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Montero and the minor leagues
As you’ll read in the minor league report, Jesus Montero went 4-for-5 with a grand slam and six RBI. People have lobbied for him to come up. I don’t see it happening based on what I’m hearing. There is a belief within the Mariners and outside organizations scouting him that Montero’s approach would not lead to big league hitting.
“Body is different, problems with approach haven’t changed,” said an opposing scout.
Basically, the belief is that major league pitchers would have little trouble getting Montero out. The current plan is to speed him up by pounding fastballs inside and then getting him to chase with curveballs away. He has 40 strikeouts in 200 ABs. Montero has had some success with soft throwing lefties in AAA – there’s more than a few in the PCL. And power is still there, but big league level pitchers can execute a game plan to get him out with relative ease.
If you couple that with his defense at first base, which three scouts labeled as much improved but still well below average, and the Mariners are in a quandary. Could Montero help as part time player off the bench and DH? Possibly. But his lack of a real position would already hinder a flawed roster.
As for Franklin Gutierrez … he missed three games with stomach issues, missed another eight straight days with hamstring issues and then recently took himself out of the game after getting dizzy scoring from first on a double. Gutierrez can no longer play center field any more. He struggles to play left field. The ankylosing spondylitis also forces him to sit out a day after playing two days in a row.
As you’ll read in the minor league report, Jesus Montero went 4-for-5 with a grand slam and six RBI. People have lobbied for him to come up. I don’t see it happening based on what I’m hearing. There is a belief within the Mariners and outside organizations scouting him that Montero’s approach would not lead to big league hitting.
“Body is different, problems with approach haven’t changed,” said an opposing scout.
Basically, the belief is that major league pitchers would have little trouble getting Montero out. The current plan is to speed him up by pounding fastballs inside and then getting him to chase with curveballs away. He has 40 strikeouts in 200 ABs. Montero has had some success with soft throwing lefties in AAA – there’s more than a few in the PCL. And power is still there, but big league level pitchers can execute a game plan to get him out with relative ease.
If you couple that with his defense at first base, which three scouts labeled as much improved but still well below average, and the Mariners are in a quandary. Could Montero help as part time player off the bench and DH? Possibly. But his lack of a real position would already hinder a flawed roster.
As for Franklin Gutierrez … he missed three games with stomach issues, missed another eight straight days with hamstring issues and then recently took himself out of the game after getting dizzy scoring from first on a double. Gutierrez can no longer play center field any more. He struggles to play left field. The ankylosing spondylitis also forces him to sit out a day after playing two days in a row.
