Jorge Posada has lots to smile about according to a Post report that says he’s throwing the ball with some heat.

“I have no worries because I have no pain,” Posada said. “I am just getting ready for Opening Day. It is important for me to back there with no restrictions to catch, throw and be available every day. It is important for me, it is important for the team.”

From Girardi:
“I could hear the noise of a baseball in the air, and it has to have something on it to do that,”

Sounds like Po is going to be good to go for the start of spring training….huge bonus for the Yankees. Molina kicked ass last year, but we need Jorge back. Hip, hip, Jorge!

New updates on Jorge.  He 100% needs to have his shoulder surgically repaired.  He is going to rehab for two weeks without any throwing to see if the shoulder can be manageable enough to DH.  The Yankees think one of the issues he was having was the strain on the shoulder from throwing.  Jorge Posada told Suzyn Waldman on the pain, “My body just cant take it anymore”.  Posada checked with many of people close to him, including Joe Torre, and they agreed to give it one more shot.

If within two weeks, he isn’t making progress enough to DH, they will shut him down for the year.

OK, so its seems that Jorge Posada is done for the season. Its painful to hit and play catcher so unless he’s a useful ball boy, that pretty much cancels him out for this year.

The NY Post has a good article on it.

The problem thats coming up is that if he tries to wait it out, the surgery is serious enough that he will not be ready for the beginning of the season in 2009. Jorge, call it a season, get the surgery and get ready for next year. We can’t have our aging catcher/DH/1st baseman trying to push his body further than it can go and doing more damage.

Its going to be a shame not seeing Laura Posada around the stadium for the rest of the season…

DAMN!!!

Per Mike and the Mad Dog, Posada is headed to the DL. Johnny Damon was brought back tonight and is in the lineup as the DH. This is pretty alarming news as the Yankees really needed Posada to stay healthy, more for his bat than anything. Molina has been brilliant behind the plate, but his .200 average isn’t going to cut it. Im going out on a limb here, but I think that this means Posada may be in deep trouble. Wang is already done, now we might have to add Matsui and Posada to that list.

Tonight’s lineup:

YANKEES (53-45)
Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Molina C
Gardner LF
Ponson RHP

UPDATE PER PETE AT LOHUD:

He will see Dr. David Altchek tomorrow and may soon have season-ending surgery to repair the torn lambrum in his shoulder. The surgery is such that he may need to get it now to make sure he will be ready for next season.

Posada admitted that he can’t throw and that it has been bothering him all season.

YANKEES
Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui LF
Posada C
Cano 2B
Betemit 1B
Cabrera CF
Wang RHP

Lineup compliments of Petey

Expect them to run on Posada all day!

“I don’t think it’s going to be 100 percent,” Posada said, adding he doesn’t feel any discomfort. “I think it’s good enough to get going here”

Sounds like Posada is going to require some offseason surgery.  Should he have more troubles this season, expect to see Jose Molina more in the mix with Jo going to more of a DH role or sharing first base with Giambi.

We obviously hope its not an issue for JoPo, but the Yankees need to plan for the different scenarios.

Jorge Posada will be joining the team today and likely be back behind the plate tomorrow.  This will be the final piece of the puzzle for the offense so if he provides the same spark ARod did, we should start hitting consistently again.

I would bet my framed Saturday Night Fever Movie Poster that there will be a ton of people running on Jorge tomorrow.  Bet any chance they have, they’re going to test that arm.  Why wouldn’t they?  They will be doing what the Yankees should have done to Curt Schilling back in 2004…test that injury.

Should be great having Po back!  Hip, hip JORGE!!!

Per the NY Post:

Jorge Posada caught five innings in an extended spring training game against the Phillies yesterday in Clearwater, Fla. Posada went 0-for-5 and walked. He didn’t attempt a throw to a base and the Phillies didn’t try to steal a bag.

Posada has been out since April 27 with rotator cuff tendinitis in the right shoulder.

“I got a lot of innings behind the plate, that’s all I wanted. I wanted just to get ready to catch again,” said Posada, who is slated to play again today. “Probably Thursday or so I’ll start throwing again. I feel good enough to throw right now, but I’m taking one step at a time.”