IGT 8/30/2017: NYM@CIN -- Monterrible or Monterrific?

[Edgy MD]

But they shut the door.

Wow.

[MFS62]

I'm not Ocorta any more.
Kvelling for my kid.

Later

[Guest d'Kong76]

Had that all the way.

[Guest 41Forever]

Exhale!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I gotta say AJ Ramos gets it done. Lots of bending and footstomping and deep counts on everyone but he seems possessed of a rather large pair of testicles.

[Frayed Knot]

At 2:27 this was the second shortest NYM game of the season [June 12th, deGrom beats Cubs 6-1 at home so only 8-1/2 innings = 2:23]

Checking back through the years:
- two decades ago in 1997, there were 26 NYM games which ended in under 2:30
- one decade ago in the 2007 season it was 18 (20 really but we won't count the two that were rain-shortened)
- tonight's game brought this year's total to 3

Just sayin'

[Frayed Knot]

MFS62 wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Come on! Should have pulled him after one baserunner. This. Now he can be the loser. Not really great for the guy's confidence (or record), Terry.

And if a reliever blew the game we'd be complaining about Terry managing with stats in mind (I would anyway).

I had the mindset going in that I would have pulled him after one runner but it's pretty much a coin flip at that point -- how'd he look against that particular batter for instance (dunno I'd have to look it up but I'm sure Terry had that info at hand) -- and I certainly wouldn't have based the decision on keeping Montero from being in position to get tagged with a loss

[MFS62]

Yeah, but he's my kid, so I get emotional.

Later

[G-Fafif]

The answer is Monterrific.

[Edgy MD]

Frayed Knot wrote: MFS62 wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Come on! Should have pulled him after one baserunner. This. Now he can be the loser. Not really great for the guy's confidence (or record), Terry. And if a reliever blew the game we'd be complaining about Terry managing with stats in mind (I would anyway).

I wouldn't.

I would have pulled Harvey (in the ninth inning of his World Series start) after one baserunner too. Allow the reliever the luxury of coming in with the game in his own hands, not with the tying run already on base, or in scoring position.

[MFS62]

Memo to Terry, Rafael Montero is a STARTER! Stop using him out of the bullpen!
Later

[Edgy MD]

I don't think that's the sort of thing that's imprinted on the guy's DNA.

Most of his relief work came earlier in the season as guys ahead of him on the depth chart were getting the starts.

As it is, most of his earlier work has been bad enough to suggest limiting and targeting his innings to reduce his exposure until he demonstrated a capacity (or the need was such) to increase his role. Manager Collins has shown more faith in him than most.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Cast your vote!

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, two months ago we were complaining THAT Terry was using Montero and that Sandy was allowing him to continue to pollute the roster.
Kind of tough now to complain about how he's being used or act as if he's carved out a singular role for himself.

What he's earned with his work over the last 4-5 starts is a chance to keep proving himself, and what we've been reminded of is that Captain Renault's warning to Rick about how wasteful
it is to throw away women because some day they may be scarce applies just as much to pitchers.


btw, Montero has been used just once as a reliever since the ASB (for 16 pitches over 1/3 of an inning during a double-header) and 11 of his last 13 outings have been as a starter, so it's
not like Terry has been jerking him all back and forth lately.

[ashie62]

MFS62 wrote: Memo to Terry, Rafael Montero is a STARTER! Stop using him out of the bullpen! Later

We may have found a very nice starter for next year.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Maybe! But I'd like to see a more sustained run of success before I feel that he can be counted on.

[MFS62]

Since I posted that, I heard a portion of Terry's presser and he had nothing but good things to say about Montero and (I paraphrase) said he'll be using him as a starter from now on.
Nice to hear that he'll be giving him the chance to prove himself as a future member of the rotation.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

MFS62 wrote: ... I heard a portion of Terry's presser and he had nothing but good things to say about Montero and (I paraphrase) said he'll be using him as a starter from now on.

Given the (lack of) other options, Montero was going to start down the stretch pretty much no matter what.
The only difference now is that the dread which had previously accompanied each of his starts has been more or less tempered.
What his role (or his team) will be next year is a long way from being decided.

[Benjamin Grimm]