Posada on the mend

by Travis G on Dec 18, 2008 11:24 AM EST in New York Yankees News

He threw from 60 feet 75 times yesterday in Tampa. He's supposed to report with pitchers and catchers in two months. Any chance he actually makes it?

I'm betting he doesn't see his first game action until at least mid-March, despite his declarations.

[Tex update: Boston supposedly has an eight-year, $184 million deal on the table. Good lord!]

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Here we go ...

I said this last year … we needed to go hard after a young catcher. Posada will not be able to handle the day-to-day rigors of catching. What the heck are we waiting for? Once the season starts, it’s too late.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Dec 18, 2008 5:10 PM EST reply actions

Where

would we get a young catcher from? Maybe we could get Saltalamaccia? Also, i think the Yankees are just trying to wait Posada out untill theiy young catchers in the farm system are ready. Would a Ian Kennedy+random prospect for Salty work?

"Hey Derek do you actually drive the Edge?","I don't drive that piece of crap!"

by Da Shiz on Dec 18, 2008 7:28 PM EST reply actions

IPK

and Ajax might do the trick.

by Travis G on Dec 18, 2008 7:36 PM EST up reply actions

Keep

Keep Ajax. we need a young hitter like Ajax

"Hey Derek do you actually drive the Edge?","I don't drive that piece of crap!"

by Da Shiz on Dec 18, 2008 8:06 PM EST reply actions

I don't want Salty

He showed promise when he was with Atlanta, but in his subsequent seasons, it seems it was all hype. I am psyched about the future of Jesus Montero, though. The dude’s only 19, and if he keeps hitting like he did this season, he’ll be in the majors in 2 years or less. I say re-sign Molina for 2 more years next offseason (unless we think we ought to go after a more expensive option like Rod Barajas or Ramon Castro or Ramon Hernandez as a short-term placeholder), then make way for Montero, with Posada as backup (then Austin Romine or some other prospect when Posada retires).

"If you lived in my grandfather's house...and you wanted to eat, you had to be a Yankees fan." --Joe Biden

by SenorSwanky on Dec 19, 2008 3:52 AM EST reply actions

but we dont know

if Montero will ever be a ML catcher. we can fairly safely assume he’ll be a legitimate ML hitter at this point, but it’s the catching that will take the most time. i wouldn’t count on him as our C of the future. i think Romine has a better shot at that while Montero mans 1b/DH/BUC.

by Travis G on Dec 19, 2008 11:09 AM EST up reply actions

Deal from strength ...

Texas is where all pitchers go to die, and from what I’ve seen their entire staff is pretty much a flat line. Why not package IPK, or Hughes, or any one of 4-5 arms we have below for Teagarden. I have to agree with Swanky about Salty. Atlanta doesn’t just give away top prospects, and that’s essentially what they did in acquiring Tex. In my opinion, Salty hit a wall, and they knew it and wanted to get something for him while the buzz was in the air.

Teagarden’s line isn’t terribly impressive, but he consistently shows improvement and apparently has a tremendous work ethic: http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=14331

I agee, Montero and Romine might be closer than we think, but we need someone capable in the now. Molina couldn’t do it last season and we nabbed Irod. While he’s a solid backup, he’s not the answer when Posada fails to answer the bell out of spring training.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Dec 19, 2008 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

I had no problem with Molina in 2008 or 2007

He did a great job with our pitchers and throwing out runners, and he was an all-around great teammate, plus he hit the last homer in Yankee Stadium and hit the hell out of the ball that night every time he got up to bat, so you gotta love him for that. I don’t blame him at all for failing to produce more offensively; that’s not why we brought him to the club. He’s a guy to keep around for his defense and his pitch-calling and his occasional double or triple. I certainly wouldn’t trade IPK or Hughes for a backup catcher, even a young one; that’d be an incredible waste.

"If you lived in my grandfather's house...and you wanted to eat, you had to be a Yankees fan." --Joe Biden

by SenorSwanky on Dec 20, 2008 1:24 AM EST up reply actions

Not what I said...

Molina is a backup, and can’t be counted on to catch 120 games. That’s why we got Irod. IPK isn’t going to see the light of day for the Yankees—especially now. So package him up and get a young stud catcher … not as you say, “a backup catcher.”

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Dec 22, 2008 9:45 AM EST up reply actions

Anyone other than Posada will be our backup n/t

"If you lived in my grandfather's house...and you wanted to eat, you had to be a Yankees fan." --Joe Biden

by SenorSwanky on Dec 22, 2008 2:27 PM EST up reply actions

Heading into the season, yes ...

But how long before his shoulder can’t handle the load, and he’s either DHing, or trying to play first. I say less than 50 games.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Dec 22, 2008 3:16 PM EST up reply actions

If he shuts down again, we'll trade for another catcher

But there’s no need to do it now. Let’s take a wait and see approach. There’s no need to have 3 catchers on the roster at the moment. Texas looks like they’re going to keep all three of their “stud” catchers (Salty, Teagarden, and Max Ramirez) rather than trade them. They could all be on the line mid-season, depending on how well they do and how well Texas does. If we need catching help then, we can strike.

"If you lived in my grandfather's house...and you wanted to eat, you had to be a Yankees fan." --Joe Biden

by SenorSwanky on Dec 23, 2008 1:12 AM EST up reply actions