Spring Training Game 29: Yankees vs. Pirates
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Gameday Thread on Mar 26, 2011 
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YANKEES (11-14-3)
Brett Gardner CF
Derek Jeter SS
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Chris Dickerson LF
Eduardo Nunez 2B
Austin Romine C
LHP Manny Banuelos (0-1, 1.86)
PIRATES (10-18)
Jose Tabata LF
Neil Walker 2B
Andrew McCutchen CF
Lyle Overbay 1B
Pedro Alvarez 3B
Garrett Jones RF
Ronny Cedeno SS
Jason Jaramillo C
Kevin Correia P
RHP Kevin Correia (1-2, 6.38)
TIME/TV: 1:05 p.m., YES Network
WEATHER: Little cloudy, but still plenty of sunshine. Wind blowing out to center field.
UMPIRES: HP Mark Wegner, 1B Dan Iassogna, 2B Dave Rackley, 3B Toby Basner
GRANDERSON UPDATE: Curtis Granderson wound up taking a few swings today. When those went well, he did a little tee and toss — about 15 swings of each — and said he felt good afterward. “If anything, sneezes hurt,” he said.
Granderson said it’s 50-50 whether he’ll be ready for Opening Day. He feels fine going through baseball activities, it’s just a matter of how quickly the Yankees move him. Based on conversations with Granderson, Girardi and Brian Cashman, I think the team legitimately doesn’t know whether he’ll be on the Opening Day roster. I believe they’ll probably move with caution and my guess is that he won’t be in the lineup on Thursday, but I don’t think it’s out of the question.
UPDATE, 1:24 p.m.: Alex Rodriguez’s sixth spring homer has given the Yankees a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
UPDATE, 1:47 p.m.: Dickerson is here to hit right-handed pitching, and he just doubled in his first at-bat, showing some of his speed to get to second in time. It’s 2-1 in the bottom of the second after Banuelos allowed a run in the top of the inning.
UPDATE, 2:06 p.m.: One more indication that Gustavo Molina is going to make the big league team: He’s now in the game to catch Mariano Rivera in the fourth inning. Austin Romine stayed in for three innings from Manny Banuelos, who allowed one run on two hits and three walks. He also struck out three.
UPDATE, 2:30 p.m.: Dickerson’s second Yankees at-bat is an RBI single in the fourth inning. It’s 3-1 Yankees after four. Meanwhile, I just checked with some folks at the minor league complex, and Molina started his day by catching CC Sabathia in the minor league game, then got here in time to catch the Yankees relievers. If there was any doubt Molina is making this team, this surely erases it.
Game post is pretty limited and up later than usual. Sorry about that. Things got really busy here and I just got back in front of my computer about two minutes ago.
repost: Mlb.TV is giving a free preview of their online product today. All you have to do is have an account with mlb.com. Great News.
Chad, anyone who doesn’t understand based on the ST you’ve put out for us deserves to be flogged!
Enjoy the game all.
Chad,
The game is also on WCBS radio as well.
“There are four spring training games left and Romine is getting the start for one of them. Interesting…”
He’ll be catching ManBan in AA, so it makes good sense, no? 101 stuff, stuckey…
So Freddy Garcia is allowed to have the worst numbers in the starter competition and win the spot, but Jesus Montero isn’t allowed to have a bad spring and be brought north for a journeyman who will make us all long for Chad Moeller?
Colon deserved the spot. They Yankees could be taking lightning in a bottle and bottling it now that they shove him into the pen with no set role.
Why there is more allegiance to Garcia who has been a Yankee as long as Colon has is a mystery to me. I get that Garcia threw 150 innings last year, but the year before he bounced around so much he couldn’t even make the Mets.
I hope Colon accepts the role, keeps throwing with the stuff he has and claims a spot in the rotation. I can’t imagine what he feels like doing everything he could this spring short of no hitting everyone and not getting a starter job. And all this stuff about comparing him to Aceves is garbage. Colon never worked as a reliever before in his life. Expecting him to be some jack of all trades out there when he’s spent his career starting every 5th day is silly.
I hope Garcia can pitch well enough to make me not be upset about this, but from what I’ve seen of him this spring, hitters hit the snot out of the ball when they connect on his pitches.
As for Montero being passed over for the Ramiro Pena w/o the glove of catchers, I can’t even start to understand why the team would bring a void of a player north with them for several weeks when you have a young guy who could win a game with his bat and soak up the experience of being in the majors at the same time.
This makes me wonder if the Yankees are keeping Montero’s arb clock shut off so he’s more appealing in a trade.
wow what a cannon by Romine after the passed ball
95MPH…NICE!
GLove, that’s how I feel – not quite as strongly as you, but I agree. I did say earlier that it’s ridiculous for the Yankees to expect Colon to be an Aceves/Mendoza – how on earth do they know he can do that? Not many pitchers are that versatile.
I think Garcia will be fine, but my guess is that he would have had to implode to have lost the job. I figure the Yankees brought Colon in on a lark and nothing he did was going to change their minds. Now if they think he can’t hold his form past a few innings, ok, but don’t pretend to him and to us that he was ever in contention for the 5th spot.
“He’ll be catching ManBan in AA, so it makes good sense, no?
Since you asked.
Not really. No.
That said, I’m not rooting for Garcia to fail – and by rooting for Colon to claim a spot, I’d be doing that.
Manny seems to have a knack for working out of trouble….kinda like another Yankee Lefty.
“So Freddy Garcia is allowed to have the worst numbers in the starter competition and win the spot, but Jesus Montero isn’t allowed to have a bad spring and be brought north for a journeyman who will make us all long for Chad Moeller?”
Yes.
Freddy Garcia and Jesus Montero are not comparable. Any question that begins and ends with comparing a 21 year who has never played in a ML game and a 34 year old proven veteran shouldn’t even have to be asked.
Girardi only says he can be a Mendoza. What makes you think he can’t?
but don’t pretend to him and to us that he was ever in contention for the 5th spot.
=======================
another conspiracy theory- do you ever stop?
Gardner in the 1 hole is the right idea. He is good there.
Stuckey,
I think the point was about making decisions based on spring training play………
Does as make as much or not as much sense as thinking it’s a tea leaf that says Romine will be the BUC?
That said, I’m not rooting for Garcia to fail – and by rooting for Colon to claim a spot, I’d be doing that.
===============
more black and white bs….let them both succeed…better for the team.
“how on earth do they know he can do that? Not many pitchers are that versatile.”
They don’t.
The 7th man in the bullpen is pretty much the guy you take those sort of chances with.
“I think Garcia will be fine, but my guess is that he would have had to implode to have lost the job.”
You would have guessed right.
“Now if they think he can’t hold his form past a few innings, ok, but don’t pretend to him and to us that he was ever in contention for the 5th spot.”
Of course he was. You said it yourself. Garcia would have to have imploded (or Nova for that matter).
Again, “competition” does not mean the competitors standings were ever equal.
I’ll again invite anyone to come up with a better term for a circumstance in which Colon could’ve walked away with the starting job, even if he did not have an equal chance as Garcia or Nova?
I don’t see why people are so bent out of shape about Colon not starting. Colon is awful and Garcia is awful as well. No matter who won the job they wouldn’t be with the team past June.
Oh Baby Alex. WOW
Colon is awful and Garcia is awful as well. No matter who won the job they wouldn’t be with the team past June.
==============
That’s why they got MIllwood who is also awful
Another homerun for Alex
That was a blast over the batter’s eye, again
He is as locked in right now as I have ever seen him.
I hate to but my fantasy jinx on him but I am thinking I gotta draft him at #1
Going into this competition Colon had the most to prove. He proved good enough to make the team.
“Does as make as much or not as much sense as thinking it’s a tea leaf that says Romine will be the BUC?”
Probably more so.
“Interesting…” was meant in good humor.
Alex is on another level. Wow.
ALEX IS unconcious!
I have a hard time believeing that 4 days from now alex wont be still locked in…
the rs might have won the winter championship, despite their 8 straight losses, but Alex has won the MVP
I’m gonna guess the HR Alex hit that we all wanted to see video of looked like that one.
UnKnown,
I got him with the 12th pick in my draft. Followed him up with Tex
“I don’t see why people are so bent out of shape about Colon not starting. Colon is awful and Garcia is awful as well. No matter who won the job they wouldn’t be with the team past June.”
Burnett and Vasquez were both more awful than Garcia in 2010 and the Yankees cruised into the postseason.
Q: Who do you imagine WILL be on the Yankees in July-Sept that won’t be awful?
I’ll make it even easier. Who would you LIKE in their place in July-Sept?
mick,
Exactly. They are just throwing darts at a dart board like Boston did a couple of years ago. It was one thing to debate Hughes vs Joba but to debate these 2 washed up pitchers is a little crazy
I’ll make it even easier. Who would you LIKE in their place in July-Sept?
=================
ANDY PETTITTE
did yes radar just say 99?
Why dint we just call it a quasi-competition? Or half-competition?
Teams have an idea of who they want, but it’s not like they’re going to hand over the keys. What if they fall on their face or buckle under the pressure or get hurt?
I don’t care about Mitre or Colon. I care about the Yankees. Trading Mitre and keeping Colon strengthens the team. If Colon don’t like it, he’s welcome to go elsewhere. Contractually he can. But I think he’s been smiling inside since the Mitre news. This is why Colon pitched winter ball to hook up with a team. He could be a starter for the Pirates or a Mendoza type for the Yankees. He’s in a great spot considering.
stuckey99,
Just because Burnett and Vasquez were worse then Garcia does make Garcia a good pitcher. I have no idea who will become available at the deadline. Maybe Myers or Carpenter. Maybe Banuelos comes up. I really can’t answer that but what I can answer is there is no way Garcia ends the year with the Yankees
Maybe Banuelos trying to be a little too fine sometimes.
“Why dint we just call it a quasi-competition? Or half-competition?”
Well, at least someone answered the question.
This just goes to show how much people want to whine and the best they can come up with is that a 6 week period in which anything could have happened, including Colon getting a starting job, wasn’t a “competition”.
Waaahhhhhh…..semantics …. waaaahhhh….
why is boomer wells in the dugout?
comeback?
There was a competition for roster spots and Nova, Garcia and Colon won them.
How about leaving it at that and stop picking nits?
“Just because Burnett and Vasquez were worse then Garcia does make Garcia a good pitcher.”
This is true. My point was it probably means the Yankees can still make the PS with Garcia.
btw – that fact that he was a pretty good starter last is what makes people believe he can be a pretty good starter this year.
So why don’t you think Garcia can replicate his 2010?
Is that Sanchez SJ’s Sanchez?
The 40 man roster issue is also at the top of the list in the Montero issue.
I agree with stuckey: this year’s competition wasn’t as phony as last year’s.
cant believe banuelos is 19.
wait he’s 20, my bad.
banny getting hit hard, see even he needs some AA-AAA seasoning…
Nick, I just shed a tear…
stuckey99,
Well before last year when was the last time he pitched a full season? Just because he stayed healthy last year doesn’t mean he will do it again. More pressure in NY and pitchers do worse pitching in Yankee stadium.
Yeah Triple Short of a Cycle its a tough call for me. If Alex and Cano are both there at the 3rd pick of my draft which I am sure they will be do I pass on both and wait for the snake draft to come back around and take which one is left? Or, Do I take Alex or Cano right there?
I think Alex is really going to explode this year.
Did this retro look for the Pirates look this awful in the 70′s?
We’ll see what Garcia can do. I thought Colon earned the spot, but at least they kept Colon as a backup, so it’s not too bad.
“More pressure in NY and pitchers do worse pitching in Yankee stadium.”
Since when?
Man-Buelos 45 pitches in 2 innings, why send him down?
UnKnown,
I do to but third is too early for either of them imo. Assuming Pujols and Hram go 1 and 2 I would look at Miggy third
if we are going to rely THIS much on spring stats like Wallace Matthews, then Colon would have beaten Sabathia and Hughes for a rotation spot.
point is, spring stats are rubbish. especially for pitchers. if Garcia struggles and Colon looks good out of the pen, a switch will be made. Colon’s going to have a few appearances under his belt before Garcia makes a start, regardless. Colon is not some young phenom where losing a spot may cost player development. he’s not getting any better, so the Yankees can afford to wait it out and go with an option that is less of an injury risk and has pitched better the past few years.
arguing about a fifth starter is pointless. I can guarantee that Colon, Garcia, and Millwood will ALL make their share of starts. and it doesn’t matter. as long as Burnett returns to 2009 form and Nova pitches decently, their rotation will be fine. those are big IF’s though, and that should be the focus… not who the fifth starter is.
Did anyone else see the 100mph on the gun on the pitch Jaramillo hit for a 2B ?
Yeah its a tough Decision. Don’t really like Miggy’s off the field issues right now. Not sure if that will play over into the reg season.
I am thinking maybe even going with Halladay. That dude could win 25 games this year.
obscuresound.com – makes sense to me.
New York (CNN) — One lucky winner in upstate New York chose the right numbers in Friday night’s Mega Millions lottery of $319 million. The winning ticket was sold at Coulson’s News Central in Albany, New York.
Anyone? lol
Way to stay with the tag, Derek.
Now it makes sense: they’re showcasing Romine’s arm.
You know, Banuelos doesn’t look as sharp today, but that’s ok. He still seems to be getting it done (with some help from Pirates’ baserunning, but that’s ok, too), and, in the majors, it’s about getting it done when you don’t have your best stuff. Not like it’s the minors, where you can count on some of the hitters getting themselves out.
From my perspective, this is a good outing for Banuelos. A good learning experience.
“arguing about a fifth starter is pointless.”
True.
“I can guarantee that Colon, Garcia, and Millwood will ALL make their share of start”
I don’t agree with this. If Colon and Garcia pitch effectively, Millwood won’t also be put on the 25 man roster on May 1, and will likely opt out.
i bought lottery tickets in albany but not in coulson’s. good for them! they’ve kinda been a downtown albany institution forever.
tabata showed the same lousy baseball instincts he displayed when i saw him in trenton.
It’s amazing how much deference Cervelli gets despite being pretty bad last season.
I love the way YES broadcasters are so eager to tow what they believe is the company line.
Ledger_Yankees So it appears that indeed Molina caught Sabathia at the minor league game and is now out here catching Mo.
I’m resigned to the constrained logic.
Alex’s HR today
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....d=13284571
Why can Chad post D ickerson, but we can’t?
Anyway, he’s now done more in ST than Jones.
Cervi gets lots of love like Meat tray did…maybe he has photos of Girardi too?
Should be able to post the name Dickerson in the comments now. Of course, that might not last.
Thanks, Chad.
Still reeling from OSU getting knocked off and blowing up my Bracket.
Is there a reason why Thad didn’t take a TO and rather let Buford heave one from 28 ft away with 3 seconds still on the clock?
Anybody know if the ball Alex hit has landed yet? Good grief he’s locked in…..
Manny B again had trouble locating today but he’ll be ok….you really get the feel from him that he’s going to be a battler one day.
How long until McCutcheon is a FA?
Rich,
2016.
DFA Andruw Jones, eat his $2M contract and add Dickerson to the roster. LOL ……. but maybe not. Dickerson has some upside. Jones is clearly on the downside of his career and it’s been evident for a few years.
I am just getting around to the Blog, and I am very excited about the team this year. Garcia and Nova don’t have to be perfect and Colon will do well in his role.
Go Yankees 2011!!!
Just getting caught up somewhat…….Am I correct in the understanding that Colon is the 6th man and Garcia is in the rotation as the 5 ?????
blake
Wow, thanks. That’s a little too far away to factor into any hypothetical future lineup.
Yes, Pat.
108,
Jones might be done…..they’ll give him a shot to start the season but if he doesn’t pick it up quickly he might be going the way of Randy Winn.
Jesus has been forsaken again…
Rich,
Yea the pirates stink so they worked it so as to get the most control with him that they could….he’s a good player though.
Rich in NJ……Well, that’s pretty much what being mentioned around here for the past 2 weeks or so……Actually that was a nifty trade by Cashman though….
Actually those Pirate S.T. uni’s look nice
Girardi on with Suzyn and John.
Colon to BP because he warms up faster. OK with decision to go to bullpen.
BUC- Joe said not sure yet. Decision is will having Montero on the bench and not playing every day slow his development.
Montero would have smothered that…
“BUC- Joe said not sure yet. Decision is will having Montero on the bench and not playing every day slow his development.”
I call bs. They have known this all ST yet only changed their rhetoric in the last week.
I like the way this Dickerson looks.
Rich IN NJ…..Montero to AAA to start the 2011 season is really the best and only decision…..He’s been pressing at the plate and trying too hard when catching…..He’s not ready at this point, especially with all the ink that comes from playing in Pinstripes……You want him in a situation that gives him the greatest opportunity to succeed……He’s close but that time is not now
Rich,
You’re probably right. Just reporting what Joe said. Susyn and John did not question him further on that.
Pat M,
How are your NCAA picks holding up? My bracket got destroyed last weekend.
Pat
Alternatively, if he is shown that even though they know he is pressing they still remain confident in him, and do so with their deeds, by putting him on the ML roster, it may enable him to relax and take a quantum leap in development.
Fran
I know. I wasn’t blaming the messenger.
When NYYs finally call Montero up, they need to do it while they are on the road. Let him get his feet wet against a KC or Cleveland team.
I do think it’s interesting how Girardi’s answer to the same question has changed so much in 2 weeks…..based on a few ST games.
Listening to the game on radio, I enjoyed Suzie’s Nunez story on him playing CF in the DR.
MG, if you are out there, I stand by my original observation that Montero is a better offensive player than Posey, & I’m a big fan of the latter.
UConn and the Gators advance today I think.
Pat M, what’s the line on the Uconn game?
MG, if you are out there, I stand by my original observation that Montero is a better offensive player than Posey, & I’m a big fan of the latter.
————-
JAP, bold statement at this point … Remains to be sen, obviously … hope you’re right.
Rich in NJ……I think that his bat may make the transition somewhat, however his defensive skills are not remotely ready……He has to improve in this area otherwise he’ll never get the confidence from the staff and that’s where the self confidence issues take a big hit
blake,
I thinks it’s his age and prior experience. Didn’t he struggle mentally with a previous setback in the minors?
He just needs to relax and develop more. I mean people need to relax and let him develop more.
Very nice slider.
m
If I was any more relaxed, I would be sleeping.
M,
I don’t feel that strongly about it. Im fine with him going to AAA to start the year….I do think that if they weren’t sure he was making the team then they probably shouldnt have given an indication that he could have.
Montero is a better offensive player than Posey, & I’m a big fan of the latter.
==============
based on what?
Pat
Both Jorge and Cervelli were practically awful defensively last season, yet the Yankees lived with them at C. Why should Montero be held to a different standard, and more importantly, don’t you think it’s curious that Girardi’s rhetoric has suddenly changed?
Why can’t rhetoric change?
Montero ‘s upside is probably better with the bat than Posey but saying he’s better now is reach. Posey has done it in the big leagues.
Well, obviously, it can, mick, because it has. The point is why has it changed?
Rich, Jorge is Jorge – and Montero is on another plane from Cervelli. They want to give Montero his best chance to succeed in all aspects when he’s called up – he’s not ready. I really don’t see the point in pushing him.
Rhetoric can change…..I think the arguement is should it change based on 2 weeks of spring training?
Dionysius Thelxinoe March 26th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
MG, if you are out there, I stand by my original observation that Montero is a better offensive player than Posey, & I’m a big fan of the latter.
————-
JAP, bold statement at this point … Remains to be sen, obviously … hope you’re right.
///
Dionysius (lol, love that),
I get that I’m literally talking projectible talent and not NOW performance, but I’m also basing that opinion on the fact that I feel Montero could be a monster RIGHT NOW at the ML level, yea a better bat than Posey. Montero’s only “fault” is that he’s not yet in the majors, but that’s the only way he’s “behind” Posey. If Montero were as good defensively as Posey, he’d already be entrenched. Or even as advanced as the Yanks are comfortable with.
The Yanks themselves don’t seem to have ANY doubt he’ll hit: how else do you tell a kid who’s 21 in Spring Training to not worry about spending time in the cage?? Not so bold by me, I would say. This kid has a universal reputation as a can’t-miss hitter for a reason (especially the contact ability & hitting for average along with 80-80 power).
Every spring a surprise can be counted on. Who would have figured in mid-February that Gustavo Molina would go north as part of the 25-man roster ? This is less of a surprise than Bartolo Colon who once won a Cy Young Award.
And yes Blake ……. Andruw Jones is on course to be this year’s version of Randy Winn. It’s enough incentive for Golson, Dickerson, Curtis, and Laird to tear it up at AAA and wait for the call.
“Rich, Jorge is Jorge – and Montero is on another plane from Cervelli. They want to give Montero his best chance to succeed in all aspects when he’s called up – he’s not ready. I really don’t see the point in pushing him.”
I think he is ready, Betsy.
blake….UCONN -3….Florida -4 ….My best play is the NIT, Iona – 1 …..I’m sticking with Arizona…..Interesting thing is that even though the point spreads are notable, the money lines are not in line with the point differences…….I also have Butler + 4…..Not a very good Friday night although I did make some money back on the total points
And speaking of whether or not a young player is ready, Jeter had 29 errors at AAA in 1995.
I bet some said he wasn’t ready. They were wrong.
Did Girardi say Montero had the team made?
Dickerson keeps hitting.
This Dickerson is very smart at the plate. Presence of mind to go with the pitch. Has a natural inclination, obviously.
Pat M,
Cool. Good luck. The Uconn/Zona game could be a good one.
A real story would be Dickerson making the team.
Grandy would have to be DL’ed but he could be in LF Opening Day vs Verlander.
How did Banuelos pitch today?
Also, perhaps it is for the best Montero doesn’t make the team. Seems like a guy that needs challenged and reminded that even though he can hit, he needs to prove a lot to become a Yankee.
blake,
I think they’ve had open, honest conversations with him judging by Montero’s own comments. “I’m fine”, “My time will come”
Even Jesus knows he’s not quite ready. I think he wants to come up and stay up like Hughes did in ’09.
Here’s another thing that gets overlooked. Montero wants to catch. Badly. He has many detractors around the game. That means the scrutiny on him will be more like a laser than a spotlight. I think the Yankees know this, and want to make sure he’s ready on both sides of the ball as well as mentally ready for the inevitable abuse that will come.
oops Dickerson is hurt, forget that last post.
So much for Dickerson’s Yankee career.
Looks like Dickerson tweaks a hammy. That is horrible, he was having a great game.
Losing Granderson’s defense would suck but losing his power would reaaaaally suck.
Cashman just said that Sigmond recommended the Yanks try to take Soria in the rule 5 draft and they tried to trade up to get him but didn’t.
Talk about the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat within a few hours.
FB, Dickerson.
Randy Winn……Ouch !!!!
Rich, but the Yankees probably don’t- it doesn’t make them wrong
Oh that’s just great, another injury?
J. Alfred Prufrock March 26th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Listening to the game on radio, I enjoyed Suzie’s Nunez story on him playing CF in the DR.
MG, if you are out there, I stand by my original observation that Montero is a better offensive player than Posey, & I’m a big fan of the latter.
=======================
your logic is so flawed it’s difficult to reply other than Posey has done it at the major league level, was the Rookie of the Year and already has a ring. Montero had a nice season at AAA last year but Posey hit well over .300 before coming up in two separate seasons.
Just because you see potential in Montero doesn’t make him BETTER than an established major leaguer with that track record, it just means you think he COULD be better. That is an opinion based on your bias and your hope it could happen, not on any factual information. The list of highly rated prospects who failed to make the jump to the majors is very, very long.
I want Montero to be a big star with the Yankees just as every other fan does but it doesn’t alter the facts that until he does it he is still an unproven prospect.
Pat M has it exactly right, he is a pro, maybe you should listen to him.
blake
Who’s Sigmond?
Gustavo Molina comes to the rescue – with his career OPS+ of -19. Yes, fans, that’s a negative number.
“Rich, but the Yankees probably don’t- it doesn’t make them wrong”
Besty, nope, they have a 50-50 chance of being right.
Cashman just said that Sigmond recommended the Yanks try to take Soria
=================
Did not know Freud was a baseball man.
Rich, when did Di ckerson get hurt?
Interesting that Lee Sigman recommended Soria out of Mexico to Cashman but, they couldn’t close the deal for him
MG
Thanks for answering the question I asked of Prufrock.
Rich, I’ll trust the Yankees to do what’s right.
M,
Those are fair points. But when 2-3 weeks ago they are talking up how much he’s improved defensively and that you can learn a lot catching part time in the big leagues etc etc…..and then that takes a 180 turn after a few ST games, you wonder why they said that stuff to start with.
A few minutes ago. Just getting a running start off of 1B.
He was returning back to 1st base on what was a hit and run. I think the pitch was popped up or something.
“Rich, I’ll trust the Yankees to do what’s right.”
It’s not like they don’t make mistakes.
MG, I’ve seen Montero enough to not have to listen to anyone, but it just so happens that he’s not exactly my little secret.
You brought it up, & I have given my reasons.
if Montero was as good as Posey behind the plate the Yankees most likely would have handed him the job in the offseason, just like they did with Jeter in 1996. They just don’t believe that is the case.
This is an argument none of you Montero-huggers can win, it’s the Yankees decision and they are making it.
Those are fair points. But when 2-3 weeks ago they are talking up how much he’s improved defensively and that you can learn a lot catching part time in the big leagues etc etc…..and then that takes a 180 turn after a few ST games, you wonder why they said that stuff to start with
==============================
Just because they said he improved doesn’t mean they can’t say he regressed if he did.
Rich,
I think he’s the scout in Mexico that recommended Banuelos, Aceves, Vasquez, etc…..Cashman was just saying that he put Soria on the Yanks radar and they tried to trade up to get him in the rule 5 that year but couldn’t.
Rich, I’m going to assume this isn’t one of them; why should I assume that you are right in that Montero is ready?
Thanks guys – sheesh. Well, hopefully he’ll be ok. If he does well in AAA after he gets back into action, I’m sure he’ll be brought up again.
Geez, first our workhorse loogy might be dl’d, now D!ckerson goes 3 for 3, then tweaks his hammy.
Oh well, I guess it could be worse.
“if Montero was as good as Posey behind the plate the Yankees most likely would have handed him the job in the offseason, just like they did with Jeter in 1996″
This is demonstrably false. Jeter go the job because Tony Fernandez got hurt in ST.
Did anybody else catch the Jorge rock ?
He runs on an infield fly rule and gets tagged out, DP.
Mid season form
You don’t regress in 2 weeks of spring training. You can play bad for 2 weeks but that doesn’t mean you’ve regressed
Ayala is another that Sigman recommended this winter and Cashman says he;s getting calls for him.
Prufrock, I know your mind is made up but watching him against minor league pitchers really doesn’t give you anything other than potential, most of them will never pitch in the majors.
I give up, it’s too bad the blog will be overwhelmed with calls for Montero in every thread until he makes the big club. And then, when he is playing 1 or 2 games a week it will be ‘Montero should play every day, he will never reach his potential until then’.
I think Girardi just can’t deal with catchers who have about 500% of the talent that he did – he seems to like the mediocre ones better.
Bryan Hoch:
Yankees.com: Granderson says he’s ’50-50′ for Opening Day http://atmlb.com/f2aAvl
28 minutes ago via twitterfeed
You don’t regress in 2 weeks of spring training. You can play bad for 2 weeks but that doesn’t mean you’ve regressed
=================
I guess they thought he did.
mick March 26th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Did anybody else catch the Jorge rock ?
He runs on an infield fly rule and gets tagged out, DP.
Mid season form
———————————————————————————————————————-
It would have helped if the umpire had called the infield fly earlier and Thomson had yelled out
blake March 26th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Montero ‘s upside is probably better with the bat than Posey but saying he’s better now is reach. Posey has done it in the big leagues.
///
Let’s put it this way. Were he given the head start or tune-up that leads to his comfort zone, I believe his surpassing Posey as an offensive player is inevitable.
mick
You’re conflating slumps with regression.
Good job, Prior………..really hope he does well in AAA so we can see him up here at some point
I give up, it’s too bad the blog will be overwhelmed with calls for Montero in every thread until he makes the big club. And then, when he is playing 1 or 2 games a week it will be ‘Montero should play every day, he will never reach his potential until then’.
==================================
MG-
The same geniuses who wanted him up will say send him down he’s not ready.
“The same geniuses who wanted him up will say send him down he’s not ready”
You’re better than that, mick.
# Rich in NJ March 26th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
mick
You’re conflating slumps with regression.
=========================
rich
i am not conflating anything.
the yanks made the statement he regressed.
Can you link it, mick?
Rich in NJ March 26th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
“if Montero was as good as Posey behind the plate the Yankees most likely would have handed him the job in the offseason, just like they did with Jeter in 1996?
This is demonstrably false. Jeter go the job because Tony Fernandez got hurt in ST.
====================
you’re right but Jeter was handed the job early in spring training because the Yankees thought he could handle the job. The Yankees, by signing Martin, didn’t think Montero was ready in the offseason and he’s done nothing in spring training to convince them that was the wrong decision. If they had reached the same decision with Jeter in 1996 they would have picked up a shortstop.
# Rich in NJ March 26th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
“The same geniuses who wanted him up will say send him down he’s not ready”
You’re better than that, mick.
=======================
rich
of course not referring to you
J. Alfred Prufrock March 26th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
blake March 26th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Montero ‘s upside is probably better with the bat than Posey but saying he’s better now is reach. Posey has done it in the big leagues.
///
Let’s put it this way. Were he given the head start or tune-up that leads to his comfort zone, I believe his surpassing Posey as an offensive player is inevitable.
——
That’s with the belief that he’ll stick as a catcher. As much as he wants to be a catcher, he still has to prove it consistently.
Thx, mick
“I think Girardi just can’t deal with catchers who have about 500% of the talent that he did –he seems to like the mediocre ones better.”
If Montero could catch like Giradi then he would be starting opening day and they would never have signed Martin.
rich
i thought youd come back with that. i had seen it somewhere, didn’t make it up
No on the job traing for Jesus Montero in the Bronx….That’s it in a nutshell……He’s just not close to being ready to be a catcher in the bigs…..
GB,
That’s right ….he’s had a good spring..
if Martin stays healthy he is going to catch almost all the games this season, that is his track record with the Dodgers all the way through his season ending injury last year-he averaged 150 games a year in 2007-2009 and rarely came out of the lineup.
Let’s put it this way. Were he given the head start or tune-up that leads to his comfort zone, I believe his surpassing Posey as an offensive player is inevitable.
=======================================
How do you know what Posey is capable of?
He might be even better than he appears.
Here’s another reason to hate Jon Heyman – ha! ha!
Tweet: mike hampton, 2nd most overpaid player of all time after aj burnett retires.
Pat M. March 26th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
No on the job traing for Jesus Montero in the Bronx….That’s it in a nutshell……He’s just not close to being ready to be a catcher in the bigs…..
————————–
Pat M, can you take a couple of minutes away from your bets and explain why he isn’t ready in some detail? Maybe that will help some posters understand what the Yankees are seeing that they don’t.
MG March 26th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Prufrock, I know your mind is made up but watching him against minor league pitchers really doesn’t give you anything other than potential, most of them will never pitch in the majors.
///
What’s going out on a limb is suggesting his offense is a product of inferior pitching. He’s got unqualified hitting ability, it’s his defense that has been an X-factor. I saw him in Double A first, which isn’t where pitching goes to die, but a jumping off point for pitchers on the way up, it is a pitcher’s league. What I’ve seen just confirms what virtually everyone has been singing.
Nobody regressed. Girardi telegraphed their thoughts when he said when a spot opens up, then some people start to press. Only natural he said. So maybe if Montero didn’t press and go outside of what he normally does at the plate, then nobody’s having this conversation. You can get the bat back, continue to develop as a catcher, but can you mentally handle the inevitable scrutiny at this very moment?
if martin catches 150 games he will be dragging and underperform. alot of people think the overwork really drained him in la. let’s hope that cervelli and then montero can give him regular rest so he has some punch on offense.
Posey might be the 2nd coming of Johnny Bench, that’s how good he was in his rookie season…
It would have helped if the umpire had called the infield fly earlier and Thomson had yelled out
==================================
I never did see the ump call it.
“Tweet: mike hampton, 2nd most overpaid player of all time after aj burnett retires.,
That’s just dumb…..did Hampton ever help a team win a WS. Hampton’s deal.was much worse than AJs and its not even close.
Score please.
Pat M, can you take a couple of minutes away from your bets and explain why he isn’t ready in some detail? Maybe that will help some posters understand what the Yankees are seeing that they don’t.
=================
Nothing against Pat M. but wouldn’t Randy be the one to critique Montero?
Blake, Heyman is obnoxious. There’s no need to kick any player on his way out the door………….He does seem to hate AJ, but then on his twitter account, Heyman appears to be truly obnoxious. On the radio, he sounds like a good guy…………
I have to sand some drywall. For a person who once called a repair person for every job, large or small, the chimney from hell has forced me to learn some skills.
Later.
That’s with the belief that he’ll stick as a catcher. As much as he wants to be a catcher, he still has to prove it consistently.
///
No, I’m talking about his offensive talent. Whether he sticks at catcher remains to be seen. The one is a given: he will hit.
MG March 26th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
if Martin stays healthy he is going to catch almost all the games this season, that is his track record with the Dodgers all the way through his season ending injury last year-he averaged 150 games a year in 2007-2009 and rarely came out of the lineup.
—
Maybe that’s why his performance eventually suffered and then he got injured.
He should not catch 150 games.
Prufrock, it’s a big jump from AA and AAA to the big leagues and many prospects never quite make that leap. Posey already has, Montero hasn’t. That means there is a 100% chance that Posey is a bonafide major leaguer and a less than 100% chance that Montero is one-it doesn’t mean he won’t be a great hitter, it just means he hasn’t done it yet and, until he does it, it doesn’t mean as much as you think.
Rich in NJ March 26th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
I have to sand some drywall. For a person who once called a repair person for every job, large or small, the chimney from hell has forced me to learn some skills.
=====================
Rich
Don’t regress into the cement.
Its obvious Montero isn’t ready to.catch every day in the big leagues…..that’s not the question. The opinion on the best way to get him ready is what’s changed in the last couple of weeks.
How do you get Montero ready catching 1-2 games a week if lucky?
I thought that was a stupid tweet. There are other far worse contracts than Burnetts. Zito for example. Come on uncle Jon!!!!
blake March 26th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
“Tweet: mike hampton, 2nd most overpaid player of all time after aj burnett retires.,
That’s just dumb…..did Hampton ever help a team win a WS. Hampton’s deal.was much worse than AJs and its not even close.
———————————————————————————————————————-
Neagle, Alfonso Soriano, Helton, Carlos Lee all come to mind ahead of Burnett.
Betsy,
He just sounds dumb more than anything….as in clueless about baseball.
MG March 26th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Posey might be the 2nd coming of Johnny Bench, that’s how good he was in his rookie season…
///
Go back & look at what the discussion orginally was, rather than spiralling away from it.
I have never suggested or even alluded to a stance that Montero is anywhere near Posey defensively.
You can argue that the COMBINATION of Posey’s two sides of the ball is more valuable, but that has nothing to do with the original point.
Neagle, Alfonso Soriano, Helton, Carlos Lee all come to mind ahead of Burnett.
=====================
dont forget luis castillo and carl pavano
Neagle, Alfonso Soriano, Helton, Carlos Lee all come to mind ahead of Burnett.
_
Zito?
or ollie perez
Jayson Werth will also join that list.
The opinion on the best way to get him ready is what’s changed in the last couple of weeks.
===================================
Many think he is already ready.
AJ pitching on Monday and Garcia Tuesday – they just said this on yes and that Phil and Nova will get their work in on the side. Why Garcia on Tuesday? Why not Phil, who’s the #3 starter? I would hope Phil and Nova will get to pitch in games and not just side sessions
I wouldn’t mention Montero in the same breath as Posey until he has performed in the big leagues. Right now Montero is a prospect.
Many think the best place for him to get ready is in the majors
Why Garcia on Tuesday? Why not Phil, who’s the #3 starter?
=====================
That is a good question Betsy.
Blake, dumb sounds about right, lol
If he is already ready then why does he have to get ready?
Joe blew this call by his own standarsds. He admits Colon has better stuff & admits Garcia isn’t as good , but…… more reliable .. beacuse of the 160 innings he threw last year.He’s forgetting how medioca Garcia is .I’ll bet he has 24 guys questioning that call.I hope I’m wrong, but Garcia didn’ t impress me at all.If that’s the standard, I’m glad I’m not a young pitcher in the yanks farm system
luis ayala might have just won that pen job.
J. Alfred Prufrock March 26th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
MG March 26th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Posey might be the 2nd coming of Johnny Bench, that’s how good he was in his rookie season…
///
Go back & look at what the discussion orginally was, rather than spiralling away from it.
I have never suggested or even alluded to a stance that Montero is anywhere near Posey defensively.
You can argue that the COMBINATION of Posey’s two sides of the ball is more valuable, but that has nothing to do with the original point.
===================
I’m not ‘spiralling away’ from anything. You said Montero is a better offensive player than Posey, I said it was based on nothing more than your observations and has no basis in fact. Montero may eventually be better offensively but right now he isn’t, period, and there isn’t a baseball professional who would take your side of the argument.
Girardi made the argument earlier in spring training that you can learn a lot by catching part time in the big leagues….and in Montero’s case by being around Pena, Posada, Girardi, Martin etc. While all that’s true, you could also make the argument that actually playing and catching every day would benefit him more…..what I find interesting is how that changed based on the fact that Montero had a few bad games…..
if he had hit like he can this spring would things be different?
MG,
Really, this is now going in circles. With all due respect, I have a slight advantage in my estimation since I have seen this player several times in person, & unless you tell me otherwise, I assume you have not.
Secondly, it does not make me want to draw out a discussion with someone who instead of standing his own ground feels the need to defer to other posters’ opinions. I am no longer interested in discussing this with you, I think I get where you stand & that’s fine.
“If he is already ready then why does he have to get ready?”
hardly anybody thinks he’s ready to catch every day….that’s what they are ultimately trying to get him ready for.
if he had hit like he can this spring would things be different?
====================================
they might be. but he didn’t.
are you saying they are being hypocritical?
why can’t both statements be true, that of playing everyday and/or learning from girardi et al?
it still remanins he had to make the team like anyone else.
fair choice sending him down no matter what was said.
maybe they were just setting the bar for him.
Blake,
Yes, if he hit no doubt we wouldn’t be talking Molina. And if he was better than Cervelli defensively we wouldn’t be talking Frankie either.
But him going outside if his normal game showed them something. Looking at his age, they probably said, “what’s the rush? Let’s give him a little more time”
MG…..Mick is right about Tin Cup being the one to critique Montero’s receiving issues……But from what I’ve been seeing is that he’s too hand happy when receiving the pitch…..SJ pointed out how the ball moves his mitt….He’s not letting to pitch come to him…..Maybe it’s a case of pitch anticipation…..I just think when the call from The Bronx gets made it’ll be for good……I was a middle infielder so I was always watching the pitch into plate up close and Montero just doesn’t appear to be very comfortable right now
Really, this is now going in circles. With all due respect, I have a slight advantage in my estimation since I have seen this player several times in person,
======================
Are you a scout?
He played in AA when you saw him, cmon.
Josh Beckett will be on that list of overpaid players.
John Flaherty said on YES that he was surprised that Colon wasn’t chosen as the fifth starter. (wonder if he will have a job tomorrow)
Prufrock, where did I ‘defer’ to anyone other than suggest that Pat M expand on his post about why Montero isn’t a major league catcher yet?
You have an opinion based on your observations at a minor league level, let’s just say I consider those opinions…minor league. What screen name did you use in 2009 when you were touting Mark Melancon as the 2nd best reliever on the Yankees based on what he had done at SWB?
“Yes, if he hit no doubt we wouldn’t be talking Molina ”
If they are making the decision on offense then he should make the team.
Bringing a kid up who is blossoming in AAA , like Posey was, is less of a crapshoot than letting him rot on the bench with all the knowledge surrounding him in Girardi, Pena et al.
Iona just won and covered the line……..Does anyone here think that The SF Giants would trade Posey for Jesus Montero ???? Of course not as they know what they have ……This is not a rub oin Jesus but rather an attempt to get things into perspective
Josh Beckett will be on that list of overpaid players.
===========================
And Lackey.
If Montero develops into Posey then that would be awesome.
There was talk that the Giants may buy out Zito’s contract – he still has three years and $57 million left on his deal.
Wally Matthews (yes, him) wrote an article that makes a lot of sense………..
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-.....id=6260965
Also, today wasn’t such a great day as YES indicated. Feliciano is probably headed to the DL and Di ckerson as well.
Blake,
If he was hitting (not looking lost) then we wouldn’t be talking about pressing which could mean he’s just not ready all around.
J. Alfred Prufrock March 26th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
That’s with the belief that he’ll stick as a catcher. As much as he wants to be a catcher, he still has to prove it consistently.
///
No, I’m talking about his offensive talent. Whether he sticks at catcher remains to be seen. The one is a given: he will hit.
———
Yeah, I’m not really questioning his ability to hit. Not that I know a lot about him or that I’ve seen him live, but questioning his hitting ability because of a few weeks struggles is a bit much.
However there’s not point in suggesting he’ll be better than Posey if he can’t stick as catcher. If he becomes a 1B or DH then you’d have to compare him to others at the position, which he’d only be a drop in the well at this point. Posey’s going to stick at catcher, so he’s got the leg up as of now.
MG,
Since it looks as though Montero will be sent down, why don’t you go see a few games & then you can tell me if you think his bat is the product of pitchers who will never see the majors.
Ledger_Yankees Girardi says Dickerson may just be cramping up.
2 minutes ago · reply
Much better news….
“Bringing a kid up who is blossoming in AAA , like Posey was, is less of a crapshoot than letting him rot on the bench with all the knowledge surrounding him in Girardi, Pena et al.”
that’s not what they were talking about earlier in camp though….they were talking about him catching a couple times a week and getting 300 AB’s.
Again I trust their judgment and am fine with him starting the year at SWB….I just think that they probably shouldn’t have indicated that he had a good shot to make the team unless they were pretty sure he was going to make the team.
mick March 26th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Bringing a kid up who is blossoming in AAA , like Posey was, is less of a crapshoot than letting him rot on the bench with all the knowledge surrounding him in Girardi, Pena et al.
=============================
exactly, and the Giants traded Molina in order to put Posey in the lineup every day. If Montero showed enough at SWB to put the Yankees in a position to do the same thing in June all of us would be happy and there would be no arguments.
Posada was already 25 when he made the Yankees and had already caught two full seasons at AAA, he really wasn’t that highly regarded as a prospect and outperformed his minor league stats, it isn’t a fair comparison between he and Montero.
I was just looking at that article.
You can read it a lot if ways, but they didn’t settle. They put a good pitcher in the bullpen. One who warms up fast.
Freddie would prolly be more of a rubbish time pitcher in the bullpen. Colon can pitch anywhere from the 5th to the 8th.
And Garcia will probably eat up more innings as a starter than Colon
m,
a lot of guys don’t hit in Spring Training….that really shouldn’t matter because no matter when they call him up he’s going to have to adjust to big league pitching and will probably struggle for awhile there…..even if they leave him in AAA until June, he’s going to have to make that adjustment then as well.
blake March 26th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
“Bringing a kid up who is blossoming in AAA , like Posey was, is less of a crapshoot than letting him rot on the bench with all the knowledge surrounding him in Girardi, Pena et al.”
that’s not what they were talking about earlier in camp though….they were talking about him catching a couple times a week and getting 300 AB’s.
Again I trust their judgment and am fine with him starting the year at SWB….I just think that they probably shouldn’t have indicated that he had a good shot to make the team unless they were pretty sure he was going to make the team.
————–
That’s a silly criticism. He did have a good shot to make the team. He kicked off the spring looking impressive, and now he’s looking less impressive.
He didn’t go out and win the backup spot as everyone was looking to see. Wasn’t that the case the whole time? If Cervelli wasn’t injured, he certainly wouldn’t have won the spot with this type of spring.
I’m not saying he’s been awful or he’s a bust, just saying he didn’t knock it out of the park. Literally.
What screen name did you use in 2009 when you were touting Mark Melancon as the 2nd best reliever on the Yankees based on what he had done at SWB?
///
I don’t know, enlighten me? Melancon having champions isn’t surprising, though. Just because the Yanks traded him doesn’t mean he won’t be good. Montero projects to be a 3,4,5 hitter with humongous power. Melancon is a reliever.
The Giants just about missed the playoffs all together too because they waited so long to bring Posey up….
J. Alfred Prufrock March 26th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
MG,
Since it looks as though Montero will be sent down, why don’t you go see a few games & then you can tell me if you think his bat is the product of pitchers who will never see the majors.
===================
I’m not a scout and live over a thousand miles from SWB. What I am is someone who played baseball all the way through college and grew up watching major league baseball at both Yankees Stadium and Ebbets Field and for the last 50 years on both TV and in person.
You can tell when a prospect isn’t major league ready, they are overmatched at the plate. From the few times I’ve seen Montero this spring on TV he’s overmatched at the plate because he hasn’t learned to adjust to changes of speed, until he does so (and he most likely will, he has a great swing) all of this is conjecture.
“That’s a silly criticism”
not really a criticism…just opens things up for the media to write a bunch of articles about how Montero didn’t make the team and how he can’t catch etc.
However there’s not point in suggesting he’ll be better than Posey if he can’t stick as catcher. If he becomes a 1B or DH then you’d have to compare him to others at the position, which he’d only be a drop in the well at this point. Posey’s going to stick at catcher, so he’s got the leg up as of now.
///
RadioKiev, if he doesn’t stick at catcher then yea his relative value would naturally change. I just hope on of two things happens here. Either a. He’s the backup right away or b. he’s sent down but brought up soon enough to make enough of an impact to help them win the AL East.
They’re not yanking anyone’s chain. He looked good, then he didn’t.
He’s not quite ready. It’s as simple as that.
Ledger_Yankees Star Ledger
Russell Martin had some hamstring stiffness, hence Molina pulling double duty. Martin slated to catch on Monday.
“From the few times I’ve seen Montero this spring on TV he’s overmatched at the plate because he hasn’t learned to adjust to changes of speed,”
he hasn’t adjusted to major league pitching and major league breaking stuff and pitch sequences yet….he can’t do that at AAA.
The bottom line is this…….The Big Leauges is not the ideal place for a 21 year old to learn to break bad habits, especially on a club like The NY Yankees who are looking at October baseball…….
I wouldn’t say that Montero is overmatched when he is getting inconsistent AB’s in ST. There is no way to evaluate his hitting based on his not playing regularly in ST. He started slow at AAA and then killed it the second half. If they want him to get in a groove by playing every day, work on his catching or delay arbitration that is one thing, but Montero has NOTHING to learn hitting-wise at AAA.
Pat M,
now that’s a sound point……but I do think there will be a time this season where Montero will help the October part.
You can tell when a prospect isn’t major league ready, they are overmatched at the plate. From the few times I’ve seen Montero this spring on TV he’s overmatched at the plate because he hasn’t learned to adjust to changes of speed, until he does so (and he most likely will, he has a great swing) all of this is conjecture.
///
The next five seconds are conjecture. He’s behind the other hitters because the Yanks told him to focus on catching. He’s much more of a contact hitter than he’s shown. He’s already begun to come around. I have no concerns at all about his hitting & I don’t think they do. It probably just made it easier that he’s struggling a little to send him down. They know & EVERYBODY knows he’ll hit.
yankeefeminista March 26th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
I wouldn’t say that Montero is overmatched when he is getting inconsistent AB’s in ST. There is no way to evaluate his hitting based on his not playing regularly in ST. He started slow at AAA and then killed it the second half. If they want him to get in a groove by playing every day, work on his catching or delay arbitration that is one thing, but Montero has NOTHING to learn hitting-wise at AAA.
———
It really is all about his catching at this point, not his hitting. Management said that, and it’s clear at this point. Everyone was feeling pretty high on Jesus when he was catching well, and slowly he became sloppier. Once he straightens that out at AAA he’ll be back up. Going to AAA lets him straighten that out.
This hasn’t much to do with his bat. Although, if he did rip the skin off the ball in spring training, I do think they would have brought him on board… but of a paradoxical thought, but I think it’s easy enough to follow.
blake, let’s say it takes Montero 2-3 months to catch up to major league pitching, that’s how long it took him to catch up to AAA pitching last year by playing every day. Do you really think the Yankees are going to play him enough if he’s hitting .220 when he is somewhat of a liability behind the plate as well? If he was OK defensively they possibly could live with it but really, how can they make it work in the current situation? 300 ABs is an awful lot to give a kid when he isn’t performing. If he had a good spring and looked ready at the plate they would have put him on the club but he isn’t even on the 40 man roster yet, right?
If Dickerson did only cramp up out there, it’s understandable after a cross country flight, to the park early and then playing without much sleep. A concern for a later time.
he hasn’t adjusted to major league pitching and major league breaking stuff and pitch sequences yet….he can’t do that at AAA.
///
No he can’t. that is why a number here want him facing those guys now.
MG don’t forget Montero had some kind of hand injury that wasn’t healed in the first half.
# MG March 26th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
blake, let’s say it takes Montero 2-3 months to catch up to major league pitching, that’s how long it took him to catch up to AAA pitching last year by playing every day. Do you really think the Yankees are going to play him enough if he’s hitting .220 when he is somewhat of a liability behind the plate as well? If he was OK defensively they possibly could live with it but really, how can they make it work in the current situation? 300 ABs is an awful lot to give a kid when he isn’t performing. If he had a good spring and looked ready at the plate they would have put him on the club but he isn’t even on the 40 man roster yet, right?
_________
Montero had a hand/thumb injury. That, not adjusting, delayed his hitting in AAA.
Think about it like this…
Montero wasn’t hitting well. It’ll take a bit of time for him to adjust to major league pitching.
He wasn’t catching very well. He’s still got things to work on and he needs to catch more.
What exactly does he bring to the table as the backup catcher at this point? The Yankees aren’t here to help make Montero’s career. Montero is here to help the Yankees be a better team. He’s an employee that gets paid to make the Yankees better.
Right now, he really can’t do that. Let him work on catching a little bit longer and once he’s polished up, call him up for his shot. Perhaps a little disappointing to us fans (I am excited to see him), but I don’t think it’s a big deal.
People forget that Montero hadn’t played baseball for almost 9-10 months because of a broken finger just after mid-season before last season.
MG,
I don’t think he’s as bad defensively as he showed there for awhile this spring. Wouldn’t you like the second half he had in the on your team for the 2nd half? That could be a difference maker in a playoff hunt. He may need the adjustment time in the first half to make that possible…..they could also always send him down if he struggled that much, but you never know he may not.
For those that care, I watched the Trenton game today. I kept score but I have to go babysit so I won’t be able to post the game to my blog until really late tonight. Betances looked okay, if I got everything correct, he just allowed a home run.
Yankeefem
Sosa stole 2 bases – 2nd and then 3rd. He beat the ball to the bag to 2nd but no throw to 3rd.
No Francisco Santana on the roster today, maybe he is still in the DSL or not stateside yet.
Montero had a hand/thumb injury. That, not adjusting, delayed his hitting in AAA.
///
yea wasn’t sure what part of the hand.
ty – Thanks for the update. I heard Betances tabled his CB. Did he throw it?
Just let Montero get his swing in order and when/if Martin/Cervelli don’t hit or get hurt, bringing him up will be better than sitting on a cold bench for 4 or 5 days at a time in NY.
# tyanksfan36 March 26th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
For those that care, I watched the Trenton game today. I kept score but I have to go babysit so I won’t be able to post the game to my blog until really late tonight. Betances looked okay, if I got everything correct, he just allowed a home run.
Yankeefem
Sosa stole 2 bases – 2nd and then 3rd. He beat the ball to the bag to 2nd but no throw to 3rd.
No Francisco Santana on the roster today, maybe he is still in the DSL or not stateside yet.
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I figured Betances would pitch. Much thanks for the update. Yes, Sosa can fly–Did he play CF? Any balls hit to him?
Garcia starting on Tuesday because game is against Detroit. Hughes goes Tuesday “off-radar” because Phil starts against Detroit when it counts (game 3). Garcia won’t start until Minny series.
I’m fine with Montero starting out at SWB as I’ve said, if nothing else you get an extra year of control out of it……but if it’s totally about winning baseball games then I think Montero helps the Yankees do that more than Molina….
My guess (as Chad mentioned previously) is that this is more about the 40 man than anything else. They will DFA Molina when Cervelli comes back and then put Montero on the 40 man when he’s ready to come up for good.
it’s really funny.
Robinson Cano was brought up in 2005 after suddenly blossoming at AAA. He had never hit over .300 in the minors before the one month in AAA. The Yankees handed him the job at 2nd base because they no reasonable alternative other than Tony Womack (?).
Cano has become one of the greats in baseball since then but there was an enormous change in his performance between 2004 and 2005. The Yankees knew enough to bring him up when they saw that improvement.
Here we are, 6 years later and the Yankees, according to many of you, don’t know how to put rookies on the team. They actually do know, you just don’t agree with them and are convinced they are wrong.
Ive seen Jesus Montero play over 50 times in person. I also watched Buster Posey play a ton of times in college since my nephew’s school was in the same conference plus they play UM once a year.
I’m a big Montero fan. His power component is higher than Posey’s. Aside from that, Posey is a much better hitter.
You are talking about a guy in Posey who hit over .400 playing in the best college baseball conference in the country and ended up getting to the majors within 2 years of being drafted.
Once there, the guy was an immediate impact player.
Montero isn’t at that level. Hopefully, he will be one day. To say he is now, is incorrect.
Watching him play for a week this spring, it was clear he wasn’t ready yet. He really struggled catching the ball, framing pitches, and being comfortable catching the guys he will catch at the ML level.
Just needs more time and it’s better spent playing everyday in Scranton.
When you call him up, you want it to be for good. He’s not a kid you want on the Scranton Shuttle.
It’s not a setback he isn’t ready yet and the team isn’t going to hell in a hand basket with Molina
as the backup for a month.
Give the kid some time to continue to improve, which he needs to do and he will be fine.
Yankeefem
I don’t really think he had to make many hard plays out there.
JAP
I don’t know if he threw a CB because I don’t know pitches. Nothing stood out though so maybe not. DJ Mitchell threw some CB that were very noticeable so I knew they were CB’s, besides that I don’t really know pitching.
blake, if Montero improves behind the plate enough to handle a major league staff at a reasonable level and gets off to a good start at SWB the Yankees will bring him back and probably trade Cervelli, who would be the one left out. I just don’t see April or May as critical times in the season and Montero could very well be helped enormously by another 40 games at SWB catching every day.
Give me a choice of Posey’s bat or Montero’s, with a tuneup period to give Montero a running start against ML pitching & I’m taking Montero every time.
If he doesn’t stick at catcher, THEN I take Posey.
# RadioKev March 26th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
yankeefeminista March 26th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
I wouldn’t say that Montero is overmatched when he is getting inconsistent AB’s in ST. There is no way to evaluate his hitting based on his not playing regularly in ST. He started slow at AAA and then killed it the second half. If they want him to get in a groove by playing every day, work on his catching or delay arbitration that is one thing, but Montero has NOTHING to learn hitting-wise at AAA.
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It really is all about his catching at this point, not his hitting. Management said that, and it’s clear at this point. Everyone was feeling pretty high on Jesus when he was catching well, and slowly he became sloppier. Once he straightens that out at AAA he’ll be back up. Going to AAA lets him straighten that out.
This hasn’t much to do with his bat. Although, if he did rip the skin off the ball in spring training, I do think they would have brought him on board… but of a paradoxical thought, but I think it’s easy enough to follow.
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Right, and he didn’t really get a chance to get in any rhythm with the truncated AB’s. Let’s face it, they probably want to avoid arb and see how things shake down with the roster spot. However, it is not about rushing him as some people are erroneously concluding and more about how much improvement he would make working on his catching in SWB vs. in mlb. His bat though will stagnate in AAA if you keep him there for too long. I agree with Blake that he needs to get right in the mix, and be given time to make adjustments, and with Prufrock that his bat projections are more likely a given than some hypothetical based on wish fulfillment. No one in baseball, scouts, prospect “pundits,” etc doubt his bat.
Posey is also two and a half years older than Montero, correct?
“I just don’t see April or May as critical times in the season and Montero could very well be helped enormously by another 40 games at SWB catching every day.”
I can’t argue with that defensively
tyanksfan36 March 26th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Yankeefem
I don’t really think he had to make many hard plays out there.
JAP
I don’t know if he threw a CB because I don’t know pitches. Nothing stood out though so maybe not. DJ Mitchell threw some CB that were very noticeable so I knew they were CB’s, besides that I don’t really know pitching.
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that’s ok I’ll find out later. DJ Mitchell I liked better than Phelps & Warren in ST. Seen Warren at Trenton but hadn’t seen DP & got my first look at Mitchell. Nice arm on DJ. thnx for the info, keep it comin
Again, thanks for info, tyf. Much appreciated.
Yes, Posey will turn 24 on Monday. Montero is 21.
yankeefeminista March 26th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
# RadioKev March 26th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
yankeefeminista March 26th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
I However, it is not about rushing him as some people are erroneously concluding and more about how much improvement he would make working on his catching in SWB vs. in mlb. His bat though will stagnate in AAA if you keep him there for too long. I agree with Blake that he needs to get right in the mix, and be given time to make adjustments, and with Prufrock that his bat projections are more likely a given than some hypothetical based on wish fulfillment. No one in baseball, scouts, prospect “pundits,” etc doubt his bat.
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where is the historic justification for a bat ‘stagnating’ by staying ‘too long’ at AAA?
Bernie Williams spent two full years at AAA, he did OK
Jorge Posada spent two full years at AAA, he also did OK
I’m sure there are many, many others who spent multiple years at AAA at had outstanding careers, do you want more names?
RadioKev March 26th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Posey is also two and a half years older than Montero, correct?
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Montero’s about 3 yrs younger I think.
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I wonder if Garcia & Colon flop they bring up ManBan. Maybe ABrack gets a look. Congratulations, Ivan Nova on sewing up the Number 4 spot.