RAUL IBANEZ: WE COULDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE

This past off-season, upon the retirement of Jorge Posada, the Yankees were left with a void to fill.  No, I’m not talking about the catcher position.  Posada had pretty much already vacated that spot and it was handed to Russell Martin et al.

I’m talking about the designated hitter spot. 

In 2011, Posada was the DH in 90 games for the Bombers.  He hit 14 hrs and contributed 44 RBI during the season with many of the hits and RBI’s seemingly coming at key points in games.

Then, he left.  Or rather, the Yankees decided to move on – leaving our team not only with statistics to fill in the lineup, but with an emotional leader to be replaced.  Posada was more than just a catcher-turned-dh, he was a veteran who conducted himself with class both on and off the field.  He was someone with a strong work ethic, and who quietly led by example with grittiness and heart.

Those were pretty large shoes to fill if you ask me.

The search for a replacement began with rumored checks into former Yankees Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui.  Reports surfaced that free-agent/free-swinger Vladimir Guerrero also lobbied for the role. 

Through it all, one name kept recurring:  Raul Ibanez.

On February 21^st, GM Brian Cashman inked Ibanez to a one-year $1.1 million contract and the DH role was filled.  Little did the Yankees know just how much more they were getting with the former Philadelphia Phillie.

April started with much less than a bang for Ibanez.  Through the second week of the season he was hitting .158 and social media sites were alive with questions regarding his advanced age (40) and the wisdom of the acquisition.  Through the early struggles Ibanez kept his composure and all you heard from the Yankee side was how he set an example as a hard-worker.

His hard work would pay off.

By the end of that first month, his average was .241 and he hasn’t looked back.  In spite of his age, it seems that the veteran slugger has only gotten better – so much so that in August he is hitting .310 with a .929 OPS.  His totals for the year read: .250 avg., 15 HR and 51 RBI.  He has already exceeded what Posada gave the team in 2011 and there are still 43 games remaining on the schedule.

In addition to his offense, Ibanez has been a pleasant surprise in the field.  With injuries to Brett Gardner keeping the budding superstar on the disabled list, Ibanez has been unexpectedly called upon for significant playing time in left and right fields.  To date, Raul has played 70 games in the Yankees outfield, and has had 105 total chances without committing an error.  It is difficult to imagine Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui or Vladimir Guerrero giving us such valuable consistency.

Past signings for the spot have not been as rewarding for the Yankees.  Remember Randy Winn?  He was signed by Cashman in February 2010 and released before the end of May after hitting a forgettable .213 for New York. 

(In Photo: Xavier Nady)

Or what about Xavier Nady?  In 2008 he was came to the Yankees as part of a six-player deal and in two seasons played in a total of 66 games due to a variety of injuries. 

See how lucky we are to have Raul Ibanez?

For the better part of two seasons with the Phils, Raul Ibanez was one of the NL’s premier sluggers.  In 2011 his performance at the plate slipped and Philadelphia let him slide to free agency.  

Their loss has been the Yankees gain, and we can only hope that the cries of “RAUUUULLLL!!!!!” echo within Yankee Stadium through late October. 




--Steve Skinner, BYB Guest Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1

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