By GEORGE A. KING III
Posted: 5:47 pm
July 23, 2008
Jorge Posada and the Yankees confirmed what was reported in today's Post: The All Star catcher needs right shoulder surgery that will require six months to recover from but wants to see if two weeks of rest will allow him to help as a DH/first baseman.
"I have 15 days to make a decision and there's no reason not to take the full 15. It's worse now than it was and that's the concern,'' Posada said today. "It's a labrum, that much we know. It doesn't hurt when I hit, but it is restrictive, especially left handed because that's my lead hand."
Posada is willing to miss the start of next season in order to contribute this year despite not being able to catch.
"When I have the surgery it'll be six months. So if I can come back this year and play, it means I'll miss the first part of next year,'' Posada said. "That would be my preference. Right now, I know I can't catch. And right now this is nothing to do with me any more, it's about what's best for the team. I'm just hopeful at the end of the two weeks I'll be in a position where I can play."
And if he isn't, the surgery that Dr. David Altchek says is necessary will likely be done. Six months from two weeks is early January, more than a month before spring training opens.
"We have 15 days to make up our mind,'' said Joe Girardi, who explained he would never tell a player what to do. "We are going to do what's best for all parties involved.''
With Richie Sexson on board to play first base and possibly DH against lefties, Girardi said the switch-hitting Posada could play first or DH. With Hideki Matsui likely headed for left knee surgery, there might be some at-bats for Posada. However, he has to hit better than the .268 hit did in 51 games.
What the Yankees have to weigh is whatever Posada can give them at first or DH worth not having the surgery until after the season and missing a part of next year.
"It has to be in his heart that what he is doing is right,'' Girardi said. "It's not something I am going to speculate on. We have time to discuss it.''
Posada was on the DL from April 28 to June 3 and went back on the shelf Monday.
A blog item on the Journal News (Westchester) web site as well as LoHud.com that accused Yankees president Randy Levine of forcing Posada to play in order to get something back on the four-year, $52.4 million investment was scoffed at by Levine.
"It's a silly story,'' Levine said. "(The writer) should have called me first then he would have known it was nonsense. We make our decisions on medical reports.''
