People are all “Marcus Thames and Juan Miranda aren’t a good enough platoon at DH,” “The Yanks should get Adam Dunn or Jayson Werth,” “The Yanks need another hitter.” Okay, we get it: the Yanks all-time hits leader, an MVP candidate second baseman, a guy with a 42 game on-base streak, a guy with 599 homers, one of the game’s best offensive catchers, the most likable center and rightfielders in baseball, and one of the speediest left-fielders in the game isn’t enough to satisfy the average Yankee fan. Dunn or Werth or Prince Fielder or Brad Hawpe or Jorge Cantu would all be nice acquisitions in theoretical lineups, but most don’t seem realistic. Okay, I could see Hawpe/Werth/Dunn….but they’re all a stretch (Stretches…grammar police…how do I phrase that? Anyways….) I see the merit in a short-term rental to bulk up the lineup. I totally get it. I just, don’t know if it’s worth giving up blue-chip prospects for one of those guys when there might be an internal solution waiting to rise to the Bronx (alongside Jon Albaladejo…who had a perfect outing in his return to Scranton).
Said solution’s name is Jesus. No, not suggesting prayer books; I’m talking about Jesus Montero, the powerful slugger who alm0st brought Cliff Lee to the Bronx.
Jesus has a .469/.541/.875 line over his last ten games (with 3 long balls). For July as a whole he’s at .379/.493/.672 (4 long balls). Montero can catch (although that is the…weakest aspect of his game). This is my idea: promote Jesus and have him and Jorge split time at DH and catcher. What about Frankie Cervelli? Well, I love the guy with the alien-ish helmet, but his bat has been library-level quiet as of late. I guess, in theory, the Yanks could carry 3 catchers and send down Juan Miranda (and release Chad Gaudin and recall Jon Albaladejo). Jesus struggled early this year, but now he’s hotter than Hansel and a call-up might just be the solution to this DH-problem…if you can even call it that. I don’t know if calling him up now would be “too early” and if Montero might struggle (a la Mike Stanton/Justin Smoak). If he’s an instant success though (like Carl0s Santana and Buster Posey) he could make a big impact on the lineup. It’s just a suggestion, but seems to make sense to me. Maybe the Yanks should wait a week or two, and if Jesus is still mashing, then make the call. Just something to think about.
