1. In today’s Post I wrote this column about the more worrisome nature of the Core Four, specifically Jorge Posada. In the last five games that Posada caught against Boston, the Red Sox – hardly a running team – went 16-for-16 in stolen base tries. Posada passed the responsibility of late-season steals to others, telling me, “They ran on the pitching. There was not an opportunity to get any of those guys.” Pitching coach Dave Eiland mostly agreed saying that it was an area in which his staff lost concentration late in the season.

Word was that the Yankees talked quite a bit in the pre-Division Series scouting meeting yesterday about the importance of pitchers holding runners with throw overs, varying their looks to the plate, step offs, etc. The Yanks do get the break that the Twins are not a running team – of course, either were the Red Sox.

But also what is troubling about Posada right now is his offense, which had always been the counterweight to suspect defense. He hit .148 since Sept. 6, and that includes a 1-for-16 vs. lefties – and Minnesota starts southpaw Francisco Liriano in tonight’s opener.

Here is a quick quiz question: Which Yankee led the team in batting average against lefties?

OK, this is a blog, there really is not much of an avenue to stall, so the answer is Francisco Cervelli at .322.

Thus, here is something I have been wondering: Should Cervelli be the starting catcher tonight? Yankees officials say that they never seriously considered it. Posada is the most playoff experienced catcher in history (Cervelli has two late-game appearances). In addition, the starter Cervelli has most worked with, A.J. Burnett, will not be starting in this series. Lastly, Cervelli actually had worse caught stealing numbers this year than Posada.

However, part of that is because Cervelli did often catch Burnett, who led all major league pitchers in being on the mound for the most steals. Opponents were 24 for 26 against the combo of Burnett and Cervelli.

There is no doubt Cervelli has the better arm than Posada, who seemed to lose confidence in what little throwing ability he had left as the season wore on. The Red Sox obviously saw something to jump on with Posada – especially when relievers were on the mound – and were 18-for-18 against him in stolen bases. They tried just once and were successful against Cervelli, and that was with Burnett pitching.

So, again, would the Yankees be better off all-around with Cervelli catching, Marcus Thames DHing against lefties and either Posada or Lance Berkman against righties?

2. Which leads to questions about the Yankees’ roster construction for this series. It screams that the Yankees are worried about their rotation. That is the only reason to carry three long relievers (Burnett, Sergio Mitre and Dustin Moseley) on the roster for a five-game series that has two off days.

Girardi removes all rules about bullpen protection for the playoffs, specifically about not using a reliever more than two games in a row. But in this series that is not a factor. It is two games, day off, two games, day off and – if necessary – Game 5. That means Girardi could use his best relievers – Joba Chamberlain, Boone Logan, David Robertson, Kerry Wood and Mariano Rivera – every game for at least an inning each. So, in theory, if they had a four-inning start, they could bullpen to the end without using a long man.

Thus, the presence of three long men indicates that the Yankees are worried about Andy Pettitte breaking down in Game 2, Phil Hughes not having it in his first-ever postseason start in Game 3 and Sabathia having to come back short in Game 4 with Pettitte again looming in Game 5.

Also think about this, the Yanks are carrying three long relievers and Javier Vazquez still didn’t make the team. And you know what, I think if the Yankees carried five long men Ivan Nova and Chad Gaudin would have made it ahead of Vazquez. Heck, they probably would be trying to re-acquire Chan Ho Park before putting Vazquez on the roster.

If the Yankees believed in their starting pitching, they could have removed an extra long man and: 1) Carried Royce Ring. Minnesota is loaded with lefty hitters and Ring would have, at the least, given the Yankees an opportunity to consider some lefty-lefty matchups that they now only get from Boone Logan. 2) Carried Chad Moeller. A third catcher would have enabled the Yankees to more comfortably use Posada as a DH over Berkman if that is what the Yankees decided. 3) Carried Eduardo Nunez. Late-game speed is always valuable.

In fact, I actually wonder about the value of not having one of these players on the team rather than Austin Kearns. If Kearns does not start against a lefty tonight – and I do not think he will – then what is his value on this club? Obviously, Greg Golson is not ideal as the only backup outfielder, but he has more speed and provides better defense than Kearns, whose bat went dead at the end of the year. He finished the season 10-for-63 (.159) with 27 strikeouts and no extra-base hits.

3. I think Jeff Wilpon made a mistake calling David Wright yesterday to explain comments that Wilpon made at a press conference Monday to announce the dismissal of Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel.

Wilpon was asked if he could imagine trading Wright and here is what he said: “I can’t imagine (trading Wright). But if you’re going to listen to the new GM and he’s going to tell you (a trade will) bring back five pieces or something, then I guess you have to listen. I’m not saying we’re going to do it, but you’d have to listen.”

OK, here are my three reasons why Wilpon should not have felt compelled yesterday to call Wright to explain the comment:

1) There is nothing wrong with the comment. Wilpon was asked a question and he actually gave a good answer. He was deferential to a key player by saying he couldn’t imagine it. But he recognized that it is proper to not restrain a future GM and to keep all avenues open for a disappointing team.

2) One problem around the Mets is that the players are catered to way too much and the whole organization is way too sensitive to what is out in the media. This team has accomplished nothing, and yet if you saw day to day how worried the organization is about not offending the players you would think it ridiculous. If Wright were offended by these words, then it should have been his move to call and, even then, Wilpon should have said, “I didn’t say anything offensive, thanks for the call David” and hung up. Time for everyone around the Mets to toughen up. Wilpon talked about changing the culture around his franchise. Here are a few areas to begin: Stop kowtowing to players and stop overreacting to what is out in the media.

3) By calling Wright and assuring the third baseman that ownership wants Wright to be part of solving the team’s woes, Wilpon tacitly put handcuffs on a GM he has not even hired yet. Now it would be a problem if the GM actually wants to trade Wright and finds a suitable deal. Now Wilpon would look as if he went back on his word to Wright.