When Francisco Cervelli came up in the seventh inning today with the Yankees trailing and a runner on it seemed like the perfect spot for Jorge Posada to pinch hit. However the batter that stepped into the box was Cervelli, not Posada.
Why? Because Posada was not in the stadium, he was in New York Presbyterian hospital being checked out for concussion symptoms. He suffered the injury Tuesday night on a foul tip off the bat of Nick Markakis.
After the game the Yankees received news that neurologists have cleared Posada to play and he is day-to-day. Initially there was some fear that Posada wouldn’t be able to fly with the Yankees to Texas as they take on the Rangers, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
The Yankees have an off-day tomorrow and could give Posada more time off this weekend to rest. The important thing is they need him to be 100 percent for the playoffs. Their other catching options are Cervelli and Chad Moeller and neither of their bats even come near Posada’s. So even though he has been cleared to play he may see some time off as concussion symptoms tend to linger, see Jason Bay in Flushing.
If doctors are wrong about Posada and this injury lingers it is possible that the Yankees could call up Jesus Montero. Not that they will, but they can. Even in the playoffs. Players who are not on the major league roster before September cannot be placed on the playoff roster, unless another player at that position is placed on the DL. That means if Posada goes on the DL, Montero is eligible. Right now though it doesn’t seem like it is that bad.
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