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Originally published April 20, 2012 at 8:54 PM | Page modified April 20, 2012 at 10:59 PM
Plan for Montero has not changed | Mariners notebook
Manager Eric Wedge said catching regularly would actually be counterproductive for Jesus Montero's development.
Seattle Times staff reporter
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Saturday vs. White Sox., 1:05 p.m., Ch. 13 | Beavan (1-1, 2.70) vs. Humber (0-0, 1.69)
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Rookie Jesus Montero was back behind the plate Friday to catch Hector Noesi, a combination that resulted in eight shutout innings in Noesi's last start.
Many fans — and media members — are clamoring for more playing time at catcher for Montero. But manager Eric Wedge said before Friday's game that catching regularly would actually be counterproductive for Montero's development.
"He's a young catcher," Wedge said. "Every day he's back there, he's learning. He has so much responsibility back there, and there's so much going on, it just takes time. He's not ready to catch every day yet.
"He needs days off. He needs to get back behind home plate every now and again to catch, but we need to be careful with his workload. We have to make sure we stay ahead of everything for him mentally and physically. The fundamental side of everything is a day-to-day process. He's got a lot on his plate."
This was Montero's fourth start at catcher in the Mariners' 15th game. Wedge reiterated their plan all along was to bring Montero along slowly.
"That was part of the equation when we brought him over here," he said. "What people need to understand is it would actually take him longer to be the total player he needs to be if he was back there every day right now. Because it would get in the way of his development."
Wedge compares Montero's development to that of Victor Martinez, a raw catcher when he came up with the Indians while Wedge was their manager.
"Even when I had Victor, I sent him down. I sent him to Triple-A for the first half of the season," Wedge said. "He needed to do some things. He wasn't ready. Then when he came back in the second half, you had to be careful with him. Then his first full year, you had to be careful with him. Eventually he developed into the All-Star caliber player he was."
Note
• Mike Carp, on a rehab assignment with Tacoma (sprained right shoulder), had been scheduled to start in left field Thursday, but instead played DH.
"He slept on his arm wrong," Wedge explained.
For the record: W-L: 7-8 W PCT: .467
Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com
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