Odds and Ends: Weathers, Montero, Springer

Did I read somewhere that the DBacks were showcasing Montero as a 2B? Or am i crazy? Crazy right?

Van Benschoten just needed to get out of Pittsburgh and get a fresh start somewhere else with a pitching coach that might actually know what he's doing.

"I wonder if Van Benschoten can still hit. Maybe he can follow the way of Ankiel and transform himself into a hitter..."

What I was thinking too. Weren't a lot of teams wanting to draft him as a hitter?

Hairston could actually be a really good acquisition for the defending champs. Filling in at 2B, until Utley returns, and then be a platoon partner for Dobbs in LF, which would allow them to go cheap in LF, and focus on pitching.

"Did I read somewhere that the DBacks were showcasing Montero as a 2B? Or am i crazy? Crazy right?

Posted by: basicslop | November 21, 2008 at 11:18 AM"

Montero is seeing time on 3rd base so that the dbacks can move Reynolds to 2nd just in case they can't find someone in the market to play there...

JVB's career was ruined before it started thanks to idiot Littlefield deciding he could be a pitcher instead of a hitter. Then, as the case with so many pitchers we draft, he blows out his arm and proceeds to pitch like crap.

I feel bad for the kid but I'm happy he'll finally be out of Pittsburgh. I cringed every time he was one the mound. He has no composure at all, and just looks like he never knew how to pitch in the first place really.

I'm tired of C.C. holding up the free agent market. Everyone and their brother knows he is the first domino to fall make a decision already.

"JVB's career was ruined before it started thanks to idiot Littlefield deciding he could be a pitcher instead of a hitter. Then, as the case with so many pitchers we draft, he blows out his arm and proceeds to pitch like crap.

I feel bad for the kid but I'm happy he'll finally be out of Pittsburgh. I cringed every time he was one the mound. He has no composure at all, and just looks like he never knew how to pitch in the first place really."

I agree. The Pirates screwed up by moving him to the mound. He was projected has having 5-tool potential, and not to mention his power scale from 20-80 was a 75.

But I disagree that he didn't know how to pitch. He was also known for his arm, and he knew how to pitch. It hasn't translated to the majors though, as he never did look good on the mound.

http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2008/04/picking_apart_t_2.php

That's a link to an analysis on the 2001 draft. Includes Van Benschoten's analysis.

I wouldn't mind seeing my O's sign JVB. Seems worth a flier. Then again, I'm sure plenty of teams are thinkin' the same thing. It's gonna make the Teixeira bidding war look tame by comparison (LOL).

I'm surprised there isn't much demand for Montero. Kid looked like a future stud coming up through the D'backs' system, he's still young, and he's never really gotten a chance to play every day and prove himself. Granted, he's not the best defender, but it sounded like he had the raw tools to stick behind the plate. Furthermore, catchers often take longer to develop due to the position's defensive pressures. I don't know what Arizona is asking for in return, but he could be a real steal for some team in need of a backstop (like Boston).

I'm surprised there isn't much demand for Montero. Kid looked like a future stud coming up through the D'backs' system, he's still young, and he's never really gotten a chance to play every day and prove himself. Granted, he's not the best defender, but it sounded like he had the raw tools to stick behind the plate. Furthermore, catchers often take longer to develop due to the position's defensive pressures. I don't know what Arizona is asking for in return, but he could be a real steal for some team in need of a backstop (like Boston).

Posted by: milehigh78 | November 21, 2008 at 01:37 PM

2B, Bullpen, 1B in that order