Hip injury may shelve A-Rod

Tuesday, March 03, 2009 8:47:00 PM

Hip injury may shelve A-Rod

MLB.com

Alex Rodriguez will fly to Vail, Colo., on Wednesday to see a hip specialist, the Yankees announced Tuesday evening.

In a press release, the club said that Rodriguez had experienced tightness and stiffness in his right hip this spring. The slugger was examined by team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad on Saturday, and an MRI exam the same day revealed the formation of a cyst in the hip. A-Rod will fly to Colorado to see a specialst at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic.

"We felt it was in everyone's best interest -- for the team and the player -- to send Alex to Dr. Phillipon, who is regarded as the leading expert in his field," Yankees GM Brian Cashman said. "Alex has proven his durability throughout his career, and we will take every precaution and step necessary to ensure his health as we near the start of the 2009 regular season and beyond."

On its Web site Tuesday evening, the New York Times cited a baseball source in reporting that the hip injury will prevent Rodriguez from playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Despite the injury, Rodriguez played in the Dominican team's exhibition game against the Marlins on Tuesday and went 1-for-3.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Baseball
A-Rod has cyst in his hip
New York Times News Service

JUPITER, Fla. -- Alex Rodriguez has a cyst in his right hip, so he may not play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

Rodriguez had a magnetic resonance imaging test on Saturday that showed the cyst. The Yankees said he would fly to Vail, Colo., on Wednesday to meet with Dr. Marc Philippon. Philippon is considered one of the world's leading hip surgeons, and he has treated athletes like Mario Lemieux and Greg Norman.

Chris Ahmad, the Yankees' team physician, discovered the cyst on Saturday, and he consulted with Philippon, who could not see Rodriguez until Wednesday. Since the Yankees said Rodriguez had no "functional pain," he was permitted to leave Sunday for the Dominican team's camp. It is unclear if Rodriguez, whose hip has been stiff and tight in spring training, experienced more discomfort since then.

"We felt it was in everyone's best interest -- for the team and the player -- to send Alex to Dr. Philippon, who is regarded as the leading expert in his field," General Manager Brian Cashman said in a statement. "Alex has proven his durability throughout his career, and we will take every precaution and step necessary to ensure his health as we near the start of the 2009 regular season and beyond."

Despite the cyst, Rodriguez went 1 for 3 in the Dominicans' 10-1 victory over the Florida Marlins in their first exhibition game on Tuesday. He sprinted to second on a double and did not seem to be favoring his hip. He has also participated in hitting, fielding and running drills for the last two days, and he ended his workout on Tuesday by running sprints.

Even if Rodriguez is found to have only a cyst, it is unlikely that the Yankees will want him to risk further injury by playing in an exhibition tournament that runs through March 23.

Rodriguez played in 138 games last season, his lowest total since 1999. In his first four years with the Yankees, he averaged 157 games.

The Dominicans open the WBC by playing the Netherlands on Saturday in San Juan, P.R. Rodriguez was supposed to be the starting third baseman, but he could now be replaced by Miguel Tejada. Stan Javier, the general manager of the Dominican team, said it was premature to speculate on Rodriguez's status. He said that Rodriguez told him that he did not think the injury was serious and that he just needed to have his hip evaluated.

"Right now, we just have to wait and see what happens," Javier said. "We'll just go day by day. I heard he's going to get checked. That's all the information I have."

Before the Yankees disclosed that Rodriguez was visiting a specialist, he sat on a green bench behind Roger Dean Stadium and talked about his first game with the Dominicans. Rodriguez gushed about Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez, the two shortstops on the team.

"I tell you what, I'm jealous of those guys," Rodriguez said. "Their talent is unbelievable. Both of those guys. I am enormous fans of both of them, and they're both incredible kids and baseball is lucky to have them both."

Reyes made two smart base-running plays in the game. When Rodriguez was asked about Reyes, he complimented him in a dubious way.

"I wish he was leading off on our team or playing on our team," Rodriguez said. "That's fun to watch."

Seemingly fearing the potential headline: "A-Rod Tells Yankees to Acquire Reyes," Rodriguez later said, through a spokesman, that his comments were not intended as criticism of Derek Jeter. Rodriguez has had a strained relationship with Jeter since criticizing him several years ago, and was instantly concerned that he had crossed him again.

Reyes is supposed to be Rodriguez's teammate, at least temporarily, but Rodriguez's cyst has put that in jeopardy.

This could be a way out for an easy retirement...Katie Couric even said on The David Letterman Show that A-rod had called her, asking for career advice!

A-rod has this THING for older women!

awww

03/05/09 6:45 PM EST
Cashman: No surgery, yet, for A-Rod
Procedure necessary, but Yankees GM hopes it can be delayed

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

TAMPA, Fla. -- Alex Rodriguez has a torn labrum in his right hip that will require surgery, but the Yankees are hoping to nurse their superstar third baseman to delay the procedure until after the 2009 season.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on Thursday that Rodriguez had a cyst drained in the hip, but the labrum tear is a new concern. The injury will eventually put Rodriguez under the knife, which would set off a recovery process that Cashman believes will take four months.

Having discussed the issue with Rodriguez via conference call, the Yankees are gambling that the slugger will be able to contribute for the full 2009 season. Cashman cautioned that surgery remains in play if the approach does not work.

"I think we're collectively trying to figure out what's best to do for everybody involved," Cashman said. "If surgery is what has to happen, that's what you have to do.

"If surgery is not something that has to happen at this point in time, then it's something that's manageable. We're all trying to be open-minded."

After consulting with noted specialist Dr. Marc Philippon in Vail, Colo., Rodriguez had the cyst aspirated on Thursday. He has been removed from the Dominican Republic roster for the World Baseball Classic and will not return to Yankees camp until this weekend, at the earliest.

Once Rodriguez comes back to Tampa, it is unclear what baseball activities he will be permitted to perform and how the club will manage his situation.

"You hope that the aspiration does the trick and he's able to be the productive player he always is," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

Girardi suggested that Rodriguez could serve as a designated hitter or leave some games early in Spring Training, and that the Yankees would also give him days off when necessary.

"We are going to take this day by day, week by week, month by month," Cashman said. "That does not mean that surgery is off the table. That's a handful."

Cashman said that Rodriguez has not felt pain in the right hip, though an MRI examination taken last season during Rodriguez's stint on the disabled list with a strained right quadriceps revealed an irregularity that was tucked into Rodriguez's medical file.

Because the irregularity was asymptomatic and there was no pain, Rodriguez was permitted to continue playing. He had taken measures over the offseason and during the Grapefruit League season to relieve stiffness and restriction in the hip, including increased stretching.

That led the Yankees to have team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad examine Rodriguez on Saturday in Tampa. When changes from the 2008 MRI were spotted, Ahmad's recommendation was that Rodriguez visit a specialist, which he did by flying to Colorado on Wednesday.

Believing that the club would just be handling a cyst, Cashman said that Rodriguez's diagnosis and the accompanying flood of information had caught the team off guard.

"To be honest, it's like drinking from a fire hose," Cashman said.

The conservative approach to treating Rodriguez's injury, Cashman said, will include rest, exercise and treatment. That program will be coordinated by the Yankees' medical and training staff.

"You watch him closely to make sure that there's nothing wrong," Girardi said. "I know Alex will be honest with his body, and he works very hard. He'll do all the stretching necessary and possible to get on the field."

Rodriguez has played regularly this spring, including a 1-for-3 effort with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's Dominican Republic exhibition game against the Marlins. Girardi said that if Rodriguez's condition does not worsen, he should be able to complete the season.

"I think he'd be productive, too," Girardi said. "He was productive down here. We saw the way he swung the bat down here -- he was pretty good. He was running fine, making plays. That's why I wasn't really that concerned."

Rodriguez left the Yankees on Sunday after playing in their Grapefruit League loss to the Reds at Sarasota, Fla., and teammates said they were not aware of Rodriguez's injury.

"We saw it on the news when we were eating lunch," first baseman Mark Teixeira said. "I think he's been swinging the bat great, looking great in Spring Training. We didn't really know anything was going on."

Catcher Jorge Posada said that he was "shocked" by word of Rodriguez's condition and said that A-Rod is integral to the Yankees' chances this season.

"We've got a good lineup, but he's the guy that puts it all together," Posada said. "He's very important for us. We need him healthy."

Cashman said that what the Yankees have in camp now is their protection should Rodriguez become unavailable for an extended period of time. The most likely candidate to step in at third base would be Cody Ransom.

Ransom, a 33-year-old journeyman, has logged only 183 Major League at-bats with three organizations, but Johnny Damon praised Ransom after learning of Rodriguez's injury on Wednesday, calling him the best athlete on the team.

"I think the team is going to try to pick up the slack until he's ready," Ransom said of Rodriguez. "Hopefully, it's not too long. You can't really replace what he does."

A three-time American League Most Valuable Player who is in the second year of a 10-year, $275 million contract, Rodriguez is expected to be the Yankees' cleanup hitter this season.

"It's worrisome, because he's a big part of our club," Girardi said. "There's no doubt. He's a four-hitter, he's a great defender, he steals bases -- he's productive every year. If something was to happen, it's something you have to overcome as a team."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

03/08/09 1:40 PM EST
A-Rod opts to have 'hybrid' surgery
Slugger to miss six to nine weeks after having procedure Monday

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

TAMPA, Fla. -- Alex Rodriguez will have surgery on his torn right hip labrum, opting for a so-called "hybrid" approach that could have him playing for the Yankees about two months after the limited procedure.

Rodriguez will undergo the surgery on Monday morning in Vail, Colo., having the procedure performed by hip specialist Dr. Marc Philippon. Rodriguez is expected to return to Major League game-ready shape in six to nine weeks.

"The goal here is to allow Alex to rehab rapidly in a safe manner," Philippon said. "The approach we're using is much safer than letting Alex play the way he is now."

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that the club had been considering three courses of action to handle Rodriguez's labrum tear and paralabral cyst, which had limited his activities and prompted the slugger to complain of continued tightness and lack of movement.

The club could do nothing and see how Rodriguez got through the season, drain the cyst and allow him more flexibility, or select a complete surgical procedure that would cost Rodriguez approximately four months.

Rodriguez's cyst was drained on Wednesday and more information was gathered on how the slugger would react to that conservative procedure. In the past 48 hours, Cashman said, a fourth option emerged from Philippon.

That ultimately is the route the Yankees have decided to take -- having arthroscopic surgery to repair only the labrum tear for the moment, shortening Rodriguez's rehab. Following the conclusion of the season, Rodriguez will have the more complete procedure to repair the remaining aspect of his injury.

"Because of all the tests, findings, analysis and function of Alex, I feel it's in his best interest to have his labrum repaired, remove part of his impingement at the same time and therefore stabilize his labrum," Philippon said.

"[The procedure will] remove a little bit of the impingement, and by doing this, we will contain the cyst. The goal here is to stabilize Alex's labrum, remove a little bit of the impingement and allow him to have more freedom of movement in his hip."

After discussion of the risks and downside -- if any -- Rodriguez and the Yankees gravitated toward the new fourth option. Philippon said that he has performed similar procedures on other professional athletes, and that this would allow him to play more safely.

Cashman said that Philippon's expertise with the procedure gave Rodriguez and the organization comfort "that this was not only a legitimate option, but the best one."

"In a situation like Alex's, when we're trying to return him rapidly to his high-level function, it's certainly a very good option," Philippon said. "It's a little more demanding on the patient, but Alex is very athletic and has overall very good muscular strength. I firmly believe that this approach will be successful."

In medical terms, Rodriguez's labrum tear is a femoroacteabular impingement, which causes friction in the hip joint. Rodriguez has two types of impingement, "pincer" and "cam" -- Philippon will only repair the pincer impingement on Monday.

Philippon said that there is only a limited risk that Rodriguez could re-tear his labrum while playing through the 2009 season until the more complete surgery will be performed. He estimated his confidence of that fact "in the 85, 90 percent range".

Had Rodriguez undergone the complete procedure that he will eventually require, Philippon estimated that Rodriguez would have pushed his recovery time from 12 to 16 weeks.

"The belief is that it would be extensively longer than this current rehab process on this shorter surgery," Cashman said. "That's why Alex has gravitated to this decision."

Cashman said that Rodriguez will remain in Colorado "for the foreseeable future," working out under the supervision of Philippon. Rodriguez is expected to resume swinging a bat -- functional rehab and muscle memory -- as soon as one week after Monday's procedure.

"We will keep Alex with us, certainly for the first few weeks," Philippon said. "We are going to put him on the fast track. We will be very aggressive with his rehab and check on Alex twice a day."

As revealed by the club last week, Rodriguez had been managing tightness and discomfort in his right hip dating back to the 2008 season, but had never complained of pain.

An MRI taken Feb. 28 in Tampa, Fla., showed changes to an underlying bone deformity first catalogued by the Yankees last May, when Rodriguez spent time on the disabled list with a strained right quadriceps.

With Rodriguez sidelined until at least mid-April, the Yankees plan to enter the season filling from within. Yankees manager Joe Girardi has said that utilityman Cody Ransom is the most likely candidate to fill in at third base for the three-time American League MVP, who is in the second year of a 10-year, $275 million contract.

"Alex is a big part of what we're doing out there, and we need him healthy and we need him around," Girardi said. "We're going to be without him for a while, but good teams find ways to overcome situations like this."

Cashman emphasized that the Yankees believe the right decision is being made.

"The Yankees are confident that we have sent Alex to the best doctor that can address his needs, both in the short and long term," Cashman said. "We are very confident that Monday's surgery is the best approach to take at this time and we look forward to it."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

He should get the surgery done

Why mess around with something

I'm definitely for that...I'm just saying this seems very coincidental.

laprimamirala wrote:

I'm definitely for that...I'm just saying this seems very coincidental.

Maybe



However I see it as poetic justice
Serves A-Rod right for doing roids

A-Rod better hope it ain't a roids related injury



Steroids not only kill

But cripple athletes

It wouldn't surprise me! Roids suck bones dry, making them prone to fracture and other abnormalities!

laprimamirala wrote:

It wouldn't surprise me! Roids suck bones dry, making them prone to fracture and other abnormalities!