Jorge Posada will miss the rest of the season, but now at least he has a decent shot to make the start of the next one.
Posada and the Yankees wisely used the addition of Xavier Nady to halt any thoughts of Posada trying to play through the pain in his right shoulder and postpone the surgery he needs. With Nady's bat in the lineup, there was no longer a need for Posada to try to play the hero. Instead, he will opt for the surgery now and begin the long rehab process toward returning next year.
"After speaking with Brian (Cashman) and Joe (Girardi), we thought it was best for me -- and the team -- to have the surgery now," Posada said in a statement. "With Xavier here, there isn't as much pressure on me to return. ... I can focus on coming back 100 percent for next season instead of coming back at less than that now."
Smart move by Posada and the Yankees, considering the catcher was told by doctors he will be facing at least a six-month rehab stint.
If all goes well, he could be ready to begin 2009 in spring training without any added setbacks.
ORIOLES 13, YANKEES 4: Four Orioles homered -- led by Adam Jones' grand slam off Dave Robertson -- and Baltimore tagged Yankees starter Mike Mussina for a season-high six earned runs to give the Yankees their second consecutive loss. Xavier Nady homered for his first hit as a Yankee.
