David Ortiz [stats] knows something about being a franchise icon, and he believes the New York Yankees are disrespecting one of theirs.
When the Yankees dropped longtime catcher Jorge Posada to the bottom of the lineup before last night’s game, Posada told manager Joe Girardi he didn’t want to play. General manager Brian Cashman met the media during the game and said Posada isn’t injured. Posada, meanwhile, insisted his back was bothering him, prompting a team-said, player-said Bronx controversy.
But Ortiz criticized the Yankees for turning Posada into a full-time designated hitter this season and attempting last night to drop him to the No. 9 spot for the first time since 1999.
“You want me to tell you what I think? They’re doing that guy wrong,” Ortiz said. “They’re doing him wrong. Because that guy, he’s legendary right there in the organization.”
Posada has spent his entire 17-year career with the Yankees, winning five World Series.
Ortiz discussed the challenges of being a designated hitter, especially for someone who is used to playing a position for so many years. Posada, batting only .165, said not playing defense has affected him at the plate.
“DHing sucks,” said Ortiz, who didn’t condone Posada’s decision to take himself out of the lineup. “From what I heard, they told him from the very beginning he’s not even going to catch bullpens. That, straight up, starts messing with your head. You’re going tell me Posada can’t catch a game out there? Come on, man. I guarantee you, they throw him out there once in a while, mentally, it’s going to help him out.
“Because he’s just not thinking about hitting. When you just think about hitting and you’re not hitting, it sucks. He’s a guy that, he’s a good hitter. I don’t care what anybody says. He’s going through what he’s going through right now, but he’s a good hitter.”
Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek [stats] has played nearly as long as Posada. And while he said he “respects what the man has done behind the plate for many, many years,” he didn’t want to comment on the situation.
In 2009, Varitek accepted a backup role after the Red Sox [team stats] traded forVictor Martinez. This year, he’s splitting time with Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
“I believe that we have a chance to win ballgames,” Varitek said. “You can moan or you can provide what you can to aid a team in winning, and we want to win here.”
Jenks getting close
Right-hander Bobby Jenks, sidelined with a right biceps strain, indicated he has felt better for the past few days. But the Red Sox won’t clear the reliever to throw until he’s symptom-free, and according to a strength test administered Thursday, that is not yet the case.
“I’m very close,” Jenks said. “It is probably about a 3 right now on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the worst. The only problem is they want it down to zero before I pick up a baseball.
“Right now, I feel I can go out there and throw and do my job. But on the smart side of things, it’s like a pulled hamstring. You don’t want to go out and start running on it too soon and make it worse.”
Jenks, eligible to be activated before Tuesday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, doubts he will need a minor league rehab assignment before he returns. In 11 appearances, he has posted a 9.35 ERA, but he believes he has made mechanical adjustments to improve his command.
Reliever Dan Wheeler (left calf strain) allowed one hit and struck out three in 12⁄3 innings for Triple-A Pawtucket last night.
Lack on track
After throwing a bullpen session yesterday, struggling John Lackey remained on track to start Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
Lackey has surrendered 17 earned runs in his last 102⁄3 innings, leaving his ERA at 8.01. After Wednesday night’s game in Toronto, he said “everything in my life sucks right now,” but declined to elaborate. Lackey’s wife reportedly is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, but he hasn’t discussed her condition.
Per team policy, manager Terry Francona won’t talk about Lackey’s personal life. Asked about the right-hander’s state of mind, Francona indicated pitching is a welcome distraction.
“That’s actually one of the things he looks forward to a lot,” Francona said.
Youkilis sore
Third baseman Kevin Youkilis [stats], who made a stellar diving stop in the sixth inning to rob Russell Martin of a hit, was lifted in the ninth in order to rest his left hip, which has been sore over the past few weeks.
“As the game progressed, he got a little tight,” Francona said. “I don’t think it’s anything that’ll keep him out (tonight).” . . .
Second baseman Dustin Pedroia [stats] went 3-for-4 to raise his average against the Yankees to .650 (13-for-20). Pedroia is batting .190 (24-for-126) against every other team.
When the Yankees dropped longtime catcher Jorge Posada to the bottom of the lineup before last night’s game, Posada told manager Joe Girardi he didn’t want to play. General manager Brian Cashman met the media during the game and said Posada isn’t injured. Posada, meanwhile, insisted his back was bothering him, prompting a team-said, player-said Bronx controversy.
But Ortiz criticized the Yankees for turning Posada into a full-time designated hitter this season and attempting last night to drop him to the No. 9 spot for the first time since 1999.
“You want me to tell you what I think? They’re doing that guy wrong,” Ortiz said. “They’re doing him wrong. Because that guy, he’s legendary right there in the organization.”
Posada has spent his entire 17-year career with the Yankees, winning five World Series.
Ortiz discussed the challenges of being a designated hitter, especially for someone who is used to playing a position for so many years. Posada, batting only .165, said not playing defense has affected him at the plate.
“DHing sucks,” said Ortiz, who didn’t condone Posada’s decision to take himself out of the lineup. “From what I heard, they told him from the very beginning he’s not even going to catch bullpens. That, straight up, starts messing with your head. You’re going tell me Posada can’t catch a game out there? Come on, man. I guarantee you, they throw him out there once in a while, mentally, it’s going to help him out.
“Because he’s just not thinking about hitting. When you just think about hitting and you’re not hitting, it sucks. He’s a guy that, he’s a good hitter. I don’t care what anybody says. He’s going through what he’s going through right now, but he’s a good hitter.”
Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek [stats] has played nearly as long as Posada. And while he said he “respects what the man has done behind the plate for many, many years,” he didn’t want to comment on the situation.
In 2009, Varitek accepted a backup role after the Red Sox [team stats] traded forVictor Martinez. This year, he’s splitting time with Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
“I believe that we have a chance to win ballgames,” Varitek said. “You can moan or you can provide what you can to aid a team in winning, and we want to win here.”
Jenks getting close
Right-hander Bobby Jenks, sidelined with a right biceps strain, indicated he has felt better for the past few days. But the Red Sox won’t clear the reliever to throw until he’s symptom-free, and according to a strength test administered Thursday, that is not yet the case.
“I’m very close,” Jenks said. “It is probably about a 3 right now on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the worst. The only problem is they want it down to zero before I pick up a baseball.
“Right now, I feel I can go out there and throw and do my job. But on the smart side of things, it’s like a pulled hamstring. You don’t want to go out and start running on it too soon and make it worse.”
Jenks, eligible to be activated before Tuesday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, doubts he will need a minor league rehab assignment before he returns. In 11 appearances, he has posted a 9.35 ERA, but he believes he has made mechanical adjustments to improve his command.
Reliever Dan Wheeler (left calf strain) allowed one hit and struck out three in 12⁄3 innings for Triple-A Pawtucket last night.
Lack on track
After throwing a bullpen session yesterday, struggling John Lackey remained on track to start Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
Lackey has surrendered 17 earned runs in his last 102⁄3 innings, leaving his ERA at 8.01. After Wednesday night’s game in Toronto, he said “everything in my life sucks right now,” but declined to elaborate. Lackey’s wife reportedly is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, but he hasn’t discussed her condition.
Per team policy, manager Terry Francona won’t talk about Lackey’s personal life. Asked about the right-hander’s state of mind, Francona indicated pitching is a welcome distraction.
“That’s actually one of the things he looks forward to a lot,” Francona said.
Youkilis sore
“As the game progressed, he got a little tight,” Francona said. “I don’t think it’s anything that’ll keep him out (tonight).” . . .
Second baseman Dustin Pedroia [stats] went 3-for-4 to raise his average against the Yankees to .650 (13-for-20). Pedroia is batting .190 (24-for-126) against every other team.
