Times wires
Saturday, May 14, 2011
NEW YORK — Jorge Posada removed himself from the Yankees' starting lineup Saturday night, and his future with the club was suddenly cast in doubt.
After Posada was dropped to ninth in the batting order by Joe Girardi, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the struggling DH went to the manager's office about 6 p.m. and asked to be taken out of the lineup.
Posada was replaced by Andruw Jones.
"There was no injury," said Cashman, adding he would not provide any other details of the circumstances or the conversation he had with Posada.
Posada remained on the bench in uniform during the game against the Red Sox. Whether or not he'd be available tonight or join the Yankees on their trip to Tampa Bay beginning Monday were unresolved issues.
Before that drama played out in the Bronx, Posada, 39, had said all the right things about being knocked down to last in the order. Batting .165 in his first season as a full-time DH, Posada was set to bat No. 9 for the first time since May 14, 1999, exactly 12 years ago.
Though it was one stop removed from putting Posada on the bench, Girardi said, "My hope is it gets him going."
BANGED-UP TEXAS: The Rangers put CF Julio Borbon on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his left hamstring, leaving them without any of their opening-day outfielders.
AL MVP Josh Hamilton has been out since breaking a bone in his upper right arm April 12, and RF Nelson Cruz came out of a game May 3 with a strained right quadriceps.
Texas bought the contract of OF Endy Chavez from Triple-A Round Rock.
Meanwhile, the Rangers and Athletics will make up Wednesday's rained out game July 7, which had been an off day for both teams.
BRAVES: RF Jason Heyward missed his fourth straight start with inflammation in his right shoulder but entered in the ninth inning as a defensive replacement. … RHP Brandon Beachy was examined by a team doctor for an oblique injury he sustained Friday night. The rookie starter will be placed on the disabled list today, and RH reliever Scott Proctor will be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett.
METS: RF Carlos Beltran was removed from the lineup because of swelling in his right eye. Beltran told ESPN that he might have conjunctivitis, or pinkeye.
NATIONALS: Michael Aubrey, a 2003 first-round pick for the Indians, hit four home runs for Triple-A Syracuse. The outburst equaled his homer output from his last major-league season in 2008. … RHP Brian Broderick was designated for assignment, and RHP Cole Kimball was recalled from Triple A-Syracuse.
PHILLIES: Top prospect Domonic Brown, a former Pasco High standout, sustained a first-degree sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb Wednesday at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and is expected to be out for a few more games. … CF Shane Victorino left the game against the Braves with hamstring soreness and said he doesn't expect to play today.
REDS: RH reliever Jose Arredondo was activated, and RHP Mike Leake was optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Arredondo had reconstructive elbow surgery in February 2010. Leake, who opened the season in the rotation, was 3-2 with a 5.70 ERA in six starts and three relief outings.
TWINS: RHP Joe Nathan has progressed enough in his recovery from last year's Tommy John surgery that manager Ron Gardenhire said he'll use him as a setup man to closer Matt Capps, MLB.com reported. The veteran opened the season as the closer but lost the job after struggling.