Jesus Montero: Meeting Expectations Is Impossible for the Yankees Prospect
August 31, 2011 · Rick Weiner · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Jesus is coming.
Not Jesus Quintana, arguably the best dressed bowler of all time—though Ernie McCracken might have something to say about that.
No, Jesus Montero, the seemingly forever-hyped Yankees prospect with the big bat and no position, will join the team tomorrow when rosters expand.
Montero is not coming up for a cup of coffee—he’s going to see significant playing time and very well could be the one to knock Jorge Posada off the postseason roster, assuming he shows that he can handle major league pitching.
Therein lies the problem.
Jesus Montero suffers from an illness, one I like to call the “Felipe Lopez Syndrome.”
For those who don’t know, Felipe Lopez is a former NBA player who attended St. John’s University in New York from 1994 to 1998. Lopez was the headliner of a big time recruiting class for the school, along with Zendon Hamilton and Tarik Turner.
Big things were expected from the trio, but none more than from Lopez, who was expected to lead the school back to the Final Four and national prominence.
Before even putting on his St. John’s uniform, Lopez was pasted on the cover of Sports Illustrated and was making public appearances with then-President Bill Clinton, NFL great Jim Brown and U.S. Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
Lopez was a solid ballplayer and finished his St. John’s career averaging 17 points, six rebounds and three assists a game. But in the eyes of fans he was a disappointment—he did not provide Michael Jordan-eqsue highlights and the team did not win any national championships.
Such is the case with Jesus Montero—he has been so hyped for so long that unless he proceeds to hit over .300 with Ruthian power numbers, he will be viewed as a disappointment by fans and critics alike.
Here’s hoping that he not only produces in the regular season, but the playoffs as well; for if he does not, the Yankees will have watched his value go from “sure thing” to “someone a team would take a chance on”—and that sort of player becomes a throw-in and not a trade chip.
Why a trade chip and not a piece of the “next wave” of Yankees?
Some teams view him as a first baseman, a position occupied by Mark Teixeira.
Others view him as a right fielder, a position occupied by Nick Swisher.
Most view him as a DH, and that is a position that, going forward, the Yankees very well may have to shift Alex Rodriguez into as he can now be labeled injury-prone. Making A-Rod the DH next season may very well be the only way to ensure he will be healthy enough to finish out his ridiculous contract.
Jesus is coming, but he’ll have to perform miracles like Jesus of Nazareth to be labeled a success.
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