Even if we presume the scouts are right and he will give back runs on defense, it’s hard to imagine that Jesus Montero’s catching would be so bad that his vastly superior bat wouldn’t be enough to outproduce Russell Martin on an overall basis.
Martin has been about average defensively in the aspects we can comfortably measure: 28.7% Caught Stealing (8 out of 16 qualified catchers in MLB), 9 errors (13th-most out of 16), and 4 Passed Balls (4th-least out of 16).
Offensively, Martin has a .324 wOBA. Montero is at .377 (right about where Bill James projected him). Even if you build in some regression, you can’t project Montero at less than .350. Even if it’s just that .25 point gap, that’s very big.
If nothing else, Montero should almost certainly be catching against lefty starters. He’s put up a .427 wOBA so far vs lefties (and has the minor league track record to back that up, .328/.392/.647 vs LHP at AAA).
Food for thought…
26 Comments
Ummmmm... September 18, 2011 22:33
He’s also caught about 6 big league innings, so maybe throwing him to the wolves in the postseason isn’t the brightest idea.
ASD September 18, 2011 22:48
That’s six more than Javier Vazquez.
Experience September 19, 2011 14:33
Because you need me to play well.
But you need to play to get me…
K@bak September 18, 2011 22:33
I don’t know. Depends if the subways are running or not. I’ll do some research and let everyone know.
Negrodamus September 18, 2011 22:34
WTF? I know what blog you’re mocking, but I don’t get why. You’re a fucked up person.
Censorship September 19, 2011 03:04
Why does Nomaas not allow the name “Ben Kab@k” to be entered as a name ? Or even in this comment box ?
Why the censorship ?
Mike Axxis@ September 19, 2011 03:04
Same with this above name
Negrodamus September 18, 2011 22:35
Is this a serious question? He has zero plate discipline and doesn’t know what a slider is.
Brian S. September 19, 2011 00:16
Russel Martin blows, but he should still catch the postseason. Montero should DH.
Negrodamus September 19, 2011 18:07
How am I getting thumbs down? Seriously? He has shown absolutely no plate discipline so far. He’s getting slaughtered on sliders.
pissed off guy in jeans and jean jacket September 18, 2011 22:39
is this fucking post serious?
sometimes nomaas needs to just shut the fuck up and get off their high horse
Time to shine! September 18, 2011 23:10
Shut the fuck up, god forbid a site point out something that no one has considered. Kill yourself.
pissed off guy in jeans and jean jacket September 19, 2011 02:21
nobody has considered it because it is the dumbest fucking thing on the planet
go away
Eduardo Núñez September 18, 2011 23:16
U SAME MOTHERFOCKERZ DAT WANTED TO MOVE MATSUI TO 1b FOK U NOMAAS
The Guy that posts the best Youtub videos that you are dying to watch! September 18, 2011 23:33
Montero for DH
Martin as catcher
just the tip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS-7zTzrSAA&feature=related
LaneMeyerHasAIDS September 18, 2011 23:49
This site is becoming a joke….
Pete C. September 19, 2011 05:32
I thought that jokes were the whole point behind this site?
Now I’m really confused.
Eric Ortiz of NESN September 19, 2011 05:02
Jarrod Saltlamacchia, 25, is poised for a break out year.
Grand Wizard Of The KKK: Boston Chapter September 19, 2011 21:07
We’re pleased with his output this season.
Eric Ortiz of NESN September 19, 2011 06:50
Jesus Montero would most likely be dealt away if he were in the Red Sox organization. With Jarrod Slatalamacchia behind the plate at just 25 years of age, the Sox have solidified their back stop position for the next 21 seasons. I know this because I can predict baseball as I did in my article before the season began. I said the 2011 Red Sox would go down as the greatest of all time and I was right.
Gary Sanchez September 19, 2011 10:33
What about me???
The Truth September 19, 2011 12:14
Uh no. You cannot be serious. I guess Nomaas’ superior atat predictor can assume that a kid can manage a pitching staff, control a running game & contribute offensively as well. Let the kid the primary DH & I am even having second thoughts about that one. Contrary to Nomaas’ philosophy experience does count for something in the postseason.
noseeum September 19, 2011 12:36
I appreciate the ballsiness of this suggestion, but a suggestion like this can only be made from the cheap seats.
Montero’s ML stats are meaningless. SSS anyone?
So if you believe this to be the answer, Montero should have been the starting catcher the day he arrived in NYC, since the only reliable stats we have for Montero are his minor league stats.
And really, I know you don’t believe that.
This is a suggestion that you must have known would and could never be implemented when you typed it. I hope it at least generated some decent page views.
Business Suit September 19, 2011 15:54
Come on Nomaas, this and the Garcia post are perfect examples of shitty analysis. We have no idea how Montero is going to perform against major leaguers on a consistent basis, we have only 43 PA against a random sampling of opponents. How do you think that will compare to facing Beckett and Lester or Hamels and Lee?
I want montero in the playoffs, but suggesting he should start is fanboy to the max. If martin is hitting like shit, maybe give him a start. But let’s remember the things we’ve learned and use a little intelligence.
Nick Social September 19, 2011 21:11
I thought their analysis on Garcia was fine.
However, the idea of starting Montero at catcher during the playoffs is straight-up crazy pants.
matt September 20, 2011 14:25
Not sure I relish the idea of him behind the plate in the playoffs calling games for Nova or attempting to catch the ELECTRIC curveball…