Slumping Miguel Montero Still Needs to be in the Lineup
By Thomas Lynch
Most hitters that are mired in a 6 for 37 slump and batting .189 overall through 42 games would probably find their way to the bench. However, that is not the case for Miguel Montero who is not in danger of sitting other than the occasional day off. The catcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks should remain in the lineup every day no matter what he is hitting. After all, the D’backs are in first place right now due mainly to their pitching and for that some of the credit of their success has to be given to Miggy.
No matter what he hits, Miguel Montero is indispensible behind the plate. Image: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
I know the D’back offense is woefully inconsistent and at times inept. Last night night’s 5-4, 10 inning loss to the Colorado Rockies provided an excellent example of this. The team scored all four of its runs in the seventh inning and had a chance to go ahead in the eighth when Martin Prado flew out to end the inning with runners on second and third. Montero dropped all the way to eighth in the order and went 1 for 4 with a single during the four run seventh inning. His at bats have been getting better as of late as he recently broke out of a 1 for 21 stretch with two hits in Monday night’s game. Still, it is his ability to call a game and neutralize the opposing team’s running game that makes Miggy so valuable. Although he has only nailed two of 13 base stealers so far in 2013 , he has thrown out over 40% of players attempting to steal the last two seasons. Manager Kirk Gibson has a tremendous amount of faith in Montero behind the plate and it appears the entire D’backs’ staff likes working with him.
Logic and the old “back of the baseball card” saying makes me believe Migggy will pick up his offensive game before long. If rest is what he needs, next week’s series against the Texas Rangers will allow him to sit out one of the games on Monday and DH one of the games in Texas. Perhaps it is that little mini vacation that will provide a spark in Montero’s bat and allow him to move up in the order.
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