New York Yankees: Cervelli Head Injury Likely Means Posada on Postseason Roster
September 13, 2011 · Joseph Browne · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Barring a collapse of epic proportions, the New York Yankees will make the playoffs once the 2011 season concludes. The nearest threat to the team reaching the postseason is the Tampa Bay Rays, and they’re a full seven games behind the Yankees heading into play on September 13.
Even if the Yankees go on to lose 10 of their final 16 games, the Rays would have to pull off a 13-3 run just to tie; it’s unlikely, considering that 14 of their remaining games are against the Yankees and Red Sox. Despite a weekend sweep of the Sox, the Rays have a huge uphill battle to face, and it is likely too little too late for the never-say-die Rays to overcome the Yankees.
So, again, the Bombers will more than likely be in the playoffs. Should this come to pass, as amazing as it might sound, Jorge Posada would not have projected to be a part of the Yankees’ postseason roster.
For quite some time now, the discussion has centered around the possibility that Yankees rookie Jesus Montero would be the final domino in the procession of events that led to Posada’s being left off the postseason roster. This was a natural assumption in that Montero projects as a potentially dominant offensive weapon and the Yankees, despite a spectacular season offensively, have had a season-long hole in the DH spot.
The thinking has been that Montero would be called up in September—which he was—and that he would begin to display the skills the organization has trumpeted for so long—which he has—and that, as a result, Posada would be the odd man out. In reality, this is exactly how events played out, and if not for the recent head injury and subsequent move to the DL of Francisco Cervelli we would have likely witnessed the unfortunate end to the Yankee career of Jorge Posada.
In truth, the decisions facing Yankees management were as much about the amount of pitchers needed to compete in today’s game as they were about choosing between Posada and Montero. With the emphasis on defined bullpen roles, the need exists for more pitchers to fill out the postseason roster. As it stands now, the Yankees have a numbers issue surrounding their pitching staff as well, and this means that Posada would have faced obstacles just as daunting on this front.
With a maximum of 25 spots to fill, the Yankees will carry at least 12 pitchers. If one of their injured lefty relievers (Pedro Feliciano or Damaso Marte) is somehow capable of contributing, that number could swell to 13. Doubtful, but possible. Regardless, despite questions surrounding much of the Yankee starting rotation, it’s hard to envision Yankees skipper Joe Girardi promoting the idea of not having all six current starters on the postseason roster.
Though only CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova have pitched consistently enough of late to be considered locks for postseason starts, the reality is that the Yankees have no better options to turn to other than Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Phil Hughes or A.J. Burnett for either starting or bullpen duty. Again, if either Feliciano (longshot) or Marte (much longershot) overcome injuries, that could change.
With a minimum of 12 roster slots taken by pitchers, this leaves room for just four reserves, and this is no different from how Girardi has managed his roster all year. One of the strengths of the team all season, actually, has been the ability of the bench to contribute substantially when needed.
That bench, for the most part, has been manned by the aforementioned Cervelli in addition to Eduardo Nunez, Andruw Jones and Eric Chavez. Posada, the primary DH for much of the season, has only recently been relegated to a bench role.
It is between these five players that the competition for the final roster spot existed, and of these players, it cannot be argued that Posada brought the least overall on-field value. Nunez and Chavez can each play multiple infield positions, with Nunez capable of outfield duty in an emergency, and Andruw Jones can handle either corner outfield position.
When it’s also considered that Nunez brings high-end speed to the equation and that Jones has emerged as a reliable option against lefties, you begin to see why Posada was being crowded out of the picture. These are two massive deficiencies in Posada’s game; deficiencies that he is simply not capable of overcoming.
Cervelli, as the primary backup catcher, had provided solid defense behind Russell Martin and was also versatile enough to have filled in at both third and second bases as a late-inning replacement. Though his move the the DL is retroactive to September 9, it has been reported that the concussion, Cervelli’s third in just over a year, is serious enough to extend his stay on the DL beyond the 15 days.
In short, there were just too many obstacles confronting Posada for him to have felt confident about having a place on the Yankees’ postseason roster. Further complicating things for Posada was the thumb injury to Alex Rodriguez, simply because this accentuated the need for the more versatile Chavez to play a vital role shuttling back and forth between third base and DH.
This all pointed to an inglorious end to what is truly a storied career for Posada. In terms of overall body of work, it is undeniable that Posada places as the third best catcher in Yankee history behind Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra. Additionally, Posada’s name should be included in any discussion having to do with the best catchers of the past 20 years or so. And while his defense has never been his calling card, good luck finding great-glove, no-stick catchers in the Hall of Fame.
It’s a shame, really, that this how it would have ended for Posada. He has earned better and, despite his unnecessary tantrum earlier this season, he deserved better. The future always arrives sooner than we expect and there is no one immune to this fact, not even a catcher with a handful of rings and a locker full of legendary moments.
That a serious head injury serves as the likely catalyst to restore Posada to the roster is unfortunate, as Posada would surely agree. If it also serves as the catalyst for more Posada heroics, well, there is certainly some bittersweet justice in that.
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