Early Saturday evening, Joe Girardi's Yankee lineup had Jorge Posada hitting ninth in the order and DHing.
About an hour later, it was reported Posada had asked out of the lineup for non-injury reasons, and that he was going to speak to reporters after the game. Posada was unhappy that he was hitting last in the order, and felt disrespected by the organization that he has been a part of since 1990.
The sentiment that Yankees "owe" him something is disturbing. Posada, 39, is being paid over $13 million this season, and currently ranks last among qualified hitters, with a .175 batting average. Posada should bat wherever, and play wherever his manager asks him to.
Meanwhile Sunday night, the aging Jason Varitek was behind the plate for the Red Sox. The Sox' captain has been with the organization since 1994, and has accepted his limited role with the team over the last three years, taking pay cuts and diminished playing time to remain at Fenway Park.
The discrepancy in attitude between the two aging catchers is staggering. As Varitek was playing a role in the Sox' 7-5 victory, Posada was off sulking in the clubhouse of the Yankees' billion dollar palace.
The Red Sox "owe" just as much to Varitek as the Yankees to do Posada: none. While both organizations are gracious for the contributions that the players have made over the last decade plus, as long as they are cashing the paychecks, the players best do their jobs.
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