Need more answers on Posada-Yankees fight

It’s hard to have an opinion on who is right and who is wrong in the dispute between Jorge Posada and the New York Yankees because I’m still not sure what’s going on.

After watching Friday night’s loss in person at the stadium, I tuned in to Fox yesterday to watch a baseball game between the Yankees and the hated Red Sox. All I saw was the game become secondary to the brewing controversy between Posada and the Yankees. Joe Buck and Tim McCarver talked vaguely about the dispute simply because they didn’t know what the heck was going on and Brian Cashman did an interview with Fox that raised more questions than answers.

Was Posada so upset at being demoted to the 9th spot in the lineup on national television that he begged out of a game against the Yankees’ bitter rivals? Did he fake an injury to cover up that he was just upset about the demotion? It sure seems that way since Cashman told Fox that there was no injury issue. Was Posada right to be that upset that Cashman spoke about the situation – without giving any real information – during the middle of the game? Anyone who reads my blog knows that I think Cashman is talking way too much these days, but was it the complete etiquette breach that Posada implied?

One thing I don’t want is Laura Posada giving injury reports on her husband. Sure, he probably mentioned to her that he had a stiff back, but if it was such a problem that he couldn’t play, why didn’t he mention it to his manager Joe Girardi, his general manager Cashman or one of his excellent trainers?

I can’t say that I’m at all surprised that this happened. Posada is a proud man, which is part of what has made him a great ballplayer and part of what makes him a hothead. He doesn’t have anywhere near the tact that allows his good friend Derek Jeter to deflect and minimize controversies. With the fiery Posada, things always seem to explode.

I’m starting to feel really bad for Girardi. He’s going to have to make some tough decisions about Posada and Jeter, although he seems to have come out of his slump. (There are no tough decisions to make about Mariano Rivera, other than making sure he gets enough rest, as he continues his awe-inspiring domination of opposing hitters). Girardi has to manage these delicate relationships under the glare of the New York media spotlight. The Yankees manager doesn’t have the best relationship with the media and he was obviously frustrated and bewildered yesterday and that came across in his press conference. He had to walk a fine line because he didn’t want to embarrass his player and he really didn’t have any answers.

I feel the same way. I really hope we get some answers today because I’m at a loss to explain how a game with the Yankees’ bitter rival became a footnote.