Francisco Cervelli Out For Two Months -- Time For Montero?

by Ed Valentine on Mar 4, 2011 4:10 PM EST in New York Yankees News

If you haven't already heard the bad news, Francisco Cervelli is out for approximately the next two months. That bruised left foot the New York Yankees backup catcher suffered the other day turns out to be a broken left foot. Cervelli will be in a cast for at least four weeks and will be unable to play for several weeks after that.

So, what now Yankees fans? Let Jesus Montero and Austin Romine fight it out for the backup catcher job? Slide Jorge Posada into the No. 2 job and let him catch a couple days per week? Let Montero and Romine start the season in the minors and see if one of the current non-roster catchers (there are three in camp) can win the job? Go out and acquire a veteran backup? Where is Chad Moeller when you need him, anyway?

It will be very tempting for the Yankees to bring Montero North with them when the season starts. Is that the best idea, though? Does he benefit from playing once or twice a week behind Martin and sitting the rest of the time? Same with Romine? I am just not sure that is in the best interests of either player, though I'm wondering if Romine is a beter candidate for that type of duty simply because he is not quite as highly-regarded and is generally considered better defensively.

If Montero is going to be in the big leagues shouldn't he be playing every day? Ideally, I would think so. Provided Martin is healthy and playing reasonably well I doubt that will happen, however.

What would you do?

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If Montero wins the job it is not an issue

When Derek came up they had just signed Mike Gallego to play short – If Martin only plays two to three days per week – he can help teach Jesus how to play

by Mike Krugman on Mar 4, 2011 4:15 PM EST reply actions

Montero

If the Yankees keep Montero that is really what I would like to see — get him in the lineup 4-5 days per week.

by Ed Valentine on Mar 4, 2011 4:18 PM EST up reply actions

Could not agree more

Feel bad for Cervelli but…..

Montero is the future and MAYBE the present. Yanks can afford to pay $4M for a backup catcher.

Montero should start 70% of the games until he proves he cannot do it.

I might pitch a fit but I won't put on my brakes. Stand in the Fire.

by MSP Giant on Mar 4, 2011 9:05 PM EST up reply actions

If Montero wont play everyday in the majors, keep him down at Scranton.

Or. Make Montero the everyday catcher and Martin backs him up. Yea. I know. It sounds ridiculous, but Montero should be starting. No matter where he is. Don’t mess with his development.

But at the same time, Montero can back up Martin and while there, get help from Pena, Girardi, Posada and Martin and then demote him when Cervelli is back. Blah. Whatever.

Surprise me, Yankees.

by ultimate913 on Mar 4, 2011 4:19 PM EST reply actions

Don't like how it happened

but this is how it should have been from the get go. Cisco was working hard for the spot but it’s Montero time.

I'll be impressed when he (Chuck Greenberg) demonstrates he can keep the Rangers off welfare. - Randy Levine

by johnnyc176 on Mar 4, 2011 4:20 PM EST reply actions

good to see you!

Jesus should be with the ML club IF he gets the requisite playing time. that should be 2-3 starts at catcher and 2-3 at DH each week.

but Martin never should have been promised the starting job without ever playing in a ST game. (but i suppose that was part of luring him away from Boston.)

by Travis G on Mar 4, 2011 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

^All of this

And as far as the injury, it may have been divine intervention…

I bet it's good to be playing again, huh?

by david d on Mar 5, 2011 4:38 AM EST up reply actions

from father to son

It is Montero’s time. Remember Martin hasn’t even been healthy enough to squat let alone be the starting catcher. There’s no way you can keep Montero down fearing he wouldn’t get enough play time. We don’t really have a viable #1 anymore so Montero is just as good or even better than anyone else. We need a possible #1 not another filler (Chae Moeller)

by jetanumba2 on Mar 4, 2011 4:29 PM EST reply actions

Martin is starting at catcher tonight, so obviously they are at least giving it a shot that he's healthy.

Hate it for Cervelli, but I can’t help but feel like this is a chance for Montero to show that he’s a better option than Martin and steals the starting job away from him. I hope that’s what happens, at least. He’s been fine defensively so far, so I don’t see any reason to think he isn’t capable of out playing Russell Martin.

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Mar 4, 2011 4:41 PM EST up reply actions

as much as I like Cervelli and hoped he'd figure things out

This is probably it for him barring an injury mid-season

by jetanumba2 on Mar 4, 2011 4:49 PM EST up reply actions

Gustavo Molina!

Who!? No. Montero should make the team and him and Martin should platoon at catcher. Martin starts one day Montero starts the next. Jobs just shouldnt be handed out. If he makes the team he should have to out perform Martin to win the starting job. Bottom line. It sucks about Cervelli but this absolultey the baseball gods telling the Yankees that its time to bring up Jesus Montero.

by Smallz LOS on Mar 4, 2011 4:45 PM EST reply actions

btw

Kim Jones reports that Posada is “not an option.”

by Travis G on Mar 4, 2011 4:47 PM EST reply actions

I read an article a few weeks ago that Girardi was really worried about Posada after last season.

It sounded like he was really concerned about some test results Posada got after being hit a couple times and wants to avoid using him at catcher if he can.

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Mar 4, 2011 4:49 PM EST up reply actions

I think

Posada had concerns too which is why it seemed he did a complete 180 about being a DH.

I'll be impressed when he (Chuck Greenberg) demonstrates he can keep the Rangers off welfare. - Randy Levine

by johnnyc176 on Mar 4, 2011 4:52 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, he also sounded like he was concerned about what catching more might mean for his life long term.

I wish I could find the story, but I’m not having much luck.

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Mar 4, 2011 5:00 PM EST up reply actions

He was a 40 year old catcher

everyone should be concerned!!

by jetanumba2 on Mar 4, 2011 4:55 PM EST up reply actions

Lol....

True that…..I’ve had concerns for a couple of years now.

I'll be impressed when he (Chuck Greenberg) demonstrates he can keep the Rangers off welfare. - Randy Levine

by johnnyc176 on Mar 4, 2011 4:57 PM EST up reply actions

gregg zaun is about 53

by MichaelGGBGrabow on Mar 4, 2011 5:03 PM EST up reply actions

yeah

and i think he was the only catcher that was worse than Posada and Cervelli last year…or i could just be making that up

by jetanumba2 on Mar 4, 2011 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

Of course, but age is one thing, having bad results on brain tests after a concussion is quite another.

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Mar 4, 2011 5:03 PM EST up reply actions

that’s really what i was referring to. 40 year old catchers just aren’t safe

by jetanumba2 on Mar 4, 2011 5:10 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah

I was kinda making light of it but I did have concerns. Quite a few times, especially last year Posada made some bad mistakes and had me wondering what was up with him.

I'll be impressed when he (Chuck Greenberg) demonstrates he can keep the Rangers off welfare. - Randy Levine

by johnnyc176 on Mar 4, 2011 5:21 PM EST up reply actions

http://tinyurl.com/4s5zod8

"I have to think about my kids. I want to enjoy growing old," he said. "I don’t want to be sick."

by Scooby Snacks on Mar 4, 2011 5:15 PM EST up reply actions

There it is.

Thanks, Scooby.

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Mar 4, 2011 5:17 PM EST up reply actions

I don't think this news changes anything re: Posada

I can’t see Posada catching more than 20-25 games unless there’s some kind of tragedy (such as Martin or Montero getting hurt or being completely ineffective).

by long time listener on Mar 4, 2011 4:54 PM EST up reply actions

I was going to suggest Posada

by powerlifter610 on Mar 4, 2011 6:58 PM EST up reply actions

Montero seems to be on his way to the majors

I’d still keep him in Scranton unless he’s playing 4-5 times a week, but it’s not my decision.

At this point, there’s not many other options. I’d be surprised now if Jesus isn’t in the majors to start the year.

"I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot."- Kobe Bryant

Thanks for the memories Andy

by nyyrocks29 on Mar 4, 2011 5:12 PM EST reply actions

Jesus Montero, it's your time.

March 31st can't come soon enough.

by Chris McKeown on Mar 4, 2011 5:41 PM EST reply actions

By the way

How noble was it for Cervelli to break his own foot so that Montero could have a better opportunity?

Good man!

March 31st can't come soon enough.

by Chris McKeown on Mar 4, 2011 5:42 PM EST reply actions

You don't fuck with the Jesus.

by anothernightanotherfight on Mar 4, 2011 5:46 PM EST up reply actions

Cervelli and Jesus playing a game of "After you"?

How cute.

The idiot formerly known as pkyankeefan! Now in Technicolour!

by Hasan Paliwala on Mar 5, 2011 4:33 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

To answer your question

Moeller is with the Rockies on a Minor League contract with a Spring Training invite

Home of the Roger Mason shot tracker

by bluecheese999 on Mar 4, 2011 6:06 PM EST reply actions

Wasn't this prophesied in some book?

Life is the highway, but personal experiences are the journey

by MattF15 on Mar 4, 2011 6:08 PM EST reply actions

For Cervelli so loved the Yankees, that he gave his only son a chance to catch in the majors?

by WhatwouldJeterdo on Mar 4, 2011 6:10 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

That's the one.

Life is the highway, but personal experiences are the journey

by MattF15 on Mar 4, 2011 6:13 PM EST up reply actions

And split his foot asunder so that his son may take his rightful place among the Pantheon

by jetanumba2 on Mar 4, 2011 6:24 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

That one is from an apocryphal writing, though.

February 14th, pitchers, catchers, and Messiahs report to Spring Training.

by Wraithpk on Mar 5, 2011 1:37 AM EST up reply actions

They obviously are not going to give Montero the starting job

So instead of having him ride the bench 4-5 days a week, Romine should get the backup job for now. Montero needs to play everyday, and he wont with the big league club.

Should you choose to test my resolve in this matter, you will be facing a finality beyond your comprehension, and you will not be counting days, or months, or years, but milleniums in a place with no doors.

by YankeesJets on Mar 4, 2011 8:16 PM EST reply actions

4 days off in the first 3.5 weeks of the season

Hard to say how much a backup will play in the first few weeks.

by Iggy Poptart on Mar 4, 2011 10:59 PM EST reply actions

Montero as back up catcher

He can catch twice a week and DH twice a week. He has proven he can dominate AAA, his catching is getting better everyday, and who else is there?

by bbuhl02 on Mar 4, 2011 11:40 PM EST reply actions

As long as Montero can get 300-400 plate appearances, let him backup to ease him in.

February 14th, pitchers, catchers, and Messiahs report to Spring Training.

by Wraithpk on Mar 5, 2011 1:43 AM EST reply actions

Jesus

The Yanks (Cash and General Joe) have said many times that they like the way the Jorge was brought along as a young catcher. Allow Jesus to come up as backup with a mentor (Martin, Jorge, Pena and Joe G) catching a couple of days a week and allow him to progress into the starting roll slowly. The catcher position isnt like a others where his development will be impacted by not playing everyday. What he will learn by watching major leaguers and working with Tony Pena would improve his development.

I think that the hope all along was that Jesus would perform well enough to allow that to happen even without the injury to Frankie. Now It’s even more of a given!

by yankeegm on Mar 5, 2011 2:53 PM EST reply actions