2022 Topps Allen & Ginter was released in mid-November. It’s always an interesting brand for collectors because you might find something unexpected in the packs. For example, you can find some pop star cards inside. Additionally, rip cards also bring lots of fun to collectors.
Each year, I always buy some hobby packs of Topps Allen & Ginter. This year, things haven’t changed. After this product was released, I quickly went to a card shop to get some packs, trying to see whether I can get some cool cards, in particular, cool rookie cards.
I found a Frankie Montas card, which is a short print. While seeing this card, I thought about his days in pinstripes.
During the regular season, Frankie Montas made 19 starts for the Oakland Athletics, posting a good 3.18 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP over 104.2 innings. However, Montas only earned 4 wins but took 9 losses. In mid-August, the Yankees would like to add pitching depth, so they sent 4 players to the A’s and acquired Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino from the A’s. The Yankees front office expected to see the trade enhance the rotation. Nonetheless, the result is not what the Yankees fans would like to see.
Frankie Montas made 8 starts for the Yankees. He owned a 6.35 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP in 39.2 innings. His K/BB ratio was 3.89 while he was pitching for the A’s. But, in the pinstripes, his K/BB was 2.20. Furthermore, in the A’s uniform, opponents batted .233 against Montas, but in the pinstripes, batting average against Montas went up to .288. Additionally, Montas only tossed 1 inning for the Yankees in the postseason, he gave up a home run and struck out a batter. Overall, Montas’ first season with the Yankees wasn’t a great one. While looking back at Montas’ stats in New York, I thought about the other player who experienced something similar.
Sonny Gray is a 2-time All-Star. Back in 2017, he made 16 starts for the A’s, posting a 3.43 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 97 innings. In July 2017, Gray was traded to the Yankees. After being traded to the Yankees, he made 11 starts in 2017. Gray owned a 3.72 ERA and a 1.26 WHP over 65.1 innings in his first season with the Yankees. Moreover, he made 2 starts for the Yankees in the 2017 postseason, posting a 4.32 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP over 8.1 innings. The next year, Sonny Gray made 23 starts and 7 relief appearances in the pinstripes. In 2018, Gray had a 4.90 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP in 130.1 innings.
Finally, looking back at Sonny Gray’s two years with the Yankees, he couldn’t replicate his performance in the A’s and he didn’t stay long in New York. By far, Montas’ first few months in the Yankees uniform didn’t go well.
Montas should be an important player in the Yankees rotation next season. Nevertheless, for the Yankees, Sonny Gray’s case isn’t too far. They will have to avoid the same problem and figure out a way to help Montas pitch as well as he did in Oakland.
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