WHY JESUS IS COMING TO YANKEELAND NOW

The Designated Hitter spot may be currently filled by Jorge Posada, but make no mistake about it, Jesus is coming, and many predict this week. This coming from Buster Olney and it makes sense if you think about it. This is August, and we are in a pennant race. You don't want to be calling Jesus Montero up in September to the big league stage with no rhythm enormous pressure and no chance to complete if he's not comfortable. No, you want him ready to go, giving him plenty of at bats so we have a chance to make the playoffs.

Montero has a big bat and as you know here on Bleeding Yankee Blue, we are huge Montero fans. Yes, at times, I express concern that maybe he isn't the Golden child that Yankee brass thinks he is. That being said, It's still exciting. We still back our guys and really look forward to seeing Montero on the big stage, especially with a shot at the playoffs.(In Photo: Jesus Montero)
I don't believe we will see Montero doing much catching this second half in the Bronx. Yes, he will catch on occasion, but for me, I believe his primary role will be DH. Just concentrating of getting at bats and hitting. Jorge Posada clearly hasn't done the job and sadly, it may be the end of that role for our hero. Posada is respected and loved by all of Yankeeland, but the fact of the matter is, it's August and his time has just about run out. Bringing Montero in will him to get familiar with the Big Stage hitting and allow him to shine at the plate. Posada must grin and bear it because it's time to bring in new blood.

In Scranton Wilkes Barre, Montero is currently batting .289, he has 11 home runs and 51 RBI's in 346 at bats. His OBP is .389 and his OPS is .789. Now. the home runs are only 11, but that's not the point of bringing up Montero. The Yankees want to see production, they want to give him as many at bats as they can and see how he handles the big leagues. (In Photo: Jorge Vazquez)
If they wanted home runs, they would have brought up someone like Jorge Vasquez up. Vazquez, by the way, is someone who I predict could also get a call up this year. Remember Vasquez? He was the kid who was cranking out homers all spring. Read WHY IT'S VAZQUEZ TIME from back in May. This season Vazquez is hitting .249 but the home runs are coming nicely for him...27, and 81 RBIs to boot. Both Jesus and Vazquez would be great assets to the Yankees, Montero as the DH, Vazquez as a bench hitter for sure.
(Photo: Getty)
With Jorge Posada just not hitting, it's time to pass the torch. Yes, it sucks to see one of our Yankee heroes be diminished to a late inning bat or mentor to the younger guys coming in, but in the back of his mind, Posada knows it's best for the Yankees, especially now. Poe's passion is still there, he just can't harness it the way he used to, so here's my suggestion to Jorge Posada...

Teach, guide and stay strong. You're still a New York Yankee, and we love you, but pass the torch to the new kid and show him the passion of the pinstripes like you've done so proudly for so many years.


Be sure to check out:
WHY THE YANKEE KIDS ARE GROWING UP
WHY IT'S CERVELLI'S END, MONTERO'S BEGINNING
WHY IT'S MONTERO'S TURN

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WHY IT'S VAZQUEZ TIME

Jorge Posada is our Designated Hitter, that is clear and no doubt he's trying to work out the kinks. But one thing is also very clear...time is ticking and if things don't get worked out in a timely matter for Posada, some youngsters will start breathing down his neck. Namely, Jorge Vazquez, a kid who made a name for himself in Spring Training and if he's given a shot in the majors, will open eyes for sure.

Jorge Vazquez is tearing it up in the minors right now. He has 16 homeruns and 41 RBIs, numbers we wish Jorge Posada would have by the All Star break. Vasquez is batting .303, has a .638 slugging percentage and a .971 OPS.(Photo: The Star Ledger)
Prediction, if Posada doesn't start producing, you will see Mr. Posada in a diminished role based on what he's done, or not done, this season. Yes, with transition comes comfort and if you can't get comfy, you may not deliver. Posada is there right now... like being in purgatory. He's not hitting consistently, yet, he's not in the cellar either, but he's damn close.
So what would happen if by July, Posada's still stinking up the joint? Well, look for the Yankees to make Posada a part time DH and sometime first baseman. This will keep Posada on the bench to pinch hit and "fill in" when needed as DH or first base once in a while. It will also give a kid like Vazquez an enormous shot to come up and live up to the buzz. Let Vazquez show everyone what baseball stories are made of, GAS... Glory, Ability and Strength. Oh yeah and change. Change of scenery. That's right. I said it. Sooner or later, something's got to give and we all love Jorge Posada but we don't love waiting. Change may be happening.

Sooner or later Ladies and Gentleman, we may need to turn the page on Posada, but to be honest, I was really hoping it didn't happen like this.

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WHY IT'S COMING TOGETHER

If we learned anything at all from last night's game, it's a few things:
AJ Burnett was able to let Michael Morse hit a home run off of him, but then reached back, shrugged it off and continued on his path to progress. He never fell apart, never broke down and gave credit where credit was due.

Of Michael Morse, he said: "He's a big boy with a big swing and he connected, I've got my job to do after that."

Next, I like what i'm seeing of Jesus Montero. He, I believe will in fact be the Backup catcher this season, at some point. I'm still not sure how they're going to handle Francisco Cervelli, but right now we're seeing what I said should happen, more eyes on Montero and more at bats for the young man. The more playing time this kid gets, the better he will be and the more people will rally behind him. Bottom line, the Yankees are never in a rush to bring up new talent, so I am still now sure how they are going to play the Jesus card by Opening day, but fair is fair and if he has a great spring, I believe they should at least give him a shot by Opening day in a backup role at least.
Jorge Vasquez is a freak of nature. He's not a good looking man and he looks huge at the plate and one thing I notice is, he knows his job... Kill the ball and hit home runs. I know his talent around first base defensively isn't that great. But damn his swing is magic. The ball travels forever and one of my BYB writers, Grant Cederquist said it best, Why NOT put him in a DH capacity for the Yanks? The power is there. It makes sense. By the way, you can read Grant's piece titled WHY NO TALK ABOUT JORGE VASQUEZ? and let us know if you agree.

Finally, and this is not a Yankee thought, it's a baseball thought. Who the hell is Michael Morse and how can we get him in pinstripes? Anyone see last night's game? I'm a sucker for homeruns and power and watching then soar out of a ball park. To me, it's part of what makes baseball so special. Morse is a monster at the plate and had a monster shot against AJ. I just want to say, I wish this guy well. He could have a future in the majors if he gets more at bats per year.Bottom line, Yanks are looking good. On paper, maybe the evil Red Sox have an advantage to some extent, but the way we've been pitchnig, the surprises we've seen with the bats, and defenisvely? My God, the Yanks will have a terrific 2011. I'd put them up against the gimpy Sox any day of the week, just you wait and see.

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WHY NO TALK ABOUT JORGE VAZQUEZ?

It's often said that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck. And Jorge Vazquez walks and quacks like a Major League level slugger.

As a young player in the professional leagues of Mexico, Jorge achieved nothing short of status as a young phenom. Just take a look at his numbers in 2005. In only 71 games he managed to hit 33 home runs and maintain a .379 batting average. Oh yeah, he also walked away with a cool 1.210 OPS. No big deal.

He burst onto the scene with AA Trenton in 2009, hitting .329 with 13 HRs in only 57 games. After an incredibly strong first 10 games of 2010 with the Trenton Thunder in which he hit .390, he was promoted to AAA in Scranton-Wilkes Barre. The jump from AA to AAA can often be a rough one, and his batting average dipped to .270, which is quite respectable when you consider the struggles Montero initially had as well.So the question is this: Why is Jorge Vazquez never mentioned? Do the scouts know something we don't? Do they not think he can handle the Major Leagues? Hitting 2 home runs in his first two Spring Training games and having one of the highest batting averages of anyone out there regardless of the team sure seems to say he can handle it.

His defense is often described as beyond questionable and there's little hope for him to make it as a first baseman. Luckily, the Yanks happen to play in the American League, you know, the league that has a position called Designated Hitter. It's currently occupied by the (sadly) soon to retire Jorge Posada. Yeah, it's that American League. Some would argue that as Jeter and A-Rod age, they too are going to need to fill the DH spot because they won't be able to handle defense, but I disagree. Rodriguez is practically a machine, he's not your average 35 year old ball player on the verge of collapse. With his newly rejuvenated youth, I could easily see him holding down the 3B position for a minimum of 5 more years. Jeter? Well, despite winning just a couple of Gold Gloves, his defense isn't bad, so I see no reason why we'd need to move him anywhere. One can only imagine how that'd go down with the fans. The fans want to see the face of the franchise end his career with a bang, they don't want to see him slowly fade into the DH spot while we sign some random guy off the Free Agent market or stick Nuñez out there.

Even in the case that either of them needs the DH spot, they won't be there for at least 2 or 3 years. Posada seems to only be around for 1 more year, leaving the DH spot open for a minimum of 1 year. Some have suggested Montero for that DH spot, but I see no way he won't end up the starting catcher by mid-season this year.

I think we should give Vazquez a shot. Many would disagree with me, I think he has a solid chance of breaking camp with the team next year and taking over DH duties. It makes sense. I mean hey, who else are we gonna put there? Joba?

By the way, here's another great piece about Vazquez as well. It's from the Star-Ledger.



--Grant Cederquist BYB Staff Writer



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WHY COMPETITION'S HEATING UP

"Stay healthy." --Eric Chavez

Don't look now, but Eric Chavez is back on track. Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman couldn't be happier about this guy. Chavez is hitting .364 this spring and the plan is, if he makes the team, he'll play 3rd base and 1st base when needed. Girardi says of Chavez: "He's swung the bat really well."

Meanwhile, another candidate is someone you've never heard of, Jorge Vasquez who's batting .583 this spring. Vasquez hit a home run in 2 games straight earlier this spring and Girardi said "He's definitely opening eyes." Vazquez has five RBIs and had 2 more in a double against the Nationals yesterday.
The upside for Chavez is his defense, he's a former Gold Glove winner. According to Billy Eppler, the Yankees' senior director of pro personnel, Vazquez has "Hands of Stone". Ultimately, if they are both hitting so hot this spring, fielding will be the deciding factor.

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