ALDS Thought #2: Jesus Montero
Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 1:44 pm by SJK
Over the next few days, we'll be looking at some key takeaways from the ALDS performance of the now-deceased Yankees.
Jesus Montero
ALDS: 1 game, 2 for 2
With the Tigers throwing all right-handed starters against New York, Joe Girardi was absolutely correct starting Jorge Posada at DH. Despite all the groupthink in the MSM, Posada still held his own against RHP this season: .269/.348/.466. There's really nothing to talk regarding Jesus Montero in that regard.
However, where we can talk about Montero is Girardi's refusal to use him as a pinch-hitter for Russell Martin in any circumstance whatsoever. This was very noticeable in Game 5, when the anemic-hitting Martin came up in both the bottom of the 6th and 8th innings with the Yankees trailing (Martin struck out both times).
This raises three questions:
1. Did Girardi think Martin was the better offensive choice?
2. Does Girardi have an extreme lack of faith in Montero's catching?
3. Why was Montero even put on the ALDS roster?
For the first question, there's no way Girardi thought Martin was a better offensive option than Montero. If he did, he should be checked into a mental hospital.
If we were the betting type, we'd put more weight into Girardi having a complete lack of faith in Montero's catching. How else can you explain not using a hitter of Montero's caliber in the late innings of an elimination game with the Yankees losing? After all, Montero was listed as the club's backup catcher and Girardi blatantly refused to use him in that position, even though the Yankees were only a few outs away from their season's end.
Why was Montero even put on the ALDS roster if he served no function to Girardi?
This really makes us wonder how the Yankees truly view Montero. We've heard time and time again about how they believe he's a catcher, but when his bat was sorely needed in those pinch-hitting situations, Girardi said 'no.'
Joe Girardi: "I served with catchers, I know catchers, catchers are friends of mine. Jesus, you're no major league catcher."
My thought is Girardi didn’t wanna hurt Martin’s feelings. Yep, that stupid.
Montero doesn’t fit Retardi’s idea of a good catcher.
It don’t matter if they hit .220 as long as they block the plate and make the gritty™ plays.
Yeaaah! REPRESENT, motherfuckers!!
Good job by Girardi of keepin those spics down.
He didn’t have a belly full of guts and lacked that veteran “edge”.
Will you go away!
Joe Girardi loves touching me.
I love touching boys.
How about 26 yr old guys who look like 14?
We are standing outside of your basement apartment. Come on out and join us in our march against the 1% like John Henry.
I’d like to push a button you chickenhawk.
Handedness of batters and pitchers seems a short sighted way of predicting their future performance, especially with the amount of advanced data available to us and to teams. I am not knocking Jorge at all. He did great in the division series. But their had to be other ways to say something like, this pitcher throws primarily fastballs and curves, these three hitters are good against that, or something more predictive than what hand they wipe with.
I too wish we’d seen more of Montero in the ALDS, though I will say that Girardi and the Yanks not having faith in Montero’s ability to catch in a postseason game when he’s only been in the majors a month and barely knows the Yanks’ pitchers is not the same as not having faith in his ability to catch long-term.
He couldn’t have caught Mariano for one inning?
Probably because if Montero gets hurt there is nobody left to catch.
So with 4 outs left in the Yankees season, he didn’t use Montero because of fear of an injury?
I know right, plus that Montero kid is young and hardy. It’s not like he’s me or something! If I get a paper cut, I’m on the DL for a month!
I can catch motherfucka
Jesus was not set loose!
No A-bombs from me!
No “Tex Messages” from me, either!
Its the ugly truth. Jesus sucks at catching, has no position besides catching. So he’s a DH, but the corpse of Arod needs that position. Fuck.
What the fuck? A-Rod doesn’t need the DH spot for another few years, he’s still a good defender at third.
I’m tough. Like a centaur, baby.
Yeah, a centaur with a titanium hip.
Carl Crawford and the Rays in particular made a career out of taking bases off Posada pass balls.
I guess times have changed.
I’m getting a 1995 vibe when Bick refused to use Mo n didn’t know what he had. When Hesus is 30-100 every yr we will ask y didn’t he get more ab’s in 2011.
Our WB Mason top of the 4th trivia question.
In 2010, 10 time All Star, 5 time World Series Winner, and 3 times AL MVP Jesus Montero was nearly traded for which pitcher by the Yankee organization ???
Ken Singleton: Oh I know this, hehehe
Cliff Lee? and Singelton and Kay won’t be around then.
OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS, I will be around then! Back by popular demand, of course!
#2. I don’t think cos Arod has years left that they will trade Jesus or not let him dh. Also this theory that he will be traded for a SP is false. Every scout agrees his bat is 80 on tool scale. This team showed they need youth n right handed power. Isn’t he the perfect ingredient?
You better lay off the Maneshewitz while you are typing there brother, but good points.
I am lovin me some Manshewitz..dont invite my dad to a Manshewitz party….boxeers will be flying all over the mens room
Manischewitz
At least I got the w right…
Hahaha! Well I sure am glad I didn’t sign with the Yankees! At least the Phillies didn’t get kicked out of the first round of the playof– wait…
If the Yankees trade Montero with the B’s/Nova for a fucking SP this offseason they don’t have a fucking clue what they’re doing.
WHAT UP TWITTER’VERSE YALL ! OH WELL TOO BAD WE DIDNT WIN, WE’LL GET THEM NEXT YEAR !!! HAHAHAHA !!!
SHOUT OUT TO MA NIGGAS IN DA BLEACHERS, SALUT~~~~
ITS JUST A GAME YALL CHILL~!!!!! SWISHAS GOT THIS NEXT YEAR !!!
Just work on your hitting in the offseason dipshit.
Guys, I know I’m done. My playing career with the New York Yankees is over. I knew that ever since May of this year. I just wanted to play hard and extend our playoff run for as long as possible so that way I could play longer before having to hang it up.
Unfortunately, Alex, Mark and Swish pissed all over that hope. Thanks, guys!
We were 9 for 55 with no power!
New York Post sports section cover for us!
So they treated your hope like you treat your hands?
They will panic and trade him for starting pitching, just not the starting pitching you would want.
I’m going to sign Sergio Mitre to a minor league contract, then release him. When a team picks him up I will then trade Montero for him.
Giradi thought Jesus was wet behind the ears. The water in my pool has more juice than the Yankees line up.
I would like to see the Yanks make a splash and get Reyes and Pujols just because we can.
Why trade me for starting pitching? Pitching clearly wasn’t the problem.
Because you can’t crack a line up with Posada and Martin in front of you.
And a starter pitcher can crack our rotation. Besides AJ Burnett is not considered a problem?
With all due respect Montero is a better hitter than Martin. He can catch if given a chance. For crying out loud Chavex & Andrew Jones got a chance in game two while Montero sat down. Speaking of stupid:
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/bombers_must_beltran_lefty_starters_MBvUaeJMw0j75nj76KJfkO
The Lupica column is equally annoying God these writer are stupid.
You don’t understand how using the word “and” when a comma would do is brilliance.
The Wilpons-good, honest folks. And good baseball people.And good judges of character. And not cheap. And fans of cooking shows featuring little sportwriters who no lonegr attend actual soprts events in person.
Don’t you know who I am?
Yes I do know who you are. You are the asshole who the day George Steinbrenner died went on WEEI in Boston & said awful things about the man & wrote equally nasty columns. You sir are a dick who I hope gets the shit kicked out of him real soon along with your punk faggot son.
Is it a possibility that we trade Martin and have Jesus as our starting catcher and have Ortiz as the DH? I mean what a waste if we develop him to only be a DH.
I think Montero might be scheduled to take a subway train at some point. I’ll ask my father if he knows. My dad likes subways and buses, FYI, and so do I.
I like you, Bennie. Come over to my sublet
We will come all over you
bases loaded 7th inning….swisher sucked all series….I’m pinch hitting Montero there….but Girardi sucks
I think Girardi set Montero only hit left hand pitcher.
or he is Scioscia 2.0
Shoulda PH Chavez for A-Rod against in game 5. Its called playing the percentages… its what smart managers do to win ball games.