POSADA: THE FOREVER YANKEE

Forever Yankees- there are many of them out there, but not as many in recent years.  Similar to trends in business, less and less employees start and end at the same company these days.  “The average worker today stays at each of his or her jobs for 4.4 years, according to the most recent available data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but the expected tenure of the workforce’s youngest employees is about half that,” according to an article published in Forbes (HERE) at the end of last year.  The article continues to say that Millennials (those born between 1977-1997) will stay in a job even less.  So, newbies like Bryce Harper, and frankly most of the Washington Nationals will move on at the end of their contract, barring any big salary moves, which after the PEDs problem, salary caps and Billy Beane’s Economics 101, does not seem likely. 

Enter Jorge Posada: a Yankee tradition, a pinstripe favorite, and nice guy with an amazing career.  “Posada, a five-time All-Star, has a career average of .273, a career OPS of .848 and 275 home runs. He also played in 125 postseason games and was a key contributor to four championship teams,” according to the 2011 article in New York Daily News “Former Yankees manager Joe Torre says Jorge Posada is Hall of Fame worthy.”  His 17-year tenure was an incredible experience, which he can pass along to young players as the next manager of the New York Yankees, our future club. 

While Derek Jeter pokes fun at his “old buddy Jorge Posada about having to dress with the old men in the coaches' locker room, or to point out to reporters that this was not Posada's first appearance as a guest instructor.  ‘You forgot he was at the women's fantasy camp,’ Jeter said,” in an article on ESPN New York (HERE) site at the start of the season, no one could deny that Jorge has the makings of a great leader.  

At my son’s exit interview at the end of his JV season, his coach stated that he “needs to understand the game from a managing standpoint; the catcher is the field manager.” Posada learned that skill early on in his career and he developed into one of the best field managers and leaders in today’s game.  And not to mention, he was a mentee to Yogi Berra.  “Maybe the most important thing he helped me with was with his view of the game, knowing how hard it is but that you really needed to keep a positive attitude every day — that was big for me,” said Posada of Berra in 2011.  This year, Posada stepped in for the 87-year-old Berra who is not as spry as he used to be.  And he entered with bang- ready to fill the shoes of one of the greatest of the game who for so many years shared his wisdom with up and coming players, like Posada.  As guest instructor, Posada continued his coaching legacy for his leadership ability and his knowledge of the game is an amazing advantage for our future stars.

So, his 17-year career at one organization, one company has grown to 19-years as Jorge Posada takes on a familiar role prepping him for his chance at the helm; a natural place for a catcher just like Joe Torre, Jim Leyland, Joe Maddon, Mike Scioscia, Bruce Bochy, Clint Hurdle and of course Joe Girardi.  “"It stands to reason," says Tim McCarver, the catcher's catcher. "A general manager would have to be blind not to notice the success catchers have had."  And Brian Cashman is once again using his head when he graciously opened Legends Field to Jorge Posada.  He will be a quick study, because he has the disposition to lead and the experience in the game; both come to someone who has his eyes on the entire field his whole career.  Our Forever Yankee, Jorge Posada, from All-Star catcher to guest instructor to hall of famer to Yankee manager- I like that road, I like that road very much!  And we as fans like and respect Jorge Posada.  We always have.  So, what do you say, YES Network, the Jorge Posada Show in your future?  I think so!

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Opinion Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof




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CALL THE GAME FAIR OR GET OFF THE AIR!

Of course, as a Yankee fan, we all love it when the Bombers make the post season.  I mean it’s exciting for God’s sake.  But, what I can’t stand is when the national announcers take cheap shots at the Yankees for all the world to hear on network television. At least, as Yankee fans, that's how we hear it.  I was awakened by this notion while watching ABC’s coverage of the USC vs. Notre Dame game.  Brent Musburger made a ridiculous comment two plays into the very first Irish possession.  He said, “The Irish are experiencing their first wrinkle of the game.”  Really?  A wrinkle?  They just picked up a first down in three plays, how is that wrinkle for a team that has gone undefeated?!  Then, like a shot deep to left, my brain immediately rushed to my file on Fox Sports Announcer Joe Buck and his blatant lack of respect for the Yankees.  He and his sidekick, Tim McCarver seem to blast into their Yankee digs way before first pitch.

Now, in their defense, no one can call a game like our home team announcers Kay, Ken Singleton, Paul O’Neill, Sterling and Waldman, who know our guys and know our city, but Buck and McCarver could tone it down a bit and stick with the game on the field. 

“One suggestion would be flanking a play-by-play guy with a color commentator who works for each team during the regular season. It would increase the knowledge of the teams and the personalities while balancing out any claims of bias between the two sides,” said reporter Josh Alper in his 2009 article Do Joe Buck and Tim McCarver hate the Yankees? The article takes it a bit further by delving into  Buck’s psyche a bit.  “More often than not, he seems to dislike just about everything about his job which he tends to approach with a smug (or professional, depending on your point of view) detachment that is antithetical to the way die hard fans feel about their favorite teams and sports. A good example is his flat call of David Tyree's unbelievable catch in the Giants-Patriots Super Bowl."

As a graduate of the Boston University’s College of Communication, it was drummed into me in course after course that you must balance passion with objectivity.  Joe Buck must have missed that course, or he buried deep within his archives.  Now, John Sterling may not always get it right, but he certainly has passion for the game.  He makes the game exciting, even if you yell back at him every chance you get.  And Kay keeps it real as well.  They are with the team, and when they get critical, it is not a bashing like certain announcers... are you listening Joe and Tim? “They are with the team all season and want it to win. They all swear their job is easier when things are going well as opposed to watching the Bombers squander a 10-game AL East lead,” as reported by the New York Daily News in early October our our guys (HERE). 

The Wall Street Journal (HERE) recently conducted a 30-team study on television baseball announcer bias. “The conventional wisdom in sports is that TV announcers should strive to call the game straight down the middle. It's a philosophy that's been embraced over the years by most of the famous baseball voices.”  The article went on to state that “by the rules of our study, anyone with a microphone who used a pronoun like "we," "us" or "our" to describe the home team was given a citation. Obscure pet names for players were also flagged: The Detroit Tigers announcers, for instance, referred to backup catcher Gerald Laird as "G-Money." Additional penalties were given for things like excessive moping after miscues or unrestrained glee after big moments. (A Miami Marlins broadcaster marked the end of a lengthy scoreless drought by screaming "Hallelujah!").”

I guess by these rules, long time great Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto’s “Holy Cow!” would be flagged as well and since this was just television announcers and not radio, Sterling and Waldman get a buy.  As for our local television announcers, they placed 26th with the Mets’ announcers Keith Hernandez , Gary Cohen, and Ron Darling placing least biased at 30th .  Number one on the list was White Sox announcer Hawk Harrelson (Read HERE).  He applauded his number one status.  He is a lover of the sport and lover of his team! 

(In Photo: Mel Allen)
Like it or not, baseball announcers are here to stay.  Many of the greats have space in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown. Our very own Mel Allen is there along with Harry Caray and Jack Buck, not to be confused with Joe.  They gave baseball a voice and life and someone to yell back at when things weren’t  going so well.  Today, baseball announcers continue this legacy while bringing humor and excitement into their signature calls.  But, what they should never do is beat up on the local team in such a way that fans feel the insult deep in their own core from their living room.  Those announcers need to take a hard look at their calls and keep it real, fair, or get off the air!

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Opinion Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof




Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.