Tigers weigh in on the Chicago Cubs’ decision to DFA catcher Miguel Montero after he called out his pitchers for a large number of stolen bases.
Don’ t expect Detroit Tigers catcher James McCann to rip one of the pitchers if they don’ t do a good enough job holding runners on a consistent basis. McCann said if something like that did happen he’ d keep it inside the clubhouse.
Miguel Montero was designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs less than 24 hours after he publicly called out his pitchers, including starter Jake Arrieta. The Washington Nationals stole seven bases in a 6-1 win over the Cubs.
“I don’ t know their personal situation, ” McCann said of the Cubs’ decision to DFA Montero. “For me, that’s something you take care of in-house, not through the media. I didn’ t see the stole bases. I don’ t know the history off their caught stealing rate.
“At the end of the day, it’s a stat that goes on the catcher, but it’s more than the catcher. Holding runners, the blame doesn’ t go one way. There’s a lot of other things in the game you approach a player about. You don’ t take care of it through the media. It’s never going to be perceived well through the media.”
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McCann acknowledge sometimes “you’ re not getting a chance to throw runners out.”
“It’s not unique to the Chicago Cubs, it’s not unique to one pitcher, it’s not unique to one catcher, ” McCann said. “It’s something you have to stress from Day 1 in spring training – and you can’ t let up – is holding runners. If you’ re a guy that is slower to the plate, you have to do a better job of changing your looks, changing your timing. If you’ re a guy that’s quick to the plate, it’s a little bit easier. You almost dare a runner to try and steal.”
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus was a catcher for 18 years in the big leagues and shared McCann’s sentiment.
“I don’ t know that I would ever blame a teammate or a pitcher, ” said Ausmus, who said as a catcher you want to protect your pitchers. “I said it all along, pitchers are much more instrumental in holding base stealers than catchers. Certainly, to point a finger at a teammate, I don’ t know that I would recommend that to anybody.
“Most catchers fall into the middle category where if the pitcher holds the runner, you’ re going to throw him out. If the pitcher doesn’ t hold the pitcher, you’ re not going to throw him out. Then there’s the outliers who are really good or really bad and they can make up for the pitcher or the opposite. But I don’ t think I would ever blame my pitcher – at least not in front of a camera. I might blame him in the locker room if it’s just the team hanging around.”
Was there anyone in particular he blamed a lot in the locker room?
“No, ” Ausmus said. “If you get the batter out you don’ t have to worry about him stealing second.”
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