Regarding LF…

All the prospect lists and scouting reports on Montero say that his one issue is whether or not he can stay at C.  I’ve also read that he has a strong arm but his pop time is high (2.3-2.4) We talked about some (myself included) believing that unless the guy is just absolutely atrocious behind the plate, a team should make every effort to keep a player at C.

Chad Jennings says that Montero will work out at 1B and 3B in AAA, which is standard for catchers. Is it possible he is a viable option out there at all? Is it a smart move to get him out there? These are the things I think about when I should be doing work.

Cash has done a tremendous job this off-season.  I’m still in awe of that Javy trade.

Speaking of LF though, where exactly is Greedy Trader going to go now?  Is there anyone who is interested in him?

Chad Jennings says that Montero will work out at 1B and 3B in AAA, which is standard for catchers. Is it possible he is a viable option out there at all? Is it a smart move to get him out there? These are the things I think about when I should be doing work.

Who do you move, Teix or A-Rod?  If he is too slow of OF and the Yankees are set at the infield corners for the next 5+ years he doesn’t have a position outside of catcher.  I agree with the don’t move him unless he is just absolutely atrocious camp (you almost have to) but even at worst I could see him as a DH/backup catcher for 30-40 games a year.

Actually, if Montero is going to be moved to the outfield, the best thing would be to switch Swisher to LF and put Montero in right given the lesser amount of ground to cover in Yankee Stadium.

Who do you move, Teix or A-Rod?

I’m not moving anyone. I’m just stating what Jennings stated - that it’s SOP for AAA Yankee catchers to also work out at the corner infield spots.

[4] Yeah, I was thinking that as well. Less ground to cover, and the arm would probably play better (if he goes, in fact, have a good arm.)

My understanding is Montero doesn’t have the footwork/speed for the OF, although I’d assume he has the arm for it.  Playing a less taxing defensive position would almost certainly improve his hitting, but the tradeoff is you lose the positional scarcity of a good hitting catcher. 

I’ll run some numbers and see what the tradeoff might be.

Why do great athletes have crappy arms?  I get it with Giambi and his awkward motion, and Damon too.  But why did Bernie Williams, with his very muscular physique and normal (iirc) throwing motion, have such an awful arm?

[7] When Damon throws, he looks like his left arm is a foot shorter than his right arm. Like a T-Rex or something.

I think in Bernie’s case, he didn’t really play baseball growing up.  While you’re generally born with a certain amount of arm strength, throwing a lot growing up can help you make the most of it.  If you were born with a crappy arm you can only do so much with it, but throwing a lot will help anyone.  Contrast that with maybe someone like Melky, who probably threw baseballs almost all his life.

In Giambi’s case, he was a 3B when he came up and I think he probably had a decent arm if he could have made it through the minors as a 3B, but I’m assuming that the type of weight lifting he did robbed him of the flexibility to have a good throwing motion.

With Damon, I think he was just not blessed with good arm strength to begin with.

I think the Yankees’ biggest question mark is whether or not one or more of their aging core will experience an age-related decline, but I’m not particularly concerned about that.

Could Montero really be worse in RF than Adam Dunn?

[7] I think I once read that Damon hurt his arm in high school.

Giambi tore up his shoulder at some point during his minor league career.  He pitched and played SS in HS.  I suspect that his arm was just fine until the injury.

In addition to what SG said in [8] Bernie also injured both of shoulders later in his career.  His arm was never impressive, but his throwing was adequate when he was younger.

Could Montero really be worse in RF than Adam Dunn?

Highly unlikely, but I think he should aim higher than that.

[11] You’re right. I view being Dunn-like as a worst case scenario for Montero.

When Damon throws, he looks like his left arm is a foot shorter than his right arm. Like a <strike>T-Rex</strike> Merman with one arm shorter than the other or something.

Fixed.

I think I once read that Damon hurt his arm in high school.

What kind of arm injury makes one arm shorter than the other?

What kind of arm injury makes one arm shorter than the other?

Amputation, for one.

What kind of arm injury makes one arm shorter than the other?

Amputation, for one.

Probably got it caught in a discarded set of plastic 6-pack rings or fishing net.

[15] Post. of. the. night.

*As determined by that Indian who sheds a solo tear when people liter.

[16] This is America; we use quarts, not liters.

+1 for a jab at my gramerror.