THEY'RE GONNA PUT VLASIC OUT OF BUSINESS:

Yankees notes: Posada ritual toughens hands (DAN GRAZIANO, May 07, 2004, Newark Star-Ledger)

A lot of people probably were shocked this week to read Cubs outfielder Moises Alou's admission that he urinates on his hands to toughen his hands. Jorge Posada was not among them.

The Yankees' catcher, who along with Alou and Anaheim outfielder Vladimir Guerrero is among a small number of big-league players who hit without batting gloves, said yesterday he does the same thing.

"In spring training only," Posada said. "You don't want to shake my hand in spring training before the game. After the game, it's okay."

Posada said he has done it since he was in the minor leagues, and that he got the idea from his father, Jorge Sr.

"A lot of guys like my father, who worked on the land, always used to do it," Posada said. "It keeps your hands from getting callused and cracking."

Which would explain why The Wife irradiates the lettuce.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 7, 2004 8:56 PM