http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/b...orge-posada-hall-fame-worthy-article-1.976049
Former Yankees manager Joe Torre says Jorge Posada is Hall of Fame worthy *
BY ANTHONY MCCARRON
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, November 11 2011, 12:08 AM
Robert Sabo/New York Daily News
Jorge Posada arrives for the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation Gala Thursday at Chelsea Piers with acquaintance as questions swirl about the catcher’s future.
It's hard for Joe Torre to imagine Jorge Posada wearing anything other than pinstripes. But Torre can imagine his former catcher getting Hall of Fame buzz when Posada does retire from playing.
“I’ve noticed over the years when guys get voted in, if you play in postseason, people get a chance to see you in a different light and it may carry a little more weight,” Torre said. “As much postseason as he’s played in, I think consideration is certainly warranted.”
One night after Posada, a free agent, said he believed his Yankee days were over, there was a lot of talk of his career and future Thursday night on the red carpet for Torre’s ninth annual gala for his charity, the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation. Posada himself said that he did not hear from the Yankees after his own comments Wednesday night made news and he remains undecided on whether he’ll play at all next season.
But with numerous VIPs at the event having Yankee ties, Posada was on more than a few minds. Whatever happens, David Cone said, Posada will always be considered a Yankee. “Ten years from now, nobody will remember whether you went one year somewhere or not,” Cone said. “Nobody talks to me about Boston very much.”
Both Cone and Torre noted that it would be difficult for Posada to change uniforms next season if he decides to play. Cone and Torre did it in their own playing careers, and the former pitcher seemed to regret not retiring after his final Yankee season in 2000.
“I went through some of the same things at the end of my career,” Cone said. “I was equally as stubborn. I certainly feel for him. If I had it to do over in my own case, I probably would do some things differently. It’s easy to say now, but when I was going through it, I was pretty headstrong. I think he probably feels the same way.”
Going elsewhere would “be hard for him,” Torre added, meaning Posada, “only because that’s like selling your home after all these years. You have a comfortable spot. I’m not saying he won’t do it, because you can’t all of a sudden say you don’t want to play baseball anymore when it’s been your whole professional life for such a long time.”
Posada, a five-time All-Star, has a career average of .273, a career OPS of .848 and 275 home runs. He also played in 125 postseason games and was a key contributor to four championship teams.
Torre and Cone offered appraisals of Posada’s career, paying particular attention to his fire. “He was just one of the most determined players I’ve ever been around,” Cone said.
“He played under pressure about as well as anybody for me,” Torre said. “He was always excitable, I think we saw that. But the one thing about him, when he got up there with the bases loaded or the winning run on base, he was like ice. Did he have his issues trying to run the bases? Yeah, that’s no secret — I’m nobody to make fun of it because I couldn’t run the bases. But his ability to play in big games was amazing.
“He doesn’t get a whole lot of acknowledgment because there were so many people around him, but when you sit there on the bench as his manager, you’re pretty happy.”
Former Yankees manager Joe Torre says Jorge Posada is Hall of Fame worthy *
BY ANTHONY MCCARRON
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, November 11 2011, 12:08 AM
Robert Sabo/New York Daily News
Jorge Posada arrives for the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation Gala Thursday at Chelsea Piers with acquaintance as questions swirl about the catcher’s future.
It's hard for Joe Torre to imagine Jorge Posada wearing anything other than pinstripes. But Torre can imagine his former catcher getting Hall of Fame buzz when Posada does retire from playing.
“I’ve noticed over the years when guys get voted in, if you play in postseason, people get a chance to see you in a different light and it may carry a little more weight,” Torre said. “As much postseason as he’s played in, I think consideration is certainly warranted.”
One night after Posada, a free agent, said he believed his Yankee days were over, there was a lot of talk of his career and future Thursday night on the red carpet for Torre’s ninth annual gala for his charity, the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation. Posada himself said that he did not hear from the Yankees after his own comments Wednesday night made news and he remains undecided on whether he’ll play at all next season.
But with numerous VIPs at the event having Yankee ties, Posada was on more than a few minds. Whatever happens, David Cone said, Posada will always be considered a Yankee. “Ten years from now, nobody will remember whether you went one year somewhere or not,” Cone said. “Nobody talks to me about Boston very much.”
Both Cone and Torre noted that it would be difficult for Posada to change uniforms next season if he decides to play. Cone and Torre did it in their own playing careers, and the former pitcher seemed to regret not retiring after his final Yankee season in 2000.
“I went through some of the same things at the end of my career,” Cone said. “I was equally as stubborn. I certainly feel for him. If I had it to do over in my own case, I probably would do some things differently. It’s easy to say now, but when I was going through it, I was pretty headstrong. I think he probably feels the same way.”
Going elsewhere would “be hard for him,” Torre added, meaning Posada, “only because that’s like selling your home after all these years. You have a comfortable spot. I’m not saying he won’t do it, because you can’t all of a sudden say you don’t want to play baseball anymore when it’s been your whole professional life for such a long time.”
Posada, a five-time All-Star, has a career average of .273, a career OPS of .848 and 275 home runs. He also played in 125 postseason games and was a key contributor to four championship teams.
Torre and Cone offered appraisals of Posada’s career, paying particular attention to his fire. “He was just one of the most determined players I’ve ever been around,” Cone said.
“He played under pressure about as well as anybody for me,” Torre said. “He was always excitable, I think we saw that. But the one thing about him, when he got up there with the bases loaded or the winning run on base, he was like ice. Did he have his issues trying to run the bases? Yeah, that’s no secret — I’m nobody to make fun of it because I couldn’t run the bases. But his ability to play in big games was amazing.
“He doesn’t get a whole lot of acknowledgment because there were so many people around him, but when you sit there on the bench as his manager, you’re pretty happy.”
