Tagged: Alex Rodriguez
A-Rod: King of Boston
By Jon Lane
Remember Alex Rodriguez? If Cody Ransom’s .170 average, or February installments of “As A-Rod Turns,” hasn’t reminded you that he’s one of the top-five players in baseball who’s off-the-field melodrama overshadows his worldly talent, here’s something fun to check out while awaiting Yankees vs. Red Sox.
Gordon Edes, former Boston Globe columnist now penning for Yahoo! Sports, wrote a fictional account of what life in Boston would be like if the MLBPA had not shot down an A-Rod to the Red Sox trade in 2004, which led to the Yankees acquiring his services.
I’m not in Boston, but Kimberly Jones is there and Jerome Preisler will be on location for tomorrow’s A.J. Burnett-Josh Beckett matchup. Jerome’s Deep in the Red column appears regularly on YESNetwork.com and his “Short Hops” feature offered unique perspectives of Yankee Stadium. Julia’s Rants also looks at the long history between the Yankees and Red Sox.
Back later with the lineups.
Monday musings
By Jon Lane
While I remain in New York dealing with a stubborn Jack Frost, Team Tampa is in Clearwater today covering today’s Yankees-Phillies game. Keep it locked in for a live blog and later, Chris Shearn and Co. will have interviews, news and nuggets as the Yankees take another step towards April 6, Opening Day in Baltimore.
Some quick hits and observations from today and over the weekend:
BREAKING NEWS: Curt Schilling has retired, posting a message on his blog. More on this later.
Xavier Nady would be the starting right fielder if the season started today, said Joe Girardi, but Nick Swisher will play an important role with the team. Swisher’s versatility is well-documented, as is his penchant for keeping things loose in Yankeeland. Shearn interviewed Swisher this morning, which YESNetwork.com will have up later.
Chien-Ming Wang will start the exhibition game against the Cubs on April 3. Andy Pettitte and A.J. Burnett will split the game on April 4.
As Shearn reported on Saturday, Phil Hughes was optioned to Triple-A Scranton. He was simply a victim of a numbers game and needs to pitch multiple and complete innings rather than sporadic innings. This makes sense to everyone except the Loyal Order of Joba to the Bullpen (LOJB).
In case you care, Alex Rodriguez made the news again for something not related to baseball, but his personal live. The New York Daily News first reported that Kristin Davis (not the actress but the former Manhattan madam who supplied Eliot Spitzer with hookers) dated A-Rod and supplied him with clients.
Draw your own conclusions. If you want to read the story, it’s here. (Racy photo alert!)
In more refreshing news, Yankees senior advisor Ray Negron’s new book, One Last Time: Good-Bye to Yankee Stadium was released last Tuesday and rose to No. 1 on the Amazon’s Best Seller List. Negron’s second book, The Greatest Story Never Told: The Babe and Jackie was No. 4. Negron doesn’t make a dime on the proceeds. They all go to multiple charities, so keep up the support.
Madonna? Try Carly Simon
By Jon Lane
The April issue of DETAILS magazine has a piece out on Alex Rodriguez, America’s favorite Lightning Rod. Their release promotes the story as an exclusive interview done hours before the steroids scandal broke wide open. You can read it here:
Among the takes shared by A-Rod:
“We live in a world right now where everyone’s keeping score. And it doesn’t stop when the games end … They’ve crossed over. And you have the Internet stuff, and all these phones … It’s very intense.”
“New York is one of a kind. It’s made me ask all the tough questions. It’s brought out the best in me. There are some things I have to work on. And that part is fun. Revealing the truth about yourself is always good.”
On Madonna: “Well, we’re friends … I have a lot of respect for her … She’s very smart and she’s passionate about everything she does … if there ever was any situation, she’s a great ear to have, you know?”
The picture provided is the real kicker. I think it speaks for itself.
Memo to A-Rod: Re-write your story
By Jon Lane
Here’s another example of the current perception surrounding Alex Rodriguez: A big Yankees fan works one of those coffee and danish stands here in Chelsea. We started talking about the team. Shaking his head, he asked, “What’s with A-Rod?”After I gave him a 30-second summary of what he’s endured since early February, and what he needs to do to alter the perception, the man replied, “He’s a player.”
I answered, “Yes he is. Probably the best in the game and the Yankees need him.”
The man countered, “He’s a ‘playa’ with the ladies.”
Whether it’s that New York Post cover of Rodriguez with that stripper in Toronto, his foot squarely in the mouth, PEDs, whatever, this is how the general population is remembering a three-time Most Valuable Player who is two seasons removed from setting a Yankees record for most home runs by a right-handed hitter (54).
Jim Kaat revealed a conversation he had with A-Rod in which he told him he’s “an easy target and it’s easy to pile on to the situation.” Very true — and now it’s Rodriguez’s time to begin re-writing his story. He’ll be in Colorado indefinitely, protected by the mountains and snow that measures to a skier’s delight. Chapter 1 will write itself — the fact that Rodriguez’s work ethic has never and will never be second-guessed.
Once he’s back in uniform, the next challenge is crucial yet simple: Play the game. Do what you did in 2007: Say little, give little and let it all out on the field, because ultimately that’s what fans care about. There’s still a ton of pages for Rodriguez to fill in his legacy book. It’s up to him to decide what he writes.
A-Rod has successful surgery
By Jon Lane
WFAN’s Sweeny Murti reported that A-Rod had a successful one hour and
20 minute surgery that according to Dr. Marc Philippon went exactly as
planned. Dr. Philippon added there was “no doubt” that all parties made
the right choice. Not only does A-Rod projected 6-9 weeks of recovery remain on track, he will absolutely be ready for Spring Training
next year following the more invasive procedure.
You can read the full story here.
Shameless plug department: I’ll be discussing A-Rod’s surgery momentarily on Sports Radio 790 in Atlanta.
News of the day
From the AP: Mariano Rivera threw 30
pitches during his third bullpen session. Coming back from surgery on
the AC joint in his right shoulder last Oct. 7, Rivera is scheduled to
throw batting practice Wednesday and could make his spring training
debut around March 17.
Rivera expects to be ready for Opening Day on April 6.
“I’m right on track,” Rivera said. “Everything will depend on how the arm feels. So far it’s been feeling good.”
Hideki Matsui, who had left knee surgery last Sept.
22, reported no problems after playing consecutive games for the first
time this spring training on Saturday and Sunday.
4:59 p.m.: Joe Girardi was just on WFAN with Mike Francesa.
Among the highlights, Mark Teixeira will continue to bat third in
A-Rod’s absence … Jorge Posada is progressing nicely and the intent
is for him to still catch at least 100 games … Girardi has been
impressed with Phil Hughes, but the Yankees want him to start, so
expect him to begin the season in Triple-A barring injury to one of the starters … Gardner
and Nick Swisher each have caught Girardi’s eye. While it’s still
early, that could eventually spell bad news for Cabrera and Xavier
Nady. Since Cabrera is out of options, Girardi may carry both he and
Gardner, but that remains too early to decide.
YESNetwork.com will have portions of the interview posted later.
Monday musings
By Jon Lane
Andy Pettitte his spring debut this afternoon against the Blue Jays. Pettitte and the Yankees, as you know, were at a stalemate before compromising on a one-year deal worth $5.5 million with an additional $6.5 million in bonuses.
Not that Pettitte will rebound from a down season to win 20 games like Mike Mussina last year, but he will be better now that he’s healthy and free from the HGH admissions that weighed heavily on his mind.
Furthermore, having won in New York, Pettitte offers an invaluable intangible to CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and the Yankees’ young arms. His wisdom, experience and insight will become especially valuable late in the season and the take here is that Pettitte still have a few big games left in him.
Today’s lineups
Brett Gardner CF
Melky Cabrera LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Jorge Posada DH
Nick Swisher RF
Jose Molina C
Angel Berroa 2B
Justin Leone 3B
Ramiro Pena SS
The center field derby
Brett Gardner: 6-for-18, 2 HRs, 5 R, 2 SB
Melky Cabrera: 4-for-15, 0 HRs, 2 R, 0 SB
Don’t look now
Phil Hughes’ Grapefruit line: 7.2 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts, including three hitless innings on Sunday (two walks, four strikeouts).
Transactions
Andrew Brackman was optioned to Single-A Charleston. J.B. Cox, George Kontos and Kanekoa Texeira were reassigned to the Yankees’ Minor League camp.
Storylines
Alex Rodriguez is undergoing hip surgery this morning. Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record tracks the A-Rod stock market.
Cody Ransom is getting his share of press. This column by The Record‘s Ian O’Connor is an absolute must-read. This alone makes you want to root for Ransom.
Strictly in baseball terms, the Yankees can get back with Ransom at third base for a month or so. He’ll be that much more valuable to the team once Rodriguez returns.
A few updates from Peter Abraham:
Andy Pettitte’s line: 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks, 31 pitches
Dan Giese gave up a solo home run to Russ Adams in the third.
Brett Gardner’s hot spring continues. Gardner went yard with a two-run shot (his third of the spring) to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the third. Melky Cabrera was hitless in two at-bats entering the fifth.
Gardner later reached first on a bunt single and was moved to third on Cabrera’s two-out base hit. However, Cabrera got caught between first and second and Gardner, breaking for home, was tagged out. Gardner is 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Cabrera finished 1-for-3 before he was replaced in left field by Austin Jackson.
The news was not so good for Ian Kennedy. The right-hander got tagged for five runs on five hits in two innings, including Travis Snider’s solo homer with one out in the sixth.
The A-Rod verdict
By Jon Lane
Alex Rodriguez will have arthroscopic hip surgery on Monday and is expected to miss six to nine weeks. According to Peter Abraham, it will be a less invasive procedure, so instead of missing at least four months, the goal is to get the surgery done, rehab, return around late April-early May and have the full repair after the season.
Dr. Marc Philippon will perform the surgery in Vail, Colo., where Rodriguez will remain for several weeks, and stated in a Sunday morning conference call he is 85-90 percent certain A-Rod won’t have a setback this season.
From the sounds of it, Brian Cashman and the Yankees deserve credit for their thorough research and the exploration of every option. In this case A-Rod won’t suddenly break down and the Yankees will have him back much sooner than later. As far as a band-aid, look for Cody Ransom see the bulk of the time at third unless Cashman plucks someone like a Mark Grudzielanek off the scrap heap. The good news is this does not necessitate a major move for a high-priced veteran (Adrian Beltre, Scott Rolen).
The heat will be on Teixeira
By Jon Lane
Courtesy of Peter Abraham, the state of the 2009 Yankees, taken from the point of view of what awaits Mark Teixeira.
All this for $400 million. What you have looks like a big mess, but it’s not even spring yet! Let’s see how this latest Alex Rodriguez tale plays out. A-Rod had additional tests done on his injured hip today, Hal Steinbrenner told reporters, but the Yankees’ co-chairman wasn’t revealing any details.
“Everybody is concerned, of course,” Steinbrenner said after meeting with general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi for about 15 minutes. “No decisions being made. Just being cautious. We’re going to take it slow.”
Which brings up the importance of Teixeira to this team. Buster Olney writes that Teixeira is the only sure thing the Yankees have going at the moment. Right now you cannot argue with this. A-Rod as the No. 4 hitter that’s the glue to a machine that when operating at 100 percent has Teixeira batting third and a healthy Hideki Matsui fifth. Now with A-Rod’s season possibly on the brink, Teixeira will have to waste no time in earning the $180 million he’ll be making over the next eight years – perhaps without the benefit of A-Rod’s protection in the lineup.
If history is any indication, however, Teixeira will not get untracked immediately. As Olney writes, “Any hiccup on his part will be devastating for the Yankees. A slow transition to New York, which has been typical for most of the big-name players acquired by the team in the past decade, might crush the Yankees’ playoff hopes. They need him to hit early and hit late; they need him to hit all season.”
Problem is, Teixeira has annually been a slow starter (see the chart six paragraphs down in Onley’s blog). But as Sweeny Murti indicates, A-Rod’s injury turns the heat up on Teixeira, CC Sabathia, and A.J. Burnett. Even the most knowledgeable fans and astute sabermetricians won’t cut Teixeira any slack should he post some of the paltry numbers listed in Olney’s chart.
Tonight’s lineup
Johnny Damon LF
Brett Gardner CF
Nick Swisher 1B
Jorge Posada DH
Shelly Duncan RF
Cody Ransom 3B
Jose Molina C
Angel Berroa 2B
Ramiro Pena SS
A reprieve – or out for four months?
By Jon Lane and Joe Auriemma
Yet another A-Rod bait and switch, this time possibly for the better.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters in Tampa., Fla., that Alex Rodriguez has a torn hip labrum and cyst, which was drained. Hoping to avoid surgery, the Yankees’ plan is to try rest and rehab with the hope that he’ll continue to play. One thing is for certain, A-Rod is out of the World Baseball Classic.
Rodriguez is not out of the woods yet. Surgery remains an option, which can keep him out for up to four months according to WFAN’s Sweeny Murti. However, Peter Abraham added that Cashman said A-Rod will need the surgery at some point. The hope is he can get through the season and then have the procedure.
It’s going to be a tense few days in Yankees camp, this time strictly for baseball reasons. Despite the revamping of the starting rotation and the addition of Mark Teixeira, the Yankees aren’t whole without Alex Rodriguez. Period.
Auriemma: Final decision can affect ’09 season
According to ESPN 1050, Yankees VP & GM Brian Cashman has stated that Alex Rodriguez will not require surgery and will try to rehab a torn labrum in his hip. This is good news if they can get him to come back earlier than 10 weeks. There have been rumors that Cody Ransom/Angel Berroa were going to have to hold down the hot corner, but ESPN’s Peter Gammons said that Bobby Crosby and Mark Grudzielanek also could have been options.
My concern is will rehab take care of the problem? Is A-Rod going to try and rehab it and then down the line, they find out that all along he needed surgery anyway, making this a mid-July return instead of a mid-May return. I’m not a doctor, so I don’t know, but I’m sure the Yankees and their team of specialists have good reason to believe that this is the best avenue.
This news is definitely better than what was initially reported. Whenever the word surgery is uttered most people think the worst. The Yankees just have to trust the opinion that this is the best route to take and that this won’t be an issue even after rehab throughout the whole season.
A-Rod might mean more to the run production of this lineup than what any other player means to their team. I do think good pitching can keep the Yankees in it, but eventually they need A-Rod’s bat back in the middle of the order. This is a very important decision for the Yankees and what might become of the 2009 season.
This is like the 2000 Presidential election all over again. In a race to break the story, everyone on the planet reported the surgery story, including myself. Another example of why listening to A-Rod’s brother as a source is never the right decision.
Alright, it’s not exactly like the 2000 Presidential election.
Can Terrell Owens play third base?
By Glenn Giangrande
Obviously I’m just kidding, but seriously
– what’s going on in the sports world? I’m getting ready for sleep
yesterday and T.O. gets released. I wake up this morning and A-Rod’s
out until mid-May. What’s next, someone signing Barry Bonds while I’m
out getting my car’s oil changed?
Given all the work that the
Yankees have done this winter, I would advise fans not to panic. There
is no doubt that the loss of A-Rod’s bat creates a void in the lineup,
as it’s impossible to replace the kind of production he’s capable of
delivering. So much for the idea of trading Hideki Matsui that I suggested a couple of days ago!
The
Yankees now need all the production they can get. Here’s an early
lineup projection based on nothing more than speculation and my
personal whims:
Damon LF (L)
Jeter SS (R)
Matsui DH (L)
Teixeira 1B (S)
Posada C (S)
Cano 2B (L)
Nady RF (R)
??? 3B (?)
Gardner CF (L)
That’s
not too bad of a lineup, although some people are sounding warning
alarms over Teixeira’s early season struggles (.256 career batting
average in March & April). However, for all their firepower, the
Yankees are a team that should go as far as its pitching can
take it. Unlike last season, the rotation is filled with arms that can
pick up slack if the club suffers an offensive letdown early in the
season.
I don’t want to hear about CC Sabathia’s
pressure-induced struggles last April, in what was a contract year,
because that was an isolated incident. He’s got his deal and I think
he’ll be happy. Then you have A.J. Burnett, who I actually think will
thrive in a situation like this, knowing he needs to step up.
Back-to-back 19 win seasons in healthy times have bought Chien-Ming
Wang plenty of cred. Joba Chamberlain will have lots of mismatches on
the mound as the Yankees’ No. 5 starter.
What team wouldn’t want Andy Pettitte as the fourth guy in its rotation?
I’m
not expecting the Yanks to make a major acquisition to plug in at
third. Everyone is going to have to do a little more early in the
season, and I think the brunt of things will fall upon the shoulders of
the rotation.
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