Relatively speaking, it’s the end of an era. Sure, the Yankees season is over, but beyond the inevitability of players going and coming, it’s rather obvious that the pinstripers will be parting ways with fan favorite, Jorge Posada.
What’s not to love about Jorge Posada? If you’re a Red Sox fan, the fact that he’s a member of the New York Yankees–sure, that’s enough to loathe him. Outside of the rivalry, Jorge is one of the most beloved baseball players to strut within the city of New York, and throughout America’s baseball cities.
I don’t want to paint this as a eulogy–in fact, I believe Posada has life left in the legs and fuel left in the tank, but I simply can’t see him signing to leave New York and play with anyone else for another payday. So. Let’s call it a retirement. No Brett Favre antics, no mid-season signing next year… …but if there are injuries, one never knows…
Posada was, and is a class act, and even through some late career struggles, he remained humble.
One thing that Yankees fans and faux-Yankees fans who front-run with them from all corners of the United States will enjoy–several more years of Alex Rodriguez in a Yankee uniform! Or, will they enjoy it? Detroit handled the Yankees slugger. Made him look less than average. Logic would state that while he’ll chase individual milestones, his team production will soon be on the decline.
Jim Leyland is savvy. He knows how to manage a squad, and you can bet that he echoed the sentiment of all the greats: Don’t let their best player beat you; make someone else do it. Case in point: The final at-bat of the series. A-Rod. 1 run down, 2 outs, bottom of the 9th. A dream scenario for a future hall of famer. It defied all logic for Jose Valverde to throw two consecutive, meaty strikes to Rodriguez…but that’s Valverde. Detroit kept Rodriguez off-balance and mentally guessing time and time again. They made him look average. I don’t think many championship caliber teams will struggle to do exactly that over the next few years.
It was fitting that the series ended in such a fashion–such rhetoric should resonate within the organization and throughout the fan base. It looks as if the dynasty will have to start making some tough decisions within another year: Are they interested in loyalty or legacy?
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