Montero set for latest last chance
ATLANTA — Terry Collins insisted Rafael Montero has not run out of chances.
“I don’t think he’s at that point,” the Mets manager said Thursday.
Montero, once among the most highly regarded jewels in the Mets’ system, should get what seems like chance No. 37 Friday at Citi Field against Miami.
“The stuff is still there. We just need to get him to throw it where he wants to,” said pitching coach Dan Warthen of the 26year-old righty, who was called up this week to step into the injured Noah Syndergaard’s rotation spot.
Whether he stays there is up to Montero, whose most recent Mets start was last Sept. 12, an 8-1 loss to the Nationals who worked him over for six earned runs in 1 2/3 innings. He needs to show more Friday — but the Mets are not looking for perfection.
“The ability to throw an off-speed pitch behind in the count and be able to locate his fastball,” Warthen said, stressing Montero must “be more consistent with the breaking-ball strike.”
And he must do the stuff he has been doing well at Triple-A Las Vegas in two starts.
“As far as throwing the ball across the plate, he’s been doing it well, but he didn’t locate up here as well as he needed to to be successful,” Warthen said.
“It’s really basic. You’ve got to pitch,” Collins said. “That’s not trying to overpower guys. That’s using all your pitches, throwing strikes, changing speeds, getting balls out of the zone when you don’t have to throw a strike. It’s not trying to be perfect to where you fall behind in counts and have to come on the plate.”
That has been one issue for Montero, Collins said: trying to be too fine.
“I do believe that,” Collins said. “He had a huge reputation when he got to the major leagues of great command. He got behind in counts early. Now he’s got to come on the plate and that’s what’s damaged him. And if he didn’t, he walked guys.
“We know his stuff plays. We know his stuff is very good so trust it. Throw it in the strike zone.”
Montero was with the Mets out of spring training, then relieved in six games, forging very forgettable numbers: 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA.
“In spring training, he was throwing his fastball well and his breaking ball was sharp. He was locating well,” said catcher Rene Rivera, who noted Montero’s recent starting efforts at Triple-A: 10 ¹/3 innings, 1.74 ERA, 16 strikeouts, three walks.
“The key with him is to locate his pitches well. He’s not a power guy throwing 98 [mph]. When you have a guy throwing average 94, 95, you need to locate the pitch well. That’s what he did in spring training and if he comes up and does the same thing, he’s going to be fine.”