Posada to the DL

by anaconda on Apr 27, 2008 8:18 PM EDT in New York Yankees News

For the first time in his career, Jorge Posada is headed to the DL and it could be a long time before we see him behind the plate again.

Unfortunately, the shoulder injury that has plagued the Yankee catcher since the first week of the season appears to be a very serious one and could require season-ending surgery, although Posada himself somewhat downplayed that notion in his YES postgame interview.

Posada is scheduled to be examined later this week by Dr. James Andrews, which is never a good thing.

Obviously, losing Posada for any extended period of time would be an enormous blow to this club because he is irreplaceable in so many ways. Let's keep out collective fingers crossed and hope for the best.

In the meantime, recently acquired Chris Stewart has been promoted from Scranton to take Posada's spot on the roster and backup Jose Molina.

Although Chad Moeller was DFA'd on Friday, there's a chance the Yanks could get him back if he clears waivers. Even if that does indeed happen, he will not be available to the Yanks for 10 days.

Poll

Posada to the DL. How worried are we?

Jorge was the one irreplaceable Yankee. Code Red.

30 votes

One of the big cogs just went down. Panic.

55 votes

You can't plan injuries, but you have to expect them. Concerned, and watching how the FO handles things.

75 votes

The other players just have to step up- and they will. Disappointed but Hopeful.

53 votes

Molina's the better everyday option anyway. No worries.

11 votes

224 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I thought he looked like he was in pain

at the end of Saturday’s game. He’ll be missed. I hope his recovery goes well and we see him back this year.

by TerraByte on Apr 27, 2008 10:27 PM EDT reply actions

Worried but not despairing

If we didn’t have Molina, I would be despairing, but he’s shown himself to be plenty capable both behind the plate and at it. We might have to trade for another backup if Posada is out for more than a month, but for now, I think we can deal. This is the Yankees. We’ll find a way to make up for his loss. Other players are underperforming offensively right now, especially Cano and Giambi. But you know at least Cano will get out of his funk. Damon, Jeter, and Melky are starting to get hot, Abreu has been hot, and you know A-Rod won’t be just alright for long, once his minor ailment passes. We’ve had good seasons through major injuries before. In fact, I can’t remember a season in recent memory where at least one of our opening-day lineup isn’t out for significant time.

"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 Apr 28, 2008 1:19 AM EDT reply actions

Swanky's in my head

If Posada is gone for any real length of time it will hurt (he’s on my fantasy team), but if that’s the case I would expect a trade for a frontline guy (Piazza?).

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

by Ronster22 on Apr 28, 2008 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Piazza and Mirabelli

are both free agents that noone signed. You wouldn’t need to trade anyone to get them. I would love to have a DH that could backup catch. The two could split time behind the plate, not evenly, but enough to get Jorge more rest than he has gotten the past years. But there would be some serious questions with signing one of the unsigned free agents.

Are they in shape? If not how long will it take?

How many at bats would they need to be comfortable behind the plate? Would they ever get comfortable behind the plate with the little playing time a backup catcher gets?

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on Apr 28, 2008 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Piazza has not played catcher

since 2006. There’s no way he’s anything but a DH.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Apr 28, 2008 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

If he ....

hasn’t caught since ‘06, I’d take a pass. Mirabelli doesn’t bring much to the table either. This would have been a nice opportunity for Dioner Navarro to establish himself as the heir apparent—oh, wait. We traded him for Randy Johnson. Navarro is just 24 and currently hitting .370. Damn.

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

by Ronster22 on Apr 28, 2008 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

For now...

...let’s live with Chris Stewart and hope Chad Moeller clears waivers. We have to be careful making a trade for major-league talent because, as Pete A. pointed out, what happens next season, or even later this season, when we find ourselves with Posada back and three capable catchers signed for multiple years? A one-year free agent signing (or a trade for a young guy we could easily send down to the minors when Posada returns) wouldn’t be bad for the remainder of the season if he’s an improvement over Stewart/Moeller. I don’t think we really want Sal Fasano back, though, and while Piazza would probably be an offensive improvement over either Stewart or Moeller in the long run, can his body withstand squatting behind the plate and throwing to second for long? Then there’s Morgan Ensberg. He’s an emergency option. Or there’s Brandon Inge, who can also help us at 3rd and in the OF; Detroit could use some arms.

"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 Apr 28, 2008 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

DeFelice

Did a great job catching for the injured Navarro. He was just let go. He can hit alittle.
Heck Girardi? He’s in great shape and could probably catch a few himself.

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

by Ronster22 on Apr 28, 2008 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Girardi

Wouldn’t that be a sight? A player/manager leading his team on the field. But isn’t he 44 or something now?

"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 Apr 28, 2008 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Moeller

What are the rules on claiming a player? Does he have to be on the big club within a certain period of time or something?

Why wouldn’t an AL team just go ahead and claim him for the hell of it, knowing it will hurt the Yanks a little?

Jeez I’d never thought I’d miss Chad Moeller.

"Well, that kind of puts a damper on even a Yankees win."
-- Phil Rizzuto after hearing about the Pope's death

by matthaggs on Apr 28, 2008 3:21 PM EDT reply actions

Posada update

Just read where ESPN has reported that Posada’s injury should not cause him to miss the balance of the season.

Even if Posada can not catch again this year, he can still hit and I feel that Posada’s bat in the lineup and his clubhouse presence necessitates him staying on the roster as a DH/PH. Matsui, who has assumed the DH role, can get enough at bats in left field to spell Damon and can play some right field to give Abreu a rest. All those OF’s are in their mid-30’s and need a break at least once a week.

Since a strain is still a small tear (less than 50% torn), no surgery is an option, but the amount of rest the shoulder needs is about 3 months.

I say that his bat is too valuable to the lineup, and he should be reactivated after a month of rest and he should get his share of at bats.

by thejobarules on Apr 29, 2008 3:00 PM EDT reply actions