Jorge Posada will not be in the most eagerly anticipated lineup of the season Sunday night when the New York Yankees face the Boston Red Sox in Game 3 of their weekend series at Yankee Stadium. Reporters got access to the lineup around 4:30 p.m., and Posada's name is not in it. Andruw Jones is the designated hitter, batting seventh.
Posada, the Yankees' designated hitter, caused a huge stir Saturday night when he removed himself from the lineup about an hour before the game. Batting just .165, the 17-year veteran had been dropped to ninth in the order by Manager Joe Girardi. Did he just need to 'clear his head?' Was he insulted by the move? Did his back really hurt, as his wife claimed on Twitter and he later claimed during a post-game interview. No one knows for sure.
Here is the complete lineup:
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Andruw Jones DH
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF
The Posada saga is likely far from over. It will be interesting to hear Manager Joe Girardi's reason for leaving Posada on the bench, though he is likely to reference Posada's 0-for-24 thus far in 2011 against left-hander pitchers. Boston is pitching lefty ace Jon Lester Sunday night.
Bringing a graceful end to the career of proud, fading veterans is never easy. In Posada's case, it now seems impossible.