Reported on ESPN http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/21/posada-could-be-out-for-the-season/?hp Jorge Posada, the proud Yankees catcher whose throwing has been obviously impaired by a labrum injury, said he is considering season-ending shoulder surgery. Posada will have a magnetic resonance imaging test on Tuesday to assess the extent of the damage to a shoulder problem that will not go away. “Whatever the team wants me to do,” Posada said after speaking with Manager Joe Girardi and General Manager Brian Cashman. “We’re looking at some situations. I can’t catch right now. I’m hurting and every throw hurts. It’s been like that the whole year. We’re looking at every scenario.” Posada said this surgery would be more intensive that his last surgery, which occurred after the 2001 season. He was ready for spring training the next February, but he said the surgery this time could carry a six-month recovery period. Having surgery now could be Posada’s only option to start 2009 healthy. Posada is not on the team’s lineup sheet, but Johnny Damon is, indicating that Damon, who is batting leadoff tonight as the D.H., has replaced Posada on the active roster. More to follow when Girardi speaks with reporters in a bit.
I think the Yanks should shut him down and let him get the surgery now so it doesn't linger into 2009 when we'll have a muich better nteam and be better equipped to win in October.
With what pitching? Pettitte I think will be gone...Moose should be gone, because I think this is simply just a fluke and won't be able to do this again next season... Wang-Joba...............................
posada shouldnt have been on the team this year anyway...the contract for him was retarded. I dont think we'll really miss him anyway...at least now we have a catcher who can call agame and throw people out
Again, I'm with junc. Shut him down for the year and give him a shot to come into '09 healthy. The loss of his bat, when healthy, hurts, but he hasn't been healthy, so we aren't losing anything. Molina can't hit much, but he can sure as hell play the position defensively. If Damon can play LF every day, Sexson can DH, and we can do something about CF, we really shouldn't be hurt by Molina in the lineup.
Posada's 4 year deal was a total waste of money. I said it at the time and still do. It was so obvious he had his career year in his contract year. Of course that is another typical Cashman classic. I would much rather have Molina teaching these young pitchers the game than Posada anyway. He has been a whiner since he got to NY. He wanted 10 million a year before he was even eligible for arbitration.
I dont agree about his being a whiner since he got here, but I also think it is certainly very possible to succeed without posada
Yeah, I'm not sure where anyone gets the whiner thing from. The guy's been a quiet leader for years. Obviously we can succeed without Posada. Of course, we lose a bat in the lineup since offensively Molina doesn't hold a candle to Jorge, but defensively we get a huge upgrade, and at catcher that's big.
So let me ask you a question then: Does Cashman get credit for bringing in Molina, and also Moeller (plus keeping him, "just in case")?
I think Andy will be back and we'll have Wang, Andy, Joba, Hughes and Kennedy? The Yanks have alot of money coming off the books and it sounds like they are going to spend some. Maybe Sabathia is signed? People have given up way too quickly on Hughes and Kennedy. The 2009 Yankees are going to be a much better team than the 2008 Yankees.
I'm all but positive Andy will return next year, and maybe even for two more years after that. He's got baseball left in him. I actually think Moose will return for one more year next year, if the Yankees show signs of being legit to win it all next year. Sabathia is going to be interesting. I'd love to bring him in, but I'd also love to get Teixiera in here too. Posada can be a quality DH, and who knows, maybe Giambi earned another year in pinstripes, but only as a DH and part-time 1B to spell Tex. I think it's time to have Damon hit the road, and maybe package Melky and Kennedy for something. I wouldn't give up on Kennedy, since I think he's going to be a good pitcher, but if we bring in Sabathia, and Moose returns, Hughes pitches to potential, and we also have Andy, Wang, and Joba, there's really no room unless he moves to the pen (which I don't think would work with him) or he spends another year at triple-A, which could stunt his growth. Back to Posada though. He'd make a fine DH, but I don't think his catching career is over. That's why I think the best bet is to shut him down now, have him get the surgery, and return for the Spring next year. For the time-being, the lineup I want to see on a regular basis is as follows: Damon LF Jeter SS Abreu RF ARod 3B Giambi 1B Cano 2B Sexson DH Cabrera CF Molina C On days we face lefties, if Girardi is so bent on hitting guys based on the handedness of the opposing pitcher, switch Giambi and Sexson in the order. This lineup should be the almost-every-day lineup though.
im not glad hes hurt, but im happy to have jose behind the plate. defense is something that posada doesnt have, he cant throw out a turtle from first to second. offense on the other hand, which he wasnt spectacular this year, he is better then molina.. that being said.. i am willing to take the chance ala last night where molina had 3 hits, and no one stole a base.. molina can get lucky offensively, but posada doesnt get lucky defensively, unless someone pulls a justin christian, which in that case, the play would still be close.. so i guess its hip hip jose from here on out
I agree with some of the others, shutting Posado down now makes the most sense. If he's not going to be able to catch this year, I'd rather have him ready to go next spring. There's always another bat available out there if we need one from some team looking to dump somebody due to an expiring contract or big contract at this time of the season.
