Even when Yankees batting practice is optional, Jorge Posada never opts out.
“You never know what will happen, you have to be prepared for that,” Posada said before yesterday’s 11-10 win over the Orioles at Yankee Stadium in which he didn’t participate. “I have to be ready to play.”
These days, batting practice is about all that’s left for the 40-year-old switch-hitting DH, who has had one at-bat in the past six games.
Since the Yankees have faced left-handed starters in four of the last five games, it’s not surprising Posada hasn’t been in the lineup, since he’s batting .100 (6-for-60) against lefties.
However, the Yankees faced right-handed starters Aug. 31 in Boston and Friday night against Toronto, and Posada still wasn’t in the lineup.
The addition of stud prospect Jesus Montero, who homered twice yesterday, and Posada’s reduced playing time raise the question if Posada will be on the 25-man postseason roster.
Would Posada ask manager Joe Girardi and/or general manager Brian Cashman where he stands?
With the Orioles starting right-hander Tommy Hunter tonight, Posada was asked if he expected to play.
“We will see,” said Posada, who is hitting .238 with 12 homers and 39 RBIs.
Based on Montero going 5-for-13 with two homers and three RBIs in four games, Girardi could stick with him tonight at DH. And Girardi also has left-handed hitting Eric Chavez on the bench.
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Girardi announced his rotation for the upcoming road trip. Ivan Nova will get to pad his Rookie of the Year bid by facing the Orioles Thursday in Baltimore during a make-up game. Bartolo Colon will open a three-game series against the Angels Friday night in Anaheim, to be followed by CC Sabathia and Freddy Garcia.
Sabathia will be working on an extra day (five) of rest.
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With tonight’s weather report calling for heavy rain and the Orioles in town, Girardi was asked if the organization has discussed plans in the event of a rainout. Remember how the O’s and Yankees hissed at each other during Hurricane Irene in Baltimore?
“I haven’t heard anything,” Girardi said. “It’s something with the Orioles, it’s going to rain.”
The Yankees will welcome pitchers Hector Noesi and George Kontos from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre today, along with outfielder Greg Golson. The Yankees are toying with promoting right-hander Dellin Betances from SWB, but that won’t happen today, because he pitched Sunday.
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The Yankees sent scout Rick Williams to Japan to watch pitching sensation Yu Darvish recently after Billy Eppler, the team’s head of pro scouting, saw the 25-year-old right-hander hurl for the Nippon Ham Fighters.
Darvish, a Japanese big leaguer since 2007, is expected to be posted by the Ham Fighters after this season and draw considerable interest from multiple major league teams.
He is 16-4 with a 1.54 ERA this year and has a career record of 74-26.
The Yankees are like a lot of other clubs who believe the 6-foot-5, 185-pound right-hander is young enough to have room for improvement.
How much they are willing to invest is the question, even in a free agent pitching market that will be very thin.
After the Kei Igawa fiasco/bust that cost them $46 million ($26 million posting fee), the Yankees might be gun-shy about going hard after Darvish although Darvish’s ceiling appears to be a lot higher than Igawa’s.
Then again, Hideki Irabu was considered a can’t-miss front of the rotation starter and missed badly.
The Red Sox spent more than $100 million on Daisuke Matsuzaka, and given a mulligan, probably wouldn’t do it again.
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The Yankees and Ed Randall are partnering for tonight’s Bat For The Cure to spread awareness and education about prostate cancer. The first 10,000 men entering Yankee Stadium will receive a Bat For The Cure baby blue silicone bracelet, and all men over 30 will receive a palm card detailing information about prostate cancer.
Former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand, who was paralyzed last year in a game against Army, was on the field for batting practice yesterday. LeGrand visited with Girardi, Posada, Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez, and watched the game from a suite above third base.
Infielder Ramiro Pena is close to completing a minor-league rehab assignment and, according to Girardi, could rejoin the club this week. Pena has been on the DL since July 18 due to an appendectomy.