Comments on: What if Jorge can’t catch? http://riveraveblues.com/2009/01/what-if-jorge-cant-catch-7122/ A New York Yankees Blog Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:59:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: KW http://riveraveblues.com/2009/01/what-if-jorge-cant-catch-7122/#comment-263299 KW Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:01:42 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=7122#comment-263299 I think the problem with that is that the Yanks had such an advantage with Jorge being healthy, a slugging, high OBP catcher. If the shoulder doesn't return to normal, that's not to say he sucks, but you lose the slugging part, and probably some of the OBP part (presuming pitchers pitch to him more w/o the fear of a longball or a double). He was never fast to begin with also, and his advancing age causes concern. So if Jorge truly is unhealthy and can't catch, the Yanks are in a bit of a spot as they'd have another player vying for DH time. Can they get by? Sure, but it's not like they'll be just fine without Jorge. He's an immense player and gives the Yanks a dimension most teams don't have. If the sox had a healthy Jorge Posada level production from Varitek, chances are they'd have won the division last year. I'd say he's that important. I think the problem with that is that the Yanks had such an advantage with Jorge being healthy, a slugging, high OBP catcher. If the shoulder doesn’t return to normal, that’s not to say he sucks, but you lose the slugging part, and probably some of the OBP part (presuming pitchers pitch to him more w/o the fear of a longball or a double). He was never fast to begin with also, and his advancing age causes concern. So if Jorge truly is unhealthy and can’t catch, the Yanks are in a bit of a spot as they’d have another player vying for DH time. Can they get by? Sure, but it’s not like they’ll be just fine without Jorge. He’s an immense player and gives the Yanks a dimension most teams don’t have. If the sox had a healthy Jorge Posada level production from Varitek, chances are they’d have won the division last year. I’d say he’s that important.

]]> By: kane http://riveraveblues.com/2009/01/what-if-jorge-cant-catch-7122/#comment-263259 kane Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:14:56 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=7122#comment-263259 I love how people hate Matsui. Dump him? I never get an explanation but I want to know WHY people hate him so much? I doubt its due to just bad defense. He’s .295/.371/.478 lifetime excluding his games in Japan. He’ll hit at least 20 homers and drive in around 100 RBI’s. Yeah he has a health issue but he only got injured twice in his whole career. His knees might be bad but that’s why we have depth. He can platoon in left with Damon or anyone else. If he’s healthy we have a solid hitter and we <i>need</i> hitters. I don’t understand why people hate him. I have a reason but I’ll keep it to myself. I love how people hate Matsui. Dump him? I never get an explanation but I want to know WHY people hate him so much? I doubt its due to just bad defense. He’s .295/.371/.478 lifetime excluding his games in Japan. He’ll hit at least 20 homers and drive in around 100 RBI’s. Yeah he has a health issue but he only got injured twice in his whole career. His knees might be bad but that’s why we have depth. He can platoon in left with Damon or anyone else. If he’s healthy we have a solid hitter and we need hitters. I don’t understand why people hate him. I have a reason but I’ll keep it to myself.

]]> By: pounder http://riveraveblues.com/2009/01/what-if-jorge-cant-catch-7122/#comment-263238 pounder Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:39:32 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=7122#comment-263238 Enough with the speculation and crepe hanging.Jorge is our catcher,for better or worse,or until he can't possibly do it anymore physically.We are ready for 09.Play Ball!!!! Enough with the speculation and crepe hanging.Jorge is our catcher,for better or worse,or until he can’t possibly do it anymore physically.We are ready for 09.Play Ball!!!!

]]> By: steve (different one) http://riveraveblues.com/2009/01/what-if-jorge-cant-catch-7122/#comment-263224 steve (different one) Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:29:19 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=7122#comment-263224 Molina is a good example of a catcher that might be available at the deadline. Molina is a good example of a catcher that might be available at the deadline.

]]> By: steve (different one) http://riveraveblues.com/2009/01/what-if-jorge-cant-catch-7122/#comment-263222 steve (different one) Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:27:41 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=7122#comment-263222 the notion that the "ever changing" lineup was an actual problem exists only the mind of Peter Abraham. the Yankees didn't struggle b/c Girardi shuffled the lineup. they struggled b/c Posada got hurt and Cano was terrible. and Cano was one of the guys playing everyday, so that wasn't his problem. the notion that the “ever changing” lineup was an actual problem exists only the mind of Peter Abraham.

the Yankees didn’t struggle b/c Girardi shuffled the lineup. they struggled b/c Posada got hurt and Cano was terrible. and Cano was one of the guys playing everyday, so that wasn’t his problem.

]]> By: jeremy http://riveraveblues.com/2009/01/what-if-jorge-cant-catch-7122/#comment-263199 jeremy Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:58:41 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=7122#comment-263199 The real problem inherent in the "if Posada can't catch" question is that the Yankees will essentially have to get an adequate number of at-bats for 4 players, out of 2 positions. Damon, Matsui, Posada, and the loser of Swisher/Nady, rotating between LF/DH. Of course the possibility of spot starts in center field for Swisher/Damon is there, but that leads to the problem the Yanks had last season, which is two-fold: Inconsistent, ever-changing every day lineup, and poor defense. The real problem inherent in the “if Posada can’t catch” question is that the Yankees will essentially have to get an adequate number of at-bats for 4 players, out of 2 positions. Damon, Matsui, Posada, and the loser of Swisher/Nady, rotating between LF/DH. Of course the possibility of spot starts in center field for Swisher/Damon is there, but that leads to the problem the Yanks had last season, which is two-fold: Inconsistent, ever-changing every day lineup, and poor defense.

]]> By: Thisisthedavid http://riveraveblues.com/2009/01/what-if-jorge-cant-catch-7122/#comment-263192 Thisisthedavid Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:39:02 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=7122#comment-263192 Any thoughts on moving Nady/Damon for catching? Still would love to dump Matsui (even if we have to eat more than half his contract) and sign Dunn exp if he is looking at 5 mill a year.. LF Damon/Dunn CF Melky/Gardner/Damon RF Swisher DH Dunn/Posada or LF Swisher/Dunn CF Melky/Gardner/Swisher RF Nady DH Dunn/Posada Any thoughts on moving Nady/Damon for catching?

Still would love to dump Matsui (even if we have to eat more than half his contract) and sign Dunn exp if he is looking at 5 mill a year..

LF Damon/Dunn
CF Melky/Gardner/Damon
RF Swisher
DH Dunn/Posada

or

LF Swisher/Dunn
CF Melky/Gardner/Swisher
RF Nady
DH Dunn/Posada

]]> By: Russell NY http://riveraveblues.com/2009/01/what-if-jorge-cant-catch-7122/#comment-263191 Russell NY Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:36:33 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=7122#comment-263191 Posada is key but lets not link him to our total collapse. The combination of him, ARod, Matsui, being injured, Cano not hitting at all, and Melky sucking really hurt us. Not to mention Pettitte's second-half ineffectiveness, the Giambi defense at 1B, Wang and Joba's injuries mid-late in the season, and the PLETHORA of bullpen injuries throughout the entire season (thank god for our depth it wasn't that bad). This is a team game. If Posada gets injured, with our current team construction, here's what you do at catcher: Kevin Cash Starts the game, gets 3 AB's, you pinch hit for him in his fourth AB with either Nady or Swisher (if you need the AB), then you plug Molina in there for the rest of the game. If both guys are solid defensively, that could work. It could get us 1 decent AB out of a day with them by pinch hitting and keep them both fresh. Posada is key but lets not link him to our total collapse. The combination of him, ARod, Matsui, being injured, Cano not hitting at all, and Melky sucking really hurt us. Not to mention Pettitte’s second-half ineffectiveness, the Giambi defense at 1B, Wang and Joba’s injuries mid-late in the season, and the PLETHORA of bullpen injuries throughout the entire season (thank god for our depth it wasn’t that bad).

This is a team game. If Posada gets injured, with our current team construction, here’s what you do at catcher: Kevin Cash Starts the game, gets 3 AB’s, you pinch hit for him in his fourth AB with either Nady or Swisher (if you need the AB), then you plug Molina in there for the rest of the game.

If both guys are solid defensively, that could work. It could get us 1 decent AB out of a day with them by pinch hitting and keep them both fresh.

]]> By: Old Ranger http://riveraveblues.com/2009/01/what-if-jorge-cant-catch-7122/#comment-263174 Old Ranger Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:13:39 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=7122#comment-263174 I think a lot of you are forgetting Cervelli. Last year there was talk of letting Molina walk at the end of his contract. Cervelli got hurt in ST, so all that has changed. When Cervelli came back he didn't hit that well but, he was coming back from a broken wrist...it takes a while to become fully healthy. Let's see what he does this spring, I think he can hold down the job along with Molina, if Jorge goes on the DL. Right now Cervelli is the best (replacement) catcher we have, he has high floor but, not so high top end. He'll be ready for this year, he hears the footsteps of Montero/Romine besides, he's had almost a year to work his wrist back into shape. I think a lot of you are forgetting Cervelli. Last year there was talk of letting Molina walk at the end of his contract. Cervelli got hurt in ST, so all that has changed.
When Cervelli came back he didn’t hit that well but, he was coming back from a broken wrist…it takes a while to become fully healthy. Let’s see what he does this spring, I think he can hold down the job along with Molina, if Jorge goes on the DL.
Right now Cervelli is the best (replacement) catcher we have, he has high floor but, not so high top end. He’ll be ready for this year, he hears the footsteps of Montero/Romine besides, he’s had almost a year to work his wrist back into shape.

]]> By: Old Ranger http://riveraveblues.com/2009/01/what-if-jorge-cant-catch-7122/#comment-263166 Old Ranger Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:59:30 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=7122#comment-263166 Careful Benny, she would kick your ass...she works out with Jorge all the time. Careful Benny, she would kick your ass…she works out with Jorge all the time.

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