Posada asks out after drop in lineup

Times wires
Saturday, May 14, 2011

NEW YORK — Jorge Posada removed himself from the Yankees' starting lineup Saturday night, saying he needed a day to clear his head after being dropped to ninth in the batting order by manager Joe Girardi.

Posada, who is batting .165 in his first season as a full-time DH, was set to bat No. 9 for the first time in 12 years. He said he told Girardi about a half-hour before the game that his back was bothering him.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman had said that Posada wasn't hurt.

"I told (Girardi) I couldn't play today and that I needed time to first to clear my head," Posada said. "That was it. My back stiffened up a little bit. I was taking a lot of ground balls at first base and worked out, and I wasn't 100 percent."

Posada's wife tweeted before the game that the five-time All-Star had back stiffness. That was contradicted by Cashman, who spoke with the media during the game against the Red Sox.

"I didn't know he made a statement. I don't know why he's going to make a statement during the game, in the middle of the game. I don't understand that," Posada said. "You know, so that's the way he works now."

The Associated Press reported that the Yankees have been in contact with the commissioner's office and might consider fining Posada one day's pay, or $71,978 on his $13.1 million salary.

BANGED-UP TEXAS: The Rangers put CF Julio Borbon on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his left hamstring, leaving them without any of their opening-day outfielders.

AL MVP Josh Hamilton has been out since breaking a bone in his upper right arm April 12, and RF Nelson Cruz came out of a game May 3 with a strained right quadriceps. Texas bought the contract of OF Endy Chavez from Triple-A Round Rock.

Meanwhile, the Rangers and Athletics will make up Wednesday's rained out game July 7, which had been an off day for both teams.

BRAVES: RF Jason Heyward missed his fourth straight start with inflammation in his right shoulder but entered in the ninth inning as a defensive replacement. … RHP Brandon Beachy was examined by a team doctor for an oblique injury he sustained Friday night. The rookie starter will be placed on the disabled list today, and RH reliever Scott Proctor will be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett.

METS: RF Carlos Beltran was removed from the lineup because of swelling in his right eye. Beltran told ESPN that he might have conjunctivitis, or pinkeye.

NATIONALS: Michael Aubrey, a 2003 first-round pick for the Indians, hit four home runs for Triple-A Syracuse. The outburst equaled his homer output from his last major-league season in 2008. … RHP Brian Broderick was designated for assignment, and RHP Cole Kimball was recalled from Triple A-Syracuse.

PHILLIES: Top prospect Domonic Brown, a former Pasco High standout, sustained a first-degree sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb Wednesday at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and is expected to be out for a few more games. … CF Shane Victorino left the game against the Braves with hamstring soreness and said he doesn't expect to play today.

REDS: RH reliever Jose Arredondo was activated, and RHP Mike Leake was optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Arredondo had reconstructive elbow surgery in February 2010. Leake was 3-2 with a 5.70 ERA in six starts and three relief outings.

TWINS: RHP Joe Nathan has progressed enough in his recovery from last year's Tommy John surgery that manager Ron Gardenhire said he'll use him as a setup man to closer Matt Capps, MLB.com reported.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/posada-asks-out-after-drop-in-lineup/1169762

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