No Posada, Rodriguez at DH
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jun 17, 2010 
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Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Brett Gardner LF
Francisco Cervelli C
Ramiro Pena 3B
LHP Andy Pettitte
Boone Logan is still here and there doesn’t seem to be anyone new in the clubhouse. It at least looks like there was no pregame player move.
Good to see Chad Huffman has his name on his locker now. He didn’t when he was first called up.
Ugh, no Posada? He’s hurt.
So close-I had Gardner and Cisco switched around. I can’t even remember the last time I won at GTLU
clearly he’s hurt, they didn’t say he was getting an off day today or anything.
I know Jorge’s a warrior and doesn’t want to be a DH, but if you can’t catch two days in a row without your injuries forcing you out of the lineup then to me that might be a sign you should embrace the role of DH a bit more going forward….just a thought.
Posada is a knucklehead. Why is he playing when his foot still hurts at the end of games? He rushed back for sure… I hope he doesn’t need a DL stint
Oh well, this is a pretty decent lineup. I’m going to the game so I was hoping for Lineup A but this’ll do
yankswin27 June 17th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Ugh, no Posada? He?s hurt.
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From last night: BryanHoch Jorge Posada says he doesn’t think he’ll be able to catch tomorrow, needing a day after catching nine innings tonight.
SJ44 June 17th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Go read a book punk. You are boring.
Mo said he was playing five more years in a WS celebration. I doubt he was speaking truthfully and I wouldn?t hold anybody to that as gospel.
—————–
Mo is going to pitch until Mo says he doesn’t want to pitch any more and the Yankees will be glad to continue signing him.
If Joba’s still in the organization at that time, he’s the closer. Not AJ.
Clearly they’re easing Posada slowly into catching.
Congratulations to Today’s Winners of Guess The Line Up!
Fran (the Original)
noreaster
Thanks again to all w ho played.
From the other thread….
ID,
I’ve heard the same thing. Its unusual to do that.
Especially with a guy like AJ since his ball has so much movement.
I’m guessing they have some sort of signal for the catcher to know whether the four seam or two seam is coming.
If not, I don’t know how the catcher can react to the pitch. Especially on days AJ is all over the place with his pitches.
Fran won again??! FIX!!
Patrick
that is about as much of an A line up as possible lately!
have fun at the game
patrick – it’s a naturally healed hairline fracture. that foot is going to be bothering him for… basically the rest of his life.
Patrick June 17th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Posada is a knucklehead. Why is he playing when his foot still hurts at the end of games? He rushed back for sure? I hope he doesn?t need a DL stint
———————
Because he says he’s not ready to be a full-time DH yet and complains whenever Joe puts him there. So he catches and, as is the case with most people who have nagging injuries and are old, he experiences pain that forces him out of the lineup.
maybe posada will be able to PH later in the game.
posada would probably be DH tonight if Alex could play 3rd.
“patrick – it’s a naturally healed hairline fracture. that foot is going to be bothering him for… basically the rest of his life.”
What a dumb post without any direct knowledge of the injury to say it’s going to bother him for the rest of his life.
Should have known Posada needed a day off today.
Not a big deal. No reason for concern.
I am much more concerned that ARod still is unable to take the field at 3rd.
Good thing for the Yankees Pena has a great glove.
Here’s a question –
Between Posada’s foot and Alex’s hip will Joe have either of them in the lineup on a regular basis when the team goes to LA and Arizona and loses the DH?
Chip,
Posada never complained about playing DH, you need to let this illusion go.
He talked with reporters about the difficulties of adjusting to a DH role. Posada will do what’s best for the team, he always has and always will.
No doubt Mo will pitch as long as he wants to pitch.
I just don’t think its five more years. I think its closer to two.
No guarantees on who would be the next closer. Two-three years is a long way away.
“If Joba’s still in the organization at that time, he’s the closer. Not AJ.”
I don’t agree.
To me Burnett is the perfect example of why starting pitchers are so much more valuable than relievers. He is an above average, innings eating starting pitcher at this point in his career. I happen to like him unlike most people on here. I recognize that he tossed three gems last year in the playoffs and unlike most think he is among the most consistent pitchers in baseball on a year-to-year basis.
I have no doubt, however, that he would be a shutdown reliever. He would most likely sit in the high 90s at a reliever with that curve, which would probably be the most devastating combination a relief pitcher in the game would have. He STILL, however, is more valuable to a team pitching 200 innings of, albeit inconsistent from start-to-start, 4.00 ERA ball.
I think the idea of him as a closer in the last or second-to-last year of his contract is very, very intruiging. I still firmly believe that Joba, given his arsenal, will return to the rotation at some point, even if it isn’t next year.
What the Yankees need, more than anything, is for Alex to be healthy enough to play third so Posada can DH. Team is better when Posada doesn’t catch anyway.
What the Yankees need, more than anything, is for Alex to be healthy enough to play third so Posada can DH. Team is better when Posada doesn’t catch anyway.
You can’t do much about a fracture on your foot. I’ve had an injury like that before and basically it just takes time. You could wear a protective boot, but it barely makes a difference in these cases. For an athlete like Posada, it probably will bother him for at least the rest of the season because he can’t take the time to stay off of it.
Warning Track Power June 17th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Should have known Posada needed a day off today.
Not a big deal. No reason for concern.
I am much more concerned that ARod still is unable to take the field at 3rd.
Good thing for the Yankees Pena has a great glove.
—————–
Unfortunately Pena has no bat. If Alex is going to need regular reps at DH I would love for the Yankees to bring in a utility guy with even a slightly better stick than Pena or Russo: Jake Fox, Ryan Theriot…someone in that group (and yes, sadly Theriot and Fox do represent offensive upgrades from Pena and Russo)
Posada doesn’t always complain about being the DH.
You have to let the hatred go. Especially when you continuiously quote what he said inaccurately.
I just don’t think its five more years. I think its closer to two.
—
I will never again attempt to guess when Mo will retire. He’s inhuman. I could easily see him retiring after this year and I could easily see him pitch for another 5.
hopefully alex will be ready to play in the NL parks
Probably see Joe rest him in the sunday game vs the Mets to give him the extra rest and get back to 3rd base for the left coast trip.
Shame,
Not a fix. Just thinking like Joe Girardi
FRAN!!!!!
This is all my fault for telling her to play Pena more
Looking forward to the 2012 8th-9th inning combo of Brackman and Burnett… throwing 96 MPH gas and a unhittable hook.
Patrick June 17th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Chip,
Posada never complained about playing DH, you need to let this illusion go.
He talked with reporters about the difficulties of adjusting to a DH role. Posada will do what?s best for the team, he always has and always will.
———————-
Well ok, but if his foot is forcing him to the bench after a couple of days of catching then wouldn’t the best thing for the Yankees be for him to accept a role as a DH so that his bat can stay in the lineup?
MTU, Vinny and the others talking about deer and other nuisance animals.
I live less than 1 hour from the City and deer are more than just pests here. They eat everything in sight and most people I know have had run ins with them on the road to serious auto accidents with them. We have wild turkeys, wood chucks and every other nuisance animal.
Well ok, but if his foot is forcing him to the bench after a couple of days of catching then wouldn’t the best thing for the Yankees be for him to accept a role as a DH so that his bat can stay in the lineup?
___
Joe would, but Alex is the DH while his hip heals.
Chip,
Posada’s bat at catcher is much more valuable to the team than his bat at DH. I understand why the Yanks are trying to rush him.
Great news on Brackman.
Looks like SJ’s timetable is coming along.
Oh goodness. Jake Fox is not a utility player. He’s terrible wherever he plays on defense. He’s a hitter without a position.
Erica,
Thanks for the advice
I suspect the Yanks are DHing Alex so that he will be rested enough to play 3B when the team travels to NL parks.
“Well ok, but if his foot is forcing him to the bench after a couple of days of catching then wouldn’t the best thing for the Yankees be for him to accept a role as a DH so that his bat can stay in the lineup?”
Here’s what you fail to understand.
The Yankees have a tremendous, tremendous leg up on most every team in the league when Posada is catching. The same can not be said from when he DHs.
The Yankees ideally need Posada to catch. It lengthens the lineup and, pretty simply, is one of the biggest contributors to their success on a year-to-year basis.
Our 7-8-9 is weak, but so is the Phillies, so no excuses.
Chip-What’s the point of calling up “other players” if neither is an offensive upgrade to Pena?
I’m fine with how Pena hits. His great defense makes up for his lack of hitting.
This line-up has plenty of hitters.
Patrick June 17th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Chip,
Posada?s bat at catcher is much more valuable to the team than his bat at DH. I understand why the Yanks are trying to rush him.
—————
Yeah but his bat at DH is more valuable than his bat on the bench right? So isn’t the best thing for him, and the team, to do what it takes to keep him in the lineup on a regular basis?
Fran (the original) June 17th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Erica,
Thanks for the advice
**************
LOL. I am such a jerk!
You have to admit, the timing was rather uncanny. lol
Patrick June 17th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
I suspect the Yanks are DHing Alex so that he will be rested enough to play 3B when the team travels to NL parks.
*********
I agree with this
Oh goodness. Jake Fox is not a utility player. He’s terrible wherever he plays on defense. He’s a hitter without a position.
—
A bad hitter without a position
Patrick June 17th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
I suspect the Yanks are DHing Alex so that he will be rested enough to play 3B when the team travels to NL parks.
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Totally agree.
yankswin27 June 17th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Our 7-8-9 is weak,
###########################################################
Are you for real?
Yeah but his bat at DH is more valuable than his bat on the bench right? So isn’t the best thing for him, and the team, to do what it takes to keep him in the lineup on a regular basis?
—
1. Alex needs to DH right now
2. How would the Yankees know if Posada can catch unless they try him there? As Girardi kept saying, this is not a normal rehab assignment. He wouldn’t know if Posada can catch a full 9 unless he tries to. That’s why they had him catch 2 games. Now they know he can’t so he’ll likely sit for a few days and rest up for the NL games.
Erin June 17th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Patrick June 17th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
I suspect the Yanks are DHing Alex so that he will be rested enough to play 3B when the team travels to NL parks.
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Totally agree.
*************************************************************************
One piece of good luck is there is a day off in between the az/dodger series.
I’m a bit stunned we’re seriously discussing AJ as a potential closer during his contract.
He could never close with the amount of walks he gives up, not to mention he’s a good starting pitcher. Not great. Good.
Did the Yankees overpay for him? Sure, but the Braves were offering similar money to AJ and they got the Derek Lowe consolation prize which stunk.
This team NEEDED 2 starters last year. Not just run of the mill starters. 2 good starters. Without him? No title last year unless you think Joba was going to pitch game 2 in the post season.
I understand AJ frustrates people. He frustrates me just the same.
But he’s better than people give him credit for in here. Criticize him all you want. But to be speculating that he’s pitching himself out of the rotation is silly in my eyes.
Stoneburner last night in Tampa:
7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 Ks
Ridiculous.
He’s now got a 2.16 ERA in 75 innings (79/21 K to BB ratio) and has given up just 46 hits.
We should start hearing about him very, very shortly. What he’s doing in his first year out of college has been downright Joba like.
I wonder if a promotion to Trenton is on the way.
g.love – before you freak out over nothing… it was brought up my kay on the radio today, not concocted by some random idiot.
“I’m a bit stunned we’re seriously discussing AJ as a potential closer during his contract.
He could never close with the amount of walks he gives up, not to mention he’s a good starting pitcher. Not great. Good.
Did the Yankees overpay for him? Sure, but the Braves were offering similar money to AJ and they got the Derek Lowe consolation prize which stunk.
This team NEEDED 2 starters last year. Not just run of the mill starters. 2 good starters. Without him? No title last year unless you think Joba was going to pitch game 2 in the post season.
I understand AJ frustrates people. He frustrates me just the same.
But he’s better than people give him credit for in here. Criticize him all you want. But to be speculating that he’s pitching himself out of the rotation is silly in my eyes.”
Great post.
I agree wholeheartedly on AJ.
Nonetheless I’d never heard that idea thrown around and in year 5 of this deal I too am a little curious about the possibility. Especially if Mariano re-inks a 2 year deal and retires after 2012. At that point in time AJ may not be one of the better 5 starting pitchers in the organization.
Irreverant Discourse: your question regarding calling 2 seamer or 4 seamer: I believe in one broadcast (maybe it was Flahrety) said 1 finger (index finger) is one type of FB and pinkie is other.
G-C June 17th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
?Well ok, but if his foot is forcing him to the bench after a couple of days of catching then wouldn’t the best thing for the Yankees be for him to accept a role as a DH so that his bat can stay in the lineup??
Here?s what you fail to understand.
The Yankees have a tremendous, tremendous leg up on most every team in the league when Posada is catching. The same can not be said from when he DHs.
The Yankees ideally need Posada to catch. It lengthens the lineup and, pretty simply, is one of the biggest contributors to their success on a year-to-year basis.
—————————
I agree.
But consider what tonight’s lineup looks like – you not only have Cervelli behind the dish but also Pena at third.
If Jorge was the everyday DH then you only have Cervelli in the lineup – not Pena too.
So my point is that keeping Posada in the lineup is what’s best for the Yankees, and, as far as I can tell the best way to do that is by DHing him.
The GTLU site is updated with today’s winning lineup, the winners, today’s participants and the updated standings, of course.
I think the Yankees will keep Stoneburner in Tampa the rest of the year.
They already promoted him once this year from Charleston. I think they will let him finish the year in Tampa and not add to his workload.
Brackman will get to Trenton. If he pitches well there, he is on the radar for a role with the Yankees sometime next year, IMO.
I understand where you’re coming from, no doubt.
I’m typically not a subscriber to a “this guy can’t hit as a DH as well” theory but it does have its case studies. Giambi was never good at it and Posada, for whatever reason, swings the bat infinitely better when he’s in the field. I’m guessing its a matter of maintaining focus and feeling better within the flow of the game.
All things considered I don’t believe DHing him is worth it.
nyyroc – i’ve heard cervelli say recently (within the last month) that he just calls a fastball and AJ throws whichever one he feels like. seems like a poor way of going about pitching.
Chip -
But you have to take ARod’s health into the equation today, too. He can’t play 3rd yet. So someone else (Pena) is.
Posada doesn’t hit as well as a DH as he does as a C.
That’s the whole point.
He is more valuable in the lineup as the starting catcher than he is the everyday DH.
Obviously, they are going to have to manage it properly.
However, if Jorge can catch, it makes the Yankees a better team.
“I think the Yankees will keep Stoneburner in Tampa the rest of the year.
They already promoted him once this year from Charleston. I think they will let him finish the year in Tampa and not add to his workload.”
________________________________________
Have you heard anything about him in regards to what the organization thinks about his potential? I’ve heard different things about his stuff, some good and some excellent, and his performance this year is certainly eye-catching.
I’m wondering if he’s positioned himself as a possible top 100 prospect going into next year. On merit it looks like he has but as a college pitcher in A ball it will usually come down to stuff…
Irreverent Discourse, Wow,if that’s the case, good thing Cervelli is young! Tough to catch AJ’s FB even if you know it’s coming!
thanks Doreen, and YAY fran, our best hope to beat Girardi at his own game!
They have a dilemna with regards to Arod and Posada. They probably play Arod in the field before Monday in AZ, and Posada is not ready to catch everyday yet. Need both of their bats in the lineup though with the Mets coming in this weekend.
I don’t know if he is going to be a Top 100 Prospect in a publications eyes but, I do know the Yankees really like him.
I saw him pitch against my nephew’s team last month and his two seamer was NASTY.
Had a ton of movement and nobody could square up on it.
My nephew also faced him when he was pitching for Clemson and said he’s a much better pitcher now than he was at Clemson.
The two seamer is better and his slider had more tilt.
He’s an impressive arm. No doubt about it.
I was hoping Georgie was ready for back to back days behind the plate. He’ll be back in there tomorrow.
Too bad Alex is not ready to play 3b. They need him to hit so he does not get rusty so my guess that is the reason he’s DH’n not Posada.
Both of these guys need to be ready for the NL so resting them now with the DH is the right thing to do.
Come on Andy! Spin us a Gem! Go Yanks!
Erica – he did all right with Kate Hudson. Maybe Cameron should be sent down on options, and Kate brought back up to the big league club
ID–Thanks for filling me in. I don’t listen to Kay so I didn’t know he started the AJ to the pen nonsense.
I can’t stand listening to Kay. I was thrilled when Bob Lorenz was in the booth in Toronto and Kay was MIA.
I get a little tired of the AJ bashing because he helped us win a title last year. I don’t think Derek Lowe would have done the same.
The player I’m most frustrated with on this team is Tex. He was brought here to be a middle of the order presence and he’s been anything but. Some of his best contributions this season have been getting intentionally walked so Arod could hit grand slams.
SJ – I thought Brackman went to NC State. Were you just talking about him, or Stoneburner?
I have a feeling that that wasn’t Erica, Joe.
It is absurd to talk about whether Posada “can hit as a DH” or not. Jorge has 292 PAs as a DH spread of 15 years, any stats coming out of that small a sample, spread over that many years, are completely, completely meaningless.
What AJ needs to do is get his strikeout rate back up into the land of the living. Until he does that he isn’t going to be the starter he was, or or closer for that matter either.
Patrick – oh, those wild and crazy impersonators!
according to PA, the yankees banned vuvuzelas from the stadium.
Its not absurd when Posada himself says he struggles as a DH because he’s not prepared to be one right now.
Its hard for catchers to DH because they are so used to being in the center of the action.
Jorge has talked about how difficult it is to keep sharp when he’s DH’ing.
Its different if he has an off-season to prepare for being a fulltime DH?
Now, he struggles with it both in production and mentally, which most likely affects his production.
Joe,
I was talking about Stoneburner, who went to Clemson. Brackman did go to NC St.
Irreverent – here’s the article about it: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/l.....8;FEEDNAME=
Some fan brought one into a game and was blowing it in people’s faces.
SJ,
Just about every regular says that when they are asked to DH. Jorge wants to catch (as he should), so it’s natural for him to say he can’t keep sharp when he plays DH. But that doesn’t make it true.
Sigh… Patrick was right. I did not say 4:20
Even better news: the French will most likely be banned from advancing from the group stage in the World Cup.
2-0 Mexico!
Its true for him if he believes it. Clearly, he believes it.
I find most catchers have problems DH’ing for that reason.
Its an issue. You may not believe it is but, it is.
Doesn’t mean he can’t EVER do it.
Just means, right now, its probably not the most optimal use of his talents.
Nick in SF-
What were you doing posting at 7:30am (EST) on a week night????
Doreen, Thanks for the GTLU blog. I actually got one right!
- the Yanks are set to promote Brackman from High-A Tampa to Double-A Trenton before the All Star break.
Jorge is a smart hitter. When the time comes, he’ll figure out how to DH. He’ll probably focus his bench time energy on assisting the pitching and hitting coaches.
SJ44,
Let me be a little more clear.
First, someone arguing that Jorge can’t hit as a DH cannot use stats to back up the argument, because of sample size/length of time/selective use issues.
Second, if Jorge can’t catch, he will have to DH unless he is hurt so bad he has to go on the DH. The team cannot afford to lose his bat if Jorge can bat at all.
Third, I’m sure if Jorge says he can’t stay sharp as DH, he believes it. However, that doesn’t mean he in fact can’t stay sharp as a DH, and it doesn’t mean Jorge can’t hit as a DH.
If Jorge can’t catch, and has to hit as a DH on a regular basis, he will hit just fine, probably very close to the offensive numbers he’d put up as a catcher.
I hope that doesn’t happen, because Cervelli catching on a regular basis will be the same as losing the DH, which isn’t good. But if Jorge can’t catch, but can DH, he should DH. He may surprise even himself how well he does at it.
Whatever extra value Posada’s bat at catcher gives the Yankees is almost taken away when you have Huffman and Cervelli as your leading candidates to DH.
Might as well just DH Posada and let Cervelli catch. That gives you the best lineup and defense and also keeps Posada healthy. With Thames and Johnson on the DL, Posada is our best DH just as much as he’s our best catcher (assuming Arod can return to playing 3B regularly).
That’s a good question, Erica.
I think I stayed up all night and watched Argentina dominate the poor South Koreans in the World Cup.
Wave,
I think if Jorge has the off-season to mentally and physically prepare himself to DH the majority of the time, I think he can do the job.
In season? I think its tougher. More mentally than anything else. I think that would affect his performance in a negative way.
Its why I hope he can catch at least 3-4 days a week. That’s enough to keep him sharp.
When the time comes (whenever that is), it’ll be a tough transition for Jorge, I think.
The Yankees have some tough decisions to make in regards to the timing. Is the next Yankee starter ready? What do they do with Cervelli?
I think Jorge can catch, but his knicks and bangs are killing him. If he’s the primary DH next year, then that solves the DH problem we’ll inevitably face.
I think we’re depending a lot on Cervelli next season, and the Yankee starter of the “future” takes over in 2012. Gulp. Where have the years gone?
“…but his knicks and bangs are killing him.”
Wake me up when the real season starts?
SJ-
I think there’s a difference between DH’ing when you think you should be playing the field, and DH’ing because you aren’t physically able to play the field.
In the first case, in addition to adjusting to the part-time nature of the DH role itself, you have to get over the psychological insult of being told someone else can play your position better than you. I think some players cope with that better than others.
In the second case, where you aren’t capable of playing in the field, then the psychological issue isn’t there, it is easier to focus 100% on doing what you have to do to DH.
If Jorge has to DH, it will be the second case, and I believe Jorge will throw himself 110% into it and be successful.
That said, I hope Jorge can be the regular catcher because the team is much better if he is.
Vive la France…!oh wait
Au revoir et merci!!
Nick in SF in Larkspur June 17th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
That?s a good question, Erica.
I think I stayed up all night and watched Argentina dominate the poor South Koreans in the World Cup.
***********
Sounds like fun!
On a unrelated note, Jaravslov Halak is a Blue! Patty Kane better drink up this summer because the Blues are rising to the top of the West!
“Sounds like fun!”
Not so much for the South Koreans.
Wave,
I agree with that.
That’s why I think with an off-season, Jorge fits into the second catagory much easier than the first.
I think for now, we are dealing with Jorge believing he can still catch. Which fits into your first catagory and makes it tough for him right now.
I saw Jorge hit a grand slam as a DH!
Small Sample Size Theater suggests that he is the greatest DH in the history of baseball.
First of all, I’m not a big fan of Posada as a defensive catcher, but, he’s always been an outstanding offensive player. I don’t believe for one second the Yankees rushed Posada back into the line-up. If anything, Girardi has always been very careful not to put players into the game, if he thought they were not ready. The type of injury Jorge had, will cause him discomfort for a long, long time. It’s not because he’s still injured, but, this injury makes for a long period of discomfort. If he was a none ballplayer, he’d be fine today, as before the injury. I had a similar injury 3 years ago, and my foot still barks at me several days a week. We should not be concerned about Posada, but, more so with the play of Tex and A-Rod. They are key to this team winning in the long run.
Nick in SF in Larkspur June 17th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
I saw Jorge hit a grand slam as a DH!
Small Sample Size Theater suggests that he is the greatest DH in the history of baseball.
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I’m sorry but the “I don’t hit as well as a DH as I do when I’m the field because I don’t know what to do in my down time” thing is a copout in my opinion. I thought so when Giambi said it and I think so when Jorge uses it.
I think it’s more likely that players like Jorge and Jason and others, are proud guys who take it personally when they’re not in the lineup and so they sulk and that’s why the performance drops off. They don’t want to do it and it’s reflected in their play. It’s like when you tell your kid to clean his room, he doesn’t want to and so he does a poor job of it….
I agree with Wave – Jorge doesn’t want to DH because he feels he’s still a good catcher, but the bottom line is that his body is not cooperating and Jorge is trying to ignore that. It’s like 2008 when he insisted on catching despite his shoulder being seriously hurt.
I commend him for his guts, but the best thing for the Yankees is keeping him in the lineup. If the only way to do that is by DHing him he has to come to terms with it.
Yeah, I think Jorge entered the season thinking and feeling that he was going to be catching the large majority of games. He was healthy entering the season and his mindset was I’m the catcher and (very) occasional DH.
It’s certainly a mental transition that’s tougher than a physical one. I would think from a physical standpoint, hey, it’s a ton easier to not catch than to catch. But Jorge himself said that to go from being in the game almost 100% of time to DHing is difficult for him – what he said was when he’s DHing there’s too much tme to think about what you did wrong at the plate, plus finding ways to keep sharp and involved between at-bats. Obviously, when you’re catching, you can’t be thinking aboutyour own at-bats.
Jorge is a smart guy, and I think he knows it’s coming to the point where his body is starting to betray him. He will find what he needs to find as far as DHing goes, but I think the transition has to be as gradual as circumstances will allow. Once he makes that mental transition, I think he’ll do well as a DH. He’s a good hitter.
Plus, I think in the case of a catcher it is certainly not a cop-out. The level of involvement in the game is just too different.
Giambi? He could have worked harder at being a good DH, I think. His style of play at 1st wasn’t all that demanding.
But Jorge himself said that to go from being in the game almost 100% of time to DHing is difficult for him ? what he said was when he?s DHing there?s too much tme to think about what you did wrong at the plate, plus finding ways to keep sharp and involved between at-bats. Obviously, when you?re catching, you can?t be thinking aboutyour own at-bats.
As I said, I think that’s a copout. Jorge wants to catch and when he’s not catching but thinks he can he gets annoyed, when he gets annoyed he gets distracted, he doesn’t do well at the plate and then he gets more annoyed…it’s a cycle. If he just put his ego aside and accepted what his body is trying to tell him – which is that he’s nearly 40 playing a position where most players are cooked 6 years earlier and he needs to take it easy – then he would be a tremendous DH.
Nick in SF in Larkspur June 17th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
I saw Jorge hit a grand slam as a DH!
Small Sample Size Theater suggests that he is the greatest DH in the history of baseball.
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He hit two!!!!!!!!!!
Erica’s Avengers, LLC really appreciated it
I tend to agree with Chip here. I also think it’s a cop out to say “I can’t hit as a DH”.
If the AL didn’t have a DH, most of those guys would be retired early. They should relish the fact that there’s still a position where they can play the game and impact it.
Without the DH, right now, Jorge is on the DL. Because of the DH, Moeller still has a job since Jorge was healthy enough to DH but not catch regularly.
I’m not into the whole “I hate Jorge” brigade, because I love the guy. But his attitude has to change and it shouldn’t take an off season for that to occur. If his foot hurts when he catches, he should take to the DH like a moth to the flame since the alternative is playing in pain or being on the DL.
Why do the Yankees keep batting our worst hitters.. TEX, AND AROD 3rd and 4th? THE GUYS SHOULD BE PUT DOWN IN THE ORDER UNTIL THEY PROVE THEY CAN PRODUCE… WHAT THE H ELL GIRARDI?
My discussion with SJ44 was mostly hypotthetical.
I’m very much hoping Jorge can be the everyday catcher, for the simple reason that if a team loses a DH, it can always find another, but if a team loses a catcher like Jorge…well, you can’t find another.
“Giambi? He could have worked harder at being a good DH, I think. His style of play at 1st wasn’t all that demanding.”
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While Giambi seemed like a great guy I don’t miss him at all lol. From his pulling the ball into the shift 75 % of the time he was up to his struggling at DH, he just was not a good fit for the Yanks. Its only been a season and a half of Tex but I’ve forgotten what it is like to have a terrible fielding first baseman. I look at balls Tex gobbles up and try to think what would have happened there with Giambi lol.
Chip,
Its not a copout. Have you ever played the game? Have you ever talked to anybody who has played the game professionally at any level, majors or minors?
If you have, you would realize that this isn’t an ego thing. Its about adjusting how you have prepared and played the game after all these years.
Its not a simple transition. It takes time and its very difficult to do it in season.
Go back and look at catchers who have tried. Its a tough transition.
Joe Mauer is a young guy who DH’s when he isn’t catching. He HATES DH’ing.
Is that an ego problem or a guy having a tough time adjusting to not being in the center of the action?
Not everything is about ego chip. The guy has been the ultimate team player throughout his entire career in NY. That’s not changing now.
When he signed this contract, he knew the time would come where he would have to spend more time DH’ing.
Problem is, he and Girardi both agree that time isn’t NOW. That’s why they are still putting him behind the plate. It has nothing to do with ego.
“He hit two!!!!!!!!!!
Erica’s Avengers, LLC really appreciated it”
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Only one of those was as a DH. Come on attention to detail here! Maybe that is why the Avengers are struggling so bad. Have to take a long look at management
It’s been nice knowing you, Tyler.
Nick in SF in Larkspur June 17th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
It’s been nice knowing you, Tyler
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LOL. I played with fire and I have a feeling I got burned very badly haha.
Tyler June 17th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
?He hit two!!!!!!!!!!
Erica’s Avengers, LLC really appreciated it?
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Only one of those was as a DH. Come on attention to detail here! Maybe that is why the Avengers are struggling so bad. Have to take a long look at management
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The Avengers are now a robust .500 team with a solid shot at a win this week. And two wins in a row is a winning streak!!
(I have to admit, I only half listen to games on the radio on weekends and I am at the beach before the line up is out… I lose some of the details)
I don’t hate Jorge.
I want Posada in the lineup as often as possible, to me it’s simple:
Jorge in the lineup is good;
Jorge on the bench hurt is bad;
Jorge in the lineup everyday as a catcher is ideal, but it is also fantasy. He’s old, and squatting with a bad foot can’t be helpful to his situation.
Think of it this way – Jorge as DH means Cervelli’s in the lineup; Jorge on the bench because he’s too hurt to play means you’re likely swapping Posada’s bat for the bat of Ramiro Pena, Kevin Russo or some other guy who can’t hit.
Nick in SF in Larkspur June 17th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
It?s been nice knowing you, Tyler.
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I went easy on him
“Why do the Yankees keep batting our worst hitters.. TEX, AND AROD 3rd and 4th? THE GUYS SHOULD BE PUT DOWN IN THE ORDER UNTIL THEY PROVE THEY CAN PRODUCE… WHAT THE H ELL GIRARDI?”
Ahahaha @ Tex and A-Rod needing to prove they can produce. You’re amazing.
(I have to admit, I only half listen to games on the radio on weekends and I am at the beach before the line up is out… I lose some of the details)
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Haha I was just kidding. If there were beaches here I would be there and not watching baseball too haha. Unfortunately the closest thing I have are the muddy banks of the Mississippi :/
Chip, the problem is playing every day Cervelli seems to be in free fall. Over the last 28 days, his slash line is .203/.312/.203/.515. Posada needs to catch, the Yanks have real issues if he can’t.
SJ -
You keep saying that having Jorge in the lineup as the catcher lengthens it – how?
I can argue that right now having Posada at the DH makes the lineup deeper.
Right now, with this roster, what bat is being added to the lineup by catching Jorge? Chad Huffman? Ramiro Pena? Cervelli’s better than either of those two right? And by DHing Posada you’re keeping him healthy. If the only issue is that Jorge doesn’t want to do it then that’s not a good enough reason.
Wave -
Even in a slump Cervelli is better than Ramiro Pena or Kevin Russo or Huffman or Golson…etc.
And the added benefit is Jorge’s continued health.
Nick,
What do you think about the way the conference realignment went? I think Cal looks great in this. The Pac 10 will probably have their conference championship game now with the 12 teams. Colorado isn’t a good team and I would say is a pretty long way off especially if Hawkins is there. We beat Colorado pretty badly. Utah can be tough so they are definitely a wildcard. But with USC on probation and Oregon self destructing, maybe the Bears will be Pasadena Bound?!
Chip,
As I mentioned above, if you lose a DH, you can always find another. If you lose Jorge at catcher, he can’t be replaced. Short term Cervelli, Pena, Russo, Huffman are much of a muchness, but the Yanks will go out and get another hitter to DH for them.
new thread
It’s really not productive to force people to do things when they’re not quite ready to do them – in any walk of life.
Does it mean anything that the Yankees are 7-10 against teams with a winning record since the middle of May?