April 12--DENVER -- Miguel Montero is generously listed at 5-foot-11, but the Chicago Cubs' catcher has developed a reputation for speaking his mind to pitchers, no matter how tall or successful they are.
Jake Arrieta, the Cubs' 6-foot-4 pitcher, credited Montero for getting on his case in the second inning of a 2-0 win on Wednesday. Jason Hammel, who stands 6-foot-6, said Montero refused to let Hammel shake off two signs Saturday that resulted in strikeouts.
But Montero, 31, quickly developed a reputation for trusting his pitch calling during his rookie season with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2007 and became the personal catcher of Hall of Famer Randy Johnson the following season.
And Montero wasn't afraid to hold his ground against the 6-foot-10 Johnson, who could be tough on catchers as he was on batters.
Montero recalled a game in 2008 in which Johnson hung a slider that resulted in a double. During the next at-bat to the same batter, Johnson took a line drive offf his leg.
That required medical attention, and Johnson, in a crusty voice, suggested that Montero not call a slider.
Montero looked up to the intimidating Johnson and said, "you got to quit hanging it.''
As Montero walked back to the mound, he thought, "what did I do?" and sensed he could be optioned to the minors or no longer start when Johnson pitched.
Johnson later told Montero he appreciated his candidness, and Montero was amused the following spring when Johnson, then playing for the San Francisco Giants, shattered Montero's bat with an inside fastball.
After the game, reporters asked Johnson if he spoke to Montero, and Johnson replied:
"No, he's was too busy (picking up his broken bat)," an amused Montero recalled Johnson saying.
Montero did recall one time where he refused to let a young pitcher shake him off, and former National League most valuable player Andrew McCutchen responded by hitting a home run on a changeup.
Montero told the upset pitcher that he didn't believe his slider was sharp and thought the changeup was the better option.
"There was water in his eyes," Montero recalled. "I apologized to him the next day because I went too hard on him. I'm a winner and hate to lose and give up a hit. I hate to give up a fly ball, even though it's the pitcher's ERA, it hurts me to give up a run because I take it personal."
