Oct

Montero, McAllister among EL’s best

After ranking as the second best prospect in the High-A Florida State League, Jesus Montero followed that up by placing fifth in the Double-A Eastern League, according to Baseball America. Zach McAllister came in at #19, while old pal Jose Tabata checked in at #15. In the subscriber only report, one AL scout said of Montero: “When he shows up to play, it’s pretty good. I don’t think he’ll get away with showing up every other night in the big leagues, especially behind the plate, but it could just be youthful mistakes.” This is the first I’ve heard of him “taking days off,” but if he hit .317-.370-.539 as a 19-yr old in the EL playing every other day, imagine what he could do if he actually applied himself.

As for McAllister, one EL manager said he “competed and threw four pitches for strikes, and both the breaking balls were tough to handle.” It also notes that he’s mostly upper-80′s with the fastball, knocking his ceiling down to a back-end starter. Such is life.

Categories : Asides, Minors

22 Comments»

pete says:

October 9, 2009 at 4:49 pm

i don’t think anyone (even jesus) hits like that if he’s taking every other day off. I think people watch a guy with so much talent, and when he has an 0-fer or 3K night and/or makes big mistakes behind the plate, they say “this guy’s way to talented for this to happen unless he’s just not all the way there tonight,” which is bullcrap, because we’re talking about baseball, where randomness reigns supreme

pat says:

October 9, 2009 at 4:53 pm

Fuck that shit “taking every other day off”. I don’t believe that for one second. We’ve neverheard that from ANYWHERE. Just another hater. Chalk it up.

Tank the Frank says:

October 9, 2009 at 5:18 pm

Agreed 100 percent. That’s shameful to see written and completely unfounded. I too think that it’s for no other reason than he’s a Yankee. Gotta find something negative about him.

Reply
- Doug says:
  
  October 9, 2009 at 5:30 pm
  
  and you know it’s unfounded, how exactly
  
  Reply
  - tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside says:
    
    October 9, 2009 at 5:35 pm
    
    It doesn’t work that way.
    
    The listening audience doesn’t have to prove that something is unfounded. It’s the responsibility of the accuser to prove that his/her accusations ARE founded.
    
    Reply
  - pat says:
    
    October 9, 2009 at 5:40 pm
    
    Because there’s an untold amount of people following his every move. All we’ve ever heard is how he works very very hard on catching and is determined to make the bigs as a catcher. Now all of a sudden when he “decides to show up and play” he’s “pretty good”?
    
    That’s ridiculous.
    
    Reply
  - Drew says:
    
    October 9, 2009 at 5:47 pm
    
    An unnamed scout once told me I’m the next Barry Bonds! Just sayin’.
    
    Reply
Drew says:

October 9, 2009 at 5:20 pm

Word. You figure Mashmore would’ve picked up on that shit considering Jesus was “under the microscope.” I call bullshit.

Reply

tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside says:

October 9, 2009 at 5:06 pm

Jesus Montero is good at baseball.

pat says:

October 9, 2009 at 5:13 pm

Jesus, Montero is good at baseball!

Reply
- tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside says:
  
  October 9, 2009 at 5:16 pm
  
  Mosanna, Mosanna, Mosanna in the highest.
  
  Reply

tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside says:

October 9, 2009 at 5:08 pm

This is the first I’ve heard of him “taking days off,” but if he hit .317-.370-.539 as a 19-yr old in the EL playing every other day, imagine what he could do if he actually applied himself.

Like I always say: 50% of Manny Ramirez is worth more that 100% of everyone else.

Camilo Gerardo - your inception? fuck perception, go with what makes sense says:

October 9, 2009 at 5:50 pm

i thought he only took an ab off each against Mo and hot-Joba

Reply

Doug says:

October 9, 2009 at 5:14 pm

Mike, not counting Buster Posey since he was promoted in September, Carlos Santana, just ahead of Montero on the list, is considered the best overall catching prospect in baseball, right? (and, yeah, I do know that Posey’s still considered a prospect)

AndrewYF says:

October 9, 2009 at 6:09 pm

Yes. It goes: Santana, Montero, Posey. 3 catchers who should be in the top 10 of all prospects in baseball.

Reply

Drew says:

October 9, 2009 at 5:15 pm

I can’t wait to follow Z-Mac next year. I assume he’ll start in Scranton but I wonder if he’ll get a ST invite, even if it’s just to meet the guys and the coaches it would be cool to see.

TheZack says:

October 9, 2009 at 5:34 pm

Again, its the “non-white players are [lazy, unmotivated, take plays off, don't respect the game etc] line rearing its ugly head. The institutionalized racism in sports can be annoying, but as everyone has already pointed out, if you hit like that “showing up every other day” and he’s 19, I’ll take it.