Jorge Posada was asked yesterday if Opening Day still is exciting at his age.
“You calling me old, man?” Posada snapped back playfully.
Posada turns 40 in August, and his production will be tracked with a microscope this season as he shifts from catcher to designated hitter. After some initial reluctance, Posada seems to have embraced his new role.
The true challenge begins today, though, when he will be watching from the clubhouse or dugout while the Tigers are hitting, instead of giving the signs to CC Sabathia.
“For me it is [going to be different],” Posada said. “I’m looking forward to it. I think I’m looking forward to a good season for me. I’m excited. I’m really excited about the year.”
This could be Posada’s final Opening Day in pinstripes. He is in the final year of his contract, and right now it seems unlikely the Yankees would bring him back in 2012. Posada has said he would like to play next year, but it may be with another team.
For now, Posada is adjusting to being the DH. The transition from position player to just being a hitter is tough for many players. In recent years, the Yankees have moved Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui into the everyday DH spot, and both took some time to get comfortable there.
Posada said he’s unsure how he will fill the time between at-bats.
“I’m just going to get ready for the at-bats and whatever it takes,” Posada said. “I don’t know what that routine is, and I probably won’t know until the end of the season what the routine is going to be. I’ve just got to get ready for four at-bats and be prepared and be warm. Obviously, it’s going to be cold out there, so I’ll stay warm in [the clubhouse] and get ready and look forward to the next at-bat.”
During spring training, Posada caught bullpen sessions and did drills but did not catch in a game. Posada said pitching coach Larry Rothschild has asked him to still participate in the scouting meetings that catchers and pitchers attend. Girardi said yesterday there are no plans to use him at catcher unless an emergency pops up.
“That’s a bridge we’d have to cross if that time came,” Girardi said. “Our plans for [Posada] were for him to DH. That’s what he’s doing now. We feel that he’ll stay healthy. If he’s going back and forth and he’s not prepared for it, you risk injury and that’s not what we want.”
brian.costello@nypost.com
