Jorge Posada removes self from lineup
NEW YORK -- After being dropped to the ninth spot in the order on Saturday, Jorge Posada went into New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi's office and asked out of the lineup, according to general manager Brian Cashman.
Cashman would not elaborate on why Posada asked out or what it means for his future with the team. He did say Posada asked to talk to the media after the game.
Posada was replaced in the lineup by Andruw Jones.
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Girardi had dropped Posada to the ninth spot in the lineup earlier Saturday afternoon.
A source with knowldege of the situation told ESPNNewYork.com that Posada felt "disrespected" about being bumped to the ninth spot in the lineup. He then told Girardi he couldn't play at that point in the order. The Yankees have not ruled out docking Posada's pay, especially if refuses to play on Sunday.
There is no indication he is going to retire, sources say.
"I've put myself in this spot," Posada said earlier, before being scratched. "It is not like I want to hit ninth. It is not like I want to hit a hundred and whatever I'm hitting, just a matter of really coming out of it."
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If Posada does refuse to play on Sunday, a source said, the Yankees could pursue action against Posada and claim him in breach of contract. On Saturday evening, the team was in contact with the commissioner's office as it considered its options. But there was hope that a cooling-off period could settle the situation. Posada has about $11 million at risk in his deal for the rest of this season.
Posada, 39, entered Saturday hitting just .165. Posada said once again he is having trouble adjusting to being a full-time DH for the first time in his career after being involved in every defensive play as a catcher.
Girardi mentioned that Posada is hitting better against right-handed pitching than left-handers. Posada, a switch hitter, is batting .212 against righties. Against lefties in 24 at-bats, he has yet to get a hit.
Girardi declined to say if he will begin to bench Posada against lefties, but it seems like a real possibility. On Sunday, the Red Sox will use lefty Jon Lester.
Girardi also demoted Nick Swisher, pushing him down to eighth in the order. Brett Gardner was moved from ninth to seventh, while Russell Martin was pushed to the sixth hole behind Robinson Cano.
Swisher, whom the Yankees have a $10.25 million team contract option for next season, is hitting .221 with two homers and 14 RBIs.
"If I need to be down there to help this team, I'm going to be there," Swisher said.
Girardi said he has mulled pushing Posada to the bottom of the order for a few days. Before posting the lineup, Girardi talked with Posada, telling him he is still in the lineup but he must produce.
If he doesn't, the Yankees are facing a big decision. Earlier this week, a Yankee official told ESPN New York that the team doesn't know what they would do with Posada if he continues to fail to hit.
Posada doesn't play the field anymore and doesn't run well, so if he doesn't hit, he would seem to have no value on the roster.
"We're hoping he gets going and we don't have to cross that bridge," Girardi said.
Posada is making $13.1 million. He is in the final season of his four-year contract.
The last time Posada batted ninth was exactly 12 years ago to the day. On May 14, 1999 against the White Sox, Posada went 0-for-4. Posada entered Saturday four for his last 25 at-bats.
Andrew Marchand and Mike Mazzeo are regular contributors to ESPNNewYork.com. Informatio
NEW YORK -- After being dropped to the ninth spot in the order on Saturday, Jorge Posada went into New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi's office and asked out of the lineup, according to general manager Brian Cashman.
Cashman would not elaborate on why Posada asked out or what it means for his future with the team. He did say Posada asked to talk to the media after the game.
Posada was replaced in the lineup by Andruw Jones.
More On The Yankees
Girardi had dropped Posada to the ninth spot in the lineup earlier Saturday afternoon.
A source with knowldege of the situation told ESPNNewYork.com that Posada felt "disrespected" about being bumped to the ninth spot in the lineup. He then told Girardi he couldn't play at that point in the order. The Yankees have not ruled out docking Posada's pay, especially if refuses to play on Sunday.
There is no indication he is going to retire, sources say.
"I've put myself in this spot," Posada said earlier, before being scratched. "It is not like I want to hit ninth. It is not like I want to hit a hundred and whatever I'm hitting, just a matter of really coming out of it."
More On The Yankees
If Posada does refuse to play on Sunday, a source said, the Yankees could pursue action against Posada and claim him in breach of contract. On Saturday evening, the team was in contact with the commissioner's office as it considered its options. But there was hope that a cooling-off period could settle the situation. Posada has about $11 million at risk in his deal for the rest of this season.
Posada, 39, entered Saturday hitting just .165. Posada said once again he is having trouble adjusting to being a full-time DH for the first time in his career after being involved in every defensive play as a catcher.
Girardi mentioned that Posada is hitting better against right-handed pitching than left-handers. Posada, a switch hitter, is batting .212 against righties. Against lefties in 24 at-bats, he has yet to get a hit.
Girardi declined to say if he will begin to bench Posada against lefties, but it seems like a real possibility. On Sunday, the Red Sox will use lefty Jon Lester.
Girardi also demoted Nick Swisher, pushing him down to eighth in the order. Brett Gardner was moved from ninth to seventh, while Russell Martin was pushed to the sixth hole behind Robinson Cano.
Swisher, whom the Yankees have a $10.25 million team contract option for next season, is hitting .221 with two homers and 14 RBIs.
"If I need to be down there to help this team, I'm going to be there," Swisher said.
Girardi said he has mulled pushing Posada to the bottom of the order for a few days. Before posting the lineup, Girardi talked with Posada, telling him he is still in the lineup but he must produce.
If he doesn't, the Yankees are facing a big decision. Earlier this week, a Yankee official told ESPN New York that the team doesn't know what they would do with Posada if he continues to fail to hit.
Posada doesn't play the field anymore and doesn't run well, so if he doesn't hit, he would seem to have no value on the roster.
"We're hoping he gets going and we don't have to cross that bridge," Girardi said.
Posada is making $13.1 million. He is in the final season of his four-year contract.
The last time Posada batted ninth was exactly 12 years ago to the day. On May 14, 1999 against the White Sox, Posada went 0-for-4. Posada entered Saturday four for his last 25 at-bats.
Andrew Marchand and Mike Mazzeo are regular contributors to ESPNNewYork.com. Informatio
