he didn't have a defensive position, and he - like many elite Mariners prospects - hasn't clicked at the big league level, but what he did as a teenager in the minors was extremely impressive. Contact tool, reasonable patience, power, he had it all at the plate.
Why didn't it translate to the Majors? If you can hit with one organization, you can hit with the next. Maybe he was AAAA?
I disagree. Look at Montero's Major League spray chart... most of his fly balls are to right field. SafeCo isn't remotely conducive to someone hitting to right-center. You think Cano all of a sudden forgot how to hit HRs? I still believe that Montero would've been infinitely better playing half his games in YS than SafeCo. If you go back to the season Montero had his most PAs, his home numbers were pathetic and his road numbers were good.
Has a weird swing. I never saw what others did. The hits to right did not appear to be a result of starting inside the ball, but rather they were scattershot. When he got called up, the HRs were what the failing Dimaggio called "piss" homers that he woyld slice over the 296 & 344 then hobble around the bases on bad ankles.
Not saying Montero cannot hit. It is obvious that if he gets 500 ABs, he will do some damage. But best hitting prospect ever? No chance. And, he came up as being basically a DH, which means that the position is locked for you if you wanted to acquire a veteran hitter. Plus he has no value in a potential trade to to NL teams.
Cautionary note on Pineda. I think he got away with some pitches last night. Leiter alluded to the right-handed hitting catcher missing a change from a righty pitcher. The ball fell into him. That is a reflection of a poor, inexperienced hitter. Throw that pitch to somebody like Pedroia or Trout: get a new ball. The Mets lineup as constituted last night, was not exactly Murder's Row. Pineda did throw quality fastballs for strike 1-sure. And he did follow McCann's lead as Cone mentioned. But the Mets had 4 line outs as well. And the burn they were on was due to end. Nobody plays to 130-32 in this game. The Mets are not going to win 125 games.
Quote:
he didn't have a defensive position, and he - like many elite Mariners prospects - hasn't clicked at the big league level, but what he did as a teenager in the minors was extremely impressive. Contact tool, reasonable patience, power, he had it all at the plate.
Why didn't it translate to the Majors? If you can hit with one organization, you can hit with the next. Maybe he was AAAA?
I disagree. Look at Montero's Major League spray chart... most of his fly balls are to right field. SafeCo isn't remotely conducive to someone hitting to right-center. You think Cano all of a sudden forgot how to hit HRs? I still believe that Montero would've been infinitely better playing half his games in YS than SafeCo. If you go back to the season Montero had his most PAs, his home numbers were pathetic and his road numbers were good.
Not saying Montero cannot hit. It is obvious that if he gets 500 ABs, he will do some damage. But best hitting prospect ever? No chance. And, he came up as being basically a DH, which means that the position is locked for you if you wanted to acquire a veteran hitter. Plus he has no value in a potential trade to to NL teams.
Cautionary note on Pineda. I think he got away with some pitches last night. Leiter alluded to the right-handed hitting catcher missing a change from a righty pitcher. The ball fell into him. That is a reflection of a poor, inexperienced hitter. Throw that pitch to somebody like Pedroia or Trout: get a new ball. The Mets lineup as constituted last night, was not exactly Murder's Row. Pineda did throw quality fastballs for strike 1-sure. And he did follow McCann's lead as Cone mentioned. But the Mets had 4 line outs as well. And the burn they were on was due to end. Nobody plays to 130-32 in this game. The Mets are not going to win 125 games.
It appears neither was a Yankee Stadium "special."
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