Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 1748
Location: Researching my theory that a lime hat is more effective than tinfoil
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:35 am Post subject: Nice article on Montero/Snyder/Estrada
I'm not usually a fan of Macmanamanamanamanaman's writing but this is a good one:
Quote:
D-Backs face risky decision
With more catchers than they need, the Diamondbacks face the risky decision of which one to deal away
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 31, 2006 12:00 AM
They have the most RBIs and second-most hits of any catching tandem in the National League, and yet Johnny Estrada and Chris Snyder can't rest easy. They don't even have time for a catnap.
That's because in the blink of an eye, everything can change. And they know it. Despite their production value, Estrada and Snyder can see what - or rather who - is lurking behind them as they take turns crouching behind the plate.
It's Miguel Montero, a blue-chip prospect who is expected to follow Conor Jackson, Stephen Drew, Carlos Quentin and Chris Young and be another talented, homegrown star to merit a full share of playing time.
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He is the Diamondbacks' catcher of the future. And today, when major league rosters can expand, Montero will be among those welcomed into the fold.
The team's fading playoff hopes could bring a sharper focus to the catching situation - especially if this road trip begins poorly. That means Montero may get more than spot duty, which would inflame a simmering story line. Estrada and Snyder, no longer in a comfort zone, won't be content with a meaningless September.
Dish options
The franchise has a tough decision. If Montero is ready to play, what happens to Estrada or Snyder? One of them will have to go to make room for Montero, 23, a left-handed batter from Venezuela.
"Who knows what direction they're going to go?" said Estrada, 30, who is arbitration-eligible this fall and whose rights are controlled by Arizona for at least the next two years. "I know they have the young kid coming up, but the bottom line is, I was brought here to do a job and I think I've fulfilled my end of the bargain.
"Whether things work out or not, I don't know."
Snyder, 25, is signed through this season and the Diamondbacks control his rights even longer.
"It doesn't matter where you're at," Snyder said, "there's always going to be somebody that wants your job. That's the way this game is. If it wasn't, there wouldn't be any minor leagues.
"But I can't control what he (Montero) is going to do tonight or tomorrow night. It's out of my hands."
The Diamondbacks aren't about to announce Montero as their starting catching in 2007. But make no mistake: They really, really like the kid.
After hitting 10 homers with 46 RBIs in 81 games for Double-A Tennessee, he was promoted to Triple-A Tucson and hasn't missed a beat. In his first 35 games for the Sidewinders, he was hitting .323 with seven homers and 29 RBIs and had an OPS rating (on-base, plus slugging percentage) of .923.
"He's played remarkably consistent and he's taking Triple-A by storm," said A.J. Hinch, the Diamondbacks' director of player development.
Exit Estrada?
Estrada, a switch hitter, is hitting .305 with 11 homers and 64 RBIs. Snyder is hitting .291 with four homers and 23 RBIs in 200-plus fewer at-bats. Combined, their 87 RBIs were 10 more than the next closest NL tandem, Michael Barrett and Henry Blanco of the Cubs.
"They've been great," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "And it's a credit to both of them. It's a credit to Chris, who went from a guy that was playing every day to a guy getting significantly fewer at-bats and time back there, it shows you how much hard work he's put in there, offensively. And Johnny's just had a great year all the way around."
If the Diamondbacks were to decide Montero is their man, Estrada would be best served asking for a trade. But there are only so many starting catcher spots available, that trade talk can become restrictive. Still, there are those in and around the organization who privately predict this will be Estrada's only year here.
Estrada senses it in a way as well. His tell-it-like-it-is approach, both to teammates and reporters, probably hasn't won him too many friends. But he is who he is and winning is more important than being a company man.
"I've really only been on one losing team my whole career and that was my last year in Triple-A when I was with the Braves," he said. "I got in a pretty good face-to-face with the farm director and he told me they weren't trying to win there, just develop players.
"That's a hard pill to swallow because I'm out there every night, busting my butt trying to get the best out of our guys, and knowing that they weren't trying to win, it's hard to come to grips with that."
Will to win
Estrada was an All-Star with Atlanta in 2004. and had the numbers to go again this season. But as proud as he is to have returned to form following a severe concussion last summer, there have been ups and downs. He hasn't always been happy with how the playing time has been split between him and Snyder. He's said some things and done some things in "the heat of the battle" that have ruffled some feathers, such as a recent dugout incident in San Francisco, when he got into a shouting match with pitching coach Bryan Price.
"We just got swept by a team in our division, we blew an eighth-inning lead and things are going to be said that some people aren't going to like," Estrada said. " . . . When I see that happen on other teams, the first thing it shows me is that the guy cares. That's the way I want to be perceived.
"I don't give a damn about what goes on. I hate to lose."
Snyder has matured quickly the past few years for a player who never spent any time in the Triple-A ranks. He has emerged as a leader of the team, and it starts by his handling of the pitchers.
"You have to have complete trust in each other," he said. "If you have some guy on the mound that doesn't have any trust or confidence in his catcher, you're not going to get anything accomplished. It's going to be a long, frustrating day."
Catchers, by nature, have to be assertive. They call the game. They help direct traffic. They are the live link between the field and the dugout.
"It doesn't matter if you put your game face on, act crazy and jump around like an idiot trying to be intimidating," Snyder said. "You just go play your game and get it done."
And then wait for someone to come along and try to take your place.
Ponch has had over 2/3 of the playing time and he's butthurt about the amount of ABs that Snyder has been given. He is NOT the type of guy you want around when you are bringing a top prospect in.
Particularly for a guy who can't make it through an entire season. He, like Byrnes, just doesn't have the ability to be productive for six months, even when platooned.
There should be enough demand for Estrada that the Dbacks should be able to get something juicy (fruit?) for him. Buy low, sell high. Works every time.
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 1868
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:12 am Post subject:
Here's hoping the FO read the article, and between the lines therein...
Estrada is a precancerous mass that will infect the clubhouse if not removed during the offseason...
Yes, he did the job he was brought here to do; he's fulfilled his part of the bargain -- and he's been well paid to do so, which means the team has kept their part of the bargain with him. As long as trading players under contract remains legal, players will be traded -- and Estrada should be traded.
Snyder/Montero or Snyder/Hammock/Montero in '07 sounds find to me.
_________________
Is It Next Season Yet?
Cross-referencing to shoewizard's post of the article by Kevin Goldstein (on p.4 of the "2nd Ace" thread), one finds the following pitching prospects listed among the teams in Stuart's post:
Michael Bowden, Boston
Carlos Carrasco, Philadelphia
Homer Bailey, Cincinnati
Of the three, Bailey was Goldstein's second best overall prospect; and in some categories, was the best.
Is Estrada enough to pry any of these guys away?
_________________
Is It Next Season Yet?
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 1555
Location: clawing my eyes out, praying for sleep. booyah.
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:09 pm Post subject:
if i was cin., i wouldn't trade bailey for anything shy of webb.
does anyone else remember older republic articles using obp and ops as their stats? this seems new to me, but i don't read much of the paper.
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Hank, you're dead to me.
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