Jorge Posada: The Beginning of the End for Another Member of the 'Core Four'

The Writing Is on the Wall for Jorge Posada

One member of the New York Yankees' famed "Core Four" is already gone, but it's looking like a second member could be on his way out very soon.

Longtime Yankees' catcher and now-DH Jorge Posada caused what turned out to be a pretty major stir before tonight's game against the Boston Red Sox. He looked at the lineup and saw that he was batting ninth and DHing, and the story goes that he waltzed right into Yankee manager Joe Girardi's office and asked out of the lineup altogether.

It was a quiet occurrence at first, but it blew up during the actual game. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed that Posada was not injured, and the word from the YES Network's Jack Curry was that Posada had thrown a "hissy fit." At some point, there were reports that the Yankees were looking into their options regarding Posada's contract, which is worth $13 million this season. He would have to be suspended, of course, but only if he didn't retire first.

At this point, definitive answers are hard to come by. But one thing is obvious: no matter what happens going forward, this is the beginning of the end for Jorge Posada in a New York Yankees uniform.

 

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Yes, there is a chance that this will all blow over, especially if Posada's wife's insistence that he asked out because of a bad back turns out to be true. But in reality, the rumblings around the league that Girardi and Posada don't get along are pretty loud right now, and this is because Girardi sent Posada a pretty clear message that he is no longer an integral part of the team.

That's the unfortunate truth here. Had Posada actually played today, he would have been batting ninth for the first time since 1999. He apparently told Girardi he was insulted, but the rest of us know that Girardi's decision was well-founded. No matter what his track record may look like, the No. 9 spot is the only spot for a player batting .165 on the year.

Indeed, at some point, a player's legacy is only worth so much, and it's worth even less when you're looking to snap a three-game skid with a win over your biggest rival.

That's partially why Posada's transgression is being as scrutinized as much as it is. It's bad enough to ask out of a game, but it's another thing entirely for a Yankee to ask out of a game against the Red Sox. It's a decidedly Manny Ramirez-ish maneuver, and it is unacceptable.

By the way, the Yankees lost the game by the final of 6-0.

In all likelihood, this situation is going to linger, and it's not going to be forgotten when Posada does hang them up for good, whenever that may be.

For now, Posada is still in pinstripes. But alas, they are hanging by a thread.

Sarah Wynter Jaime Pressly Ashanti Jennie Finch Lisa Snowdon