Jorge Posada: Is he a Hall of Famer? [Poll]

Jorge Posada announced his retirement Tuesday after 17 years in the major leagues, all with the New York Yankees.The 40-year-old catcher won five World Series, was a five-time all-star and finished with a .273 career batting average, 275 home runs and 1,065 RBIs.

It's all very impressive, and he's certainly going to go down as one of the all-time great Yankees. But is he a Hall of Famer?

There are 16 catchers enshrined in Cooperstown. Posada -- who also has 1,664 hits, 900 runs scored, an on-base percentage of .374 and slugging percentage of .474 -- is statistically pretty average when compared to those guys.

But that can be taken two ways -- it's true that Posada doesn't dominate in any particular category, but he definitely holds his own among the best who have ever played his position.

He also won no Gold Gloves, and his highest finishes in MVP voting were third in 2003 and sixth in 2007. As a point of comparison, Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench won 10 Golden Gloves and two MVPs.

But there's a lot to be said for those five World Series titles, including four during a five-year stretch from 1996-2000, and the role Posada played on those teams. And the fact that he played for so long and always wore a Yankees uniform -- those are the kinds of things statistics don't necessarily reveal but voters certainly must take into account.

So what do you think? Vote in the poll, then leave a comment explaining why you voted the way you did.

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-- Chuck Schilken

Photo: Jorge Posada at a news conference to announce his retirement Tuesday. Credit: Mike Stobe / Getty Images

Jorge Posada retires after 17-year career

 

Five-time All-Star catcher and five-time World Series champion Jorge Posada, who spent his entire 17-season career with the New York Yankees, announced his retirement at a tear-filled news conference Tuesday.

"I could never wear another uniform," Posada, 40, said. "I will forever be a Yankee."

Posada said he made the decision to retire during the 2011 season, a tough one for him. Posada was in and out of the lineup, and when he did play he would often be the designated hitter.

"[Derek Jeter] helped me stay focused and positive. Thank you buddy. Hopefully you won't miss me that much," he said Tuesday.

Posada's retirement removes one of the last remaining pieces from the Yankees dynasty that won four World Series from 1996 to 2000. Only Jeter and Mariano Rivera are left from that group.

Jeter, 37, and Rivera, 42, talked about how their days for retirement would come.

"Mo's going to be here longer than all of us," Jeter told the Associated Press.

Posada made a point of thanking Jeter specifically during the news conference.

Posada finished his career with a .273 career batting average, 275 home runs and 1,065 RBIs.

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-- Houston Mitchell

Japanese baseball players in U.S. try to contact friends, family after deadly earthquake

Ripples from the earthquake that devastated parts of Japan were being felt as far away as Arizona and Florida on Friday as Japanese players tried, sometimes in vain, to reach friends and family members.

The quake, the largest recorded temblor to strike Japan and the fifth-largest in history, caused power failures and fires, shuttered airports and paralyzed transit systems, killing hundreds and setting off a massive tsunami.

Former Dodgers pitcher Takashi Saito took an indefinite leave from the Milwaukee Brewers' facility in Phoenix after being unable to contact his parents. Saito was born and attended college in the northern city of Sendai, home to 1 million people. The city, on Japan's northeast coast, was the closest population center to the epicenter of the 8.9-magnitude quake. And though Saito has been in contact with his wife, Yukiko, and three daughters, he has been unable to reach his parents, team officials said.

Kei Igawa, in minor league camp with the Yankees in Tampa, Fla., also left the team after failing to get information about his family.

Igawa's family lives in Ibaraki, which was also hit hard.

Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki and Boston Red Sox pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima also spent much of Friday trying unsuccessful to get through to their relatives although they said they believed their families were safe. Matsuzaka said he made contact with friends in Japan through e-mail but not by phone.

"Cellphones and power are down. There are 4 million people without power in Tokyo," Suzuki told reporters at the Mariners' camp outside Phoenix. "I have not gotten ahold of my family yet."

Two more hurdles for Angels in Carl Crawford derby

Bad news for the Angels on two fronts Sunday: The Boston Red Sox failed to sign Adrian Gonzalez by their negotiating window, which closed Sunday morning, and the Washington Nationals signed Jayson Werth to a seven-year, $126-million contract on Sunday afternoon.

Each development threatens to hamper the Angels' efforts to sign outfielder Carl Crawford, their primary target in free agency.

The Red Sox certainly can revive discussions with Gonzalez and with the San Diego Padres on a trade package that would accompany a contract extension. Gonzalez, a first baseman, is a better player than Crawford -- better at getting on base, with better power. The Red Sox could take the money they offered Gonzalez and see whether Crawford would take it, then turn back to Gonzalez if not. The Red Sox also have enough money to trade for Gonzalez, already under contract at $6.3 million for the 2011 season, and sign Crawford as well.

The Werth signing is more ominous, for that leaves Crawford as the only top-flight outfielder available. The Nationals had to overpay to get Werth -- such is life among non-contenders -- but in so doing they set what is sure to be a salary floor for Crawford. If Werth can get $18 million per year for seven years, Crawford surely can fetch more in dollars, years or both. Crawford is two years younger, after all, and he is the lone elite option for the Angels, Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and any other club in search of an outfielder.

The New York Yankees could make a play for Crawford too. The Texas Rangers could pitch Crawford on playing in his home state -- and how would Crawford in left field and Josh Hamilton in center compare to, say, Bobby Abreu in left and Peter Bourjos in center in Anaheim?

And, just as the Nationals did with Werth, what if a non-contender offers the most money -- as the Nationals did with Mark Teixeira two years ago and the Baltimore Orioles did with Vladimir Guerrero seven years ago, when the Angels signed him?

Bottom line: If the Angels are to win their first big-time bidding war under owner Arte Moreno, the price just went up, maybe way up.

-- Bill Shaikin

Photo: Carl Crawford. Credit: Kirby Lee / US Presswire

John Smoltz blasts 'computer guy' pitch-count mentality

John Smoltz on Friday blasted what he called the "computer guy" mentality that he says has prompted teams to remove a pitcher too soon for the good of the pitcher or the team.

"There's no excuse to not be able to be in shape to throw 130, 140 pitches, but we've gotten into this mindset from some computer guy that thinks there's a way to save the investment of a pitcher. And it's backfiring, and it will backfire," Smoltz said during a Major League Baseball conference call.

Smoltz, a Cy Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star for the Atlanta Braves, spoke one day before Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay and San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum were scheduled to face each other in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. In the first round of the playoffs, Halladay threw a no-hitter and made 104 pitches; Lincecum threw a two-hitter -- with 14 strikeouts -- and made 119 pitches.

"When a guy is dominating a game, it's a manager's job, and the hardest job is sometimes, even though you've got a great closer, that team had no chance against Lincecum. And sometimes when you bring in a change, you give the team the feeling like, 'Well, now we've got a chance,'" Smolz said.

Smoltz, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine formed the core of a rotation that made the Braves a perennial postseason entrant. But Smoltz said the Phillies' H2O trio -- Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt -- more than favorably compares to Atlanta's big three.

"They have much better stuff than we did, and that's stating the obvious," Smoltz said. "They have dominated games; we dominated games in a different way. The only thing I'll say is, if they can stick together, then they've got a chance to shatter a lot of pitching records."

-- Bill Shaikin

Ferrell plays it serious in tribute to the Little General

Baseball plays a supporting role in the Will Ferrell comedy "The Other Guys," which opened nationwide on Friday. But you'll have to be an old-school fan to catch one of  the references.

The plot turns on an accident involving co-star Mark Wahlberg and Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter, who plays himself in the movie. Less obvious, though, is the tip o' the cap to the Angels in Ferrell's decision to name Michael Keaton's character Gene Mauch after the former Angels manager.

Ferrell, a co-producer of the film, grew up in Irvine an Angel fan at the time Mauch, who died in 2005, was managing the club.

-- Kevin Baxter

Photo: Former Angels Manager Gene Mauch in 1986. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Fox baseball analyst Tim McCarver won't be disciplined for 'inappropriate' comments

On the same day Dwyane Wade apologized for what some considered to be a poor choice in words, Fox baseball analyst Tim McCarver found himself in a similar position, calling an analogy he drew between the New York Yankees organization and World War II-era Germany and Russia "inappropriate."

During the fourth inning of the televised game between the Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday -- the same day Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was buried -- McCarver started blasting the organization for its treatment of former manager Joe Torre, an ex-teammate of McCarver's.

"You remember some of those despotic leaders in World War II, primarily in Russia and Germany, where they used to take those pictures that they had taken of former generals who were no longer alive, they had shot them." McCarver said during the broadcast. "They would airbrush the generals out of the pictures; in a sense that's what the Yankees have done with Joe Torre.

"They have airbrushed his legacy. I mean, there's no sign of Joe Torre at the stadium. And that's ridiculous. I don't understand it."

The Anti-Defamation League said Monday that McCarver's comments were improper.

"No matter what one thinks of the Yankees' treatment of Joe Torre, likening it to how Germany and Russia treated their generals who fell out of favor is an inappropriate comparison," the organization said in a statement.

Two days after his initial comments, McCarver agreed that he had gone too far.

"Although my analogy was inappropriate, in my opinion the underlying point remains true," McCarver told the New York Daily News on Monday. "That Yankee management -- not the players, they have embraced Joe Torre and always will -- has erased Joe Torre from their history, for the most part. The way the Yankees treated Joe was not in response to the book he wrote ["The Yankee Years"]. The book came out well after the old stadium closed. But I admit my analogy was over the top."

Fox spokesman Dan Bell said Monday that McCarver will not be disciplined for the comments.

"We've discussed the situation with Tim, and relayed in no uncertain terms that his choice of analogies was inappropriate, which he completely agrees with and regrets using," Bell said. "Given his contrition and flawless 25-year track record, we're comfortable no further action is necessary."

-- Chuck Schilken

Photo: Tim McCarver in 1997. Credit: 20th Century Fox

Derek Jeter named most marketable player in baseball by Sports Business Daily

Derek Jeter is by far the most marketable player in baseball, according to a survey of 49 sports business executives and media personalities conducted by Street & Smith's Sports Business Daily.

The New York Yankees shortstop earned 39 first-place votes, outpacing runner-up Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals and third-place Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins, each of whom received two first-place votes.

Jeter also topped the publication's last two most-marketable lists (in 2003 and 2005). With 15 endorsement deals with companies such as Nike, Gatorade, Gillette, Delta, Upper Deck and 24 Hour Fitness, his reign may not end any time soon.

But when it does, Washington Nationals rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg might be next in line as the most marketable player. He has only appeared in eight major league games, but he received more first-place votes (three) than anyone other than Jeter and finished fourth overall in the survey.

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard rounds out the top five, with Long Beach State product Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays right behind him at No. 6.

The top local player on the list is Angels outfielder Torii Hunter, who is tied with Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia at No. 10. The Dodgers are represented in the top 25 by outfielders Andre Ethier (No. 13) and Manny Ramirez (No. 21).

In analyzing the survey, the Sports Business Daily surmised that businesses want to avoid players linked in any way to performance- enhancing drugs: Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez dropped from No. 2 in 2005 to No. 9 this year; Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz dropped from No. 10 to No. 16 and was named on only two ballots; Ramirez appeared on only one ballot.

-- Chuck Schilken

Upper photo: Derek Jeter. Credit: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images

Lower photo: Torii Hunter. Credit: Kirby Lee / US Presswire

Raiders owner Al Davis praises late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner

Raiders owner Al Davis released a statement Wednesday sharing his thoughts on his friend George Steinbrenner, the Yankees owner who died Tuesday at 80.

Some of Davis' comments about Steinbrenner:

-- "He was a friend and a warrior. We not only shared a birthday (July 4, one year apart), but also an unyielding will to win and an unparalleled commitment to excellence."

-- "I judge sports figures based on individual achievement, team achievement and contributions to the game. George was right up there with me at No. 1 -- bright, aggressive and, most of all, not afraid."

-- "When the Yankees were going through the lean times in the '80s and after we beat the Redskins in the Super Bowl in Tampa, George and I would talk and I would pep him up. Later on, he did the same for me when Tampa beat us in the Super Bowl."

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Left photo: Al Davis in 1999. Credit: John David Mercer / Associated Press

Right photo: George Steinbrenner in 1997. Credit: Ray Stubblebine / Reuters

Torre reacts to Steinbrenner's death

Dodgers Manager Joe Torre described the death of his former boss, New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, Tuesday as "very sad," and "an enormous loss."

"The only thing I wanted is for him to be proud of what we did."

Torre directed Steinbrenner's Yankees to four World Series titles, two other American League titles and 10 A.L. East division crowns in his 1996-2007 tenure as Yankees manager.

"You didn't work with him, you worked for him," Torre said Tuesday afternoon in a news conference at Dodger Stadium. "George was certainly 'The Boss,' and you certainly understood that and what that took in. You had to give answers and give a full accounting of yourself."

In his greatest triumphs, Torre said, Steinbrenner "was very emotional.

"But when all the bubbles cleared away, it was about doing it again next time. ... He was demanding." 

Torre expected Tuesday to be a quiet off day with tonight's All-Star Game in Anaheim. Instead, he awoke to learn the 80-year-old Steinbrenner had died Tuesday from a reported massive heart attack.

Torre said he spoke to Steinbrenner last week to wish the owner a happy 80th birthday. 

"I knew his health had been failing," Torre said. "I don't think you ever thought of his passing. A strong guy like that, you thought he'd always be there."

Steinbrenner's death was occasion for Torre to reflect on a unique relationship that proved the most durable for the owner, who had a storied, combustible rapport with Billy Martin.

"A lot about managing in New York stressed me out, but it wasn't so much George Steinbrenner as it was the job," Torre said.

Torre said his brother, Frank, initially advised him to avoid managing the team, but Torre said, "[Steinbrenner] wanted to win so badly. It was my only shot. I wanted to see if I could do it. We obviously had a great run.

"It never bothered me that he was the boss. Some [managers] don't want to be told what to do, but I always trreated him with respect, and he did, too. There was only a time or two when we miscommunicated in 12 years. When I was able to sit there and go one-on-one with him, we were fine.

"We just seemed to click. We all knew nobody was safe, that he wanted to win."

Torre said he felt most in peril after the Yankees blew a 3-0 lead over the rival Boston Red Sox in 2004 and lost the American League Championship to the eventual world champions.

"The rumors were flying and my wife told me, 'Just go down there [to Tampa, Fla.] to see him,' " Torre said. "I got on a plane, go to his office and I just asked him, I said, 'I don't want to be here unless you want me to manage.' He said, 'Yes, I want you to manage.' That was enough for me."

Torre smiled at memories of Steinbrenner's "football-like mentality," how he reminded his employees that he had coached at Purdue and loved George Patton. Torre said there was occasional "frustration" with Steinbrenner's impatience in a game that often requires it.

"There was no stopping him, even if you knew this might not be the best time to be doing this," Torre said.

Like when Steinbrenner picked up slugger Jose Canseco off waivers and there was little chance for him to play, or when he overruled a coaching staff decision and sent struggling pitcher Jose Contreras to class-A Tampa instead of triple-A in 2004.

"It aggravated me, because I had just given all the quotes about why he was going to triple-A," Torre said. "Of course, [Contreras] went to to Tampa. [Steinbrenner] was the boss."

That message was immediately clear to Torre, when he met with Steinbrenner on the eve of Thanksgiving in 1995 after accepting the job, and expressed a desire to return to Cincinnati to be with his then-pregnant wife that evening.

Steinbrenner said, "I'll let you go this time, but after the baby is born, your [rear] is mine."

"He had no regard for anyone else's life." Torre said. "But those were the ground rules."

Torre described Streinbrenner as "a visionary," particularly when it came to delivering the best players and avoiding detours such as a luxury tax.

Memories of George Steinbrenner, beloved sitcom character

A baseball legend has passed away, and some are honoring his memory by watching clips of a sitcom that he never actually appeared on.

New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who died at 80 on Tuesday, was a key character on "Seinfeld." Only seen by the back of the head, the fake Steinbrenner was voiced by show cocreator Larry David.

And he was hilarious. Here's a sample:

Soon after Steinbrenner's death was announced, the phrase "steinbrenner seinfeld" was trending high on Google Trends (I saw it as high as No. 2). As Michael David Smith on FanHouse.com points out, the Steinbrenner character appeared on the show 16 times, more frequently than several other popular characters such as Uncle Leo and Puddy.

Smith also indicates that Steinbrenner himself actually filmed some scenes for an episode of "Seinfeld," but they never aired (you can see them here). But the fake Steinbrenner was definitely funnier, so here's one more clip of the character who is hopefully putting a smile on the faces of sad Yankees fans:

-- Chuck Schilken