How Jesus Montero Caught Starling Marte Stealing
I don’t know much about the Pirates, because I’ve never had a reason to, but I know that Starling Marte is an exciting young player of theirs and he bats leadoff so I can only assume he’s a talented runner. I’m only slightly exaggerating my Pirates-related ignorance, but in just 78 major-league games coming into today, Marte had eight triples and 22 steals to his name. He’s young and he moves like you’d expect a guy named Starling Marte to move, so he’s a constant threat when he has a chance to do damage with his legs.
Also coming into today, Jesus Montero had thrown out zero of 15 base-stealers. There’s been talk that some of that has been due to pitchers not holding runners on, and that’s undoubtedly been a factor, but regardless, Montero had thrown out as many baserunners as you or me or the Queen or all of us combined, and, no, wait, hold on, let me make that better, Montero had thrown out as many baserunners as my living-room sofa that just broke last week although I think I fixed it although I don’t trust it yet. Well that didn’t make things better. Montero had thrown out as many baserunners as a cup of yogurt. Any cup of yogurt. If you’re going to the grocery store later, stop by the yogurt, and consider the containers, and consider Jesus Montero as a defensive catcher. 15. Zero.
And so, naturally, today Jesus Montero threw out Starling Marte attempting to steal second in the bottom of the eighth. It was a big play, as the Pirates were behind by one at the time, with Travis Snider up to bat. Marte thought he’d go and get himself into scoring position. Montero was like, “no don’t,” and then shortly thereafter the Mariners won. How did Montero do it, after so many weeks of not doing it? We go to the video for a screenshot breakdown.
(1) Starling Marte stopped running toward second base
This was a big part of the play. Marte stumbled when he got his jump, and when Montero cocked to throw down, Marte stopped in his tracks. So the first step toward Montero keeping Marte from second was Marte deciding to not run to second anymore.
(2) Starling Marte actively ran away from second base
Marte didn’t just stop in his tracks. I mean, he did do that, but then he immediately began to retreat. This was another big part of the play. The second step toward Montero keeping Marte from second was Marte choosing to run away from second instead of right at it. Montero threw to first base, and Marte became involved in a short-lived pickle. He was tagged, and that’s how Jesus Montero threw out Starling Marte attempting to steal second base.
So Montero is now 1-for-16. Based on the evidence, here is how 2013 Jesus Montero prevents runners from stealing second:
- runner stops on the way to second
- runner goes in opposite direction
Congratulations to Jesus Montero for showing the rest of the league how it’s done. And to think there are people who don’t think Montero is a catcher long-term. There are lots of long-term catchers out there still looking for their first success in gunning down Starling Marte on the bases.
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24 Responses to “How Jesus Montero Caught Starling Marte Stealing”
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Intimidated by the mere thought of being thrown out by Jesus Montero.
(laugh)
Maybe he knew the throw would be off and was scared of taking one on the head (either head)?
I always wondered why people hated on Montero’s D. Its quite obvious he is a gold glove candidate.
I would have preferred an analysis of how Montero hit the game winning home run…
You have to give Montero a little more credit than that, after all he is one of 5 catchers to throw out Mike Trout stealing. And it wasn’t a pitchout or botched attempt like Marte today.
It is interesting that of 4 of 6 Trout’s career CS have been by Mariner catchers. Olivo 2 Shoppach 1, Montero 1.
Felix Hernandez on Montero: “…he is maturing a lot. Behind the plate, he is doing a lot better. He’s pretty good back there.”
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/mariners/2013/05/08/montero-makes-his-mark/
Years from now we can look back and say “remember that time Jesus Montero threw out a guy?”
Classic write up, Jeff. The scouting and sabermetric communities converge. Who knew Jesus Montero’s work behind the plate could make that happen?
You have to give Montero a little more credit than that, after all he is one of 5 catchers to throw out Mike Trout stealing. And it wasn’t a pitchout or botched attempt like Marte today.
How do you give credit to a guy who was 0 for 15 on the year coming into the game? “Yeah, he’s had a bit of bad luck, BUT he did throw out Trout last year, so he’s certainly capable”.
That doesn’t fly.
So we can now declare that Jesus Montero is better than a cup of yogurt?!?
I cringe as I look at the first screen shot. Left knee on the ground with a runner on the move. If the pitch wasn’t in the dirt, and I have to assume it wasn’t, as a former catcher I don’t have the words…
In My Humble Opinion, Jesus Montero was ALWAYS better than a cup of yogurt. I don’t like plain yogurt…. He may not have been better than a cup of yogurt at throwing out base runners, but, yeah, he’d have to be. Yogurt doesn’t have a bad throwing arm, it doesn’t have a throwing arm at all. ;o)
A cup of yogurt would upset my stomach less than having Montero catch…even if the yogurt had been outside in the hot sun for a few days …after being lost in a mushroom factory for a week.
Hilarious Jeff. Well done.
Felix Hernandez on Montero: “…he is maturing a lot. Behind the plate, he is doing a lot better. He’s pretty good back there.”
This is strong evidence of something. Either that Jesus Montero is improving his defensive game and becoming a good catcher, or that Felix Hernandez isn’t a flaming asshole. I know which way I’m betting.
…or we could simply take Felix at his word…someone who plays the game, and has seen Montero catch him for every start this season but one.
Are we also to doubt Felix’s quote that Montero’s bat is preeeeety good?
…or we could simply take Felix at his word…someone who plays the game, and has seen Montero catch him for every start this season but one.
Are we also to doubt Felix’s quote that Montero’s bat is preeeeety good?
Why bother with using statistics or our own eyes to evaluate ballplayers when we have newspaper quotes from teammates? I’m sold.
Fangraphs + eyeballs is > Quotegraphs
Evil Felix quote: Behind the plate, he is still really inadequate.
Ep,
You mean like using “stats” and “eyes” to evaluate players like Morse and Langerhans?
I will take the statements of professionals like Felix, Wedge, etc., that Montero is improving, versus the above.
Speaking of stats, the incomparable Jaso has thrown out just 2 base runners (against 12 SB’s), and has a Fld% of .986. As for his stick, Jaso currently has an OPS of .676. Don’t worry, I am not drawing a direct comparison with Montero.
Montero is projecting out to be a -1 WAR player over 2013. Jaso’s projecting to be a 2 WAR player.
But whatever, those would just be meaningless statistics. I mean, really, why would you use statistics when Eric Wedge has a lifetime record as an MLB manager at well below .500? Certainly this means he is experienced at looking at bad player, thus should know one when he sees on, thus if he thinks Montero is good, we should use Wedge’s opinions to gauge the worth of players, instead of meaningless statistics that are obviously only of use to nerds in basements who do not understand the game of baseball the way baseball players do. Take Joe Morgan- he clearly understands baseball as a player or commentator better than any Fangraphs author will.
In fact, why not shut this blog down? None of the authors are Eric Wedge or Felix Hernandez, therefore the statistics they bring up are irrelevant.
As I said, I wasn’t comparing Montero to Jaso. However, Jaso’s fielding/offensive stats are revealing, given the hissy fit this “blog” threw (Mariners Do Stupid Thing). Of course, I expect the tried and true “small sample size” response.
Wedge said Montero was improving, not good.
As for us nerds, we don’t see Montero from the mound (as Felix does), nor do we see the time Montero puts in off the field, trying to get better (as Wedge does). As a nerd, I also appreciate Montero’s readily apparent love of the game…and Felix certainly seems to be having success with Montero behind the dish.
Finally, I would love to see Wedge replaced by Scioscia (should the Angels do a “dumb thing” and fire him)…but I still respect his experience and opinions.