Fuck Jorge Posada
So long you fat-legged prick.
Photo Credit: Richard Eriksson
Breaking news: Jorge Posada has asked out of the lineup for Saturday's game after being informed he was due to bat ninth.
Not breaking news: Jorge Posada is an asshole.
Keep in mind that I am a die-hard Yankee fan, but I'm not one of those blindly loyal dudes that supports every player in pinstripes no matter what. I wanted Don Mattingly out when his decline started and I'll be the first to tell you that Derek Jeter blows these days. My annoyance with Posada really began in 2000, when his routine "routine ground balls" during the playoffs did nothing to dispel the notion that he was a "clutch" hitter (he has a .241/.349/.381 career line in the post-season). But my real disdain for Posada started when Joe Girardi was made manager. I was all about Girardi replacing Joe Torre (who, in my opinion, is one of the most overrated managers ever), but Posada was not pleased with the move according to insiders. Posada took it a step further in 2009 when he was openly critical of Girardi opting to pair Jose Molina with A.J. Burnett in the post-season. Burnett went on to pitch well in pivotal Game Twos of the ALCS and World Series, making Posada look like an idiot. Posada continued his "I know more than everyone else" tour this offseason by insisting he could still catch a full season, even though it was clear to everyone with a pair of eyes that his defense behind the plate had deteriorated to well-below average level.
Now he's "insulted" that Girardi has told him to bat ninth and retirement rumors are swirling. As of this writing, the Yanks are locked up with the Red Sox in an AL East battle, with Posada reportedly set to make some sort of announcement or address to the media after the contest. Here's hoping the large-legged freak realizes the error of his ways, or hangs up his cleats.
From a fantasy perspective, Posada has looked terrible. He's hitting .165 and while his BABIP sits at .164, it's for a good reason. Posada owns a terrible 11.4 LD% and 48.1 GB%; both career-worst marks. I still believe that if he plays for the remainder of the season, he'll still finish as a top 12 fantasy backstop since he can still hit for power (six of his 18 hits are HRs) and should presumably pick up his BA as the season wears on. That being said, he would still be a terrible BA contributor and would essentially be (at best) a two category asset (HR and RBI).
If he chooses to retire, the fantasy owner in me will be a bit upset that I'm losing a starting backstop in Million Dollar Sleeper's Blog Wars, but the Yankee fan in me will be happy to see this cantankerous old man walk away in a disgraceful manner befitting his arrogant demeanor. Fuck Jorge Posada.
