Girardi/Cashman: Montero Could Challenge Posada For Playing Time In 2011
Posted by Steve L. on October 25th, 2010 · Comments (12)
Via Ben Shpigel –
[Joe] Girardi said he would have to “think long and hard about” whether Jorge Posada can be expected to catch 120 games next year. The Yankees believe that Jesus Montero, their top catching prospect, will challenge for playing time next year.
“Is Montero ready for the big leagues?” [Brian] Cashman said. “I have people who believe he is. He’s going to have to prove that.”
I hope this is not the same people who told Cashman that Austin Jackson was not ready for the big leagues in 2010. In any event, it will be interesting to see ‘Sado’s reaction to this news today. Will he take it as a challenge? Or, will he take it as a slap in the face?
I’m just not sure you can argue that Austin Jackson was a revelation on the offensive end. That’s not to say that he can’t develop into a better and more disciplined hitter in the future — he’ll only be 24 next year — but the fact remains that he was a barely league-average offensive player with a .333 wOBA. Your fixation on Austin Jackson is completely irrational.
Further, I’m quite certain that those who are telling Cashman that Montero is MLB-ready with the bat are not the only ones saying that. More than enough scouts from other organizations have said that Montero is one of the best pure hitters in the minor leagues, if not the best overall.
Hey,
Someone that can swing the shillelagh is always great, but the game and the competition have evolved as drug testing has entered the picture. Speed is once again a key component of the game. We need a solid defensive catcher that can blunt the running game and keep runners from advancing on PB and WP.
@ #15:
It’s all a give-and-take. Posada has never been a good defensive catcher but we lived with it because he created more runs than he gave away. As that spread is diminishing rapidly (he’s giving up extra bases/runs with a greater degree of frequency), there is less reason to live with Posada’s declining bat.
If Montero can flat-out rake then no matter how horrid he is defensively, it’ll be a net gain for the team. I definitely want the Yankees to address defense behind the plate but, at a certain point, the Yankees can ignore the issue if the production greatly outweighs the risks.
Seriously, man, AJax struck out 170 times this year against 4 homeruns. For an insane reference, Bye Bye Balboni never struck out that much. Rob Deer only topped that number twice.
It’s very hard to argue that AJax was ready. He was overmatched more than he wasn’t. Unless he somehow able to go against the history of baseball and maintain a .396 BABIP, he should be much worse next year. No power and mucho strikeouts means he’s not long for the game.
DYK that Francisco Cervelli caught 724 of the 1442 1/3 defensive innings for the Yankees this year? That’s 50.2% Go to Baseball-Reference.com and you’ll see Cervelli listed as the Yankees’ regular catcher and Posada listed as a utility player. That’s going to be Posada’s role more and more in 2011 (which should be his last season). And if you can’t live with Cervelli as your everyday catcher and you don’t think Montero is MLB ready, then you’ll have to sign a free agent to catch on a regular basis and have Posada as the back up catcher and part-time DH (along with A-Rod).
I hope this is not the same people who told Cashman that Austin Jackson was not ready for the big leagues in 2010.
Isn’t that the same Austin Jackson you derided as a top prospect at the end of 2009, and in the 2009-2010 offseason?
In any event, MJ is correct. His offensive season winds up as mediocre.
From June 4th to the end of the season (100 G, 92 GS): .267/.324/.366/.690
From July 26th to the end of the season (63 G. 58 GS): .258/.315/.354/.669
From Sept 5th to the end of the season (25 G, 23 GS): .214/.257/.301/.558
It’s obvious he ran out of gas as the season got deeper. He’ll probably get better. How much better? Maybe a lot. Maybe only a little. No way to tell yet.
Montero certainly has the rep as a hitter but the Yankees need a game caller who has the defensive tools. Let’s get someone who can catch, let Montero get another year behind the dish at triple A and see if we have a catcher, or a dh/leftfielder type.
I doubt Montero will ever be the defensive answer at catcher or any other position in 2011. But Girardi and Pena working heavily with him may change that for 2012. Also Romine might be ready for 2012 and Posada may be gone. Jorge doesn’t strike me as the type to lend a hand in Jesus’ developement.
RobertGKramer@AOL.Com wrote:
I rip Posada mercilessly but I don’t agree with this at all. Frankie Cervelli has said many times that Posada has been a very good mentor to him and has encouraged and worked with him to help him improve.
Posada is capable of acts of incredible stupidity and selfishness but he’s also shown a willingness to work with his understudies. Can’t praise him enough for that.
MJ Recanati wrote:
Exactly, Victor Martinez anybody?
MJ Recanati wrote:
We can probably thank Girardi for that, as he was so willing and selfless to do the same in the late-90′s for Posada.
YankCrank wrote:
Yep, and now Jorgie is paying it forward.