How Posada Got His Groove

There's something about New York Yankee mystique—the 39 American League pennants lining the cathedral rafters in the Bronx —that draws the world's attention. Only minutes into morning warm-ups on the team's first day of spring training at Legends Field in Tampa, there are more photographers and journalists from the global press corps than most small market teams gather on the season's opening day. Year after year, the press corps flocks to the Tampa confines, hoping to catch a first glimpse of the season's promise—which in Yankee fan talk means another pennant. Anything short of a title is tantamount to failure. Even as the Yankees made the post season for the 11th consecutive year, the perceived failure of this storied franchise to win the World Series forced legendary manager Joe Torre out. So the buzz this year is not about this city's next King Kong, wielding thundering lumber, but about Joe Girardi, the former Yankee backstop who signed as Torre's replacement.

Few players in the Yankees know better what to expect from the new skipper than veteran catcher Jorge Posada, who shared duties behind home plate with Girardi when they were teammates back in 1996. On this first day of training, Posada is among the group of Yankee pitchers and catchers who are stretching and conditioning prior to the team's practice. Posada goes through the rigors of camp, grimacing as he stretches, betraying the wear of 11 seasons playing in pinstripes.

If it is indeed true that Girardi generates enthusiasm as an agent of change, Posada provides a constant of excellence with steadfast leadership and reliable numbers. As much, if not more, is expected of the steady veteran because he's fresh into a four-year deal worth $52.4 million.

Posada, who started his career in the minor leagues as a second baseman out of Calhoun Community College in 1991, was moved behind home plate by the Yankees because of his great game sense and a cannon arm. The Yankee shift proved to be correct. Posada's stellar career numbers place him in the company of legendary Yankee catchers Yogi Berra and Thurman Munson as one of the top players in the position. He has played in six All Star games and is the only catcher in the majors to hit above .330 with 40 doubles, 20 home runs and 85 RBIs in a single season. According to statistics compiled on the New York Yankees homepage, from 2000 forward, Posada has more RBIs (603) than any other catcher in the history of the game.

Aside from a down year in 2005, which caused some to suggest his decline had begun, Posada posted career numbers in 2007— AVG .338, 20 HRs and 90 RBIs. Posada's improbable rebound likely traces to a new training regimen and his tireless study of opponents prior to games. Nothing, however, has helped him to focus on the game more than knowing that his son Jorge Jr., who was diagnosed with craniosynostosis at birth, is finally healthy enough to lead a normal life.

Only hours after the first day of training ended, Metro witnessed this father's special bond with his son. During an interview inside the Posada home in Tampa , the future Hall of Famer discussed his life and baseball.

There are aspects to catching—the sense of the game—that are innate and others that require a learning process. Who taught you how to call a game?

When you play shortstop and second base you feel as though you are in the game. And you go on developing that skill. I had a manager during my first years of catching, who is now the manager of Kansas City , Trey Hillman. He helped me very much. Then there's a gentleman, may he rest in peace, Oscar Acosta, who was my pitching coach in Triple A. He helped me in all aspects of my game.

And there's the experience playing softball, catching for my father. I used to ask for pitches while I was only 16 years old and these guys were grown men. I guess it was just in me.

But Oscar Acosta would ask me: “Why did you ask for that pitch? Why this, why that?” Then came Girardi. Then Joe Torre.

Girardi as a teammate?

Yes, he caught one day; I caught the next day. Torre was also great because he would say: “Whenever you ask for a pitch, make sure you have a reason behind it.”

Did you think about sequences of pitches?

Absolutely, three and four pitches in advance. So you start llevando un juego (calling a game).

How did you scout to do that for each player?

Well there's video and there are scouting reports on each player. You analyze everything, and you apply it to the pitcher who's playing that game.

Of all of the batters that you faced, who has given you the toughest time?

Edgar Martínez was very good. You'd pitch him a certain way, and after one or two pitches he'd adjust, and one or two pitches before, he'd be ready for what was coming. Manny Ramírez is very good.

The players who are best are those who have good averages and don't have many gaps. But they are usually regular opponents, usually very smart hitters.

Describe your relationship with Joe Girardi. Ever since I made it to the big leagues in 1996, he always looked for a way to remain close by, providing support, telling me stuff like: “I know you are better than me.” He was always supportive. “This job is yours,” he would say. “I am just holding it for now.” We used to train together. He was always very well prepared. He's always reading, very well prepared.

From what you know about Girardi, what should the Yankees players expect?

He's going to be a hands-on guy. He's going to be a little bit more critical, and he's going to tell you exactly what needs to be done for the team to win. Everything is going to be about the team; it's not going to be about individuals anymore.

Was it too much that way in the past?

It happens on every team. I think this team needs what he's going to bring. He's going to bring a lot more focus on how we can win as a team. And, when you try to do that—in the long run—you play better when you get to the playoffs. So, hopefully we can turn that page.

I am sure the New York fans will be pleased. But, there's much pressure to win now. Do you think the Yankees did the right thing in saying “no” to Johan Santana and keeping the young talent?

Well, Johan Santana is the best pitcher there is right now in the big leagues. But the problem is they were asking too much in return for him. They were asking for our everyday centerfielder, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy: three big league players, two who are a part of your starting rotation.

So, it was the right choice?

Sure, I wouldn't trade three guys for one. Melky Cabrera is going to be a great centerfielder. He's going to be one of the best; he's going to win a gold glove. So he's got a ways to develop because he's still young. But he has so much talent that you can't let him go.

The team is talking about putting Joba Chamberlain in the starting rotation? What does that do to the middle relief, where you are thinnest?

I only know Joba as a reliever.

I haven't seen him as a starter, so it's tough for me to judge how good a starter he would be. So, I think, in the long run, Joba should be in the bullpen. He's going to help us a lot more there. The one-two punch of him and Mariano [Rivera] is what is going to get us to the playoffs.

Which one of the young guys coming up now—you talked about Kennedy—who do you see hitting it big, from your contact with the guys?

I think Phil Hughes is going to have a great year. The way he is working, the way he looks; I actually caught him today. He looks great—the ball is coming out of his hand real good. If he maintains the work ethic that he's shown in the last offseason, I think he's going to be great.

People expect a decline in performance, but your on-base percentage, your batting average—all the numbers—went up. What, if anything, did you do differently in your training?

The last three years I tried to maintain the same body weight, but get stronger. We've been doing a lot more core exercises, a lot more strength in the middle of the body. So, instead of being so bulky, really I've just tried to get stronger—without the bulkiness. We are doing a lot more medicine ball.

I read a scouting report that says when you are switch hitting, you “like the ball middle-down when you are left-handed, and middle-up when you are right-handed.” Explain the mechanics of that.

It's the top hand. When you are left-handed, the bottom hand just drops, when you are right-handed, the top hand is more on top of the baseball. If you are a left-handed player hitting right-handed, you actually like the ball down. As a right-handed player—I'm right-handed—the right hand is on top so it is easier to get to the ball.

When we heard about your boy [he was diagnosed with craniosynostosis], I empathized with you... How did you focus on the game while dealing with the stress of your son's illness? Did you draw inspiration from his courage in facing the treatment for the condition?

Yeah, he's been through a lot. And I think the first operation was probably the toughest, because obviously we didn't know what was going on. And we had to wait six months, because they told us [about the condition] 10 days after he was born. We had to wait six months for him to be operated on; we were in the middle of the season.

Did you share that with your teammates?

Well, only a couple of guys. Joe Torre knew, Tino Martínez knew and Derek Jeter knew—that's it. Nobody else knew. I didn't want the media to ask me everyday how my son was doing. And it was tough. I grew up; I got stronger. I saw him fighting, and I fought too.

Now that he's out of the woods, how are you emotionally with the game?

It is easier coming to the field, not thinking: “What's going to happen?” I can concentrate on playing ball. You know, I come home and I know things are going to be fine. It's easier to sleep and rest. I don't have that preoccupation in the back of my head.

Speaking of distractions, there's a lot going on in Congress these days with the whole Human Growth Hormone (HGH) issue. I want your opinion on how the whole thing is being handled?

I think the biggest thing is that they are trying to clean up the game. If you get 20 guys who say they used it [HGH], you have to investigate it; why did you use it and who used it—that's all they are trying to do. As players who are not involved, we have to forget about it and move forward. There are many other things to focus on and I feel bad, because a lot of the guys are my friends. I know in a tough time some guys might have taken it because they were injured and they were trying to get to the field a little faster.

Do the guys in the clubhouse resent Andy [Pettitte] for coming out with his testimony or do they accept his honesty?

That's the way Andy is. I think Andy is an honest person. He was put in a situation and he said that he needed to use it because he was getting demands from the team. He is as genuine as they come. He is a great guy and he took it because he needed to get back.

Back in 2005, I reported that one of the issues holding up the MLBPA Agreement to participate in the World Baseball Classic had to do with the International Baseball Federation's sanctioning of the event. The MLB union would not participate in the event if anabolic steroids were included as a substance with binding sanctions tied to it. So there is inconsistency between saying you want to deal with it and actually carrying it through. Do you think players really feel the game needs to be cleaned up?

I think so. I think everybody has to be the same. That is why they are investigating; you have to have a level playing field. You just can't have guys that don't look natural. Now everybody is on the same level. Before, you had guys picking up 10 M.P.H. in one off-season. It was unnatural; now the game is clean. It is a shame it had to happen that way.

How do you assess the Yankees chances as a team this season?

We have to stay together. We have stay away from the injuries at the beginning of the season that really put us behind last year. We were in last place going into May and that can't happen. And we pushed it real hard and made it as the wild card. But it was a tough season. We grew up as a team. With what we were doing at the end, I thought we were going to take off in October, but it didn't happen.

I am really looking forward to this season. I think the young guys are going to help us a lot. We are going to be a battler. I think we are going to be the team that is going to come and get you every day, scoring six or seven runs a game. We have a great lineup, so I think it is really up to the pitching staff to give us a chance.

Posted By: By Philipe Schoene Roura

More Information: http://metrosanjuan.com/features_03_01.php

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How Posada Got His Groove