Jesus Montero Wants To Catch for New York Yankees, Now and Later
February 9, 2011 · chris brunau · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Things just got more interesting. It now seems that the most sought-after position on the New York Yankees has become catcher.
Supposedly, Russell Martin has the job. However, Posada still insists he will catch at some time this season. I can only imagine Francisco Cervelli feels the same way, and now Jesus Montero is saying he wants to be behind the plate as well.
Things are going to get pretty tricky here, but it looks like the bats and gloves of these backstops will have to do the talking in spring training.
We know that both Russell Martin and Jorge Posada will definitely be on the Yankee roster come Opening Day, with Martin at starting catcher and Jorge at DH.
Martin is showing his desire to be the starter, not through words, but by hitting spring training early with teammate and captain Derek Jeter.
Martin has something to prove with being a new Yankee, and Jeter has to prove his critics wrong, much like he did in 2009. That worked out great for Jeter, as he batted over .300, stole 30 bases and won a fifth World Series ring and Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year.
As far as catching goes, the competition mainly seems to be for the backup spot. Posada will probably only get behind the plate in emergency situations and on the road against NL teams, so he isn’t out of the lineup.
Cervelli, Montero and Austin Romine will compete to be Martin’s backup. The likeliest is Cervelli, because he has the defensive skill set already, whereas Montero is still working on that, being only 21.
Montero obviously is still learning and improving, so the only question for the Yankees is whether this will happen in Triple-A or the majors.
I’d be happy seeing him in the majors, so I literally can see him play. However, I would settle for him in Triple-A, because at the least, that will mean he is still on the Yankees and not yet used as a trade piece for another starter.
I’ve said it once before: The ONLY way I would ever be okay with Montero being traded away is for Felix Hernandez. Anything short of that, I want him to stay with the Yankees.
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