Hip Hip, Jorge!

Well if today's Yankees game wasn't a sight for sore eyes, I don't know what is. Jorge Posada, who hasn't played in a week, got a surprising start at DH and boy did he make the most of it. Posada went 3-5 with 2 singles, a Grand Slam and 6 RBI. He was one short of his career high in RBI and hit his 10th homer of the season. Joe Girardi cited his reason for giving Posada the start saying that he liked his at bats against Rays SP Jeremy Hellickson in their last meeting. In his first at bat, Posada came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. Eric Chavez had just fouled out and although no one would admit it, people were expecting an inning-ending double play. Posada's recent at bats would support that thinking as he was just 1 for his last 13. Eventually Posada roped a single through the right side of the infield bringing in Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira. In his next at bat he fought off a single to left center to make himself 2-2. However, it was his at bat in the 5th that made his day go from good to great. The situation was the same as his first at bat - only the pitcher had changed. Brandon Gomes had entered the game after Cano's double and immediately walked the first two batters he faced to load the bases for Posada. He fell behind Jorge 2-0 and it was at this point I just knew Posada was going to make this day magical. There was no way Gomes wanted to fall behind 3-0 to the previously slumping Posada with the bases loaded and Jorge knew that. He got a fastball right down the middle and sent it deep into the right field seats. The crowd went nuts and gave Posada a well-deserved curtain call. It was a joyful moment for anyone associated with the Yankees - to see one of the most loved and respected players who had been down on his luck to come through in such a big way.
Posada will get a second straight start in Sunday's rubber game against James Shields. It would be hard not to play him after a day like today. Sadly the question remains, how many more of these kind of days does Jorge have left in him? It was his first homerun since June 29th against Milwaukee and first 3 hit game since June 25th against Colorado. While I, along with every other Yankee fan, hope Posada would have this kind of day every time out that is just not the case. Posada is at the end of his storied career and is likely going to retire at the end of the year. Even though he would disagree, he cannot catch anymore and he is not enough of a force at the plate to play everyday. At this point he is a backup DH who gets a rare start spelling Teixeira at first base. From someone on the outside looking in, they would wonder why a team would waste a roster spot on that kind of player. For a lifelong Yankee fan, however, it is obvious that he needs to finish his career with the Yankees and the situation needs to be handled with as much respect as possible. The Yankees' front office is handling it with tremendous class and balancing Posada's dignity with winning. It would be very easy to threaten him with a release if he doesn't retire, but the Yankees have too much respect for Posada to do that to him. While they probably wish he would go that route, they would never force it upon him. They will ride out the season and have a difficult decision to make come playoff time. Is there a spot on a playoff roster for a backup DH? That answer is obviously no. But is there room for a dangerous Jorge Posada? Absolutely. It's up to Jorge to produce.