Jan
13

Posada to play in WBC

By Mike Axisa

At least that’s what this ESPN Deportes report says. Posada’s father says that Jorge has already signed on, and will DH for Puerto Rico. Here’s the translated article. The article says a team official denied the report, and that Posada wil not play because of his shoulder injury. Since he finished the year on the disabled list, the Yanks are allowed to step in and stop Posada from playing. If he’s just DH’ing, what’s the harm I say.

Posted on Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 at 10:00 pm in Asides.

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127 Comments »

VO says:

I think if he believes he can play without injuring himself (and a doctor says ok) then the yankees should let him dh

 
Ben K. says:

I wonder if it wouldn’t be a terrible idea to get Posada some game action in March beyond Spring Training. He hasn’t played much at all in a very long time now.

Joey H says:

Yeah and you’ve got to know a guy like him is itching to get in on some game
time.

 
Sam says:

My only concern is that he is now, a by an age standpoint, an old (no hyperbole here) catcher. His body will tire even more so than before over the course of a season. And what makes posada valuable as a catcher is his relative hitting prowess. His bat will be average at best as a DH, esp. in the division. But I do agree that he needs to get his timing down to be that well above average offensive catcher.

Artist formerly known as 'The' Steve says:

Its not a big deal. He can simply DH more, and we have a capable backup in Molina. On the days Molina plays C, maybe you move Damon to CF and put Swish in LF to p/u a little offense.

Sam says:

Fair point. So i see you’re on the “nady in right, not swish” side of it?

Artist formerly known as 'The' Steve says:

Oh yeah. Let’s go slow with Swish, he’s coming off a bad year. If he plays well, he plays more. I’ll be perfectly happy to give him a starting job next year after he proves last year was a fluke, but not before.

I bet you a dollar Swish wins the RF job out of spring training.

 
Sam says:

But aren’t you basing as much on Nady’s fluke positive offensive production in the first half as much as you are Swish’s incredibly unlucky average with balls in play? his line drive rate was actually pretty solid. While Swish’s sample size is marginally larger in their respective careers, if both revert to career form, Swish is the better player.

Jack says:

I say we just let them fight it out in spring training.

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Now before we do this, let’s go over the ground rules. Rule number 1, no touching of the hair or face… AND THAT’S IT! NOW LET’S DO THIS!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Joey H says:

The second he throws a baseball the contract gets voided. Infact if he even touches one. Rip it up

Matt says:

You shouldn’t be allowed to touch a baseball! Except for Rodriguez, you’re all an insult to the game!

 
 
Lanny says:

The harm is he doesn’t get to work with all the new starting pitchers that are coming into camp and all the young guys he didn’t get to work with last yr.

Catching is more than hitting.

D.B.H.O.F. p.k.a The Last Don says:

We have a winner here folks. Lanny identified the real problem. Not only the new starting pitchers but the guys he has not caught in a year, plus all the young guys. If Posada plays in the WBC it is a poor move on his part.

 
 

Translation I did of the article earlier:

BRISTOL—A diferencia del torneo anterior, el receptor puertorriqueño Jorge Posada afirmó el martes que sí jugará con Puerto Rico durante el Clásico Mundial de Béisbol 2009.

Unlike the earlier tournament, the Puerto Rican catcher Jorge Posada affirmed Tuesday that he would play for Puerto Rico during the WBC in 2009

Jorge Posada

Posada

“Sí, él va a jugar. De hecho, ya firmó para jugar, y está practicando en Tampa”, dijo Jorge Posada padre a ESPNdeportes.com.

“Yes, he is going to play. He has said he is going to play and he is practicing in Tampa”, said Jorge’s father to ESPN Deportes

“Él sí estuvo operado del hombro, pero está recuperado”, agregó Posada. “Va a jugar como bateador designado, por lo menos. Él me lo ha dicho enfáticamente en dos o tres ocasiones”.

“He had surgery, but he has recooperated”, said Posada. “He is going to play as a designated hitter, for now. He has told me he has done so on two or three occasions . (not sure if this is accurate)

Según informó el martes un oficial de los Yankees, Posada, quien no jugó durante el torneo del 2006 con la escuadra boricua, tampoco jugaría con Puerto Rico en la edición del Clásico 2009.

After being informed on Tuesday, a Yankees official said that Posada did not play in 2006 with _____ (’escuadra boricua’ is not familiar to me or in my dictionary), nor would he play with Puerto Rico in 2009.

El receptor de los Mulos solamente jugó 51 partidos con 168 turnos al bate en el 2008 con los Yankees.

The catcher of _ (mules?) only played 51 games with 168 ABs in 2008 with the Yankees

“Él está lesionado y no va a jugar”, dijo una fuente del equipo a ESPNdeportes.com.

“He is injured and is not going to play”, said a source with the team to ESPN Deportes.

Posada sufrió una lesión en el hombro que lo llevó dos veces a la lista de incapacitados, hasta que finalmente fue operado en julio y perdió el resto de la temporada.

Posada suffered an injury that had him on the DL twice, and was finally operated on in July and lost the rest of the season.

Según la fuente, los Yankees no le han prohibido jugar a Posada y éste podría tener la opción de jugar en el Clásico 2009 si se siente recuperado.

Following the source, the Yankees have not prohibited Posada from playing and Posada has the option to play in the WBC in 2009 if he is feeling better

That last paragraph doesn’t make as much sense when taken in conjunction with the others but the basic gist I got was that Posada said he’s going to play for Puerto Rico in the WBC and there’s a conversation like this:

Posada: I’m going to play
Posada’s father: He’s going to play
Yankees: No you’re not!
Posada: But I’ve been DHing!!
Yankees: You’re not going to play!
Posada: But I feel better!
Yankees: Oh, all right, if you’re feeling better…

Manimal says:

Escuadra is a squadron or fleet, and Boricua is another word for Puertoriquena,

So Puerto Rican Squad would be my guess.

Manimal says:

Don’t thank me, thank the internet and my limited Spanish skills ;)

 
 
 
Artist formerly known as 'The' Steve says:

Oh come on. You made all that stuff up.

I bet that article is really about Luis Polonia still dating 16 year olds or something.

You know you’re impressed. I’m waiting for Ben’s h/t…

Kidding.

Sort of.

Artist formerly known as 'The' Steve says:

The only impression I have is one on my head from TSJC throwing apples out his window.

Bastard.

 
 
 

A ELLA LE GUSTA LA GASOLIIIIIIINA!!!
(Dame mas gasoliiiiina!)
COMO LE ENCANTA LA GASOLIIIIIIIINA!!!
(Dame mas gasoliiiiina!)

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.....dorsement/

Jamal G. says:

Not for nothing, but there’s a reason you will probably see a group of Latino boys smirking at a chic who’s singing that song and doesn’t know what it means: she’s basically saying I want more Richard.

Yeah, it’s hilarious. Did you read the link? Only John McCain and his utterly craptasically run campaign would think that “Gasolina” was actually about… gasoline.

 

Anything saying “give me more”, you know…

Jack says:

…what is it with RAB and a strange fascination to see me make out? I’m really not that attractive.

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…what is it with RAB and a strange fascination to see me make out? I’m really not that attractive.

You modest little minx.

http://riveraveblues.com/2009/.....ent-256481

 
Jack says:

As was accomplished in the last thread, we’re all dirty man-whores.

 
 
Jamal G. says:

The utter cheesiness and dirtiness of that line made it endlessly hilarious.

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Jamal G. says:

Hace llegar a veces molesta ser “la nina” en el internet?

 

No se, lmao. No te comprendo.

 
Jamal G. says:

Heh, I asked if it’s annoying being “the chic” on the internetz!!1!1

 

Ooooh…

In that case…no.

porque no soy la unica por el internet!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A.D. says:

If he’s DHing I’m fine with that, get his swing going.

 
E-ROC says:

As long as Posada is batting right handed, I’m all for it.

 
Jack says:

The recipient of mules played only 51 games with 168 turns at bat for the Yankees in 2008.

?Que?

 

Jack: I think it’s an idiomatic expression.

“El receptor de los Mulos”

Receptor is catcher; de los mulos means “of the mules”. I think it probably has to do with him usually taking on a normally heavy load or being the starter catcher, but alas my dictionary doesn’t include idiomatic expressions!

Manimal says:

yeah probably an expression meaning hard working

We use the term “Carry the team on their back” I guess that’s sort of what it means. We need Jamal in here by he might speak only Panamanian (fun word to say) Spanish.

I learned Spanish in high school.

I’d be shocked if Jamal told me that my translation is correct, but it would bode well.

Manimal says:

I’m in high school so my spanish is decent

I’m…not, haha.

ha cuatro años desde estudiè español en la escuela, pero ahora tengo que pasar una examen para tener mi MA!

I am so screwed, haha.

 
 
Jamal G. says:

Yeah, I saw no issues with it. One thing to remember, never fret over minute details of translation. The English language is so backwards and retarded, it’s literally impossible to perfectly translate.

 

Sweet as candy!

…..Yeah, English is really fucked up but I could blow your mind and start typing in ?????…

damnit. What is it with Wordpress and not wanting to display hebrew characters?!

Intelligent design.

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Jamal G. says:

Heh, that’s one of those jokes where you put your mouth to your face and just say, “Daaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnn…..”.

 
 
Jamal G. says:

Is there a valid reason why the religious literature are so tiny? I see some Jewish folk on the train (I live near a predominantly Orthodox Jewish neighborhood) and they sometime have these unbelievably small literature with them that’s written in Hebrew (I’m assuming it’s religious text).

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I don’t actually know, haha!

I imagine it’s just to conserve space.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Artist formerly known as 'The' Steve says:

Actually, it means that in between games, he smuggles cocaine out of Columbia.

 
 
Manimal says:

DH’ing I’m fine with. My guess is that he wont actually throw a ball until May or June.

steve (different one) says:
Manimal says:

His arm is a wet noodle now and just for precautionary reasons.

Bo says:
 
 
 
 

On the plus side, the Puerto Rican team just got grittier.

And more urine-i-er.

Artist formerly known as 'The' Steve says:

How would you feel if you were pitching to him, and you know the guy pisses on his hands?

I’d smell the ball, just to make sure he didn’t do it between innings. Maybe even tell the Ump to change balls after every pitch, just so he’s the one who throws it back to me.

Jack says:
 
 
Jack says:
 
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

You had to go there.

The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

Even though I fired the first volley, I’m not even going to go there…it’s really a waste of my time.

UWS says:

Meh. I guess he only writes for intelligent readers.

 
 
 
 
 
Joseph P. says:

It kept us entertained for a whole day.

 
 
 
Jamal G. says:

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs.....part-three

While both involve hurling a ball towards home plate, starting and relieving are still remarkably different. Relievers are, in general, failed starting pitchers who are given an easier task that their skillset will allow them to handle. They are selectively managed to face hitters whom they have the best chance of getting out, and they get to throw at maximum effort on nearly every pitch, giving them greater velocity over their shorter appearances.

Nearly every starting pitcher in baseball could be a useful relief pitcher. Very few relief pitchers could be useful starting pitchers. The distribution of pitching talent is skewed very heavily towards the rotation, and because of this and the extra skills required to pitch 5+ innings per start, we use different replacement levels for starting and relieving in order to capture the additional value added by starting pitchers above and beyond simple run prevention.

If only the B-Jobbers could read and comprehend this passage.

Joseph P. says:

Wait a minute… that’s the smartest thing I’ve ever heard anyone say about anything.

 

You raise some interesting and compelling points.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go vote for Jim Rice but not Tim Raines.

Sincerely,
The Mainstream Media

Matt says:

My dad is on the anti-Jim Rice bandwagon and the pro-Blyleven bandwagon but I can’t get him on the Raines bandwagon.

Fun fact: my first real baseball glove had a Tim Raines lithographed signature in the palm. It was awesome.

Hey, at least your dad knows who these guys are.

Matt says:

My dad’s collected every Topps set since 1977. He knows his stuff. I’m trying to get him into sabermetrics and the more advanced stuff. It’s not going too well. He’s a B-Jobber, too. Ugh.

He’s also going this weekend to get Willie McCovey’s and Bob Gibson’s autographs to add to our collection. Sweeeeeeeeet.

Dude, my dad’s told me he rather I buy crystal meth than game tickets.

Matt says:

Your dad’s Amy Winehouse?

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….Wrong equipment. Though I have to say, their teeth are both hideous.

 
 
Manimal says:

Thats pretty bad hahaha

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Manimal says:

Mine had Chipper Jones

Matt says:

Nice. The one I’ve been using since my freshman year in high school has Griffey.

Manimal says:

I had one that was Matsui but It got small

Joseph P. says:
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:
 
 
 
 
 

A good Raines arguments, from Keith Law:

“Speaking of getting on base, Raines ranks 41st all time in times on base, just ahead of a fellow named Tony Gwynn, who isn’t in the Hall for any reason other than an ability to produce base hits.
In fact, not only did Raines reach base slightly more times than Gwynn did, he had more homers and triples than Gwynn and had almost 500 more stolen bases with just 21 more times caught stealing. Gwynn could always hit but didn’t work to keep himself in shape and was more or less done as a serious base stealing threat after age 30. Meanwhile, Raines did work on his conditioning and remained a productive base stealer until he was nearly 40.”

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=3825493

 
 
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

I personally would not have voted for Jim Rice, but I’ve got to say – the support of Rice doesn’t bother me nearly as much as the support of Jack Morris. That’s just ridiculous, the guy really isn’t even close to being borderline.

Matt says:

The worst is when people say he’s better than Blyleven.

 

I’ll agree with you, but as Rice is a position player and Morris a pitcher, I can almost forgive a writer being pro-Morris irrespective of his views on Rice/Raines etc., as their apples to oranges.

I can’t see how you can be pro-Rice but anti Raines. Tim Raines is so much better of a player, it’s not funny. Rice is borderline. Raines is a no-doubter.

Matt says:

BUT TIM RAINES WASN’T THE MOST FEARED HITTER OF HIS TIME!!!!!!!!

 
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

Agreed on all counts. The lack of support for Tim Raines is extremely disappointing and you’re right, it’s all the more frustrating because of the simultaneous support of Rice, an inferior and less-deserving position player.

 
Mike A. says:

RE: Morris

My personal favorite is “he pitched to the score.”

Jamal G. says:

I love those one-liners used to argue for a player’s HoF candidacy.

The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

Yeah totally… And Morris pitched in his team’s season-opener a bunch of times.

[Making wanking-off motion with hand.]

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Bo says:

Jack Morris’ candidacy has one thing going for it. One really great pitched game in the WS.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A.D. says:

So, Joba isn’t best used in the 8th inning?

 
DP says:

But, you see, the 8th inning is potentially the most important inning. You have to shut down the other guys 3, 4, 5 every single time during that inning. You need to shorten the game to a 7 inning game, and therefore the best pitcher on the staff should pitch the 8th inning.

 
 
Brooklyn Ed says:

hmm..don’t Posada got to learn the new pitchers reportire?

A.D. says:

I’m sure they’ll figure it out

 

Good point. Perhaps we should bring back Ivan Rodriguez as insurance; he can just totally ignore the pitchers repertoires and call nothing but fastballs to try and get more caught stealings to boost his HoF candidacy.

Problem solved.

Bo says:

Do you ever have anything normal to say? Why the need to try out “material” and be snarky on every comment?

 
 
 
A.D. says:

“If they need a left fielder that can still lace them up, get on base, and steal a few, they can always give me a call”

Gotta love Ricky

 
A.D. says:

Steve Phillips favorite signing of the winter, after all he wins ballgames

http://blogs.weei.com/robbradf.....d-to-mets/

…Aside from K-Rod, have the Mets done anything to improve their team? Really?

Whoa, whoa, slow down there…

I thought we were talking about improving the team. What does adding K-Rod have to do with improving a team?

 
 
Matt says:

Honestly, K-Rod and Putz help.

But they need serious help on the corners in the OF and they haven’t done dick to improve that or their rotation, both equally pressing needs.

 
Ben K. says:

Putz.

And no, I’m not calling you a putz. They traded for a Putz. That’ll really shore up the 8th and 9th innings though.

Manimal says:

I’m going to miss those days where the yankees had a quick game and I could see an inning or two of the Mets, just enough time for Wagner and Company to blow an 8 run lead.

 

Hey, if you were calling me a Putz I wouldn’t have noticed the difference.

So I guess now they’ll win the games Santana starts? Still like the Phillies more, and if the Braves get a bat the Mets could be looking at 3rd place (Yeah, it’s a long shot, but dude, schadenfreude)

The Florida Marlins.

You heard it here first. (possibly second.)

So pretty much anyone except the Nationals. Gotcha.

 
 
 
Jamal G. says:

Putz.

And no, I’m not calling you a putz. They traded for a Putz.

*All you hear is someone in the background softly say, “Laaaaaaaaame”.*

Ben K. says:

More like “jejune.”

UWS says:

We’re going to get all sorts of mileage out of that one, won’t we. And I will wholly endorse it!

 
UWS says:

Also, i think you guys need a “jejune” tag.

The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

This is a fantastic idea.

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Ben K. says:

What about a t-shirt?

 
UWS says:

YES!

With a “Save the Big Three” on the back, natch.

 
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

“What about a t-shirt?”
-Ha, that was the first thing that came to mind earlier when the jejuneapolooza started.

“With a ‘Save the Big Three’ on the back, natch.
-Just recycle the leftover inventory.

 
 
 
 
 
 
A.D. says:

Well Putz, after that they picked up former Mariner great Jeremy Reed in the Putz deal

Tim Redding?

UWS says:

Once again, we’re talking about improving the team. Pay attention!

 
 
 
 
 
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