CLEVELAND Jorge Posada left the Yankees and headed toBirmingham, Ala., full of uncertainty. Does the strain in his rightshoulder merely require rest, or is he headed for a possible season-ending surgery?

At the office of Dr. James Andrews on Monday afternoon, Posadabegan his search for an answer. It might arrive today.

If the tear in his right shoulder muscle is not significant,Posada would seem to require at least a three-week rest. As it is,he's out for two weeks after going on the 15-day disabled listMonday.

"If he has a strain, surgery really is not an option," managerJoe Girardi said.

Posada has dealt with a "dead arm" sensation since the seasonbegan. During Sunday's pregame warm-up, Posada couldn't throw at alla reality that landed him on the DL for the first time in his 14-year career.

"He's bothered by it. He's annoyed," said Derek Jeter, whooptimistically suggested his friend will be all right.

"He'll eat a lot, I'm sure," Jeter said, when asked how Posada,36, would cope with his convalescence. "I told him to weigh in[today], and weigh in again when he comes back, and see what thedifference is."

Like Jeter, Posada can't tolerate inaction.

"I thought it was coming along, but it's not," Posada admittedSunday, then added, "We have to find out what's really botheringme."

Before Monday night's series finale against Cleveland, theYankees called up catcher Chris Stewart, 26, who had 23 games ofmajor league experience.

So, the Yankees played their first game without Posada being ontheir active roster since Sept. 1, 1996, when Jim Leyritz caught,giving starter Girardi a rest.

"It's kind of strange when you walk in the clubhouse and he's nothere," said Girardi, who called Posada "a constant" and "a leader."

Entering this year, Posada had started at least 120 games behindthe plate in each of the last eight seasons.

Currently, it's a streak equaled only by Milwaukee's Jason Kendall.

Now Jose Molina, a career backup, has become the de factostarter.

The risk of overusing Molina was realized earlier this month,when he strained a left hamstring April 13 in his fifth straightstart for Posada. That injury prompted the promotion of veteran Chad Moeller, who performed well, but was designated for assignmentFriday. Facing five left-handed starters in the next six games, theYankees wanted to promote Shelley Duncan. They also were convincedthat Posada was improving.

"We felt we were clear, but nature had a different idea," saidGirardi, who feels Molina could catch four to five games per week.

Posada went to Alabama believing he had something more than aminor strain, but was firmer in his belief that his catching daysare not in rapid decline. He doesn't want any part of playing firstbase, and the Yankees have far too many designated-hitter candidatesto regularly accommodate him there.

Posada left to wonder what's next