推 keiny:奢侈的希望 下一個球季偶而可以看得到老柏尼上場建功 01/25 02:18
01/23/2007 10:44 PM ET
Catcher shares thoughts while accepting charity award
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Jorge Posada has watched the Yankees make strides to inject youth
this winter, filling up on talent that could soon bubble to the surface in
New York.
So far the veteran catcher likes what he sees.
"I'm excited. It seems like the whole team looks great," Posada said. "We're
a little bit younger, and it seems like we did the right moves. Hopefully, it
will really take us to the next level. That's where we want to go.
"We'll come into Spring Training focused on one thing, and that's obviously
to get to the World Series."
With just three weeks to go until Yankees pitchers and catchers are scheduled
to report to Legends Field in Tampa, the 35-year-old Posada was back in the
Big Apple on Tuesday to accept an award at the 18th annual Baseball
Assistance Team (BAT) dinner. BAT raises money to assist members of the
baseball family who have fallen on hard times.
Standing in a sixth-floor alcove of the Marriott Marquis hotel overlooking
Times Square, Posada said that he believes the Yankees have restocked with an
assemblage that could take them past last season's disappointing first-round
exit.
He said he was "excited" to reunite with batterymate Andy Pettitte, noting
that the left-hander is "a guy who's been here and done it."
"We missed him for a little bit, but we've got him back," he said.
In Pettitte, one more member of the Yankees' championship ring club has
returned to the Bronx. But Posada is mindful that another -- Bernie Williams
-- could be exiting.
Posada said that he has spoken "a lot" with Williams this offseason about the
38-year-old outfielder's future. The Yankees appear to be set with four
outfielders -- Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu and Melky Cabrera --
but Posada said that Williams is hungry for one more season.
"Obviously, he wants to come back, and he wants to come back for the right
reasons," Posada said. "If he doesn't come back as a Yankee, it would be
tough to see him in another uniform. I don't think he would even consider
that."
Williams told Posada that other clubs have called with offers but that he has
his heart set on the Yankees.
The 2007 season would mark Williams' 17th year in pinstripes, and after
batting .281 with 12 home runs and 61 RBIs in 131 games last season, he is
convinced he has enough left to help the Yankees for at least one more year.
Posada does not believe that Williams would accept a Minor League contract
from the Yankees -- "It has to be the right offer," Posada said -- but
suggested that Williams could join the team in midseason if needed.
"If Bernie can stay in shape and if he doesn't come during Spring Training,
I'm pretty sure that during the season we can have him back," Posada said.
"You obviously need somebody ready.
"Bernie's been there and has done a lot for this organization, and I think
they understand that. The Yankees know who Bernie Williams is, and Bernie
wants to be a Yankee forever. It's important we get a chance to consider
him."
At the dinner, Posada was acknowledged for the efforts of his charity, which
raises funds to help families affected by craniosynostosis, a congenital
birth defect that causes an abnormally shaped skull. The Detroit Tigers' Sean
Casey was also honored for charitable efforts.
Posada was pleased to be honored by a group of about 125 former Major
Leaguers, including members of the 1977 World Series champion Yankees.
"When you talk about all of the things in baseball, you have to be here and
appreciate all of the things the guys did before we were here," he said. "I'm
really happy I got a chance to be here.
"I'm honored being right next to these guys. These guys are Hall of Famers.
Being in the same room as them, exchanging some stories and stuff, is great."
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