When the Yankees brought up Jayson Nix in May of 2012 to take the place of Eduardo Nunez as the team’s primary utility infielder, I thought someone in the front office had made a big mistake. I agreed that Nunez’s defensive shortcomings warranted the demotion, but Nix had batted just .169 for the Blue Jays in 2011, making me think he’d be too big of an offensive liability to play very much. What a difference a couple of months can make.

I’ve now nicknamed Nix “the Caulk Gun” because he’s done such a credible job filling in the numerous cracks that have developed this season in both the Yankee’s offense and defense. Thus far in 2012 he’s appeared in 56 games for New York, making 24 starts. He’s played all or parts of 18 games at third, 15 at short, 8 at second and 11 in left field, plus he’s DH’d in a couple more. He’s been more than adequate defensively in each of those positions and he’s also hit a very respectable .250, while contributing some mighty timely hits along the way. About the only negative thing Nix has done since donning the pinstripes is hit the ball in batting practice that Mariano Rivera was attempting to catch when the fabled closer blew out his ACL.

The Caulk Gun was born on this date in Dallas in 1982. He came up with the Rockies in 2008 and in addition to the Blue Jays, he’s also played for the White Sox and Indians. His older brother Laynce is a big league utility outfielder, who currently plays for Philadelphia. Nix shares his birthday with this one-time Yankee third baseman.