Better backstop for October

Jorge Posada may find his Maserati easier to drive with his knees hurting less. When I saw him leaving the parking lot a couple weeks ago (photo above), I couldn't help but notice what a beautiful car it was! Why would his knees hurt less? Well, we will have to see how the last minute deal will play out, but here is how it went. Chacon goes to Pittsburgh. Craig Wilson comes to NY. That's it! Straight up trade, and a no brainer. AGAIN, Cashman deserves credit.

What's this gotta do with Jorge???

Wilson is an outfielder, right? Well yes, he is. But talk about a nice utility player, he also plays 1st base, and CATCHER! I'm not saying I want to replace Georgie, no way! Still in my mind one of our best clutch hitters. Ignore his .avg, it just doesn't mean much. And honestly, how many Catchers can you name in MLB today that are really BETTER??? A few come to mind that are very good, but all could be argued they are not as good, or maybe better in one category or another. But not better OVERALL. Pudge-rod and (fill in first name) Molina come to mind. What is it with all the good Catchers being Latino? Oh wait, most of the best players are from latin countries nowadays, not the US... But that's a subject for another day.

Kelly Stinnett was no help to the offense when giving Jorge a break, so we got Sal Fasano. Well that WAS an upgrade to Stinetts bat, but who wouldn't be? Fasano has actually performed REALLY well so far in pinstripes, but the sample is so small I won't even post his numbers. Now with this most recent trade, we add a THIRD backup Catcher, or a 2nd big moustache, depending how you look at it. We don't need to use him as the backstop every day, or even every week. But having him AND Fasano there means Posada should get some REAL days off. And he NEEDS them! He plays SO much better when rested. But the big difference should show up in October, when it will count. Last year, and the year before.... Jorge was just WORN OUT by playoff time. Having a utility player to stand in at 1st AND the OF, AND the plate makes this trade a great deal.

Chacon: THANKS FOR LAST YEAR! You were amazing. Between Chacon and Small, WOW. Who'd a thunk it. Chacon was 7-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 14 games, 12 starts! But Chacon has not performed well this year at all, I am sorry to say. For 2006 he was 5-3 with a 7.00 ERA in 17 games, with 11 starts. And those stats actually make him sound better than he looked. So sending him to Steel City, especially after acquiring Lidle, won't hurt anything.

I hope Torre USES his backup backstops as much as possible for the next 4-8 weeks. Let Jorge be the player he can be when rested will add runs, and WINS when we will need them the most. As far as I am concerned, with our "new" lineup now, until Matsui and Shef come back, we just need to tread water until September. Stay atop the wild card, and right on Bostons heels. But we need to make the most of our games Vs. the Sox. We have 9 to go against them, they will make the difference. We take most of them, and bring in a STRONG Shef, Matsui, and well rested Posada, we will have the most feared batting lineup in MLB come October. And should be sitting in 1st place.

Note to rest of the team: Stay Healthy!!!