Bob Klapisch caught up with Jorge Posada today who doesn’t believe he is slowing down despite entering his age 38 season. As Klapisch points out, Posada has a career OPS+ of 124, better than Gary Carter and Carlton Fisk and just a shade under Yogi Berra and Johnny Bench. Despite that, there isn’t much talk about Posada and the Hall of Fame.

Sure, Posada probably will not hit 300 homers or even get 2,000 hits. To be fair he didn’t get a full time catching job until age 28 so he is a prototypical late bloomer. When you start to look at his numbers, especially when you consider the position, Posada has about 7 seasons that are Hall worthy. In comparison Gary Carter had just about the same, maybe a season or two more. What may turn out to be the difference between a Carter, Fisk, and Posada was the era they played in as well as his defense.

During Posada’s era there were tons of catchers that hit for power and average. Sure, not all played every day, but it wasn’t uncommon for a Darrin Fletcher type to hit 15 homers and drive in 70 runs. Newest Met Rod Barajas even popped 20 homers in a season. His reputation behind the dish isn’t stellar, unlike Carter and Fisk, and he also played in the same era as Mike Piazza, perhaps the greatest hitting catcher in baseball history. If Posada played in the seventies and eighties he might be viewed differently.

With that said, Posada doesn’t seem to be slowing down offensively. The problem is he will be splitting time between the DH spot and catcher, unlike the aforementioned Hall of Fame receivers. Numbers that he compiles during that time will most certainly not be taken as seriously in context of the position. Regardless, he deserves credit to have produced well beyond the expiration date for receivers. Even Mike Piazza wasn’t as productive as Posada at the same age. When it’s all said and done he probably won’t make the Hall of Fame (I wouldn’t vote for him), but he at least deserves to have the debate brought to the table.

Tags: Boston Red Sox, Carlton Fisk, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Gary Carter, Johnny Bench, Jorge Posada, Mike Piazza, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Yogi Berra