So What's Up With Posada?

Jorge Posada

Not a lot has been said about Jorge Posada since the season ended in September, but the New York Daily News' Anthony McCarron had a blurb a few days back in an article, so I will copy it for you below in case you missed it.

Jorge Posada, who had shoulder surgery during the season, said his rehab has been smooth and he expects to be 100% by March 1. He said he is "100%" confident he will be the Yankees' regular catcher next season. Asked about the possibility of playing first base, Posada said, "I want to be a catcher. I enjoy being behind the plate, being there for my pitchers. I think I'm a better player behind the plate than anywhere else."

P.S.- Nice dress Mrs. Posada!

Posada Concedes Season

Jorge Posada

Tyler Kepner/New York Times:

The Yankees and Jorge Posada made it official on Monday: rather than try to come back as a designated hitter, Posada will undergo season-ending surgery to repair labrum and capsule damage in his right shoulder.

The trade for Xavier Nady gave the Yankees enough offensive punch to allow Posada the time to recover from the surgery and be ready for 2009. At least, that is the Yankees’ hope.

“You can’t expect anything -– you hope,” General Manager Brian Cashman said. “When you mess with shoulders, those are the dangerous ones.”

Posada had told reporters earlier that he hoped to keep playing, and he even took some swings before meeting with Cashman and Manager Joe Girardi. He said in a statement that he agreed with the decision.

“With Xavier here now, there isn’t as much pressure on me to return,” Posada said. “As difficult as it is, I can now focus on coming back 100 percent for next season instead of coming back at less than that now.”

Posada, Abreu Don't Mind Hank's Pressure

Jorge Posada

Mark Lelinwalla/New York Daily News:

With the last-place record, Hank Steinbrenner wasted no time in cracking the whip, telling the Daily News that, other than a few players, the majority of the Yankees were "not doing jack----."

Posada, who's in his 14th season, all in pinstripes, wasn't mad upon hearing Steinbrenner's latest tongue-lashing. Instead, the Yankee catcher says the new Boss is justified.

"He's saying the truth," Posada said. "He wants to win. There's nothing wrong of your owner wanting to win. So it's a matter of us really coming through and performing the way we need to."

Abreu agrees, adding that the pressure to win is rising.

"We just have to go out there and do it," said Abreu. "You always have pressure. You just have to go out, do your job and help the team win."

Posada Will (Hopefully) Catch Next Week

Jorge Posada

Pete Kerzel / Special to MLB.com:

While Jorge Posada wasn't in the Yankees' lineup at his customary position behind the plate on Sunday, manager Joe Girardi said he expects Posada to resume catching at some point this week, perhaps as early as the club's three-game series that begins at U.S. Cellular Park in Chicago on Tuesday night.

"I'd be surprised if he doesn't catch next week," Girardi said of Posada, who has been hampered by a right shoulder strain that inhibits his ability to throw.

Posada has spent time in the past week building up his arm strength by long-tossing, but he only lobbed on Friday and didn't throw on Saturday, playing first base instead. With pregame work at Camden Yards on Sunday limited by rain, Girardi said that Posada would test his arm next on Tuesday.

"He won't throw today," Girardi said on Sunday. "We'll check again on Tuesday -- see how he is and see if the arm is back to full strength."

Girardi is starting to see enough progress to warrant a return to the lineup. Posada has pressed the manager in recent days to play defensively, but Girardi has not been convinced that his catcher is fully recovered.

"I've seen the progress in his arm," Girardi said. "I'm not smart enough to know that he'll be back at full strength next week, but just from the progress I've seen, it's encouraging."

Make That Two Catchers Down

Jorge Posada

From Peter Abraham at LoHud Yankees Blog:

The Yankees need a catcher. Jose Molina strained his left hamstring in the fourth inning, which is why he had to leave the game in the eighth.

“He sucked it up for us,” manager Joe Girardi said.

It’s uncertain what the corresponding move will be to create a roster spot, but the Yankees will be adding a catcher tomorrow. It will likely be veteran Chad Moeller.

Jorge Posada (right shoulder) said he is not ready to catch tomorrow. He was instructed not to throw tonight in the inning he caught and Boston stole two bases. Imagine what Tampa Bay would do tomorrow.

I was wondering what the hell the deal was...oh boy...

Posada MRI Reveals Strain

Jorge Posada

Jorge Posada may avoid a trip to the disabled list after an MRI taken Wednesday revealed a strained right shoulder.

Posada said prior to Wednesday’s contest against the Kansas City Royals that he expects to be sidelined for three or four days but does not think he will have to go on the DL.

“The good news is that it’s not something worse,” he said. “I’m really happy the MRI didn’t show more. It’s not bad.”

The Yankees already are without shortstop Derek Jeter, who is expected to miss the remainder of the Royals’ series with a strained left quadriceps suffered Monday against Tampa Bay.

Jeter/Posada Headed For DL?

Jorge Posada

Great!!! First Jeter now Posada...what happend to staying healthy!? That must have just been a Spring Training thing, eh?!?

Peter Abraham of the LoHud Yankees Blog:

Alberto Gonzalez was pulled out of tonight’s game for Scranton, which could mean he’s headed here to replace Derek Jeter on the roster.

Jorge Posada is scheduled for an MRI tomorrow. He said it would be in Kansas City. The Yankees can have their own doctors read the results then decide what to do. He has never been on the DL in his career but seemed almost resigned to it when reporters spoke to him.

“I’m not helping the team out, it’s as simple as that. I’ve got to be 100 percent to be back there and right now I’m not,” he said. “I’m hoping for the best but I don’t know. A catcher is like a pitcher, you need your arm. If you’re an outfielder or a shortstop you can play through it but a catcher throws as much as a pitcher.”

A-Rod Sore, Posada Scratched From Today's Game

Jorge Posada

Dawn Klemish of MLB.com has the news:

Alex Rodriguez walked through the Yankees' clubhouse with a heat pack on his right throwing shoulder on Friday morning, not a good omen for the day's game ahead.

Not much later, it was revealed the Yankees third baseman would only be the designated hitter in New York's game against Houston because of right shoulder discomfort.

Rodriguez said he's hampered "just a little bit" by the shoulder, but only when he throws. He was able to participate in all of the pregame drills that didn't involve a throwing motion.

"I certainly wouldn't miss a game during the regular season or have to DH," Rodriguez said. "But I think right now, it's just being smart."

Rodriguez said he probably would rest the shoulder for a couple of days, but he would continue to DH if that remained an option.

Catcher Jorge Posada was also a late scratch from Friday's game as well after he felt discomfort in a lateral muscle while throwing on Monday. Posada, too, feels no pain when hitting, but he will rest the muscle until Monday. He's listed as day-to-day.

Not In Tampa? Here's What You Missed

Jorge Posada

Here is a recap of the day at Legends Field courtesy of Peter Abraham and his LoHud Yankees Blog. Peter is down in Tampa right now and is probably the best source on the internet for "insider information" on the Yankees and their Spring Training program.

Yankees Beat Wang Out Of $600,000:
Chien-Ming Wang lost his arbitration hearing and will be paid $4 million a year instead of the $4.6 million that he requested from the team.

Posada believes Clemens:
“I’m supportive,” Posasa said. “He says he never took it and I’m behind him 100 percent. Rocket is one of my favorite teammates ever. It doesn’t take anything away from what he did. For me, he’s the best pitcher I ever caught and it doesn’t change that.”

Posada on New Skipper Joe Girardi:
“Joe Torre was the probably the best for us. Joe Torre for me was a father figure and we’re going to miss him dearly. He’s a great man. But Joe Girardi brings a little different (style). He’s a hands-on guy. He’s going to be a little more critical. He’s going to be a little tougher on us than we’ve had in the past.”

Future Major Leaguer:
Joe Girardi and his wife Kim played on the field with their kids today. Dante Girardi, who is 6, can throw the ball from the lip of the infield to the plate on the fly and Serena Girardi, who is 8, has a nice level swing.

Dante has a little Yankees uniform with No. 27 and his own catching equipment. The Yankee should send him to live in the Dominican and sign him when he’s 16.

Gettin' Work:
Mike Mussina, Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, Edwar Ramirez, Sean Henn, Jeff Karstens, Darrell Rasner, Ross Ohlendorf, Mark Melancon and Billy Traber were among the pitchers who threw in the bullpen today.

Hideki Matsui and Shelley Duncan took part in drills and took BP. As injury rehab players, they’re allowed to be in camp early.

Jesus Montero took some BP. The 19-year-old goes the other way with ease. He generates a ton of power. Scouts are right, he looks like a first baseman.

Girardi's Hands On:
It was interesting to watch Joe Girardi. He ran from place to place and clearly is more hands-on than Joe Torre was. Is that a good thing? We’ll know a few months into the season. If running made you a good manager, Alberto Salazar would have been hired.

Sorry New York Post, Joba's Still A Starter:
Joe Girardi said that Joba Chamberlain will be worked as a starter this spring and be part of the rotation. Depending on what shakes out, his role will be determined at the end of March.

Spring Training Update

Jorge Posada

SHATTERED: Jorge Posada suffered a small cut on his right calf yesterday when his bat shattered during batting practice and the barrel hit him. He was unhurt and continued to hit and do other drills. "Just a little blood," Posada said.

ACHY HIDEKI: Hideki Matsui might not be at full strength when the Yankee position players begin spring workouts Feb. 21 because of lingering soreness in his right knee, the outfielder told Japanese reporters in New York Monday. Matsui, who is slated to fly to Tampa today to talk to team doctors and trainers, was examined by a doctor in New York. Matsui said he hopes to be healthy enough that he does not have to begin spring training under a different program than his teammates.

IF AT FIRST: Jeter and Posada took batting practice with Shelley Duncan and newly signed infielder Chris Woodward. Duncan was out early to take grounders at first base under the tutelage of Tino Martinez and stayed to take throws when Jeter and Woodward took the field. Posada did multiple drills with an eight-pound medicine ball, tossing it high in the air from a variety of angles. He said it's for "core and overall strength." Though he has been working with medicine balls for about 10 years, Posada quipped, "After a while, an eight-pound ball weighs a lot." ... Several of the Yanks' young pitchers already are working out at the minor-league complex, including Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. ... Rehabbing righty Carl Pavano played catch for the second time.

VIA Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News

Projecting Current Yankee HOFers

Jorge Posada

The hall of fame results are set to be announces tomorrow at 2pm and it got me thinking, How many current Yankees will end up making the Hall? Now even though I project the holy trinity to dominate for years lets skip the kids, including Cano, for this exercise and only look at players with 10+ years in the league.

No-Brainers
Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Alex Rodriguez
All three are first-ballot candidates even if they never played another game. Jeter will have 3,000 hits barring injury (has 2356) and with all his gold gloves and clutch play he is in. ARod might become a guy everyone starts rooting for as he starts to erase Bonds from history, he really could retire today and be a first ballot candidate. Rivera is the greatest closer ever, period.

Borderline
Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada
Mussina
Now Mussina has a real good shot. His numbers are pretty close;
Top Ten Cy Young - 8 times
Top Ten Wins - 8 times
Top Ten K's - 10 times
Top Ten adjusted ERA+ - 10 times
Five Time All-Star(Seems low)
6 Gold Gloves
Career ERA 3.70
250 Career Wins
The biggest issue Mussina will have is not with the quality of his numbers but the fact that he doesn't have any of he criteria that voters love; a high peak, reaching number thresholds and postseason excellence. High Peak-Moose never won 20 games and never won the Cy Young. He was always overshadowed by Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson. Reaching Numbers - 250 wins is nice but 300 is still where automatic election begins. Postseason excellence - Moose pitched some great games in the post season but his numbers (Except Wins) are almost a carbon-copy of his regular season numbers(3.42 Era more then a K per inning). I once heard Moose referred to as Mr Almost, almost wins 20 games, almost won a series, almost pitches a perfect game and it looks like almost makes the hall.

Andy Pettitte
Andy has 200 Wins at age 35 and could become a strong candidate if he pitched well for 3-4 more years. Add in his 18-7 postseason record and he becomes a real strong maybe. However, it looks like he will pack it in sooner rather then later and end his career with 230+ wins, that won't be enough but if he has a late career surge he could make it in.

Jorge Posada
I was surprised to find myself putting Jorge on this list but he has 5 silver slugger awards in the eight years since he been a full-time player. Does the best player at a position for almost a decade deserve consideration for the hall? I think so. Jorge does only have 218 career home runs, to have a reasonable shot he needs to eclipse 300.

Most likely we are probably looking at four who end up getting in; Rivera, Jeter, ARod and one from Posada, Moose and Andy.