Among the Yankees’ Core Four, it was always Jorge Posada who battled the darker angels. Andy Pettitte was as innocent as a dove, Mariano Rivera remained a billboard of calm while his cut-fastball lasered through the American League, and Derek Jeter, even in decline, is still as regal as Joe DiMaggio.
Posada? He’s the brooder. He’s the angry one. That simmering temper finally bubbled over on Saturday, in what’ll be remembered as the lowest point of Posada’s career. The catcher asked out of the lineup after being dropped to the No. 9 spot against Josh Beckett [stats] — a snub that Posada couldn’t live with. Not against the arch-rival Red Sox [team stats], not on national television, not when it came directly from the manager he’s never liked, Joe Girardi.
Although Posada initially accepted the demotion with grace — "I put myself in this spot (with a .165 average)" he told reporters — his mood obviously soured by 6 p.m.. That’s when Posada walked into Girardi’s office and said, simply, "I need a day (off)."
Posada? He’s the brooder. He’s the angry one. That simmering temper finally bubbled over on Saturday, in what’ll be remembered as the lowest point of Posada’s career. The catcher asked out of the lineup after being dropped to the No. 9 spot against Josh Beckett [stats] — a snub that Posada couldn’t live with. Not against the arch-rival Red Sox [team stats], not on national television, not when it came directly from the manager he’s never liked, Joe Girardi.
Although Posada initially accepted the demotion with grace — "I put myself in this spot (with a .165 average)" he told reporters — his mood obviously soured by 6 p.m.. That’s when Posada walked into Girardi’s office and said, simply, "I need a day (off)."
