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Jorge Posada not happy with the way the Yankees handled him

By Nathaniel Reeves

Sep 25, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (2) celebrates after the game with (from left to right) Joe Torre, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte after the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (2) celebrates after the game with (from left to right) Joe Torre, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte after the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jorge Posada spent his entire career with the New York Yankees, but had some criticisms of the team in his memoir.

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In a new memoir The Journey Home: My Life in Pinstripes, former New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada recounted a fascinating career. Posada went into detail about his 17 years in the majors, all with New York, the heated rivalry with the Boston Red Sox, and an altercation with Pedro Martinez.

Despite being beloved by the organization and its fans, Posada did have some negative comments about the Yankees. In particular, he was not happy about being moved from starting catcher to designated hitter in his final season in 2011, via Sports Illustrated.

"“I’ll put this as plainly as a I can. When you take me out from behind the plate, you’re taking away my heart and my passion. If I wasn’t even considered third-string, then what was I? How did I fit in? I felt like I wasn’t being treated right, that people weren’t always being as straightforward with me as I wanted them to be or treating me as I deserved to be treated, and I exploded”"

Posada went on to say he regretted refusing to play in a game where he was set to bat ninth as the designated hitter.

It’s understandable that Posada might feel that way. As a member of New York’s “Core Four,” Posada helped the Yankees to three straight titles from 1998-2000, adding another in 2009. Posada’s 44.3 career WAR ranks 12th all time in franchise history, so he certainly demands some respect from the organization.

However, every team has to make a difficult decision to move on from an aging star at some point. Just last year, Yankees manager Joe Girardi (who was the manager during the Posada saga) had to carefully find a balance between Derek Jeter’s farewell tour and winning games, while the Chicago White Sox went through a similar situation with Paul Konerko.

In 2011, it was time for Posada to hang it up, or at least be moved to a reduced role. Posada hit .235/.315/.398 in 115 games this season and his defense had declined too much to remain a starting catcher. The Yankees had a much better catcher at the time in Russell Martin on the roster, and in the end it’s about winning games.

The decline came fast as well, as Posada was at least decent at the plate in 2010. Perhaps the organization could have been more straightforward with him as Posada suggests, but Girardi’s decision is defensible.

Hopefully the comments don’t lead to any friction with the organization, as Posada deserves his place in Yankees history.

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