Derek Jeter offered public support last night for his embattled friend and teammate, Jorge Posada, but his words seemed to indicate there is more to the story than the Yankees are letting on.
Several times during a 12½-minute media session before last night’s 7-5 loss to the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Jeter used phrases like “if that’s the case” when stating his belief Posada did nothing wrong when he asked out of the lineup as game time approached on Saturday.
“From my understanding,” Jeter said, “he talked to the manager, told him he needed a day. If that’s the case, then there’s nothing wrong. It’s not the first time someone has come out of the lineup, whether it’s something physical or some other reasons.”
Jeter spoke with Posada about Saturday’s events, and though he declined to give details of that conversation, he did offer some insight into what has become a major distraction for a club that had lost four straight heading into last night’s series finale with the Red Sox.
“One thing I told him is if he needed a day to clear his mind, there’s no need to apologize [to the team],” Jeter said. “Because I think everybody understands that. Everybody here understands that sometimes this game can be tough on you mentally. Everybody’s struggled. And if that’s the reason why he came out, then he doesn’t need to apologize. If it’s something else, then yeah, but not for that.”
As for reports Posada said he felt “insulted” he was dropped to ninth in the batting order, Jeter defended Posada, who he said is “like a brother.” But Jeter also seemed to indicate the exchange between Posada and manager Joe Girardi might not have been as cordial as the Yankees have implied.
“You’re making an assumption that’s why he was out of the lineup — because he was dropped in the order,” Jeter said. “I mean, did he say that? No, right? He didn’t tell me that. . . . I don’t know what happened behind closed doors. Sometimes things go on between players and managers and sometimes people don’t necessarily want everyone to know what happened.
“But my understanding is he went, told the manager he needed a day, and if that’s the case, I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
Longtime teammate Mariano Rivera also was non-commital in his evaluation of Posada’s behavior. When asked if he believed Posada should apologize to his teammates, Rivera said, “I don’t know. That’s a decision he has to make.”