I'd be all for this all season long if it means Jorge doesn't have to catch twice a week - once as DH and once on the bench. The latter allows for a PH'ing role for Jorge and without having to put him in for defense afterwards. About 100 games behind the plate seems about right for Jorge. But since he's a better hitter than anyone on that bench, it makes alot of sense if he DH's for about 30 games.

As a distant (far, far, far distant) second behind having a legit apprentice C, this strikes me as a decent alternative.

Or maybe hope Springs eternal for the crankiest among us.

Leeeeso goo Yannnkk --eees.

I share your concerns about our bench and starting pitching (man, Pavano's as delicate as a champagne flute) -- and I share your optimism about the Farnsworth-Dotel combo, and the trio of 25 year old pitchers you mentioned who will all be called up to help the cause.

My not-so-bold predictions: your guy Andy Phillips will become a fan favorite this season with his glove and bat, and Proctor will be with the team all season, stepping into Sturtze's role as a Torre favorite.

My out-on-a-limb predictions: Bernie will be productive in his limited role (300 DH/RF at-bats), and Wright will be a major contributor (either as starter or reliever).

Thanks to you and Alex for a great off-season of info and insights. Let's go Yankees!

Obviously, Jorge can't catch 162 games, no catcher can, particularly not a 34-year-old catcher who's shown obvious late-season fatigue catching between 130 and 140 games the last six years. So a back-up will have to catch some 30-40 games regardless and having Jorge DH on those days makes a great deal of sense, but it's been something Torre's never been willing to do. Having a third catcher might change that, and that's where you're right.

Where you go too far is that extra 20-30 games in which you have Jorge out of the line-up altogether, which means either Stinnett or Nieves and (sadly, but very likely) Bernie (or worse, Bubba if it's a day game after night game and Joe decides to give Sheff or Matsui a "half-day off") will be in the line-up. To begin with, you now have Stinnett or Nieves in the line-up for 60 games, which is way too many as either would be the worst hitter in the line-up. Second to that, you erase the advantage of having Jorge DH when he's not playing by still having 30 games in which he doesn't play at all. I'd rather have Jorge's bat in the line-up in those 30 games and deal with his late-season fatigue, then have to deal with an extra 30 games of Stinnett or Nieves in the lineup.

I also agree that if Wright can stay healthy (a Kevin Brown-sized if) that he could be valuable out of the Yankee pen, just as he was for the Padres in 2003.

Just because Jorge is on the bench doesn't mean he doesn't play - just saves him the wear and tear on his body that he'd get from the full game. Maybe those days you bring him in during the sixth if the game's close or he doesn't play either way if it's a blow-out?

It is exactly the "end of season syndrome", esp. with how dramatic it is, that I'd like to see some effort by Torre to avoid. He may not be that enlightened, or the pennant race may not give him the option, but it would definitely give us a better bench and better post-season chances. Plus, maybe Jorge has a better August and September too.

Indeed, if we lose 5 more games because he was out for 20, but win 3 more down the stretch because he's more productive than usual, I'd say it was worth it - so long as we make the post-season.

And for all of this speculation, you're probably right. Wil is likely gone in two weeks. Hopefully he comes up with 3 hits in the 5 AB's he gets.

Courtesy of http://www.mlb4u.com/0607FA.html :

Possible FA Catchers:

Catcher:

Jorge Posada (Team Option)

Damian Miller (Team + Player option)

Henry Blanco

Doug Mirabelli
Javier Valentin
Vance Wilson
Chris Widger
Paul Bako
Kelly Stinnett
Gregg Zaun
Bengie Molina (Mutual Option)
Mike Piazza (Mutual Option)
Gary Bennett
Todd Greene Ken Huckaby
Einar Diaz
Raul Casanova
John Flaherty (Retired)
Mike DiFelice
Mike Lieberthal (May Retire)
Alberto Castillo
Todd Pratt
Sandy Alomar Jr.
Eddie Perez

Ivan Rodriguez (Poss. Void Option)
Rod Barajas

Javy Lopez

Mike Redmond

Posada will be overpriced, but will still be better than all of those options. Henry Blanco would be great as a back-up, but perhaps should not be given regular playing time.

Just play it out with Posada, and try trading with either the Mariners (for Jeff Clement, blocked by Johjima, will they take Pavano+?) or the Braves (when Saltalamacchia is ready, McCann should be expendable) for a young catcher.

I'm not sure where you got the option stuff from (though I know others have discussed it.) But I agree with your assessment and the trade possibilities. Clement would be sweet.

The reason to not play Jorge at C is to get better production from him for the whole year and the post-season. Check out his yearly decline at the end of the season and into the post-season - it's frightening.

"if we lose 5 more games because he was out for 20, but win 3 more down the stretch because he's more productive than usual, I'd say it was worth it"

The Yankees won the division by a tie breaker last year, they've played the Red Sox dead even head-to-head for the last four years. Giving up two wins could easily be the difference between making the postseason and wtching it on TV (your "provided we make the postseason" caveat doesn't suffice, that's like saying "I don't care if Randy Johnson goes 3-21, as long as he wins the Cy Young").

It's not like you make these decisions and then run the program.

If the race is close (tied to two games) or we're falling behind, obviously Jorge plays everyday. If we're up three games - you bench him one day a week.

Even still I was wrong to suggest simply having Jorge means we'll lose 5 more out of 20 games. If anything, it's probably closer to 2 or 3. And if those games are close, he PH's.

Now the question is: Will Jorge not playing 20-30 games mean greater productivity later. I think so. You may not. But his trends (which I know you know) show more rest is exactly what he needs.

It's not going to happen though.

And a three game lead mid-season is essentially meaningless, you can't start resting guys based on that. Fluctuations in injuries and opponents can effect a swing larger than three games rather easily.

As for your question, I do think that resting Jorge will result in more productivity down the stretch, but a win in April is as good as a win in September and you're better off getting those wins when you can rather than banking on future wins that might not come. Jorge does need a certian amount of rest, but there's a fine line between resting him for the good of the club and resting him to the detriment of the club, and I think your plan in 1 is the latter.

You're right. I'd just rather see the team push to rest Jorge if there's a margin for error. That decision will depend on the current standings.

I do have trouble with the "win is a win is a win" argument becauses wins are not gained in a vaccuum. They're relative to what other teams are doing. And if other teams aren't doing well, why worry about every single game?

And we know Torre already manages based on the standings. In April or May he won't pitch Mo for two innings. In September he will. Or he won't go to him in Tampa with a 6-4 lead if we're playing the Sox the next day. The players are already treated differently depending on the schedule. Is that right or wrong - who knows? But in Jorge's case - it matters.

Put it this way, if you commit to 24 games (~1/week) where Jorge is on the bench, at least half will be decided by the sixth inning (i.e., blowouts). Now, you've rested him AND don't need him.

The other 12 may be close, but he can still PH if the situation is right. But how many of those 12 would be decided by two or three Jorge at-bats (of which he'll get one hit or BB)? Maybe 2 or 3?

Now, can a rested Jorge win 2 or 3 games with his bat in September? I think so.

Sorry for not being super clear. It all feels moot any ways - I don't see three C's on this team in May let alone September.