Via Dom Amore today -
On Sunday, A.J. Burnett pitched seven scoreless innings, his best game of the season, and lavished praise on rookie Francisco Cervelli, who began the season at Double A Trenton. Burnett shook off Cervelli twice in 111 pitches.
“He’s very energetic back there,” Burnett said. “He has a conviction about any sign he puts down.”
So far this season, Yankees pitchers have a 6.31 ERA in the 232 1/3 innings Posada has caught, which includes most of Chien-Ming Wang’s 21 1/3 innings and 14.34 ERA.
With Cervelli, Kevin Cash and Jose Molina, the ERA is 3.81 in 333 1/3 innings.
“I know people are making a huge deal out of that,” manager Joe Girardi said. “Some of that is Chien-Ming Wang, some of that is learning a new pitching staff and adjusting. I think a lot of it is just coincidence.”
CC Sabathia has been pitching exclusively to Cervelli since early May. Now Burnett, who was critical of Posada after blowing a 6-0 lead at Fenway Park in April and pitched poorly in Boston last week, seems to have found his groove with Cervelli.
A decade ago, David Cone and Roger Clemens were among those who preferred to pitch to Girardi rather than Posada. That was easier to explain, since Girardi was a veteran and Posada was just assuming the starting role. Girardi was let go after the 1999 season, in large part to take that option away and establish Posada as the everyday catcher.
Clemens and Posada soon developed a strong relationship. But in 2000, Cone, in the midst of a 4-14 season, ended up pitching regularly to backup Chris Turner.
“I was panicking,” Cone said. “My stuff wasn’t as good, I didn’t know what to throw. Jorge didn’t know what to put down. I’ve apologized to him since then.”
Over the years that followed, several pitchers have expressed problems throwing to Posada, including Mike Mussina and Randy Johnson, who was paired exclusively with John Flaherty for much of the 2005 season. In 2002, Orlando Hernandez and Posada had a confrontation in the clubhouse before a game. Still, Posada caught David Wells’ perfect game in 1998 and most of the postseason games for three championship teams.
“You can’t lay it all on Jorge,” Cone said. “He did a great job with Boomer [Wells], he did a great job with Rocket. Those guys let him lead. He wants to lead, and that’s what he’s there for. You have to let him lead early in a game. If you’re shaking him off right from the start, like Joba was, you’re going to have a tough time.”
But why? Different pitchers, past and present, have had different issues. Some have said privately that Posada tends to approach hitters the way opposing pitchers approach him. Others found him to be too sensitive about being shaken off, especially when he was younger.
More recently, pitchers have noted that Posada gives the signs deliberately, and after flashing signs he tucks his hand behind his back. So if the pitcher shakes him off, he has to start over. Other catchers flash signs quickly and, if the pitcher disagrees, just keep flashing, so the rhythm is better. With Chamberlain shaking off Posada so often Friday, there seemed to be an eternity between pitches. Posada was asked if his relationship with Chamberlain was becoming as volatile as it was with Hernandez.
It’s interesting that Andy Pettitte is not mentioned here. I recall hearing, in the past, that Pettitte doesn’t like to think on the mound. And, he just wants to be told what to throw and then concentrates on the quality of the pitch – rather than worry about the strategy of the pitch. Perhaps that’s why Andy is not listed as having an issue with Jorge – because he throws what he is told?
When you read between the lines it sure does sound like Posada is a my-way-or-the-highway guy in terms of game-calling. And, while that may work with some of the pitchers who are not deep thinkers, there are others who need to feel involved in the pitch selection process.
Somehow, Joe Girardi and/or Tony Pena needs to find a way to work this out – because the Yankees are a better team when Posada’s bat is in the line-up as their catcher.
13 Responses to “Amore On Lack Thereof For ‘Sado’s Game Calling”
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June 16th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I don’t know if it was in ST or early in the regular season, I remember Jorge being asked about Joba shaking him off during a certain AB because Joba really wanted to throw his slider. Jorge let Joba have his way and the ball left the park. Personally, I think the pitchers need to stop making excuses. Pitchers are like actresses– mental cases.
June 16th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
This argument that has become public is all crap and disrespectful to Jorge, to be completely honest. While Jorge has been catching the Yankees they’ve won three World Series, appeared in five and made the playoffs 11 out of 12 years since he started catching in 1997. The one year he isn’t healthy and goes down, where are the Yankees? Out of the playoffs.
Jorge has been calling games for extremely successful Yankee teams for years now, the idea that the Yankees are a poor team because of his game calling, or how AJ Burnett can lay a blown 6-0 lead on Jorge, is also laughable.
Here’s a tip from a former catcher: Most pitchers are hot-heads and total babies (no offense if you were a pitcher). Just look at the ones who complain about Jorge: Mussina couldn’t handle a call that didn’t go his way and would immediately fall apart; Johnson the same way; El Duque would rather get in a public confrontation than compromise…and in turn, they refuse to put any fault on themselves and ask for a new catcher instead. With that move, it’s spun into a problem with Jorge’s game. I just never got this argument, it bothers me and i’m sure it really bothers JoPo.
June 16th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
i recall questioning posada’s pitch calling abilities earlier in the season and gettin it laughed off. now its everywhere
June 16th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I don’t think it’s anyone intentions to discount Jorge’s success in the past, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this year’s rotation is having problems when he is behind the plate. He flat out discounted Joba’s abilitites as a starter during that Centerstage interview he did last year. I’m sure that didn’t sit well with Joba and may have lead to some friction between the two. Whether what he is putting down is the “right” move, it doesn’t change the fact that these guys don’t feel comfortable with him behind the plate and if they’re not comfortable, they are going to pitch poorly.
June 16th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Janks-n-Jints wrote:
“Charlie, here comes the slider. And when you speak of me, speak well. ”
YankCrank wrote:
In fairness, Mussina & Johnson had quite the resumes before they came to NY. Having said that, Posada caught Mussina a few times when he had Cy-Young caliber seasons, so I don’t know what the problem is/was
Personally I think the “Posada can’t call a game” card is a red herring.
June 16th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Raf wrote:
for what, bad pitching?
June 16th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Here’s a tip from a former catcher: Most pitchers are hot-heads and total babies (no offense if you were a pitcher)
———
As a former catcher myself, I’ll give the other side of the argument:
Whether pitchers are babies or not is ultimately irrelevant. The only thing that matters is getting this group of pitchers comfortable enough with Posada’s gameplan out there. I like Posada and his bat is far too valuable to lose but since his defense has never really been that good to begin with, moving him to DH next year would not be the worst thing in the world, especially if this new staff doesn’t like working with him.
June 16th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Corey wrote:
Yep. It’s the latest excuse. Remember the days when they blamed Mel, or thought a pitcher was tipping his pitches?
June 16th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
As a pitcher, I’ll give a catcher the benefit of the doubt, as there are subtleties to the game that I may not pick up while on the mound.
June 16th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
[Crash calls for a curve ball, Ebby shakes off the pitch twice]
Crash Davis: [stands up] Hey! HEY!
[walks to meet Ebby at the mound]
Crash Davis: Why are you shaking me off?
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: [Gets in Crash's face] I want to give him the heat and announce my presence with authority!
Crash Davis: Announce your fucking presence with authority? This guy is a first ball, fast ball hitter!
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: Well he hasn’t seen my heat!
Crash Davis: [pauses] Allright meat, show him your heat.
[Walks back towards the box]
Crash Davis: [to the batter] Fast ball.
June 16th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
@ Raf:
poor mel, i miss him
June 16th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Perhaps the organization should’ve made Brien Taylor watch Bull Durham? Funny thing was he was supposed to pitch winter ball after his season with Albany, but he declined. So much for that, eh?
June 16th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Raf wrote:
I was at a Red Sox-Orioles spring training game in Fort Lauderdale a couple of years ago, there was a pitching change and the new Oriole pitcher was really popping the catcher’s glove LOUD. A couple of rows away from me, some guy stood up and screamed “TO ANNOUNCE MY PRESENCE WITH AUTHORITY!” and me and maybe one other person laughed out loud. Apparently nobody else new the reference, must have all been pink hats.