What Goes Around Comes Around

Aight. It's getting down to business, practice is getting more intense as the season draws closer. Not that they haven't been until now, but with the season approaching, more things are expected of us. It's funny how several colleges have already played a few games already, but Spring Training hasn't even started yet.

I've been watching a whole lot of video from Pitchers and Catchers and it really fires me up. The only thing is that you take a look at what they have; indoor facilities, outdoor facilities, it makes me so jealous. Our batting cage has been all ice the past week and a half, but it finally dried. At this point, with the weather the way it has been, we'd be lucky if we started the season on time. I've accepted the fact that we probably won't get any outdoor practices before the season starts. Maybe one or two.

I don't want this post to just be updates and complaining so let's talk about aging players. More specifically, Jorge Posada on coaching the Yankee catching prospects. He needs to do this because at some point in the next two years, someone will have to take over as starting catcher while Posada fades into retirement. It's definitely not easy, especially for such an intense player like Posada to get used to that kind of role.

But that gets me thinking - I would say that 99% of ML players love baseball (There might be the Andre Agassi equivalent somewhere), and suddenly when they are too old to play, it all stops. I guess after it dominating your life for the better part of two decades (or more), it can come as a relief, but I think it gets hard for most players after a year or so of being out of the game. Many try to come back as coaches, managers, etc.

As you age you mature and it can't come as a shock to you that the organization is looking for your replacement. The classy player, like Posada is trying his best to be (and I think he is), sees the mentoring as part of his role on the team. A guy like him is not loving the fact that he might lose playing time just for someone to get some experience but he did it to Girardi back in '98. What goes around comes around.