There’s something to be said about expectations. Rafael Montero’s weren’t particularly lofty, but blowing six saves out of 13 opportunities is enough to rankle the most level-headed of fans. Unfortunately, the nature of relief pitcherhood is that one’s numbers are subject to extreme volatility. This has bordered platitudinous for years now, but it’s true. Montero has perhaps seen some legitimate decreases in metrics that matter, but there isn’t much evidence to suggest that he should be struggling as much as he is.
With a surface look at Montero’s peripherals, you won’t find many red flags. His 0.72 HR/9 is actually deflated — his 9.