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April 08, 2008

Posada: My Shoulder Feels "Dead"

Via Bryan Hoch:

Already without Derek Jeter for at least three games, the suddenly snake-bitten Yankees are now facing the possibility of losing All-Star catcher Jorge Posada to the disabled list.
Posada was removed from the Yankees' 5-2 loss to the Royals at Kauffman Stadium in the sixth inning on Tuesday, feeling a recurrence of the right shoulder stiffness that began to affect him following New York's season opener last week.

Asked how the shoulder feels, Posada said: "Dead. It's like I've got no strength."

The Royals ran wildly on Posada, stealing four bases -- three by speedster Joey Gathright -- and Yankees manager Joe Girardi acknowledged that keeping Posada behind the plate would now be a weakness.

"It's not sore," Girardi said. "The ball is just not coming out of his hand the way you want it to. His footwork is fine and everything. We'll have to sit down and talk about that tonight and evaluate what we're going to do."

On November 1, 2007, I wrote:

In terms of being a durable catcher, after age 30, Posada already stands with Carlton Fisk and Bob Boone as the three best guys in baseball history - again, in terms of durability.

As Fisk and Boone have proven, it's possible for a 40-to-42-year old catcher to play 120 games behind the plate in a season.

Well, it looks like I gave Jorge the kiss of death with that one. Sorry Sado.

What's the difference between having Posada/Molina (with Posada getting most of the time) and having Molina/Moeller (with Molina getting most of the time)? I dunno? But, I would bet that it's at least a loss of 50 runs on offense - if this turns out to be a season-long thing for Posada.

Most Yankees fans were O.K. with the Yankees re-signing Jorge this off-season because of the fact that the Yankees had no one in the organization who was close to being ready to catch, full-time, in the majors. That fact has not changed. So, let's hope that Jorge can heal fast and recover from this set-back.

Posted by Steve Lombardi at April 8, 2008 10:24 PM

Comments

Classic Lombardi post.

First, quotes himself. Steve, is it because you are wrong so often that you feel obligated to cite yourself the few times that you are right??

Second, without any information at all, beyond what's been reported, assumes Posada will be limited for the entire year. Oh, he qualifies it with "if" ... "if this turns out to be a season-long thing...."

Steve, what IF Jorge is only out for a week, and what IF he comes back and posts a 95% caught stealing rate, and what IF he hits 40 HRs this year? What IF that happens??

Posted by: yankees76 [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 9, 2008 01:05 AM

It's Marty Miller's fault! :)

Posted by: Raf [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 9, 2008 09:56 AM

If I'm Cash, I'm working the phones. Put Matsui on the block for a catching prospect...

Posted by: Pete [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 9, 2008 12:09 PM