The LoHud Yankees Blog

Brian Cashman just spoke to the media after getting off a two-hour conference call regarding Alex Rodriguez.

They are discussing all options. As of now, surgery has not been scheduled. But — and this would seem significant — Alex is staying in Colorado for “the foreseeable future.”

Said Cashman: “The stiffness is the beginning of the process. Eventually there is going to be pain. … You have to be realistic. We could be on the verge of having an incident. … What’s best for him is what’s best for us.”

UPDATE, 10:12 p.m.: Cashman has not spoken to any teams regarding trades. All his time has been spent trying to determine a course of action with A-Rod.

I don’t get the sense that the Yankees are hiding anything. They seem to be making every effort to get as educated as they can on this injury and what is the best thing to do.

YANKEES
Gardner CF
Damon LF
Swisher 1B
Posada DH
Duncan RF
Ransom 3B
Molina C
Berroa 2B
Pena SS

Pitching tonight: CC Sabathia followed by Alfredo Aceves, Jose Veras, Steven Jackson, David Robertson and Anthony Claggett.

TIGERS
Raburn RF
Polanco 2B
Sheffield DH
Thames LF
Hessman 1B
Cleven CF
Inge 3B
Sardinha C
Everett SS

Pitching tonight: Justin Verlander, Brandon Lyon, Bobby Seay, Freddy Dolsi.

Notes: The Yankees will have their annual meeting with the MLBPA this afternoon. Those usually last a while. … Tonight is the first night game at Big Stein Field. … The Yankees travel to face the Tigers on Sunday. … A-Rod is not here today. He remains in Colorado.

UPDATE, 3:17 p.m.: Hal Steinbrenner was just in Joe Girardi’s office for a 15-minute meeting with the manager and Brian Cashman.

When he exited a few of us were there to ask him some questions as he walked quickly down the hallway back to his office. Here is how it went:

Question: “Anything new on Alex?”

Steinbrenner: “When we know something, we’ll let you know. No decision has been made yet. We’re just being cautious.”

Question: “What is your level of concern?”

Steinbrenner: “Everybody is concerned. Any time you have a player – particularly one as hard to replace as him – it’s a great concern. We’re going to take it slow and we’re going to be cautious.”

There was some more at the end but he was literally walking away as fast as he could.

Meanwhile, Cashman said he has not talked to A-Rod today and has no idea when he will be returning to Tampa. “I have no new information for you,” he said several times.

Hals comment about no decision being reached seems significant. It would not surprise me one bit if Alex had surgery on Monday. Stan Javier, the GM of the Dominican team, said that is what Alex told him would happen. So did Alex’s half-brother.

I wonder if the Yankees and Cashman are stalling for a day or two to try and make a deal. Then A-Rod gets surgery and everybody moves on, he comes back after the All-Star break, etc.

As accurate information comes in, we will post as quickly as possible.

UPDATE, 5:12 p.m. They flip-flopped Gardner and Damon. Girardi said just to get Brett used to hitting in front of Johnny if he’s the 9 hitter.

UPDATE, 5:56 p.m.: We just spoke to Joe Girardi for quite a while about A-Rod.

Things have changed since yesterday. The Yankees said then that the plan was for Alex to try and play and have surgery after the season. Now both Hal Steinbrenner and Girardi have talked about Alex needing to make a decision about having surgery.

Alex underwent more tests today and supposedly planned to throw and even hit in a cage out in Colorado. Then he will take a day or two to decide what to do, in consultation with the Yankees.

The sense I get from talking to people both in Tampa and elsewhere is that Alex will be having the surgery and it would be as soon as Monday. The Yankees are fearful of his trying to play and then having to come out of the lineup.

By having the surgery now, the team has a month to prepare for life without Alex and his rehab clock starts ticking. Essentially, March is a free month of rehab.

Joe Girardi is not making the call here. But consider his plight. He already has a catcher who will be able to catch only two out every three games. He also has a DH with two bad knees. Having a third baseman who needs to DH at times, or can’t play on turf, or can’t play four days in a row … you’re handcuffing him.

Here is the Joe Girardi audio from today. It’s a lengthy interview. But I think you’ll gain some insight into what is going on:

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UPDATE, 6:22 p.m.: Here is the money quote:

Question: Is there a possibility Alex could have surgery in the next few days?

Girardi: “That’s a determination Alex and the doctors have to make. The organization will continue to discuss it with both parties. But yeah, there is a possibility.”

In the past, whenever Girardi has used the word “possibility” that was exactly what happened.

UPDATE, 6:47 p.m.: CC Sabathia is scheduled for 35 pitches tonight, about two innings.

UPDATE, 7:24 p.m.: CC struck out Raburn on four pitches. Then Polanco reached on a pop-up double that Shelley should have had. After Sheff grounded out, Berroa kicked a grounder by Thames and a run scored.

UPDATE, 7:44 p.m.: CC allowed a two-out single in the second but fanned Inge and got two grounders. He induced five groundballs in two innings, a great sign that is two-seamer was on. I would think he is done for the night.

UPDATE, 7:51 p.m.: Cody Ransom doubles. Go get that surgery, A-Rod. Cody can handle it.

UPDATE, 8:24 p.m.: Yankees lead 4-1. One in the second and three in the third. Sorry for the lack of updates, but with the night game I have newspaper deadlines to make.

From what I understand (via the comments section), you can listen to the game on line at this link.

UPDATE, 9:06 p.m.: Here’s CC Sabathia discussing his outing:

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UPDATE, 9:09 p.m.: I didn’t see it as we were downstairs talking to CC, but reportedly Brett Gardner just made a spectacular catch in center field.

Gritty, gutty. The Little G.

So it seems my previous post was too negative for some people. So I will try and appease those who are sensitive. Here is my revised state of the lineup Mark Teixeira will have around him:

Players who are injured but will gut through it (not with the help of their cousin): Alex Rodriguez.

Aging players coming off injuries but are of strong character: Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui.

He’s Derek Jeter, the great Yankee: Derek Jeter.

Players in a contract year who still want to make money because they have a lot of kids and like doing fun stuff: Johnny Damon.

Young, hungry players: Brett Gardner, Melky Cabrera.

Players coming off their worst season, so they are sure to improve: Robinson Cano.

Players who can play many positions and get on base a lot: Nick Swisher.

Players who probably aren’t as good as last season’s stats would indicate. But maybe not! Xavier Nady.

There, hopefully that works.

It’s a new world for Mark Teixeira given the state of the position players around him …

Players who are injured: Alex Rodriguez.

Aging players coming off injuries: Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui.

Aging players in decline: Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon.

Young, unproven players: Brett Gardner, Melky Cabrera.

Players coming off their worst season: Robinson Cano.

Players without a position: Nick Swisher.

Players who probably aren’t as good as last season’s stats would indicate: Xavier Nady.

If everything goes well, the Yankees could have an imposing lineup. If not, yeesh. But a lot falls on the back of Teixeira now. Buster Olney broke it down well today on ESPN.com if you have a subscription. In essence, Teixeira is the only sure thing they have offensively right now.

Debating what will happen is fairly pointless until we see how well Alex can play or whether they move to replace him. But one examination in Vail sure changed a lot

At 11 a.m. today (as in 18 minutes from now), head over to our Mogulus Channel for a live video chat from Tampa. You can submit your questions via a moderator and I’ll answer as many as I can.

Just a reminder: At 11 a.m. today, head over to our Mogulus Channel for a live video chat from Tampa. You can submit your questions and I’ll answer as many as I can.

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Alex Rodriguez needs hip surgery but the Yankees want to delay it and get him through the season.

Sam Borden writes that the Yankees blew their chance to be free of Rodriguez in 2007. Now they’re stuck with him.

There was some good news as Mariano Rivera threw in the bullpen. This notebook also has news on Joba Chamberlain, Hideki Matsui and Edwar Ramirez.

It has been quite a month for Alex Rodriguez.

Feb. 7: Sports Illustrated reports that Rodriguez tested positive for steroids and testosterone in 2003. A-Rod goes to the Bahamas and is photographed with assorted groupies.

Feb. 9: Rodriguez admits to using “a substance” while with the Texas Rangers from 2001-03. He also falsely accuses Sports Illustrated reporter Selena Roberts of breaking into his home.

Feb. 15: A-Rod calls Roberts to apologize for what he said.

Feb. 17: During a press conference in Tampa, Rodriguez says a cousin supplied him with an anabolic steroid obtained in the Dominican Republic.

Feb. 25: Rodriguez has that cousin, Yuri Sucart, pick him up from a game in Dunedin, Fla.

Feb. 26: The Yankees order Rodriguez to keep Sucart away from ballparks.

March 1: Rodriguez meets with MLB officials investigating his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

March 2: A-Rod joins Dominican team for World Baseball Classic and stages photo op with his ex-wife and two children.

March 3: Rodriguez tells reporters covering the WBC that he would like to have Jose Reyes playing for the Yankees. Some take this as criticism of Derek Jeter.

March 4: Rodriguez flies to Colorado to be examined by a hip specialist for a previously unreported injury.

March 5: The Yankees announce that Rodriguez has a torn labrum in his right hip but will try to play this season before having surgery.

We can only imagine what happens next.

Thanks to everybody for reading today. I think we had some good information on the blog and hopefully it helped you understand what was happening.

Please check out the live video chat tomorrow at 11 a.m.

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Shameless self-promotion alert: I’ll be on with Scott Ferrall on Howard 101 (Sirius Satellite Radio) at 10:30 p.m. tonight. And I’ll be on WFAN at around 11:05 p.m. tonight.

There is certainly plenty to talk about with the Yankees. So be on LoHud.com tomorrow at 11 a.m. for a live video chat from Tampa.

Head over to our Mogulus Channel with any questions you might have and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Thanks.

I just spoke to an expert, Dr. Robert Buly of the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. He is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in hips.

Only last week, Dr. Buly presented back-to-back papers on treating this very injury with Dr. Marc Philippon, the surgeon treating Alex Rodriguez.

According to Dr. Buly, A-Rod likely has an impingement in his hip socket, a common injury for athletes. It comes from the femoral bone hitting the rim of the socket. The labrum, he said, is like a rubber gasket around the socket. A torn labrum is a symptom of the impingement.

A cyst such as the one A-Rod is typical in these cases. “That’s an indication something has gone bad with the hip,” Dr. Buly said.

Dr. Buly said it is “not unreasonable” to try rest and rehab. “But at some point you have to bite the bullet and have the surgery. It’s going to get progressively worse and for the patient, it’s pretty miserable,” he said.

A-Rod’s ability to play depends on the size of the tear and how quickly it gets larger. At some point, surgery will be needed. If it is only soft tissue, the recovery time is six to eight weeks. If bone must be repaired, it would take three to four months.

Brian Cashman indicated today that surgery would knock A-Rod out for four months, so it is likely he has some sort of bone deformity. This comes from wear and tear or some sort of anatomical abnormality.

Dr. Buly, who is a Yankees fan, said A-Rod would soon have trouble pivoting or flexing. Running, at least at first, will not be a problem.

Only time will tell how the Yankees handle this. But keep this in mind: Cashman said all last season that Jorge Posada’s torn labrum could be treated with rest and rehab. Then on July 30, as Posada underwent surgery, they made a surprise trade for Pudge Rodriguez.

I would expect the same in this case. What is the point of babying A-Rod through the season only to see him break down in September and October? Make a trade now, get the surgery and perhaps he returns by the All-Star break.

Scott Rolen ($22 million over two years) and Bill Hall ($24.45 over three years) have a lot of money left on their deals. That would be a lot to spend on a half-season patch. But maybe there is a 3B out there to be had. Or perhaps Milwaukee would give some money back to be free of Hall’s deal. In this economy, trade parameters are changing.

You want some other names? Off the top of my head how about Melvin Mora, Chone Figgins, Mark Teahen, Garrett Atkins, Chad Tracy. Maybe Hank Blalock. Detroit could part with Brandon Inge.

Mark Grudzielanek is a free agent. That would be the cheap out.

Point is, there are a lot of options out there.

Here is Brian Cashman talking about Alex Rodriguez’s bad hip. It’s about 20 minutes:

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In essence, there were two choices: surgery or rest, rehab and then surgery. The Yankees will try to get him through the season with rest and rehab.

A-Rod has been able to play with this injury and play pretty well so far. If nothing changes, he could well be fine. But Boston 3B Mike Lowell had a similar injury last season that was detected in June. He tried to keep playing and by October he could barely walk and could not be included on the playoff roster.

This is a terrible spot for Joe Girardi. While you can rest A-Rod in spring training, what do you do come the season? Every time he slides or dives for a ball, it’s a risk.

The cyst that was drained today was apparently caused by the labrum tear. Draining the cyst could help ease A-Rod’s discomfort. But the cyst also could refill with fluid over time.

It’s a bad situation for the Yankees as their season is held hostage by this. You can’t make a trade until you actually need a 3B. Then when you do, teams will try and hold you up.

A 33-year-old player with a bad hip. Good thing he’s not signed for nine more years.