When the season opened up Jorge Posada was going to be asked to shoulder the load at the catchers spot, even though he would be turning 39. So far this season it has not worked out that way. Posada has had a few injuries including a broken bone in his foot from a foul ball, along with two separate knee injuries, one from getting hit by a pitch and the more recent was a cyst behind the knee. With all the injuries Francisco Cervelli has played alot more then expected.
Early in the season Cervelli was on fire, especially with runners in scoring position. Many called for Cervelli to become the everyday catcher and for Posada to DH every day. Well since mid-May Cervelli has been hitting under .200 and has only thrown at 14% of base stealer's.
Posada on the other hand hasn't thrown many more runners out (17%) but has hit much better then Cervelli. Posada this season just hasn't stayed healthy enough to catch every day, and has been streaky with the bat.
Girardi recently announced that he was going to have a catching rotation. At first I liked the idea for the main fact that it would give Posada rest and he could heal all his nagging injuries, and he could still DH when he wasn't catching because Posada's bat is useful in the line up. It also meant that Cervelli would play less, I firmly believe that Cervelli is a great asset to the club for his emotion and enthusiasm he brings but when he plays often the league figures him out. This season once the league figured out Cervelli it was down hill.
During a session with the media, Joe Girardi announced that he planned to have Cervelli catch A.J Burnett and Javier Vazquez. Posada would catch Dustin Moseley,(Andy Pettitte when he comes back),Phil Hughes and CC Sabathia. That would be how the catching rotation would work, based on rotating on what pitcher was pitching.
Sure the rotation may help the Yankees at this time but come October this could be a disaster. I'm sure most remember last postseason when Burnett had to have Jose Molina as his personal catcher, and Posada had to sit. Well the same thing this season, in the postseason what will Girardi do ? It doesn't make any sense to have Cervelli in the line up if he cant hit, and isn't a huge defensive upgrade over Posada. With this catching rotation, it is creating personal catchers for the pitching staff. Then come playoff time and Burnett or Vazquez are pitching to Posada and getting lit up because they had not gotten to work with him during the regular season, who/what is to blame? It would have to be Girardi and his catching rotation.
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