So Posada, a Yankee since 1995 (technically, though he really only became a permanent fixture in 1997), has been benched indefinitely. A tough fate for a long-time core member of the team, but it was an inevitability. It's the question every athlete must answer eventually -- do I quit while I'm ahead, or do I keep playing until I can play no more? Posada chose the latter. It gave him several more years in the MLB, but it meant that one day his skills would deteriorate and he would be benched. Some would say that it was a sign of great respect from the Yankees that he wasn't traded when he first began to lose his touch.
A sad day for him, no doubt, but one that marks the end of an illustrious career -- Posada is easily one of the most offensively successful catchers in baseball, and his record will carry him to Hall of Fame renown. He'll probably be given a pinch-hitting spot here and there, but his declining batting average suggests that it won't happen too often. But in the end, what does that matter? He'll be remembered not for this sub-par 2011 season, but for over a decade of top-notch play offensively and defensively.
What's your favorite Posada memory? Share it here!
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