David Ortiz on Jorge Posada: Yankees are ‘doing that guy wrong’

David Ortiz didn’t defend Jorge Posada’s decision to remove himself from the Yankees’ lineup here tonight. But he also believes the Yankees are disrespecting Posada, their longtime catcher, by making him be a full-time designated hitter and deciding to drop him to No. 9 in the lineup for the first time since 1999.

“You want me to tell you what I think? They’re doing that guy wrong,” Ortiz said after the Red Sox’ 6-0 win over the Yankees. “They’re doing him wrong. Know why? Because that guy, he’s legendary right there in the organization. And, dude, DHing sucks. DHing, it’s not easy. From what I heard, they told him from the very beginning, he’s not even going to catch bullpens. That, straight up, starts messing with your head. You’re going tell me Posada can’t catch a game out there? Come on, man. I guarantee you, they throw him out there once in a while, mentally, it’s going to help him out. Because he’s just not thinking about hitting. He’s a DH. When you just think about hitting and you’re not hitting, it sucks. It sucks.

“He’s played a position his whole career. I got used to this because I had no choice. But I can imagine how hard it is. He’s a guy that, he’s a good hitter. I don’t care what anybody says. He’s going through what he’s going through right now, but he’s a good hitter.”

Posada has spent his entire 17-year career with the Yankees, and along with Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, he is among the last remaining links to the club’s dynasty years. Asked about Posada telling Yankees manager Joe Girardi to take him out of the lineup before tonight’s game, Ortiz said it wasn’t something Posada should have done, although he understands the way he must have been feeling.

“No, you don’t do that,” Ortiz said. “But that’s what I’m trying to tell you. It’s frustration that you’re living through that sometimes makes you make mistakes. He’s not perfect. He’s a human just like everyone else. He probably thinks it was the right thing to do, but now you see it ain’t. He’s a good hitter. He’s going through some tough times right now, but he’s better than that.”

More from both Ortiz and Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek on the Posada situation in Sunday’s Herald. Meanwhile, it’s worth remembering this old SportsCenter commercial with Ortiz and Posada:



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