WHY POSADA WILL FOREVER BE LOVED

Jorge Posada will forever be a New York Yankee and only a New York Yankee. There aren’t many guys that you can say that about, but the ones that are, well, they’re usually special; Mickey Mantle, Thurman Munson, Don Mattingly, Bernie Williams and God willing, Derek Jeter. When you see their names in print, you say “Yankees” in your head. There is no guessing game.

Jorge Posada will be added to that list and hopefully when the time is right, he too will be enshrined in Monument park and maybe, just maybe he’ll be voted into the Hall of Fame before I die, that's the way I see it any way.

His press conference today at 11am will be real sad, yet exciting. This is not the end of Jorge Posada, this is just the beginning. But let me back up a second. During Posada’s career, it almost seemed like he flew under the radar, meaning, early on he fought hard to get out of the shadow of Joe Girardi and when he got the job as the starting catcher of the New York Yankees, he did his best behind the plate, and quietly racked up numbers with his bat that catchers today just can’t reach. A catcher’s job is difficult. You’re worked over pretty good every single game, you need to prepare for every batter with your pitching personnel and get on the same page every single time you’re out there. It’s brutal and your mind never stops thinking and doing. I don’t know why, but I often think about Damian Miller.

(In Photo: Damian Miller)

You just said “Who?” Damian Miller was a decent catcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks, in fact, we faced him in the 2001 World Series. At the time, he was definitely an up and comer and getting noticed. in 2000-2002 with the 'Backs, he had 34 home runs. I remember in 2oo4 after he got his first millions he was traded to the Cubs and then to the A's, he landed with the Brewers for 3 years. Then... he vanished. My point is, catcher’s get the crap kicked out of them every day and you either stick around and fight for your job or, you go away. It's a rough gig and by the way, don't think I'm calling Miller soft, because I'm not. I'm trying to make a point... I'm saying it's a tough gig.

As a catcher, you have to have a drive and a heart bigger than anything in the world. Few have it. Thurman Munson did it better than anyone I can remember, except of course Carlton Fisk, who was just amazing too. Ironically, Thurman was Posada’s idol and while Posada wasn’t as graceful as Thurnman behind the plate, he never let it get to him. He played his first game as catcher just as hard as his last.

I remember that one game the Yankees needed a catcher last season and they called on Posada to get behind the plate. It was friggin’ awesome. He was full of energy and played a good game. He was rejuvenated. Why? Because he was where he belonged…behind the dish. I remember writing WHY POSADA SHOWED YOUTH IN YANKEES LOSS.

What Posada will do today will be the hardest thing he will ever have to do in his life. But he will do it for all of us and for his family. I am crazy about the Posada family. I love Laura and Jorge together and I love the strength that comes out of that family unit. Jorge is one of my favorite ballplayers. There have been plenty of times when he came up clutch and plenty of times that he was called out swinging, but one thing you can never say about Jorge Posada is that he didn’t care. He cared. He cared about winning and hitting the ball every single time he came up to the plate. He cared what the fans thought. He cared about winning championships, not just for his team but for us. He is probably the most passionate New York Yankee of our lifetime…without a doubt.

So Jorge, while we all knew this was coming, we didn’t want it come so soon. But as they say, that’s baseball…isn’t it? We salute you today… on this very special day in Yankee history.

Good luck old friend, you are loved.

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