Mapping Montero

With the Yankees seemingly ready to use Jesus Montero as the number one catcher in 2011, let’s think about how he will be deployed, both in a catching platoon and in the lineup.

Ideally, Montero will catch 100 games”, so let’s go on that assumption. Like I did in the comments of that article from River Ave. Blues, let’s assume that we have a normal week with one off day (Monday) and two day games after night games (assuming Thursday and Saturday). The catching rotation, in a typical week, will probably look something like this:

Monday: OFF
Tuesday: Montero C, Posada DH
Wednesday: Montero C, Posada DH
Thursday: Montero DH, Posada C
Friday: Montero C, Posada DH
Saturday: Montero DH, Posada C
Sunday: Montero C, Posada DH

Of course, that could be rather flexible. There are times when Montero will likely be able to play some day games after night games. He is going to be only 20 years old and we can assume that he’s not going to be too worn out by the catching grind.

There are also times when both players will need full days off and Francisco Cervelli will get a start behind the plate while someone else gets a shot at DH.

Jorge Posada could also take some games at first; he’s done it before and it’s a good way to keep a good bat in the lineup. Jesus Montero could do the same, though he’s never played first before. While the primary focus will be on catching for Jesus in Spring Training (as it damn well should be), I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if he took some reps at first base, just to make him a little more flexible.

Hopefully, Montero plays well enough behind the plate and hits well enough to justify the Yankees making him the first string catcher. I have a lot of faith in him doing the latter. As for the former, I’m not so sure. So long as he can replicate Jorge’s defense back there (yeah that’s a really low standard, I know) ,I’ll be content.

Next, there’s the issue of where The Jesus will hit when he’s in the Yankee lineup. I assume that the Yankees will break him in rather lightly. Not one bit of me expects Montero to hit in the top two thirds of the lineup. If it were up to me, I’d throw together this lineup:

1. Jeter, SS
2. Swisher, RF
3. Teixeira, 1B
4. Rodriguez, 3B
5. Cano, 2B
6. Posada, DH
7. Granderson, CF
8. Montero, C
9. Gardner, LF

This represents what I think is a likely lineup for the Yankees in 2011. For Montero, it gives him a chance to hit with guys on and drive runs in, but also doesn’t put pressure on him to be a big time producer like a 4-6 hitter, which would be pretty unfair to assume in his first season.

Putting him eighth also helps to keep managers from using LOOGYs against both Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner without going through Montero first. In 2010, Montero had a .902 OPS against LHP.

No doubt, we are incredibly excited for the arrival (ascension?) of Jesus to the big leagues. There’s no question about his ability and potential, now we just have to wait for the results.

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