Thank You Once Again, Jorge Posada
by Brandon C. on Jan 10, 2012 9:30 AM EST
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PrintBack in October, I wrote an article thanking Jorge Posada, as I have in the past to Gene Monahan and Andy Pettitte. Despite having already thanked Posada, I feel it is necessary to do it again, as last time it was not a definite that he will retire.
Process this for a second: We will almost certainly never see another player wear a #20 New York Yankees jersey. We will never hear "now batting, #20, Jorge Posada" boom from the Yankee Stadium PA system.
We will never see Jorge Posada squat behind home plate and get ready to call a game, or see Posada sit in the dugout and wonder how on earth to be a DH.
When one talks about the Yankees, they often talk about pride, ability, will to win, and intensity that cannot be matched by any others. Jorge Posada was quite possibly the proudest Yankee to ever play. His pride hurt him in some cases, such as his tantrum in the 2011 season, but it also helped motivate him to be one of the best catchers of all-time.
In terms of ability, Posada's numbers are among the best in catching history. Despite not being blessed with the best defensive skills, Posada was serviceable defensively, while contributing consistently offensively in some of the greatest lineups of all time.
Posada's will to win and intensity showed in each game. Whether it was Posada barking at the umpires, using every muscle in his body to stretch a double into a triple (I'm thinking of you, 2011 ALDS Game 2) or even challenging other players to play their hearts out, Posada was one of the leaders in the clubhouse.
Follow me for more about Posada after the jump
It feels unbelievable that I am writing a goodbye post to Posada. Considering I have not been a Yankees fan nearly as long as many here, Posada is among the first players that I can say welcomed me to the life of being a Yankees fan.
Now that Posada is retiring, the Yankees are losing one of their greatest players in franchise history. Among the "core four," only Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera remain, with the likely possibility of Rivera retiring following the upcoming season.
While Posada played only one game at catcher in 2011, his departure still signals the end of an era at the catcher position for the Yankees. Yankees fans hope Jesus Montero can be the "next Jorge Posada," but realistically there will never be another Jorge Posada.
It seems fitting that Posada did not sign elsewhere, whether it was his choice or not. Who knows if Posada was receiving calls, but the one known is that Posada did not receive the call. The call to come back to the one team he loved. The Yankees.
At this point I am rambling, as even as obvious as it seemed that Posada was destined for retirement, it is still a shock to my Yankees fan system that I will never see Posada play another game.
So thank you Jorge Posada for all the amazing seasons, the Championships, the records, the moments. I believe I speak for all fans when I say I cannot wait for Jorge Posada day.
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Nicely done.
Rec’d.
Just once I'd like someone to call me "Sir," without adding, "You're making a scene."
is it 100% certain he'll retire now?
I know that’s the rumor, but I haven’t heard anything definite.
by long time listener on Jan 10, 2012 9:43 AM EST reply actions
I wonder if he can answer that with certainty himself. People can change their minds.
Usqueadbaugham! Anam muck an dhoul ! Did ye drink me doornail?
by Q-TDSK on Jan 10, 2012 10:01 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
He instructed his agent to stop fielding phone calls and just about every beat writer in the world says he is
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
"Every day is a great day for hockey."
by Brandon C. on Jan 10, 2012 12:18 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
OK, Barndon, I guess I have to say it- Get a grip, friend.
It is not necessary to thank Jorge Posada (or any other profesional athlete) for entertaining you or giving you memories of your favorite team winning the big one. If memory serves, Posada has been ‘thanked’ about 13 million times in each of the past four seasons for his performance on the field, directly by the New York Yankees Baseball Club, Inc. (or is it LLP?) and indirectly by you through ticket, YES, and souvenirs already.
Yes, Jorge, you had a nice career, helped the Olde Towne Team bring home the gonfalon, but it’s not really necessary to render further thanks.
by designatedquitter on Jan 10, 2012 9:58 AM EST reply actions
Can we thank you for that comment since you’re not getting paid?
by MichaelGGBGrabow on Jan 10, 2012 10:16 AM EST up reply actions
yes, God forbid a Yankees fan blog has an appreciation of a beloved, respected player
by long time listener on Jan 10, 2012 10:13 AM EST up reply actions
You can appreciate him. You don't have to thank him. Fans don't owe the players anything.
It’s the other way around. I appreciate everything he did for the Yankees (except his baserunning). None of us owe him anything. He was a Yankee player for almost a third of my life (17years). I suspect he played for the Yankees for half or 80% of some of yours.
He got a lot of clutch hits, and he was the guy hugging Rivera when the final out was made to end the Series. I get that. The players would not have jobs without the fans. Without fans, professional baseball players would be in the same boat as professional croquet players. Why do we owe them thanks? Honestly we don’t. Grow up.
by designatedquitter on Jan 10, 2012 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
No one understands why you’re equating Brandon making this post with him flying to Jorge’s house and begging to suck his dick.
Just making a post about the end of a great Yankee’s career. Get over it.
by MichaelGGBGrabow on Jan 10, 2012 3:54 PM EST up reply actions
You just don't get it
There’s a clear, CLEAR difference between having appreciation for someone and giving thanks to them, just as the definition of the works ‘thanks’ implies…
1. to express gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment to:
Do you now see the painfully clear difference between appreciation and thanks? Again, it’s like thanking the bus driver for driving the bus that takes you to your destination. You can appreciate his bus driving efforts, but saying thank you to him? That’s just absurd. He gets thanked by the MTA who pays his salary as well as most likely allows him to ride the bus & train for free. And while I appreciate the person who holds the door open for me, why should I give them any thanks? Not only will they eventually go through that door, but the sheer joy & honor of seeing me during the day is thanks enough, quite frankly.
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 10, 2012 4:10 PM EST up reply actions
...definition of the WORD 'thanks' implies!
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 10, 2012 4:11 PM EST up reply actions
geez, when did this place become such a haven for jettisoning civility
and arguing mean-spiritedly? for god’s sake, people, we should just ban the use of arrogant retorts like “grow up” or “get over it”… or, you know, grow up and get over it…
just say no to pissing contests!!!
by sing_or_die_1818 on Jan 10, 2012 9:46 PM EST up reply actions
I see. Someone deliberately miscasts my comments as suggesting that they want to 'suck Posada's dick' and I am the uncivil one.
When I said ‘grow up,’ I wasn’t tossing off an argument. I was suggesting that the notion that a sports fan owes a professional athlete thanks is literally immature, calllow, naive, and unworthy of adults. Fans do not owe players thanks for having a long career or playing well. Period.
Thanking your bus driver, whom you see in person every day is common courtesy. Conflating that with thanking a professional athlete for hitting 275 home runs and hitting .273 is simply setting up a straw man and knocking him down in order to feel smug about oneself. Okay?
by designatedquitter on Jan 11, 2012 9:55 AM EST up reply actions
funny
in japan, i thank my bus driver all the time—and so do many others… i guess japanese people are all wrong…
i DO hope you were being sarcastic, IGYAR: it certainly appears so… or have i lost my radar in the far east?
by sing_or_die_1818 on Jan 10, 2012 9:48 PM EST up reply actions
It was clearly sarcasm
I thank my bus driver all the time here as well!
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 10, 2012 9:50 PM EST up reply actions
thank you
for clarifying… lol
maybe we can start a “thank you” campaign… pass it on…
by sing_or_die_1818 on Jan 10, 2012 9:52 PM EST up reply actions
really?
so if you don’t say thank you for great baseball by a great guy, their is no way your a baseball fan all the greats that played the game 20 years ago are still being thanked today.
I've been a baseball fan since your father was in diapers, I suspect. My grammar is superior to yours, and I'm far more objective than you.
You don’t owe thanks to Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Jorge Posada, or even Bucky Dent.
by designatedquitter on Jan 10, 2012 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
Hilarious quote of the day
I’m far more objective than you.
That’s priceless.
well, i'd certainly owe you a thank you
if you just CUT THE CRAP!!!!!! we get it, ok? if it gets me banned, fine, but i wish you’d just shut the fuck up… and your self-proclaimed grammatical superiority has NOTHING to do with being a dickhead (though proclaiming it does)
by sing_or_die_1818 on Jan 10, 2012 9:50 PM EST up reply actions
I guess that's the end of the civility charade.
However, in the interest of a reply that is not merited by the tone of the discussion, let me say this. I have seen the following people catch for the New York Yankees, many of them repeatedly in person: Elston Howard, Jake Gibbs, Thurman Munson, Rick Dempsey, Butch Wynegar, a bunch of forgettable nobodies including Elrod Hendricks, Joe Girardi, and Jorge Posada. That gives me a bit more objectivity than someone who can’t remember any Yankee catcher other than Posada. Posada is probably the 3rd best of the bunch.
by designatedquitter on Jan 11, 2012 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
Jorge Posada is a forgettable nobody.
So you’re issue with this post is very clearly related to it being directed towards him, rather than someone thanking a paid athlete.
by MichaelGGBGrabow on Jan 11, 2012 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
i dont give a damn?
grammar? i didn’t know this was a writing contest but its a good way to change the topic witch also makes it look like i was right
Technically it's not necessary to thank anyone for anything
The person who holds the door for you, or the bus driver for driving the bus, or pretty much any number of vast situations out there.
You do it cause you want to.
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 10, 2012 2:50 PM EST up reply actions
That would help me get rid of my skittles addiction!
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
"Every day is a great day for hockey."
by Brandon C. on Jan 10, 2012 3:06 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
If you want to do it
It’s not an addiction!
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 10, 2012 3:12 PM EST up reply actions
I 90% agree with you. Thanking someone who made a fortune living a fantasy lifestyle that we’ve all dreamed about for the honor of letting us pay hundreds of dollars to watch them play baseball seems a bit silly. With my approach to fandom being a considerably more laundry-rooting non-sentimental approach than most (or so I presume), I don’t really share much of the sentiment of the post.
But, it’s a blog for the fans, and I can certainly respect that there are plenty of people who do feel a connection with certain players and let them express it. I’m not much inclined to join in (I think Jorge was a great and useful player, but I have no lasting admiration for him about it) but I’m certainly not bothered by other people having a thread appreciating a well liked player.
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There's a difference between thanks & money
The money he makes is part of the business aspect of the game. Salary, no matter the amount, is not really thanks as much as it is payment for services rendered. You can argue that bonuses could be considered monetary appreciation, but one’s salary is more contractual than appreciation. Appreciation is something you do cause you want to, cause of what a certain person has meant to you over the course of your life. It’s emotional, which has no logical or really financial applications. For some people, A-Rod means more to them than Posada, or Cano to Jeter, and so on. I 100% guarantee that there will be a whole lot more emotions, fan-posts, news articles, and all of that jazz when Mo finally decided to retire. (Thankfully he never will due to the fact that he’ll pitch forever)
It’s the same as me being a huge William Shatner fan. Whatever money he makes or has made in his lifetime is irrelevant regarding my absolute love of what the man has brought into my nerd-filled lifestyle. All the cheesy acting, the ham-filled performances of pure awesome, the many MANY quotable quotes, and so on. Why should I thank him for that when he’s made a fortune living a fantasy lifestyle that I’ve dreamed about for the honor of letting me pay hundreds of dollars to watch him act? For the same reason most nerds do, because we want to. That’s what thanks/appreciation is. It’s something you want to do, something you want to show to someone who has been a part of your life whether they know it or not, whether they’ll ever know about it or not. Haha, the more logical reason why there’s no reason to write a post thanking Posada is because he’s probably not going to read it unless he checks all the blogs! And quite frankly, I don’t think he’d wipe his ass with this one!
LoL, and at least you gave a legitimate response M’lord, and not something as stupid as this…
You can appreciate him. You don’t have to thank him.
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 10, 2012 4:50 PM EST up reply actions
Well, what I was trying to convey was: Feel free to thank/appreciate to your heart’s content if that’s what you want to do, but I don’t think it’s heartless or ridiculous to not feel compelled to do so.
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Oh of course it's not
Like I said, different people/players invoke different emotions & feelings in everyone.
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 10, 2012 5:09 PM EST up reply actions
Although
Anyone not moved by Sir Ian McKellan’s performance as Gandalf is a souless, heartless monster!
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 10, 2012 5:18 PM EST up reply actions
It's his dialogue with Pippin towards the end of the siege of Minas Tirith
Tears me up every time
The difference is, the people who are saying thanks are not ripping the people who don't feel like saying thanks
Do I say express appreciation/say thanks to the bus driver, flight crew, food service preparer, soldier that I happen to meet? Often I do, and I don’t give two hoots in a handbag that all of those people are getting paid to do what they do. The idea that someone would get bent out of shape because I do so is just amazing to me.
Well, that’s what I said:
But, it’s a blog for the fans, and I can certainly respect that there are plenty of people who do feel a connection with certain players and let them express it. I’m not much inclined to join in (I think Jorge was a great and useful player, but I have no lasting admiration for him about it) but I’m certainly not bothered by other people having a thread appreciating a well liked player.
I’m certainly not going to rip anyone for thanking Posada.
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No no
You rip people apart for thanking Mitre!
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 10, 2012 5:24 PM EST up reply actions
Is that with every player, or are there some players you’d feel more sentimentally attached to then others? Maybe you don’t have a sentimental feeling about Posada leaving, but if it were Jeter or Rivera or A-Rod retiring would it be different? Or would you still have that non-sentimental outlook?
I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot.- Kobe Bryant
A.J. Burnett's only fan!
They’re all replaceable to me. If it’s in the best interest of the Yankees to get rid of Jeter, A-Rod, Montero, Rivera, anybody, I want them to do it.
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by Lord Duggan on Jan 10, 2012 10:50 PM EST up reply actions
Sorry for your bad childhood
Of course it’s not necessary to thank Jorge… Brandon chose to thank him. That’s the nice thing about thanks: the person doing the thanking did it because they WANTED to. (As opposed to paying admission, for example.)
In your world, nobody ever needs to applaud, either, because they paid to see that event, and the pay should be thanks enough, right?
What a sad little robotic world you live in, my friend.
Nice thoughts, Brandon.
It may be trite to say it now, but he was undoubtedly the heart of this club from ’98 to ’10.
Usqueadbaugham! Anam muck an dhoul ! Did ye drink me doornail?
by Q-TDSK on Jan 10, 2012 10:05 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I WILL MISS JORGE BUT I WILL NOT MISS THE...
“HIP HIP JORGE” chants. Thanks god they are gone. HIP HIP…shut up. so dumb.
I started a hip hip Russell chant once. Didn’t go so well
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
"Every day is a great day for hockey."
by Brandon C. on Jan 10, 2012 12:19 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
i might throw a rock at you
"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth
As much as I love Posada
I am happy to see him take his place in Yankee History. One of the main reasons I am a Yankees fan is because of their rich history and to know that someone I grew up watching will now become a part of that makes me very proud to have been able to witness it. Like my parents talk about “Donnie Baseball” I’ll be able to say “Hip Hip!” and know that I did experience something special and I was witness to something extraordinary in the long chain of Yankee History.
The Dynasty Era was something very special and its important not to lose sight of how fortunate we were to experience it, whether as our first memories of baseball or seeing the team come back to prominence, let us not lose sight of the fact that that was unheard of and may not happen again for a long time. Jorge Posada was a main part of that. I thank him for giving me those memories. I also look forward to history marching on and seeing who will join him as one of the Yankee Greats.
I can’t wait for Jorge Posada Day!
by jetanumba2 on Jan 10, 2012 10:30 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
Rec'd
I too can’t wait for Jorge Posada day.
I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot.- Kobe Bryant
A.J. Burnett's only fan!
rorschach44
scrotum.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
by Rorschach44 on Jan 11, 2012 9:19 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
time to retire 'core four' phrase
i think it disrespects/understates Bernie’s contributions. He was every bit a part of the core of the dynasty as anyone else. Homegrown, middle of lineup, steady, class, borderline HOF like Andy/Jorge, etc. Core four was a nice catchy term when there were just those four left. Let’s put it to rest now that we’re down to 2.
I agree
It should be the “Live Five.”
by long time listener on Jan 10, 2012 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
If they were all black
I’d say the Jive Five
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Jan 10, 2012 2:51 PM EST up reply actions
and your wife's breastuses
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
The man has been a Yankee for my entire life.
It is going to be so strange not seeing him at the ballpark. The Yankees need to make Jorge Day happen fast.
In closing, thank you Jorge Posada you’ve given us more than we deserved.
by Section 336 on Jan 10, 2012 11:02 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Oh Posada...
as a kid I loved him with us, growing up with the dynasty team was awesome, but now that Jeter and Rivera really are the only ones left, it’s kinda sad for me. Yes, I’m getting all sentimental. HIP HIP!
"You fucking loser!" - Sean Avery
"Just reload my weapon, you know?" - Artem Anisimov
The future is looking bright boys.
Upon further review, I apologize to people who want to render thanks unto Posada.
I disagree about the necessity of doing so for the reasons I’ve stated above, but you have the right to these feelings.
Are we good again?
by designatedquitter on Jan 11, 2012 10:09 AM EST reply actions
No one said it was necessary to do so, I think that’s where the disconnect lies.
by MichaelGGBGrabow on Jan 11, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions
This is the right way to go out.
Catcher is a demanding position, and Jorge played it as well as anyone for longer than we had a right to expect.
It was so sad to see Bernie Williams go out the way he did. It tainted his Yankee legacy.
Posada is doing the right thing.
A few years ago pre-deployment, I was working as a manager at a restaurant...
When he and Laura came in with friends. He graciously entered and his wife was tremendous with stars in her eyes at the restaurant’s decor. I could safely say they were pleased with both the meal and the ambiance…or so I thought.
The guy gave THREE BUCKS to my coat check guy at the door. I was saddened to learn of this.
About three months later (after signing his free agent deal with the Jets), Bart Scott (accompanied by Marques Dougllass came to the restaurant and after their meal tipped my coat check guy $50.
Sweet irony…Posada showed more heart and guts on the field, and less to a man who worked on tips. Scott…the very opposite.
Buena Suerte (good luck), Jorge, y tu familia.
"Fart like a man! It's hockey!"
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