Quotes from the Posada press conference

Here are some quotes from the Posada press conference yesterday.  Thanks to the Lohud Yankees Blog for supplying the quotes. It was very interesting to hear these things said at the press conference also.  Posada surely will be missed but I am sure he won't be a stranger to the Yankees. 

On Posada staying in the Yankees organization in some sort of coaching capacity

Brian Cashman: “We’ll see. Jorge has been a great Yankee. There’s a lot of great Yankees. The one thing about this that George Steinbrenner setup a long time ago was keeping it in the family to the best of your abilities. And so I wouldn’t be surprised, clearly, at some point, that Jorgie will be working with us. I’m not saying anything in the near term, but he’s a Yankee for life, whether it’s a spring training format or something bigger. But right now, it’s not something anybody’s focused on.”

Joe Girardi: “I think Jorge can do what he wants. I do remember that feeling of wanting to spend that first summer at home with your family because it’s been so long. I did the same thing and after a while I got bored and had to go to work. The hardest part for me when I retired was when spring training started and you weren’t going, and then the season starts and you’re watching games on tv, not playing. It just feels kind of strange.”

Jorge Posada: “I don’t have any plans. I want to spend time with my family. I haven’t had a summer with them, so I really want to spend a summer with them, and have some fun with the kids.”

On whether Posada belongs in the Hall of Fame

Joe Girardi: “I think he’s a Hall of Famer. When you look at his numbers and stack his numbers against the catchers who have been there, what he has meant to this club, and the championships – his numbers are incredible. And the longevity; this is not just a six or seven year career. It’s a long time. The fact that he was able to remain consistent for so long is amazing to me.”

Jorge Posada: “All I wanted to do was be in the big leagues, and when you compare me to people in the Hall of Fame, it’s like… we’ll see. I’m excited to see what’s going to happen, but that’s up to you guys. And hopefully we can talk about it five years from now.”



On the way Posada was used last season

Joe Girardi: “When you’re a manager you’re asked to make some tough decisions. As a manager you’re always going to do what you feel is best to win a game. Maybe some of the things, when you look back you could have handled them differently. But the decisions you make are with the information you have that day. I was doing the best that I could. I don’t look back and say I have any regrets. I love Jorge Posada. Jorge Posada came up when I was a kid, and we shared so many great moments together. I’m not going to let one tough situation take away from the relationship that we have.”

Jorge Posada: “I don’t have an issue with (Girardi). I really don’t. It’s one of those things that, I felt like he was put there in front of this situation and he had to put me as a DH. I think it came from upstairs. I don’t have a problem with Joe… Talking to my wife during the season, and talking with Derek (Jeter) during the season, I knew that this was it. I told him and I told Laura that this was my last year, during the year. But that didn’t change my decision. If I would’ve caught, or I would’ve DH’d, that was probably it anyway.

On not having Posada with the team next year

Mariano Rivera: “His fire, you know? His determination, his passion and his drive for the game. He always was pushing and pushing and pushing to get better. We’re definitely going to miss that, but also learn from that, that we had a guy who no matter what was the situation, whatever adversity he’s facing, he continued pushing. And that was Jorge.”

Derek Jeter: ”It’ll be tough. It goes without saying on the field, you know somebody for that long, but I’ve been with him every day for 15 years, 16 years off the field to eat. So if any of you guys want to go eat on the road, let me know. It’s going to be pretty odd.

Jorge Posada: “I think some of the young kids (will step up to fill the leadership role). I think Robinson Cano, I think he’s going to step up. CC’s great. CC’s a great leader on the team. Teixeira is a great leader on the team. You’ve got Alex and you’ve got Derek and you’ve got Mo still, so their team is well covered… It’s going to be hard for me to watch a game, period. I’m going to watch still because I’ve got friends on the team and I want them to do well, obviously.”

Jorge Posada officially retires

 

Jorge Posada held an official press conference on Tuesday morning at Yankee Stadium. The press conference was at 11:00AM and was carried live by the  YES Network. Jorge Posada was a Yankee for his whole career and will always be a Yankee. He will be remembered for a lot of great things but his best attribute was his fiery nature and his leadership skills. He was a member of the core four which is sadly down to two members who will soon be following Posada out the door. It was a very emotional day but the Yankees did a great job with it.  There was a packed house.  Joe Girardi, Hall and Jennifer Steinbrenner.  Brian Cashman, Lonn Trost, Randy Levine were all in attendance.  His teammates Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and CC Sabathia were there.  Willie Randolph was in the house, Diana Munson, Gene "Stick" Michael and many others.  Diana Munson being there and speaking was a very nice touch.  She stated that Jorge is the one that brought her back to baseball and to love it again.  She said she turned away after her husbands death but then began looking forward to the box score to see how Jorge did.  She said she only ever checked the box scores for Thurman and Jorge.  She stated she was lucky to have loved two Yankee catchers.  It was a sad day but at the same time it was great that he retired a career Yankee and will always be a Yankee. 

Jorge himself said he has nothing planned right now.  He wants to spend time with his family this summer since he has never been able to do that.  He stated he would like to be involved in some way with the game of baseball but isn't sure of how just yet.  I am sure there will be a Jorge Posada day one day and his number will be in monument park. 

Posada who is 40 years old finishes his 17-year Major League career with a .273 batting average with 900 runs, 379 doubles, 275 home runs and 1,065 RBI in 1,829 games-all with the Yankees. Of the 13 former Major League catchers in the Hall of Fame (Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, Roger Bresnahan, Roy Campanella, Gary Carter, Mickey Cochrane, Bill Dickey, Buck Ewing, Rick Ferrell, Carlton Fisk, Gabby Hartnett, Ernie Lombardi and Ray Schalk), only Berra has better numbers in batting average, home runs and RBI (.285, 358 and 1,430, respectively).

As a player on five World Series championship teams (1996, ’98, ’99, 2000, ’09), Posada finished his career among Baseball’s all-time postseason leaders in games played (second, 125), doubles (third, 23), hits (fourth, 103) and RBI (tied for ninth, 42). His 119 postseason contests at catcher are the most all time, ahead of Berra (second, 63). In his career, he caught at least one game in six different World Series, tied with Elston Howard and Wally Schang for third-most all time, trailing Berra (12) and Bill Dickey (eight). In 2011, he batted a team-best .429 (6-for-14) in the Yankees’ five-game ALDS vs. Detroit. I do of course realize that in his era they played extra rounds so it is a little misleading but it still is the facts.

Originally selected by the Yankees in the 24th round of the 1990 First-Year Player Draft, Posada holds the distinction of being one of just five players all time to record at least 1,500 hits, 350 doubles, 275 home runs and 1,000 RBI while playing at least 50.0% of his games at catcher, joining Ivan Rodriguez and Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Gary Carter and Carlton Fisk. He ranks eighth all time in home runs among players whose primary position was catcher. I think these are pretty good numbers and warrants a look at the Hall Of Fame. Only time will tell but I think he has a good case and probably even better one then his former teammates Bernie Williams and Andy Pettitte. It will be interesting to see how he is viewed outside of New York though and as time passes. Posada for now though will be known as a great Yankee and the emotional leader of those championship teams. He will always be welcome in New York and as a Yankee and will never be forgotten. It will be a day to look back and not only be emotional but be happy about all that this man has accomplished and all with one team, the New York Yankees

Bad news on Gary Carter and other baseball stories

The news came out today that wasn't very good concerning Gary Carter and his battle with cancer.  He is a former Met and Expo, a Hall Of Fame Catcher.  The doctors found more spots on his brain and are deciding what to do.  It sounds very grave and they may stop the treatments.  He is only 57 years old, he does have faith which along with his family is seemingly sustaining him right now.  His daughters released a statement today as well.  His daughters said they are crying for him, they feel so bad for their dad.  He is way too young and all anyone can do right now is pray for he and his family.  Tyler Kepner wrote a nice little article regarding Carter.  The link to that story is here http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/on-gary-carter-and-faith/?smid=tw-nytimesbats&seid=auto

The Yankees still haven't made the trade with Seattle official or the deal with Hiroki Kuroda.  It isn't that anything is happening to stop the deals.  It is mainly logistics.  Kuroda is still in Japan, Montero is having visa issues and Jose Campos is still in Venezuela. 

Derek Jeter opened up his annual golf tournament down in Tampa yesterday.  He also received the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award.  Here is what he had to say in reference to that "Any award named after Lou Gehrig, it probably means a lot more to me than some other players." 

How about the Fausto Carmona story that came out today.  Police in the Dominican republic say he has been using a fake name and he is actually 31 and not 28 years old.  This happens all the time in other countries like that.  The players fake their age because it looks better for them and helps them get out and to the big leagues.  We are seeing more stories of fake identities also lately.  His real name is being reported as Roberto Hernandez Heredia.  The Cleveland Indians have been blindsided by this and are scrambling to see how they can handle the situation. 

Yankees avoid arbitration with a couple more and other notes

The New York Yankees yesterday agreed to one year deals with relievers Joba Chamberlain and David Robertson.  The deals were for 1.675 million and 1.6 million plus 25,000 in incentives respectively.  The Yankees still have three players who remain eligible for arbitration.  They are Russell Martin who filed for 8.2 million and the Yankees are countering with 7 million, Brett Gardner who filed for 3.2 million and the team offered 2.4 million and Boone Logan who asked for 2.1 million and the team came back with 1.7 million.  We will see if they get deals done with those guys, I would say yes before they go to a hearing. 

The Texas Rangers did what most expected today.  They signed Yu Darvish before the deadline.  He signed a six year deal worth 60 million.  The deadline to reach an agreement was 4:00PM Central time.  Texas feels this is a guy who can help the Rangers get back to the World Series and win it.  They are the two time defending American League Champs but they lost both World Series.  Darvish is a two time Pacific League MVP.  Darvish is guaranteed 54 million plus 4 million possible in roster bonuses.  He can opt out after the fifth year depending on him winning or placing high in the Cy Young race.  A News conference at the ballpark is planned for Friday as Darvish is still in Japan. 

ESPN released it's Sunday night schedule today.  The Yankees will be on Sunday night twice in the first month of the season.  They will be on Sunday night in the third home game of the season against Albert Pujols and the Angels and then again against their rivals the Boston Red Sox.  The New York Mets aren't scheduled to be on at all this year.  I guess I understand it but wow are the Mets really in bad shape right now.  It will be interesting to see how many people decide to show up to Citi Field this season. 

Yankees news and notes

The New York Yankees made their big splash of the offseason the other day and it was in a 45 minute span.  Other then that they have been quiet and continue to be quiet.  There have been some rumors the last couple of days because the Yankees appear to have a need for a DH now.  Jesus Montero was expected to fill that role this season but is now out in Seattle.  The Yankees do have Andruw Jones back on the team and may still resign Eric Chavez, could they fill the role along with the veterans on the team the Yankees like to put in that position at times to give them a rest in the field??  I would say they could but the Yankees appear to be shopping for a bat but one they can sign to a very limited one year contract.  I would say something like one year for three million maybe, if even that much.  Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Carlos Pena are all still out there, who would you like the Yankees to get??  How about Jorge Vazquez who has been in AAA and mashed the ball throughout his minor league career.  Could the Yankees trade one of their pitchers like Phil Hughes or A.J. Burnett and get a bat or free up some more money to go and sign someone or jump in on the Prince Fielder sweepstakes. 

I personally think they may just sign someone like Johnny Damon for one year and see what happens.  I think they have enough offense and feel they will be fine there.  The biggest need they have had in the last couple of years was pitching and they have seemed to solve that problem with a trade and a signing.  The Yankees other then that don't have much else to do except get ready for spring training next month. 

The Yankees did officially announce a one year deal with Phil Hughes today to avoid arbitration.  It was one year for 3.2 million.  I wonder if this helps his value in a potential trade, I would think so because he still is the guy that won 18 games a couple of years ago and was a first round pick and major prospect not that long ago.  That contract is very cheap and could be enticing to some team out there looking for young pitching.  The Yankees could still keep him though and put in the bullpen, he would be easier to trade then Burnett though I would assume for obvious reasons.