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:08 pm
GB-
The bat is phenomal.
The arm is strong.
The desire to be an accomplished catcher is high.
The ability to block the plate is improving.
The ability to call a good game can be learned.
What about the footwork, release and accuracy. How would you rate him ?
————————————————————
As far as defense? A strong arm, about like a younger Posada arm, maybe a little stronger. The accuracy is ok, but, that’s more related to footwork, I’d think. After his time with Posada, Girardi and Pena last spring, I’d say that it improved 100% from his 2008 season in Charleston to his time with Tampa. after that, I only saw a couple of games on MiLB internet.
I don’t worry so much about caught stealing percentages in the lower minors, because few if any of the young pitchers can keep runners close. I like his hands. Quick and pretty quiet. Better footwork will cut down on the passed balls and wild pitches. He’s not a sloth behind the plate, but, he’s pretty quick. I’m also not one of those that whine about him being to big to be a catcher.
ed_price Damon: “The lights don’t need to be bright for me.” 9 minutes ago
The Yankees door was wide open (but closing quickly) 4 years ago.
Frank, I don’t get what you’re trying to say there.
“has johnny lost his mind?”
Too much contact with the wall.
Chip,
The problem is, you don’t understand “simple economics”. At least as it pertains to baseball.
Comparing Hinske’s role to the team with Aceves’ role is laughable and inaccurate.
The guy was 10-1 with a 3.54 ERA and pitched almost 90 innings last year. His role on the team was quite valuable. Moreso than Hinske’s.
Finding a taker for Mitre is easy.
He contract states that if he is not on the roster by April 1, the Yankees are only on the hook for the prorated part of his salary….30-45 days.
In other words, his contract has ZERO bearing on his place on the roster.
We are talking about a 450,000 difference in salary (between Mitre and Ace). The Yankees don’t make roster decisions based on such small amounts of money.
Mitre is a starting pitcher. He’s not a relief pitcher, nor a swingman. Just because you continue to wrongly slot him into that spot, doesn’t make it reality.
He has no bearing on Aceves on the roster.
I know you don’t understand this and, as with your long held belief the Orioles were (wrongly) interested in Johnny Damon, nobody is going to change your mind.
The money Mitre is making is not enough to affect any roster decision with the Yankees.
Numerous examples have been shown to you.
If you refuse to understand them, just let it go and wait for the rosters to be finalized. Perhaps then you will understand it.
“The unfortunate part about guys like Granderson, you’ll have to part with something to get them.”
Granderson probably would have liked Coke around too. It would guarantee he wouldn’t have to face him.
tex’s friend
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:21 pm
ed_price Johnny Damon: “This (#Tigers) is where I wanted to be from day one. … I think (Scott Boras) did a great job.”
___
has johnny lost his mind?
****************
Its the 2003 concussion acting up
Teams around the AL may raise their fences when Montero establishes himself.
Johnny forgot “It was not about the money”
Damon says that Cashman never offered him a contract pretty much.
M,
Not once did I ever say I didn’t like the blog. I still enjoy it a great deal. Please re-read my statements. I am not on here to argue. I’m sorry if I ruffled a few feathers.
I have been an avid follower of this blog for 4 years. I was only stating that Pete did an excellent job of reporting ST in the past. I remember there being several posts, audio and pics.
Don’t get me wrong, Chad does a great job. However, if you look back at ST coverage last year, it is clear that there were more posts and information.
I know Chad is still getting his feet wet and maybe things will change. Either way, we all know he has big shoes to fill, regardless.
sj,
do you think that montero will get ml ab’s this year?
GB-
Thanks. He should be better than Piazza and has the bat.
That would exceed the minimum standard for him to stay a catcher.
Plenty big enough to block the plate well. I wouldn’t want to run into him.
Looking forward to his debut.
Johnny’s just trying to say the right things with a new team. How do you think the fans and his teamattes would react if he came in and said “Honestly, I wish the Yankees would have signed me, I only came here because the Tigers offered me the most dough.”
“Frank, I don’t get what you’re trying to say there.”
So far as Damon’s free agency this offseason goes, the door was closed on a return to the Yankees either A) when Johnson was signed or B) when Winn was. I think he’s saying that once the door was closed on returning to New York, those teams were his preference.
I’m hoping they keep Montero in AAA all season.
He needs to catch everyday and refine his skills defensively.
I’m not worried about his offense.
His value is huge to the Yankees if he can show he can catch at the major league level.
The Yankees don’t need him right now.
A year in AAA to catch 90-100 games? That would be invaluable to him.
“has johnny lost his mind?”
No, just his integrity.
Old men will nod knowingly – women will hide their infants – young girls will giggle hysterically – young, virile men will feel chills pass through their hearts.
When Jesus Montero comes to town.
I know Chad is still getting his feet wet and maybe things will change. Either way, we all know he has big shoes to fill, regardless.
————————————————————-
The only one that misses him more than you would be the local Krispy Kremes.
“Johnny’s just trying to say the right things with a new team. How do you think the fans and his teamattes would react if he came in and said “Honestly, I wish the Yankees would have signed me, I only came here because the Tigers offered me the most dough.””
They might say: “Wow, how refreshing!” Finally, a player who isn’t full of $%&+”
“The only one that misses him more than you would be the local Krispy Kremes.”
Maybe they deliver?
Johnny’s comments at a PC mean nothing.
I wish him well in his new location.
Words can’t change the reality of what happened.
Hopefully, Johnny lands on his feet.
Good guy and a good Yankee.
I see no value trashing him now. Makes Yankee fans sound like Red Sox fans when a player leaves.
Carl
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Damon says that Cashman never offered him a contract pretty much.
——————
He was on Francessa’s show a few weeks ago and he said the Yanks offered him 2 yrs @ 14 mil. And Mike asked if he thought it was a real offer or one just for show and Damon said it was real.
So don’t believe anything he says to the contrary.
Short of injuries to Posada and Cervelli, Montero will benefit more playing in Scranton until the MiLB playoffs are over and then getting a mid september call-up. He’s got a damned fine catching instructor there to help him polish his defense.
Green Beret,
That is just rude. And since I live in Fort Myers, I can tell you that there are no Krispy Kremes near Pete’s location.
It’s funny how everyone thought he was God (which he pretty much was) when he was here, now everyone bashes him. Kind of like what I am sure will happen to Damon. O well…sour grapes!
Johnny was a warrior (as well as Pete) and we should respect that!
Jose,
You implied that anyone who thinks the blog is better now is foolish.
I don’t want to argue either, but I stand by what I said.
So, my bad in inferring that you were unhappy, I don’t know how I got that impression.
Swisher sighting!
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0.....?q=Yankees
“I see no value trashing him now. Makes Yankee fans sound like Red Sox fans when a player leaves.”
Pointing out the factual flaws in his comments defines rather than defames his character.
If something happens to Nick Johnson, I think Miranda will get the first opportunity. But if Miranda doesnt cut it and Montero is crushing AAA, he’ll be up in Bronx.
That being said, I hope Johnson plays the full yr, and if not, I hope Miranda can fill in ably. I’d like to see Jesus get a full yr in AAA.
“That is just rude. And since I live in Fort Myers, I can tell you that there are no Krispy Kremes near Pete’s location.”
Lighten up, it’s a joke.
Erin
swish looks skinny
SJ-
The issue has nothing to do with sounding like a Red Sox fan but being a Yankee fan. The issue is words mean something when it comes to the fan base. I love Damon as a Yankee and will applaud him when he comes back but for him to say at a press conference that the Tigers were always his first choice while saying as many times as he could last year that he wanted to stay with the Yankees just smells of hypocrisy. When a player talks to the fans via the media not everything needs to be spin mode or why bother reading anything written.
You think if he had re-signed here he would have said I always wanted to be a Yankee and the idea of going somewhere else didn’t really enter my mind/of course he would have.
That is why the quote bothers me so much it was never about going where he wanted to go but about where the money allowed him to go. Why not be honest for a change how refreshing would that be.
I hate that these guys can’t just say the truth. In saying what he did today, he made a liar out of himself for everything that he’s said over the course of the last season.
The only guy I’ve heard recently handle this well was Curtis Granderson. Not once did he feel he had to diminish his time with the Tigers in order to be excited about playing for the Yankees.
I know it was a trade situation, but in some ways, you would expect a littler bit of bad feelings after a kind of surprise trade.
In the beginning of the process, Johnny did say some things about understanding the Yankees budget, and they’re just not being able to work it out, and it’s okay because it’s a business. I guess that’s when he thought he could still get a deal for more than the Yankees offered.
The spin is a joke.
And though I appreciate all he brought to NY over his four-year stay, I’m really disappointed in the way he’s handling this.
He wanted to go to Detroit 4 years ago? Fine, maybe he did. But Detroit did not want him, did they? Or did they, but the Yankees offered more money? In which case, he’s just showing his true colors.
Where Johnny wants to be is where the grass is “greener.”
Johnny was great and we appreciate what he did here (unlike sox fans). that being said, we can still be amused by the comments that detroit was where he wanted to be all along, when that was more than obviously not true.
I liked tex early on in free agency when he was clear he goes were the money is. (after he gave the whole i love ny speech), but he was clear he is looking for the $$
How does it defame his character? Its a press conference.
Its not a congressional hearing.
He’s saying good things about his new employer.
It has nothing to do with his character.
Some folks take PC’s way too seriously.
MTU
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:28 pm
GB-
Thanks. He should be better than Piazza and has the bat.
That would exceed the minimum standard for him to stay a catcher.
Plenty big enough to block the plate well. I wouldn’t want to run into him.
Looking forward to his debut.
————————————————————
Yeah, it’s doubtful that Mauer has to guard his Gold gloves, but, at worst, he should provide the same sort of defense that Posada has given them. I don’t recall too many runners challenging him at the plate. He won’t move. He’s not at the Bench/Scoscia/Jerry Grote plate blocker level, but, he doesn’t scare. He’s more of the one handed sweep tag when possible.
M,
I didn’t mean that people were “foolish.”
Let me rephrase it: “It’s foolish to think that the blog has more coverage this ST than last year.”
Carl
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Erin
swish looks skinny
*********************
I know! I read the other day that he had lost weight-he’s looking good!
Erica
Have a pretend conversation with your pretend boyfriend and tell him he’s sounding like a real jackass.
Patrick/SJ
of course you are right, what else could Johnny say…still, some of his comments do make you laugh.
It doesn’t diminish what a valuable player he was for the Yankees, he definitely will be missed.
SJ
You gotta admit he sounds a little silly saying what he is after the dialogue that has gone on the past 4 years.
gayle -
That is exactly how I feel.
Not about bashing Johnny.
It really would not have been so difficult to say something to the effect of, I thought I’d be ending my career (or continuing it) with the Yankees, but once I realized it wasn’t going to work out, I had to look elsewhere, and Detroit was right there at the top of the list (because of Leyland, they compete, whatever). How hard is it to say that? Detroit fans aren’t stupid. Neither are NY fans.
Damon saying he wanted to go from Boston to the Tigers is a slap in the face to Yankee fans.
There are many ways to show your appreciation for your new city, including the blanket, “I always wanted to be a (fill in the blank).
I’m excited for Jesus Montero.
That is all.
Jose
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Green Beret,
That is just rude. And since I live in Fort Myers, I can tell you that there are no Krispy Kremes near Pete’s location.
It’s funny how everyone thought he was God (which he pretty much was) when he was here, now everyone bashes him. Kind of like what I am sure will happen to Damon. O well…sour grapes!
Johnny was a warrior (as well as Pete) and we should respect that!
————————————————————
Actually, they sell them in just about every service station/Stop-n-Rob and Publix in the area, including Cape Coral. As far as being rude, you blew in here whining about how much better than this joint was when The Bearded One was here than now. Nobody’s keeping you here.
YankeesWFAN Never enough pitching. Girardi: “Having quality arms in your camp…is a luxury. Its just our job to try to make the right decisions.” 50 seconds ago
YankeesWFAN While some buzzed about Montero’s HR off top of scoreboard, others tell me does that stuff all the time in bp. 2 minutes ago
SJ–
I am confused by your comments about taking press conferences so seriously. I am a person who deal with press all the time, does press conferences all the time. The point of a press conference is to get what you want to say out to the media and the target audience in an easy, newsworthy way.
Press conferences are not meant to be a joke where you just make things up and lie or tell half truths so that what you say has no meaning. Yes there is always spin going on when it comes to media relations but dealing with the media is not a joke and not something that you just don’t pay attention to and not take seriously.
Are we not meant to take seriously AROD’s presser last year or any of the other players press conferences when they sign. Or post season press conferences?
Stop telling us things like this Chad. It isn’t fair.
@Ledger_Yankees Google earth measures home plate to scoreboard as 446 ft. (yeah I have no life)
6 minutes ago from TweetDeck
GB, did you make a new friend today?
“I liked tex early on in free agency when he was clear he goes were the money is. (after he gave the whole i love ny speech), but he was clear he is looking for the $$”
He didn’t wait for free agency. When he turned down Texas’ long term offer in 2007 (7 years/$140M, I believe), which at the time was a pretty decent one, he made his intentions perfectly clear.
Pat,
Sure it is.
However, it is what it is. An introductory PC by a guy with his new team.
Gayle,
There are all kinds of PC’s. Arod’s PC over PED use is a little more serious than an introductory PC for a new player on a team.
Johnny is no mensa candidate. He’s just saying stuff to tell Tiger fans what they want to hear.
Its fluff and nothing more. Certainly not comparable to a PC on something more serious.
I thought Damon tweeted somebody, a while back, something to the effect that the Yankees had just offered him 2/14M.
Beleive me, I’m not trashing Johnny – he played hard while here, and by all accounts was a terrific guy – but I do believe in being factual.
Jose:
considering the ridiculous amount of A-Rod related snark that PeteAbe’s posts were constantly filled with, I’ll take it. Chad’s a great reporter. Anyone who followed Scranton on RLYW the last couple years knows that. What he doesn’t do is turn meaningless quotes into controversies which PeteAbe often did (albeit less than folks like Sherman do). If I recall correctly, PeteAbe was on the “A-Rod praising Reyes is a shot at Jeter” side of that ridiculous argument. I’m not saying that he shouldn’t be allowed to express his opinions, but on a Yankee blog for Yankees fans, the anti-yankee snark is wholly unnecessary. I’m with GB on this (woah…did anyone else just feel the cosmos shaking?)
SJ44 -
It may be of no real import in the long run, and it certainly is of no import to how I go about my business in my life, but I don’t like it. I never do like the way these types of PCs go. But for the most part, you just sigh and realize they are what they are.
But this one goes overboard if he’s saying he wanted to go to Detroit 4 years ago. That’s just overkill. Trying too hard. Spinning too fast.
“Are we not meant to take seriously AROD’s presser last year”
Worked for me.
Might be nice to have some context before all the pissing and moaning. Was Damon saying that he would have liked to have gone to Detroit rather than New York in 2005, when things didn’t pan out with the Red Sox, or was he saying that so far as this year goes, the Red Sox and Tigers were his preferred destinations once it didn’t workout with the Yankees?
GB7,
Let’s be real now. You’re lying if you are telling me there are more posts/coverage this ST than previous years. It’s just not true.
Now, I’ll let you be the judge as to whether that is “better” or not.
I love this blog and will continue to enjoy it.
Last time I checked, there was no harm in stating an obvious observation.
Why the grief about Damon’s remarks? If you can’t see them for what they are…to placate the fans in what basically was a trade of a fan favorite ln Granderson for Damon. He didn’t “diss” anyone as much as he was telling the owner and fans that he was happy to be there to help.
Was it a BS publicity remark? Sure, but, no more than what Sabathia’s, Burnett’s or Teixeira’s were last year. did you honestly believe that he should have told them that he’d have rather stayed in NYY, but, they didn’t want to pay him so he settled for Detroit?
Damon also clarified his comments to Tyler Kepner and said that the Tigers were his first choice AFTER the Yankees bowed out. FWIW.
Erin
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:45 pm
GB, did you make a new friend today?
————————————————————
I’m like a cute, fluffy kitten batting around a ball of yarn, Erin. I’ll get bored with it shortly.
its not believable when someone says they are excited to be in detroit. who has ever been excited to move to detroit?
GB- What player in the ML would you compare Montero’s bat to? Also, does Montero have decent speed?
Is it too early to say
Hip hip Jesus?
Here’s a pic of Gardner with hair…
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0.....?q=Yankees
GB7 -
Nothing wrong with trying to make nice with the new fans and owners. Most players in his position do almost exactly the same thing. However, this one “feels” different to me. I would like to read his exact quote somewhere. Because what’s sending it to realm of “did he really say that?” for me is if he actually said he wanted to go to Detroit right after Boston. Hey, maybe he did. And all he needs to say is the Tigers have a great history and I’m glad to be a part of the organization and I’m looking forward to helping to bring a championship here. That’s pretty boilerplate.
Doreen,
I never take PC’s too seriously. Its all fluff to me.
Does anybody really believe Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia would have come to NY if the Yankees weren’t the highest bidder for their services?
It doesn’t make them “lesser Yankees”. Its a business and I just go with the flow with it.
I liked Damon when he was here and will continue to like him. What do you expect him to say at his press conference? Maybe something like “I wanted to play for the Yankees, my wife wanted anywhere but Detroit, but here I am and I will try to make the best of it.”
Well, that makes more sense. Carry on.
Eric:
Some have used Miguel Cabrera as a good offensive comp for Montero.
“ERA? How retro.”
LOL… I kind of assumed you were going there Nick.
Let me refer you to someone that actually has dismissed ERA
“How does it defame his character? Its a press conference.”
Telling obvious lies boost his character?
No, SJ, I never believe any of them, really!
(Also, I don’t get the Detroit bashing – it’s a good baseball team, with a lot good players having played there. It’s not NY, but only NY is NY.)
Man I cannot wait for Montero to get to the Major League’s.
I’m not one to get hyped up about prospects until I see them in the bigs.
But when it comes to hitting this kid is pure A+ in talent. Can you imagine when he is called up what it will be like.
GreenBeret7
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Erin
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:45 pm
GB, did you make a new friend today?
————————————————————
I’m like a cute, fluffy kitten batting around a ball of yarn, Erin. I’ll get bored with it shortly.
**********************
LOL
This picture should be handed out to every high school ball player who complains about running in practice:
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0.....?q=Yankees
Tom in NJ
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Here’s a pic of Gardner with hair…
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0…..?q=Yankees
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He looks good with his hair longer! I wasn’t sure what to expect after seeing that picture of Coke’s new look earlier.
Rich,
If you are looking for truth in press conferences, you are looking in the wrong place.
Unless you believe CC and Tex when they said NY was the place they wanted to be at their PC’s.
Its fluff. Its not a character test.
Pat, yes it does – thanks for posting!!
eric
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:56 pm
GB- What player in the ML would you compare Montero’s bat to? Also, does Montero have decent speed?
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From how Montero hit in the lower minors, I saw things that you just don’t often see, but, until he gets to AAA and NYYs, I’d hate to say who Montero’s going to be.
Right now, and maybe it’s because he’s a catcher, people are talking Piazza, and that’s a good bet, but, so would a Pujols comparison when they were both in A ball. Remember, though, Montero was 2 years younger than Pujols in A ball. He’s got a sweet, quick, short swing and the sound is hard to miss. He also hits any pitch, in any direction. Great pitch regonition, and maybe as he gets more experience, he’ll walk more. The best thing is, he doesn’t strike out much. These are just my opinions, though. Others may not agree.
Frank, I don’t get it. Damon is saying that when he left Boston, he wanted to go to Detroit. I don’t think even the Tigers believe that.
BryanHoch A cat just ran out to third base at Steinbrenner Field, meowed, and ran into the visiting dugout. about 1 minute ago
Montero’s pretty quick, but, not a good amount of foot speed. Let’s just say that he’s faster than Posada and Molina. Not sure that other than emergencies, would I put him in the outfield.
“but, at worst, he should provide the same sort of defense that Posada has given them. ”
******
people seem to forget the Posada was a top catcher at throwing at runners for the majority of his career; he was always MUCH better than Girardi when they were together. Posada also always called a very good game. Jorge’s weakness was in receiving/framing pitches and plays at the plate
SJ44
All I ask is that a player not diss the team that he is leaving, especially when he just won a WS. Damon took the low road.
“Frank, I don’t get it. Damon is saying that when he left Boston, he wanted to go to Detroit. I don’t think even the Tigers believe that.”
Betsy, SJ indicated earlier on this page that he clarified that statement with Kepner to indicate the Tigers were his first choice after the Yankees bowed out.
So do players only come to NY because of the $$, but they go to other places for reasons other than $$? How depressing.
Erin
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:09 pm
BryanHoch A cat just ran out to third base at Steinbrenner Field, meowed, and ran into the visiting dugout. about 1 minute ago
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Honest to God, Erin, that wasn’t me.
BryanHoch A cat just ran out to third base at Steinbrenner Field, meowed, and ran into the visiting dugout. about 1 minute ago
=================================================
Damon’s spirit reminding the Yankees what coulda been!
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How long is Gardner’s hair? The link is taking a long time to load up.
“people seem to forget the Posada was a top catcher at throwing at runners for the majority of his career”
I think most have forgotten it because it’s not really true.
BryanHoch A cat just ran out to third base at Steinbrenner Field, meowed, and ran into the visiting dugout. about 1 minute ago
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It’s the ghost of Pete!!
GreenBeret7
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Erin
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:09 pm
BryanHoch A cat just ran out to third base at Steinbrenner Field, meowed, and ran into the visiting dugout. about 1 minute ago
————————————————————
Honest to God, Erin, that wasn’t me.
*********************
LMAO
You were the first person I thought of when I read that! lol
Rich,
Johnny is no mensa candidate, that’s for sure. Look at it this way…..
He entrusted Scott Boras with this negotiation. This, after Scott put him into Stanford Financial and costing Johnny millions and millions of dollars. Dollars he has little or no chance, without a protracted court fight, to get back.
I’d venture to say that if it was you or I, Scott Boras would have been the LAST guy we would have chosen to handle this negotiation after that debacle.
Scott blows the Yankee deal and Detroit was his last chance to get a job this year.
Clearly, Scott coached him as to what to say in the PC.
Silly? Of course it is.
However, he didn’t diss the Yankees at the PC. It was more like bending over backwards (probably too much) to try and sell that Detroit was the place he wanted to be.
I just don’t see PC’s it as character studies with players. I really don’t.
In the immortal words of that great thespian Brian McNamee, “It is what it is”.
Somehow a picture of a cat running and Pete running doesn’t seem to connect at all.
“How long is Gardner’s hair? The link is taking a long time to load up.”
Long for Gardner and Girardi but still shorter than Swisher. The sideburns need some work though.
Just trying to clear up any thoughts or confusion, Erin.
Talk about perfect timing. LMAO.
Betsy,
Its only depressing if you look at it that way.
Free agency is about money Betsy.
98% of the players in free agency go to where they are offered the most money.
That other 2%? Its guy that either don’t want to leave their current team and take less to stay. Or, guys who, for family or other reasons, decide differently.
This is a game to us as fans. To players, its a business. Its their livelihood and they are going to make decisions that are best for their families.
In most cases, people go to jobs that offer them the most money. Its not different in baseball.
It doesn’t diminish the player or the situation. Its just the way it is.
If Montero can carve out a Piazza career for himself, where can I sign up right away, I’m taking it.
Even when people talk about Montero not being a terrific defensive catcher, when the critics try to find fault in the scouting.
The 1 thing you never hear is he can’t hit such and such. The kid flat out can handle the bat.
Sj44,
You implied that the Yanks weren’t Teixeira’s first choice. What team was?
thx gb- good analysis
We shouldn’t joke about Pete’s weight. As long as he is comfortable, so be it!
pat,
lol. The pic is loaded from the chest up. But the first thing I zeroed in on was those sideburns. Yuck.
And the second thing I thought was, “That’s 3 months of post-WS growth? Pedroia would be envious!”
Mac, keep in mind that I’m not comparing Montero to two future HOFers, only that they have the same type of bats…at least at this stage. What happens in the future is up to Montero, his coaches and how many times he can hurt a major league pitcher.
Michael Kay going down the slippery slope ripping Damon and praising CC on how they handled free agency and coming to NY.
He’s praising CC for moving into the area upon signing.
So what? So did Johnny.
One has nothing to do with the other.
I wonder if Mike will have the same praise for CC if he opts out of his deal after next year and decides to go back to the west coast?
I think he would have a decidedly different take than he has today.
What does he expect Damon to do. Put up a Yankee Shrine in Lakeland/
Man, talk radio must be really dead today if this is even a topic of conversation.
I’d much prefer to hear about Montero’s BP exploits.
Its has more relevence to the Yankees.
SJ, the depressing thing would be if the players were coming only to NY for more $$, but were going to other places for reasons other than $$$. If there’s no issue with NY, then no – it’s not depressing. I don’t begrudge players the right to make their $$ or to do what’s right for their family – this is what they’ve earned by becoming a FA. It’s not like they have a choice when they are drafted – they are forced to play for the team that drafts them.
BloggingBombers A lot of NYY fans upset with Damon’s comments about always wanting to be in DET from day one. C’mon folks, what did you expect him to say? 31 seconds ago
Hey all,
I’ve been skimming, not a lot of time these days to post. Hope everyone is doing well.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/05K94HFfIy5Cg
Im amazed @ how BIG curtis is. WOW!
eric
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:21 pm
thx gb- good analysis
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Sure thing. Just don’t come hunting for me with a shotgun if he only turns out to be a Posada type.
Tom,
Thanks for the link. Those daylife photos are pretty good.
I like this one.
It looks like Granderson is seriously into his Yankee gear compared to Swish who looks like he’s about to play a game of pick-up softball.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0.....?q=Yankees
When Cashman made his offer, Damon should’ve taken a kitty out to Steinbrenner field and put it out in LF. Then see if the kitty ran to the visitors’ dugout or the home dugout. And then give Cash his answer.
“Mac, keep in mind that I’m not comparing Montero to two future HOFers, only that they have the same type of bats…at least at this stage. What happens in the future is up to Montero, his coaches and how many times he can hurt a major league pitcher.”
Oh I know that, its just you never hear his hitting ability questioned at all when he is being scrutinized, that speaks volumes given his age of 20.
Jose
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:21 pm
We shouldn’t joke about Pete’s weight. As long as he is comfortable, so be it!
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sure thing, Pete. The only similarities between Pete and a cat is the fur on their faces.
After one of Montero’s blasts two years ago in Charleston, the announcer was speechless for a moment then said, “Oh my, I think, yes, it did, it hit the building. Noboby’s done that before.”
New post.
Patrick,
He had no “first choice”. He was going to take the largest deal he could get. Nothing wrong with that.
In fact, had the Red Sox not blown that meeting, he would have been a Red Sox and Tex didn’t grow up idolizing Mo Vaughn like he did Donnie Baseball! lol
I just think folks get too caught up in fluff.
Its a business and guys are going to try and get the best deals they can get.
Sometimes, they score, as was the case with Tex, and sometimes they miscalculate, as Johnny and Scott did this winter.
I don’t care how and why they become Yankees. Just play hard. That’s all I want from guys.
It’s funny how everyone thought he was God (which he pretty much was) when he was here, now everyone bashes him. Kind of like what I am sure will happen to Damon. O well…sour grapes!
====
God?
He’s an insecure person who unleashes passive-aggression on posters. I feel sorry for the guy, actually, and I think, deep down, he’s actually a good guy.
But God?
Who held him in that kind of esteem? He was/is a decent writer – better at slice-of-life humor bits and feature-esque writing than analysis.
He wasn’t/isn’t particularly baseball smart. He fell into the same conventional traps in his thinking that many reporters do, believing their own narratives.
Can’t say I have given the guy a second thought in a very long time.
If people are unhappy about Johnny’s always wanted to play in DET. comment you are going to love his who knows if the Yankees would have gotten past the Tigers if they had gotten to the postseason last year comment.
The problem with Damon si he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed so when has to say more than 3 sentences he loses himself.
He’s trying to spin the last weeks worth of reports that he really didn’t want to be in Detroit-which I’m sure were true- but the White Sox and the Braves wouldn’t budge off their offers for considerably less dollars.
But again that’s Johnny as the only reason that he left Boston is because the Yanks gave him the extra year on his deal.
I personally was never a big fan as I saw him as a RedSux player wearing the pinstripes. Much like I never liked seeing Boggs or Clemens wearing the blue and whites either.
Betsy,
Not everybody comes to NY for the money.
However, when you are the best team, with the highest payroll, and offer the most money, you are going to attract people for the money.
That’s the Yankees greatest selling point. Nothing to be depressed about when it comes to that.
Macfan
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:25 pm
“Mac, keep in mind that I’m not comparing Montero to two future HOFers, only that they have the same type of bats…at least at this stage. What happens in the future is up to Montero, his coaches and how many times he can hurt a major league pitcher.”
Oh I know that, its just you never hear his hitting ability questioned at all when he is being scrutinized, that speaks volumes given his age of 20.
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Yep. all you really hear is that he’s too big to be a catcher. He’s a big kid, no doubt. He isn’t soft or fat, though. He’s built like a linebacker, and, he’ll always need to keep an eye on the weight, but, I’m sure that he’ll get help with that and that NYY tries to get him to change his diet some…cut back on the red beans, rice and tortillas. Not a slam on his heritage, just a statement that it’s a pretty normal Latin diet.
CC doesn’t deserve particular praise for coming here – he came here because of the $$$ and because he decided that, whatever his uncertainty about coming to NY, he couldn’t turn aside the chance to win.
AJ stated in his press conference that $$ played a part (and I remember being surprised that a player would admit that)……not that it was the only part. It was clear that he preferred to stay in his comfort zone in the AL East and that he preferred the Yankees over the Braves. Nonetheless, AJ was pretty honest.
Tex would have gone to the Sox had the Yanks not jumped in, but it’s not like he would have gone to Boston for altruistic reasons – the same reason he would have gone to Boston is the same reason he came to NY (though I do think he wanted to play on the East Coast due to family considerations)
SJ
Kay (who may be many things, but he has been a good reporter) said that Damon said that he would have rather gone to Detroit than NY after leaving Boston. If Kay is right, that seems to be a classless thing to say.
“In fact, had the Red Sox not blown that meeting, he would have been a Red Sox and Tex didn’t grow up idolizing Mo Vaughn like he did Donnie Baseball! lol”
Never thought the Red Sox blew that meeting as much as I think that’s when they realized they were being played by Boras/Teixeira to get the Yankees number up a little bit.
Frank
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:14 pm
“people seem to forget the Posada was a top catcher at throwing at runners for the majority of his career”
I think most have forgotten it because it’s not really true.
*********
It is a shame that I have to respond to this when you obviously didn’t do any research or are unaware, but…once Posada started at least 1/3 of the games behind the plate and he and Girardi were on the same team they shared the team for 2 years 1998 and 1999. In those 2 years, Girardi threw out 26% of the runners stealing and Posada threw out 33%!
TylerKepner contradicts Kay’s take:
Yankees fans, relax. Damon meant (and said later) that the Tigers were his first choice AFTER it was clear he would not be back with Yanks.
__
If so, my bad, but he’s still clueless.
Rich,
I dare say, Johnny just got caught up in the moment at the PC.
I don’t see it as a character test.
This stuff happens.
He’s trying to put a positive face on a tough situation and most likely misspoke.
I just don’t see it as a big deal.
The Red Sox didn’t feel they were being played by Boras. They just thought, 168 million was going to get it done.
Even after that meeting, and John Henry saying they were “out”, they raised their offer to 172 million.
Problem is, they opened the door for the Yankees and that move cost the Sox dearly.
I realize that these PCs are basically to get the fan base excited about a new addition to the team and certainly about forming a favorable first impression of the new guy.
All I ask is that they don’t ask me to stretch the limits of credulity. That’s all. So, a nice KISS would be great (keep it simple, stupid). The minute they say too much is the minute they usually say the wrong thing.
In fact, most of those “unveilings” – introducing the new guys at a PC – make me very uncomfortable.
————
Genius Maker,
haven’t seen you post before today…
Confrontational or not, I like the perspective you add.
Hope you stick around and continue to add to the blog.
re: Jesus catching:
I don’t think it’s necessarily his defensive abilities – he’s not a good defender in terms of blocking the ball, but he can improve somewhat, and I think the yankees goal of turning him into a player who can play a passable catcher at the MLB level is a reasonable one. I think the concern is, if you have a player with a bat that’s at that level, should you risk ruining his knees long-term by having him catch every day? Obviously he’s still young and they’ won’t have been worn down too much from being an every day catcher a couple of years in the minors. But I think he is best suited as a DH who suits up and plays catcher a couple of games per week in order to give the regular catcher a day off when one of the older players needs a day at DH. I just don’t think it’s worth risking a bat like that by having him be catch every day unless he’s got the potential to be a truly plus defender (and game caller) behind the plate. While a few scouts believe that he could become a good enough catcher to play there, considering his bat, I haven’t heard any of them say he has the potential to be a GOOD defender.
Beyond his bat, Montero has the potential value of being ABLE to play catcher, which gives the yankees flexibility, but not of bringing a positive (relative to MLB average) impact behind the plate. His offense could likely only get worse if he were to play catcher instead of DH. Luckily for the yanks, their system is stacked with catchers. Romine projects as a potentially above average defender with an MLB-average (i.e. above average for catchers) bat, Sanchez, while totally untested stateside, has huge upside both offensively and defensively and doesn’t have the same physical limitations that people foresee in Jesus’s future, JR Murphy has excellent hitting ability and possesses the athleticism (along with not having the aforementioned physical limitations) to possibly become a decent defensive catcher, Frankie Cervelli has always been an extremely heralded defender behind the plate (and last year we saw why), and Kyle Higashioka has the potential to be a solid backstop as well, with good defensive ability.
Given all of that, I do think it would be foolish of the yankees to try to make Montero a full-time catcher once he graduates to the MLB level.
Betsy
“when you are the best team, with the highest payroll, and offer the most money, you are going to attract people for the money. That’s the Yankees greatest selling point.”
Yankees Greatest Selling Point??
You don’t seem to have a clue, do you?
Start with the Yankee tradition, it’s fans, it’s history, and
maybe further down on the list is what you say.
Thanks, Pete. Fun read.
Phil Coke will not be missed. Phil Cokes are a dime a dozen. A LOOGY who is that homer-prone isn’t worth much, and I’m glad we traded him for a all-star caliber player like Granderson. No-brainer.
This kid will be a corner outfielder as soon as romaine develops into a top flight catcher.