Last night in the late innings we had runners on with two outs and Jorge up, and I did something I've never done before. I walked out. Why bother? It's that bad. We have a DH who cannot run and hits ground balls to middle infielders. We have a DH who bats eighth and swings at pitches out of the zone. We have a DH who sucks the energy from the stadium when he limps to the plate. We have a DH who is a proud Yankee. We have a DH you can't even watch.
When you consider how far this team has come - Joba gone, so many injuries, etc. - but we've suffered a worse malaise: The DH who hits .225 and is a DP-making machine. He happens also to be an iconic Yankee great and hopefully a lifetime member of this organization. Someday, Jorge Posada could be a great Yankee manager. Right now, he's killing us.
I don't blame Girardi for playing him. Because of their intertwined past, Joe has no choice. But time is running out, and even a big game from Jorge tonight won't change the fates. The nicks and bruises, and the steady drip of time, have turned his game to shit. He has one remaining skill - the ability to work walks - but as his slump deepens, and his outlook darkens, he seems to have chucked it aside.
Who does not feel pessimistic about tonight? Unlike our ace, their aces rise to the rivalry. That means Beckett will probably shut us out, and nobody expects Freddy Garcia to match him. At some point, we'll have runners on with Jorge up. What's the point?
Soon, Arod returns, and the rosters expand. That means Eric Chavez as the lefty DH, and perhaps Jesus Montero from the right side. Frankly, Eduardo Nunez would be an improvement. I'm just tired of watching a great Yankee fall. It's easier to leave the room.
The Daily News headline said, "MANTLE QUITS: 'I just can't hit anymore'"
ReplyDeleteJoe D actually quit when he could still hit pretty damn well. He wanted to avoid the sad spectacle completely.
I think the problem here is that Jorge had that amazing, end-of-contract, career year only a couple of years ago. That was a brilliant last hurrah. Unfortunately, it also made the hurraher think he can do it again.
It hurts to watch.
I've been a yankee fan since the early 70s and this is the first time I can remember seeing a yankee icon struggle this much at the end of a career. Thurman-RIP, Donnie baseball-quit, Andy-tired out, now Jorge. I love you man but it's time to make way for Jesus.
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