Pitching matchups for the Rays series
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Notes on Apr 08, 2010 
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Friday: RHP Javier Vazquez (15-10, 2.87 ERA in 2009) vs. LHP David Price (10-7, 4.42 ERA in 2009)
Saturday: LHP CC Sabathia (0-0, 8.44 ERA) vs. RHP Wade Davis (2-2, 3.72 ERA in 2009)
Sunday: RHP A.J. Burnett (0-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. RHP James Shields (0-0, 4.50 ERA)
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The Yankees flew to Tampa last night and there may be some light activity at the minor-league complex today. At the very least, A.J. Burnett will throw a bullpen session there and other players may come in for treatment (wouldn’t be a shock if Andy Pettitte is among them).
Chad is en route to Tampa this afternoon and will have the coverage from there, with both of us at the Stadium for the home opener next week. Thanks again to everyone for reading during the first series of the season and be sure to check in frequently for updates this weekend.
Photo: Associated Press
So when does Hughes start?
?When the umps go an entire week without blowing a call, then they can talk.?
I didn?t read through the posts so don?t know if this point has been made, but when an ump has a floating strike zone, the game is going to be a lot longer for this reason. Extra strikes are added sometimes per AB, so that adds to the number of pitches that have to be thrown. By giving extra pitches you potentially add extra base runners and add even more time to the game. And finally when you have pitchers who are getting squeezed, they have to study their pitch selection/delivery even longer before they release their pitches.
Get umps who know what they?re doing, you just might find the game speeds up.
What they get away with is almost criminal.
I am glad we aren’t facing Matt Garza!
I think Phil had a BP session yesterday; 5 days from Monday would be Saturday, so I guess then. That would put him on course for a start on the 15th.
Tax Day the 15th. i think
Thanks, Sam!
CD,
Tax Day.
Pat,
This would’ve made a good one. There’s even a place for a thought bubble on his head.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0.....?q=yankees
The Rays are 2-0, both comeback wins of the Orioles bullpen. Low scoring affairs, too. The Rays will be a tough out, but we typically play them tough, too. Just keep winning series, and we should be there in the end.
CD April 8th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
So when does Hughes start?
************************
I think he goes on the 15th.
Ledger_Yankees Opening Day gates open at 11 a.m. Ring ceremony at 12:15 p.m. Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra will help pass ‘em our. Bernie first pitch. #nyy
2 minutes ago via TweetDeck
“Wow, the 3-0 zone is nearly 50 percent larger than the 0-2 zone…”
“From Major League Baseball’s perspective, it doesn’t matter why it’s happening. It shouldn’t be happening, and we can only hope that something’s being done. The strike zone should be the strike zone, regardless of the count. If the umpires call it the same way every time, the players will adjust accordingly. And it’s worth pointing out that the games would go just a little quicker if umpires weren’t consistently extending plate appearances based on the count.”
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweets.....s-on-count
I like Inge April 8th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Tax Day the 15th. i think
***********
Correct.
The Happiest Day of the Year!
interesting article Tala, thanks.
On Wed’s baseball tonight Kruk (yes that Kruk) gave props to the Yankee hitters for wearing John Lester out. He said the avg PA is 3.8 pitches, the Yankees avg PA is 4.6. I don’t mind them shortening up the time outs, trips to the pitcher etc, but some of it is team stategy. Of course the games will be longer when you have 2 veteran teams who work the count.
and if baseball really want s to attract younger fans, they should have some day time play off and WS games. As it stands now, those games don’t start until close to 9
Rishi, thanks! Wow, it doesn’t get any better than that!
“what I object to is MLB trying to legislate how the Yanks and Sox play (make them swing, don’t be patient). ”
1.) I don’t believe that they are currently.
2.) Baseball legislating how the game is played is entirely with their purview and unquestionably their responsibility.
The game doesn’t exist above the jurisdiction of MLB, the game is a product of their jurisdiction.
No one is arguing baseball should discourage or proactively make particular teams change their approach, but if the day comes when offensive players have so learned to exploit how the game is played to render it to something of a halt, then MLB can and should respond, by raising the mound and or legitimately expanding the strike zone.
I see that DAN THE LOSER made it back. I don’t know whether Chad, Sam, and Josh ban by IP address but hopefully if they do he won’t last long.
I’m going to be back in DE, but I’ve got the DVR ready to go for the Opening Day Ceremonies
m
I was going to give you that one but taking jeers at David was too tempting.
This is what popped into my head for the Andy picture…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLR98iCcYOI
Wish there was a game tonight…what is this the ALCS
.
YankeesPR Yankees to hand out rings to players at home opener 4/13 vs. LAA: Kristin Chenoweth to sing anthem: B. Williams to throw out 1st pitch.
3 minutes ago via web
Tonight, YES is airing WS game 6, so there is a game tonight……sort of, lol.
I am going to repeat this for emphasis:
The 3-0 zone is nearly 50 percent larger than the 0-2 zone”
The umps are the issue, not the players (if there even is an issue with long games)
I actually enjoy days off because it frees me to watch other teams if I so desire and/or pretend I have a life outside of baseball.
LGY,
i think everyone contributes – the players, the umpires, the league. The best solution would be to focus on how each can help improve pace, not isolate it to one thing.
pat,
That was scary. No wonder Ortiz was shielding his eyes!
One classic game I wish YES would show is game 2 of the 1995 ALDS against Seattle. What a game that was Back and forth. Leyritz’s 15th inning homer winning it. WHo would have thought they’d lose all 3 games in Seattle after that?
Jesus Montero’s first AAA ABs
Auston Romine’s first AA ABs
Starts by the top pitching prospects at each level.
For hardcore baseball fans, this is like the day after Christmas when your parents realized they forgot to put that present they hid in the hall closest under the tree.
LGY,
I agree. The umpires are at the very least part of the problem (if you consider it problem).. They want pitchers to throw it in a teacup but then complain when nobody swings, what so they expect veteran teams are going to do?
“According to a Wall Street Journal study of four recent broadcasts, and similar estimates by researchers, the average amount of time the ball is in play on the field during an NFL game is about 11 minutes..
In other words, if you tally up everything that happens between the time the ball is snapped and the play is whistled dead by the officials, there’s barely enough time to prepare a hard-boiled egg. In fact, the average telecast devotes 56% more time to showing replays.”
http://online.wsj.com/article/.....61406.html
The average NFL game last 3 hours, yet there are only 11 minutes of actual action. Why is baseball the only sport that pushes away casual fans based on the length of the game?
I have yet to see a compelling argument that the length of games are a problem, except simply stating, the length of games are a problem followed by random anecdotal evidence.
LGY – That is very interesting. The data is the data, after all. Since Joe West is so talkative, maybe he can answer why the strike zone is adjustable. Or, maybe Bud can handle that one, right after he addresses the deficiencies in George Mitchell’s report, or why ESPN Sunday games and playoff games start late.
JohnC,
I would like to see Game 5 of the 2003 ALCS Yankees-Boston as a Yankee classic. That was a pressure packed game. Loved that game. Wells killed it that game. I drank a lot of beer watching that game to keep the willies away.
m
LOL
Scarier than this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIYejgkqd0o
Basketball games last on average 2 1/2 hours.
NFL games last on average 3 hours.
MLB games last year averaged 2 hours and 52 minutes.
I am not seeing the problem here.
I am going to repeat this for emphasis:
The 3-0 zone is nearly 50 percent larger than the 0-2 zone”
I find this “pathetic and embarrassing”
Oh, pat.
Loading it up now. I’ve only heard a snip, but my initial reax is disgust. That they would use his deceased father’s spirit to clean up his mess.
it looks like the Red Sox are catching up in payroll:
http://zellspinstripeblog.com/.....s-payroll/
“The average NFL game last 3 hours, yet there are only 11 minutes of actual action. Why is baseball the only sport that pushes away casual fans based on the length of the game?”
Again, I don’t believe we’re talking about 3 hours being a problem, I think we’re talking about 3:45 being the issue.
I’d also add that baseball and football are apples and rocks.
For one, football has professional and casual gambling on it’s side. Betting and pools are HUGE reason for the popularity of the sport. This doesn’t translate to baseball. Fantasy leagues are also far more popular (relatively speaking) for the NFL than MLB.
Both the NFL and NCAA have successfully marketed their games an event-viewing, the holy grail of contemporary TV ratings success. They can do that because the play once a week and you can arguably make the case each and every game is something of a play-off game.
That bullet isn’t in baseball’s chamber. 3.75 hours a night, 162 times a year is just a whole other equation.
People don’t hold Wednesday night baseball parties in their homes every week, which succinctly sums up the difference.
Bear in mind that’s not an argument about the length of baseball games, it’s simply an argument for the comparison to 3 hour football games being irrelevant.
I am NOT going to repeat this: for emphasis
The point I am trying to make is your offense directly affects your pitching staff and its “stamina” over the course of a season. You can’t just burn through arms and get more from Triple-A or through trades each time you “Proctor” a guy. To be “Proctored” is to overwork a reliever by sending him to the mound on a nearly everyday basis, a la Scott Proctor with the Yankees in the mid-2000s.
===================================================
I laughed. And then I cried…for poor Scotty. A pretty decent article on how offensive output affects a pitcher by the Shill:
http://sports.espn.go.com/bost.....id=5058230
Jesus…let’s just beat this “game is too long because” crap and “West is an idiot: BS to rest.
I’d rather read about Erin’s and Erica’s close encounters with Bert and Ernie.
Found this in the comment section of the article linked above:
ESPN needs to update Curt’s bio at the end of this article. He didn’t “pitch” for the Sox from 2004-2008, he was PAID by the Sox during that period. Remember that he stole $8 million when he signed a contract knowing he couldn’t pitch in 2008.
just ***put*** this
GreenBeret7 April 8th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Jesus?let?s just beat this ?game is too long because? crap and ?West is an idiot: BS to rest.
I?d rather read about Erin?s and Erica?s close encounters with Bert and Ernie.
*********************
Hehehe… I heart Ernie!!!
What about my close encounters with the 3rd Kind, GB? Want to hear about those, lol?
GreenBeret7 April 8th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Jesus?let?s just beat this ?game is too long because? crap and ?West is an idiot: BS to rest.
I?d rather read about Erin?s and Erica?s close encounters with Bert and Ernie.
****************************
I will gladly talk about Bert and Ernie!
(I’m sure Erica will too)
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) April 8th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
What about my close encounters with the 3rd Kind, GB? Want to hear about those, lol?
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Betsy, the only 3rd kind there is are trolls. Do you really want to spill your guts?
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) April 8th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
What about my close encounters with the 3rd Kind
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Close encounters with the third kind are not as pleasant as Bert and Ernie.
If the US had unannounced visitors from space, would they be considered alien aliens?
GB, I swear I?ve never had any sort of encounter, close or otherwise, with a troll. Inter-species communication/breeding is not my thing
Erin, I’m just not into the Bert and Ernie thing; they can all have a menage a trois with Ernie’s rubber ducky for all I care, lol.
Betsy’s becoming unmanageable. All of that risque talk from her….
Har dee har har, GB – very clever. I once wrote a story for my creative writing class and it involved an immigrant family. I called it ?Alienation in an Alien Nation?. Now how clever is THAT?
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) April 8th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Erin, I?m just not into the Bert and Ernie thing; they can all have a menage a trois with Ernie?s rubber ducky for all I care, lol.
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Betsy, that is just wrong on so many levels. The first and foremost being: how can you not care about Bert and Ernie????!! They are awesome.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....ers-040710
ill take this seriously when players start paying back money when they suck or if they are hurt. pavano got 40 mil to pitch 20 games over 4 years. waaaa waaaaaa.
Basketball games last on average 2 1/2 hours.
__
the last 1-2 minutes of each game take almost an hour. do something about that!
Erin, lol. I’m not big on Sesame Street – and I never really loved Ernie; Bert was always my guy. Cookie Monster and the Count were my favorites, lol.
C is for Cookie!!
Betsy needs a visit from the Boogie Woogie Sheep
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) April 8th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Erin, lol. I?m not big on Sesame Street ? and I never really loved Ernie; Bert was always my guy. Cookie Monster and the Count were my favorites, lol.
C is for Cookie!!
****************
Bert was actually my favorite too until the night when i was 3 and I left my precious Bert doll in Waldbaums. I cried hysterically the entire night while my mother tried to convince me Ernie was just as good.
I got Bert back when Waldbaums opened at 6am the next morning
But I was so traumatized that I was pro-Ernie after that
Brewers signed Gallardo to a 5 year deal – after which their owner put out a statement saying “We’ve signed a good young pitcher to a 5 year deal, and the Yankee payroll is still too high”
Seriously though – I don’t often agree with Randy Levine but I’ll take his side on this: If you want to complain about the Yankee payroll that’s fine, but then don’t put out your hand and take Yankee dollars in Revenue Sharing.
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) April 8th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Erin, lol. I?m not big on Sesame Street ? and I never really loved Ernie; Bert was always my guy. Cookie Monster and the Count were my favorites, lol.
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I love Cookie Monster and the Count too, but Bert and Ernie are my all time favorites.
A few weeks ago my mom showed me an old baby picture of me she had found-I’m in front of the TV laughing my head off, and you can very clearly see Ernie on the TV screen.
Perhaps the Brewers should worry less about the Yankees and more about the Brewers.
“pavano got 40 mil to pitch 20 games over 4 years.”
That was before 2006.
They won’t be able to prove it but everyone knows Bud is orchestrating it with reprimanding teams for spending and his slot payment conferences.
Erin April 8th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Betsy – Hughes rules (Pleading the Fifth) April 8th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Erin, lol. I?m not big on Sesame Street ? and I never really loved Ernie; Bert was always my guy. Cookie Monster and the Count were my favorites, lol.
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I love Cookie Monster and the Count too, but Bert and Ernie are my all time favorites.
A few weeks ago my mom showed me an old baby picture of me she had found-I’m in front of the TV laughing my head off, and you can very clearly see Ernie on the TV screen
———————————————————————————————————————-
Now that’s disturbing, Erin. Ernie just wasn’t that funny and he couldn’t sing.
PIIIIIGS IIIINN SPAAAAACE
MLBTradeRumors has a list – what if each team could remove one contract from the books with no penalty.
For the Yankees they picked AJ’s deal because of the years and money left on it. Couldn’t disagree more. I think if Cashman could drop any contract it would have to be the dead money that’s Igawa’s deal. After that I would say Juan Miranda, Damaso Marte and Jorge Posada would be three more I would give a serious look at before thinking about AJ.
Miranda will never play for the Yankees. He’s blocked by Tex and behind Tex is Johnson.
Marte was great last post season but not sure that he’s all that much better than Boone Logan or Royce Ring at this point – certainly not 8 mil better.
Posada I have no issue with in general but my concern is that Jorge is going to make it very difficult for Montero to break into the bigs. We all know Jesus is offensively ready to go right now. We also know that Jorge is not just resistant to DHing, he gets enraged at the prospect of it. Does anyone think that Jorge is going to be anything but a pain in the rear next year when he’s told that he’s going to be the primary DH while Montero moves in to assume catching duties? Especially considering next year will be a walk year for Posada.
I’m telling you – that’s going to get very ugly next year.
Chip, please tell me you’re kidding; did the Brewer’s owner really say that? Screw ‘em; why should the Yankees just sit idly by and take this crap on the chin?
Erica, that’s a tragic story. So, through no fault of Bert’s own, he’s no longer a favored son?
Erin, lol…….
I’m still ticked off because I have this koala bear that I got when I was a year old; he’s not in great shape, but I absolutely adore him. The only picture of him is when he was a fresh faced young koala – and he’s with my sister when she was just born.
I always liked the Electric Company better. Their Spiderman segment was hilarious and I just loved their cool games.
im saying that here in 2010, teams do not want to shell out ridiculous sums of money for average players, particularly older ones and long deals unless it is for a younger special player like a tex or a-rod, mauer, etc..
GreenBeret7 April 8th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Now that?s disturbing, Erin. Ernie just wasn?t that funny and he couldn?t sing.
PIIIIIGS IIIINN SPAAAAACE
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I disagree-Ernie is very funny, and has a great voice! You need to listen to “I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon”. It will convince you.
I love Pigs in Space!
LOL AJ won the biggest game of the year ,so I’m sure the Yanks are happy with him. Whatever, MLB Trade rumors. That doesn’t even make any sense; if the Yankees didn’t want AJ, they wouldn’t have signed him… .all of 1 year ago, lol.
Abe (NY)
So in the past ten years EIGHT different teams have won the World Series. Over the same time eight different teams also won the Super Bowl and ONLY THREE DIFFERENT TEAMS won the NBA Championship…… Can everyone shutup about parity in baseball now?
Klaw (1:05 PM)
No, they can’t, because they’re obsessed with the Yankees.
LOL I loved Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigs iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaace also!
Nah, Burnett for sure.
Chip,
I don’t really see it being an issue at all. I think Posada will still be the primary catcher next year with Montero DHing and catching 40-50 games like Cervelli will do this year.
Betsy – I was kidding about the quote. But they really did sign Gallardo to a 5 year deal. (probably paid for by the Yankees)
good choice on picking to drop Posada. After all, he has no function…totally worthless and has been so for years. Jose Molina and Kevin Cash are such a better choices to keep
Bobby (Worcester)
Klaw, will Papelbon continue to struggle without a second pitch? It seemed like he had a semi-effective splitter about 2 years ago that is gone and his slider is just bad.
Klaw (1:27 PM)
He won’t throw the splitter – I don’t know if it’s gone, or if it bothers his hand to throw it, or if he just doesn’t want to. But you can’t get by on four-seamers alone.
Blake -
Maybe you’re right. But whether Montero catches 40 games or 100 games Jorge is going to be a problem. He knows that the kid is there to replace him if not next year then in 2012 at the latest – you think Posada is going to go quietly? I don’t.
And the fans will be insane too – think about how they treated Girardi when he replaced Mike Stanley – now we’re going to have someone replacing a member of the “Core Four”
Rishi April 8th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Abe (NY)
So in the past ten years EIGHT different teams have won the World Series. Over the same time eight different teams also won the Super Bowl and ONLY THREE DIFFERENT TEAMS won the NBA Championship?? Can everyone shutup about parity in baseball now?
Klaw (1:05 PM)
No, they can?t, because they?re obsessed with the Yankees.
*****************************
LOL
GreenBeret –
That’s not what I said and you know it. In fact I said specifically that I respect Jorge. What I fear is that Jorge, with his nature and temper, is going to make it very difficult for Jesus Montero.
In saying that I would remove the year remaining on his contract I am looking towards the future (Montero) and Jorge being in a bad mood doesn’t help anything.
if you are following the Keith Law chat – every other question is about the Brewers’ owner’s comment and he’s giving some pretty funny responses
Chip,
What if Posada retires after next year? I think he’s actually been asked about Montero and was quoted as saying something like ” after next year, he can have it (referring to the catching job)”.
Rishi April 8th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Bobby (Worcester)
Klaw, will Papelbon continue to struggle without a second pitch? It seemed like he had a semi-effective splitter about 2 years ago that is gone and his slider is just bad.
Klaw (1:27 PM)
He won’t throw the splitter – I don’t know if it’s gone, or if it bothers his hand to throw it, or if he just doesn’t want to. But you can’t get by on four-seamers alone.
———————————————————————————————————————
I see that I’m not the only one that thinks he may have stopped using the splitter because of physical discomfort. I was thinking maybe his elbow. Perhaps Law is thinking about it causing a circulation problem in the hand.ls
yeah, Posada is so concerned about Montero taking his job that he’s worked long hours with him in the bullpens during ST for the last two years.
Erin April 8th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
GreenBeret7 April 8th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Now that?s disturbing, Erin. Ernie just wasn?t that funny and he couldn?t sing.
PIIIIIGS IIIINN SPAAAAACE
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I disagree-Ernie is very funny, and has a great voice! You need to listen to ?I Don?t Want to Live on the Moon?. It will convince you.
************
That song is very deep. LOL
Its on my iPod
“Though I’d like to look down at the earth from above
I would miss all the places and people I love
So although I might go I’ll be coming home soon
Cause I don’t want to live on the moon”
Blake,
I don’t know. Obviously it would make it easier in 2012 for Montero to be handed the catching job if Jorge retires but a) I don’t know that he will and b) there were lots of people who killed Tino replacing Mattingly even though Donnie had retired because they felt that the organization had pushed Mattingly to retire.
In any case, it’s moot – you can’t remove a contract and as I said, if I could there are still three I would dump before Jorge.
Sorry Chip but that wasn’t really your best post.
Even as late as 1999 Jorge only got 98 starts. There’s no way Montero is getting the primary C job until 2012. Even then he probably won’t see more than 100 games.
Erin-
That Ernie picture story is adorible!
Betsy-
My mother used to always tell me that when I went to sleep at night, I would fall sleep with my thumb rubbing Bert’s unibrow. LOL. I found the unibrow very comforting
Chip,
Jorge, at 39 years old next season will not make it difficult for Jesus Montero. Get real. If Jorge legitimately thinks at his age he’s playing for another long term contract next season he’s on crack. He’s a proud man, but he’s also a smart one and I don’t believe for a second he thinks that way.
If he can get 500 AB’s next season splitting the catching duties and DH duties with Montero, he’ll be very happy. He just wants to play.
To speculate that he is going to destroy the team with his bad attitude is just silly. You should write for the Post.
As for Yankee fans not accepting Montero, you’re also completely off base. This isn’t Girardi replacing Stanley (guess you read the Post today). That was a completely different context.
This is a homegrown catcher who is expected to be a middle of the order star. He’s not coming from some other organization to steal a favorites job.
The whole thing will be treated as Jorge passing the torch to Jesus.
I doubt that Jorge thinks he’s going to be a full time starting catcher at 40.
GreenBeret -
Just because you mentor a guy doesn’t mean you want to be replaced by him.
Maybe Jorge mentors him because he figures that if Montero becomes a tremendous all around catcher the Yankees can trade him for another stud pitcher…who the heck knows. Maybe he just figures “fine I’ll mentor this kid, but he’ll be my backup until I say otherwise”
the reports from spring training indicated that Jorge has helping all the catchers, like Mo and Andy taking the new pitchers under their wing. Just b/c Jorge is fiery doesn’t mean he can’t be helpful.
Haris (Nashville, TN)
Not to keep harping on the Yankees payroll thing, but let’s be honest, it’s not like they’ve somehow worked hard and earned the biggest richest market in the country. MLB is a cartel that handed out 30 territorial monopolies, and the Yankees [and later Mets] were handed the best one. You can’t seriously claim that most teams aren’t at a serious competitive disadvantage.
Klaw (1:49 PM)
Teams are at a competitive disadvantage on the open market for free agents. There’s a draft that controls costs and limits the number of premium players each team can acquire, and that’s a pretty level playing field. If a team doesn’t want to pony up to acquire young talent so that they don’t have to flush money down the Suppan-Davis toilet, that’s their own fault.
new thread
Home Opener Festivities
Jorge, at 39 years old next season will not make it difficult for Jesus Montero. Get real. If Jorge legitimately thinks at his age he’s playing for another long term contract next season he’s on crack. He’s a proud man, but he’s also a smart one and I don’t believe for a second he thinks that way.
If he can get 500 AB’s next season splitting the catching duties and DH duties with Montero, he’ll be very happy. He just wants to play.
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G. Love -
I will ask you to go back to the quotes Jorge made in 2008 when Girardi tried to have him play some first base.
Como estas mi amigos!!
Did anyone else think they were seeing Craig Hansen out there last night instead of Bard? I didnt see anything special about him that screamed CLOSER. Straight as an arrow fastball that the players seem to get a read of. I dont believe he struck anyone out. I dont see hitters being in a mismatch ala Zumaya. Could this be another over hyped Sox pitcher? Or is this kid for real?
Jorge Posada knows where his bread it buttered. It’s with the Yankee organization and his future legacy as part of the core 4, which will continue to grow in stature as more records come and maybe they can add a 6th (or dare I say 7th) ring.
His Hal of Fame chances will likely be enhanced by retiring a Yankees under good graces and being seen as paving the way to his successor, than trying to get 100 more starts on a 1 year contract somewhere….
He has EVERY reason to be a good scout…
Chip
I gotta say you’re reaching on this Posada non issue you’re trying to conjure up.
Yes, Posada is a proud man, very proud player and catcher. We all know this.
Jorge also knows that his days squating behind the plate wearing pinstripes as the primary C are are nearing their glorious end. Trust me he’s fully aware of this.
He will in fact go out of his way to mentor Jesus, ‘Velli and Romine not only the position but the Yankee Way.
It behooves him to accept his potential future roll on this team as a professional bat ala Chilli Davis and emergency/occasional C if he’s interested in extending his career with the Yanks another year or two after his contract runs out in 2011.
I could see him dh-ing and maybe catching 15 games in 2012 and getting maybe 300-350 abs and being very productive in that role. If he catches 90 games in 2011 that’ll be alot in my opinion.
Georgie said this ST that Jesus could have the catching job after this season. Georgie will be the primary DH and backup C, maybe even the #3 catcher, come 2011.
Georgie will turn 39 during this season and 40 during the 2011 season. He’s not crazy enough to think he’s going to get another big payday in 2012 and beyond.
Let’s just hope he has as good a 2010 as he did in 2009…
Lets have the Posada argument when we actually begin seeing signs of decrepidation. At the moment I haven’t seen much of any.
Posada’s defense is lacking right now, though he swings a mean bat.