Mailbag: Is Posada's future at first?

Beat reporter Bryan Hoch answers Yankees fans' questions

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
01/21/2008 11:58 AM ET

Since we know that Jorge Posada signed a contract for four more years, do you think he is going to move to first base in two? -- Mo L., Spokane, Wash.

There has been no definite time frame on a position switch for Posada, except to say that it could happen someday. If you look at the history of catchers' decline entering their late 30s, the tale of the tape suggests that no one maintains those levels of productivity forever. If there is a catching fountain of youth, the secret isn't being let out.

Then again, Posada may be marking new territory anyway, part of the reason why the Yankees felt comfortable with ponying up four years and $52.4 million. No catcher did what Posada did in 2007 at age 36. If you remember, the Yankees dabbled a little with Posada at first base as recently as last season, using National League rules and the absence of the designated hitter as their reasoning.

Posada seemed less than enthusiastic about the move, but after taking a few ground balls during batting practice, he seemed at least passable, recording six putouts and taking part in one double play. That doesn't mean Posada feels especially comfortable about first base, and certainly for 2008, the Yankees don't envision any switch in store.

Actually, he believes that coming up as an infielder and making a switch later to catcher may have helped keep Posada from suffering the wear and tear most catchers inevitably experience at this stage of their careers. The DH rule also provides another way that Posada could be a lineup force through 2011. By then, the next crop of Yankees catchers -- Francisco Cervelli, Jesus Montero and Austin Romine, among them -- should have had opportunities to state their cases for big league duty.

"Having the DH in the American League was one of the things -- if anything goes wrong, I could fall [back] as a DH," Posada said recently. "Right now, I'm a catcher. I'm looking forward to catch for four more years. After that, if I can play after that contract, I'll try to do something else."

What's all this talk about the Yankees needing a No. 1 starter? Have we forgotten about Chien-Ming Wang? He's won 19 games two years in a row, took a perfect game into the eighth inning and has great poise on the mound. He did have one bad series against Cleveland, but is that enough to say he's not No. 1 material?
-- Eric W., Los Angeles

That's up to the observer. There are plenty of people out there who insist that Wang is really more of a solid No. 2, despite the 38 victories over the past two seasons. They've used the Cleveland postseason starts as ammunition this offseason, and until Wang gets back on a mound and starts chalking up wins, there's not a whole lot he can do.

The results of the AL Cy Young Award balloting, where Wang did not receive even one vote, were surprising. For the purposes of comparisons among "aces," Wang seems to have been hurt by high hit totals and low strikeout ratios.

Posada and second baseman Robinson Cano have been among the players who have stepped up and insisted the Yankees need an ace such as the Twins' Johan Santana for 2008. The decision seems to be a split one among the clubhouse, at best. Left-hander Andy Pettitte thinks the Yankees will be just fine as currently comprised, saying last month, "I think Wang is an absolute stud. An ace."

Do you think the fallout from the Mitchell Report could be a big distraction for the team? Pettitte may speak at the congressional hearings on Feb. 13. I feel that the lingering effects could be felt for a long time.
-- Neil B., Albany, N.Y.

In Pettitte's case, there will probably be some uncomfortable moments when he first reports to Spring Training -- he'll have to address the media on what he told Congress less than 24 hours later in Tampa, Fla.

But getting down into the routine of pitchers and catchers could actually be the best thing for Pettitte. The on-field drills and conditioning are things that players are accustomed to and understand; the off-field debates are the realm of lawyers and the like.

Between the lines will probably be where Pettitte can be most like himself, as he can focus on the work that he's done for his entire adult life.

I am wondering what happened to Don Mattingly on the 2008 Hall of Fame ballot. I thought a couple of years ago Donnie Baseball was just a few percentages shy of becoming enshrined?
-- Cameron B., Greenwood, Ind.

Mattingly was on the ballot for an eighth consecutive year and actually had a slight uptick in votes, though he fell well shy of the 75 percent of ballots cast needed for induction into Cooperstown. Mattingly received 86 votes (15.8 percent), which represented some progress over the 54 votes (9.9 percent) cast in his favor in 2007.

That support is enough to keep him on for next year's ballot, but since Mattingly has never earned more than 28 percent of the vote in any year, even he has admitted that the Hall of Fame remains a long shot. As long as No. 23 hangs in Monument Park, he seems to be fine with that.

What do you see in Brian Cashman's future as the Yankees' general manager? His contract is up after this year.
-- Josh M., Howell, N.J.

I don't know if it's something to worry about just yet for the typical fan. Can it become a topic in September and October if it's still unresolved? Absolutely.

Cashman has said so many times that he doesn't make moves to keep his job, he makes them to do his job. If you check out the moves this offseason, he's been ardent about not sacrificing the future to make sure he has an office in the new stadium.

Even though Cashman admits the job description has changed again, he would be quick to tell you that he has outlasted all estimates in a climate that isn't favorable to long runs of service. You would have to think that if the Yankees win and Cashman is comfortable with the setup of the Hank and Hal Steinbrenner era, he could be made a fair offer to stay.

Last spring, closer Mariano Rivera was working on a changeup. Whatever happened to that?
-- Spencer P., Oakland

It seems that Rivera toys with something every spring, mostly to kill the seven weeks after pitchers and catchers report. Hey, for a guy notorious for not taking road trips around Florida, you've got to have something that occupies your time. The changeup wasn't really a factor in big league competition; if you're going to get beat, it might as well be with your best stuff.

Manager Joe Girardi should consider giving Rivera a good-natured shock on the first day of Spring Training by hanging gray uniform pants -- and only the road grays -- in his locker.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

News source：http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080121&content_id=2351915&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy