Posada somehow went 6 for 65 as a righthanded hitter this year. For his career, he had pretty even splits and his 2011 as a lefty was pretty much in line with his career minus a little patience. But as a righty, yeesh. As we talked about with Teix, it's interesting to examine how a hitter can fall apart from one side of the plate, but maintain mechanics and confidence to function from the other.

Having Posada acknowledge that he won't play as a Yankee again may help make this process more dignified -- and it gives the team a chance to improve on the poor way it handled Bernie Williams' exit.

With last night's declaration, we're spared speculation about minor league spring invitations and so forth. No dwindling flicker of maybe to paralyze both sides and delay a real plan. The band-aid has been ripped off.

The Yankees should step up right now with a plan for Posada's non-playing future within the Yankee organization. Instructor, scout, coach, "advisor," whatever.

I know there's not enough love for him to perch at the Right Hand of Cashman, and if Georgie is ever a managerial candidate it will be only after years of seasoning. But there's a good fit somewhere, and in trying to make it now, the Yankee organization can show the class it claims always to have but displays less than 100 percent of the time.

Here's hoping such an overture would crystallize things in Posada's mind. He should call Wade Boggs and ask how many framed photos he's got in his home of himself in a Tampa Bay uniform.

Georgie, you're not going to write any more pages in your legacy as a player. But your legacy as a Yankee is still in your hands.

Sniff, end of an era. But it's something we all have to acknowledge. Glad to see Jorge understands the situation. Has to be hard to be an athlete and see the end of your career at an age when everyone else is in the full bloom of their careers.

[2] But what if he still loves playing? I think that his legacy, as a Yankee and a player, is safe no matter what he decides.

And if he had hung them up in August, he would not have had the chance to have one last great postseason. Who knows what might happen if he caught on with a contender next year?

[4] Can't tell you you're wrong. My thinking is: There's little he could do on a field now whose value would outweigh giving up that one-uniform legacy.

Is the idea of the one-uniform legacy silly and superficial? Dunno. I've got friends who think baseball is silly and superficial. Your view depends on where you put your tripod.

When we look back on a career, what do we love? A good story. "Yankee to the end" is a better story. This is all very easy for me to say, of course, since I'm not the one who has to stop doing what he loves. That decision isn't mine to make -- but thanks to time and age, it might not be Posada's to make anymore, either.

[4] Agreed. He could sign on as part time hitter / emergency catcher somewhere for the next season or two and it would not affect his legacy in any meaningful way.

I wish Jorge would retire, but I understand why he wouldn't want to do that. I have so much respect for the guy, I wish him well with whatever team he chooses to play for. He's all class and he gave his heart and soul to the Yankees, can't ask for much more.

thanks for everything, jorgie. love ya, man!

Hip hip, Jorge!
Great hitter, great career, great Yankee.
I hope he's happy with whatever decision he makes.

[4] At the level he is playing at now, what more can he do to 'pad his stats'? He will only decrease his rate stats. I imagine it's hard to hang it up. But what will one more year, half of which would probably be on the bench, accomplish?

In terms of his future, I'm not sure of his value. I don't know how smart he is, but I can only hope his baserunning skills are not an indication of such. As as a Catcher with a poor defensive history, again, I don't think that makes him a top choice.

I mean, the guy's a multimillionaire with a hot wife.
Can't he find something to do?