Raf wrote:

Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: [Gets in Crash's face] I want to give him the heat and announce my presence with authority!

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.

Crash Davis: Did you hit me with your right hand or did you hit me with your left? Huh? Did you hit me with your right hand or did you hit me with your LEFT?
Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: My left.
Crash Davis: Good! That’s good; when you get in a fight with a drunk you don’t hit him with your pitching hand.

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?

@ Raf:
poor mel, i miss him

[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.

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.

Corey wrote:

Raf wrote:
for what, bad pitching?

Yep. It’s the latest excuse. Remember the days when they blamed Mel, or thought a pitcher was tipping his pitches?

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.

Raf wrote:

Personally I think the “Posada can’t call a game” card is a red herring.

for what, bad pitching?

Janks-n-Jints wrote:

Jorge let Joba have his way and the ball left the park.

“Charlie, here comes the slider. And when you speak of me, speak well. ”

YankCrank wrote:

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…

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.

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.