2011-May-15
Wow-- here it is, in the flesh: you fans paying $100 a pop to watch the Yankees play-- you won't mind if we trot out some washed up old-timer to take a few hacks during a real game do you? Just so Jim Bowden can feel good about himself.
Jorge Posada is batting .165. Jorge Posada is batting .165. Jorge Posada is batting .165. 30 strikeouts in 109 at bats. .165.
Furthermore, he makes about $15 million this year. Batting .165.
He does have 6 home runs. So let's be fair-- six home runs in 109 at bats is not totally, ridiculously shabby. That would prorate out to about 36 for the year-- not shabby. However, the 30 strikeouts don't look good. And the .165. That means you give up a ridiculous number of outs for those 36 home runs.
No matter-- that's not the point. The point is that Jorge Posada took a careful look in the mirror, and at those shabby stats, and decided, yup, still good enough to play for the Yankees. Those promising young kids in AAA ball? Suck it up. I deserve respect! I am owed respect! Don't disrespect me. You don't just play your best player. You owe it to the fans to lose a few games here and there just so you can trot out those old familiar names: Jeter, Rodriguez, Posada....
So when Girardi put Posada 9th in the batting order, in order to minimize the damage he does to the team's chances of winning every night, Mr. Posada had a royal snit and took himself out of the line up.
If you are not familiar with baseball, especially with Yankee baseball, no one takes himself out of the line up one hour before game time.
As a Blue Jays fan, however, I must respond differently. There is a possibility that the Yankees might actually cast off those venerable veterans like Jeter and Posada, the way they cast poor Johnny Damon aside. I urge the Yankees to keep Posada and Jeter in the line-up every day! They are entitled to months and months and years and years to prove that their current slumps are an aberration! Give them another chance! And another. And another! They'll show you.