The LoHud Yankees Blog

Yankees GM Brian Cashman just said Alex Rodriguez has a torn hip labrum and cyst.

They’re trying rest and rehab. The cyst was drained. The hope is he’ll keep playing.

More to come.

He’s out of the WBC.

UPDATE, 3:51 p.m.: Surgery, if needed, would knock him out four months.

The cyst was large and the hope was having it drained will lessen the stiffness Rodriguez felt.

They’re going to cut down on his time in spring training in the hopes he can get through the season.

This is a similar injury to what Mike Lowell had. Cashman refused to say what degree the tear was.

UPDATE, 4:07 p.m.: Cashman just said A-Rod will need the surgery at some point. The tear won’t just heal.

They’re hoping he can get through the season then have it. So this could be an issue all year.

YANKEES
Cabrera CF
Swisher LF
Teixeira 1B
Matsui DH
Nady RF
Ransom SS
Berroa 3B
Pena 2B
Cash C

Pitching: Joba Chamberlain followed by Christian Garcia, Brian Bruney, Jon Albaladejo, George Kontos ans Wilkin De La Rosa.

CANADA
Barnwell SS
Martin DH
Weglarz LF
Morneau 1B
Bay LF
Stairs RF
Teahen 3B
Carlin C
Orr 2B

Pitching: Scott Diamond.

Notes: Diamond is a 22-year A ball pitcher in the Braves organization. He was 15-3, 2.89 last season. … This is the first game for Matsui this spring. … Mariano Rivera will throw in the bullpen at 10:20 a.m. That will be his first such session of the spring as he recovers from shoulder surgery. … The Yankees have an hour-long meeting before they go on the field. MLB Security is giving the players their annual speech to avoid bad stuff.

UPDATE, 10:33 a.m.: Mariano Rivera just threw 30 pitches in the bullpen. Half were from halfway up the mound before he moved up top. He looked rusty but he threw with no apparent discomfort.

We’ll talk to him later.

UPDATE, 10:51 a.m.: ESPN Deportes, which swings and misses at times, is reporting Alex Rodriguez needs surgery and will miss 10 weeks. No comment yet from the Yankees.

If this is true, somebody screwed up. If he had this hip issue last year and it went untreated, that’s doesn’t make much sense.

Back later as we learn more.

UPDATE, 11:16 a.m.: Joe Girardi just claimed he didn’t know anything about Alex. That’s a sure sign of bad news.

The Yankees PR dept. is also in shutdown mode, another bad sign.

More as it becomes available.

UPDATE, 12:10 a.m.: Well, Mariano said his bullpen went well. He thinks he’ll ready for April 6.

Edwar Ramirez also threw in the pen for the first time since his shoulder injury. He said he felt good.

As for A-Rod the Yankees are still playing hide and seek. No good info yet, just rumors.

UPDATE, 1:01 p.m.: Just saw Brian Cashman, who said he had to make a call regarding Rodriguez. He will speak to reporters “later on.”

The Yankees are not denying the report. From what I have been able to gather, the ESPN Deportes report is essentially true.

So in a span of less than a year, Rodriguez tore a quad and now needs a hip operation. Can you draw a line from three years of steroids to these injuries? I have no idea, medical experts will have to determine that. But signing this guy to a 10-year contract looks like a decision that will haunt the franchise for years to come. They had a chance to be free of him and they let it pass.

UPDATE, 1:19 p.m.: There will not be a whole lot of live blogging on this game as I have to work on the A-Rod story. The game is not high on the priority list today.

Do do have to wonder if the Yankees would look to make a trade for somebody like Chone Figgins or whether they just grin and bear it with Cody Ransom until A-Rod comes back. Cashman has trade chips is he wants to use them. But do you use them for a one-month patch?

UPDATE, 1:35 p.m.: In other good news, Joba Chamberlain was taken out of the game before he got an out. Four walks, a hit and a wild pitch. It’s now 5-0 Canada.

UPDATE, 1:47 p.m.: Joba was not hurt as far as I know. He was just bad.

His line thus far this spring: 1 inning, 4 hits, 7 runs, 4 walks, 0 strikeouts. Yikes.

Good thing it’s March 5.

UPDATE, 2:45 p.m.: Yankees trail 6-0 and are getting no-hit in the fourth inning. … Meanwhile, vote in the poll for who you want at third base in A-Rod absence.

UPDATE, 3:06 p.m.: Just spoke to Joba. He said everything “is great” physically. His problem today was mechanical. In pitcher speak, he could not get over his front side and that was screwing up his control. He didn’t seem concerned in the slightest.

UPDATE, 3:12 p.m.: Cashman will be meeting with the media in 10 minutes. I’ll post the information as I get it.

Live from Tampa, we’ll have a video chat tomorrow at 11 a.m. So head over to our Mogulus Channel with any questions you might have and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Tell your friends. Big prizes for good questions.

I’m holding off on posting the lineups for today’s game against Team Canada. Given the state of the lineup these days, it will hold.

Meanwhile, here’s the first attempt of the spring at guessing the Opening Day roster:

Lineup
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Gardner CF

Bench
Nady OF
Molina C
Ransom INF
Cabrera OF

Rotation
Sabathia
Wang
Burnett
Pettitte
Chamberlain

Bullpen
Rivera
Marte
Bruney
Aceves
Coke
Veras
Robertson

Explanation: I think Edwar Ramirez has fallen behind too much and won’t be ready by April 6. … There’s a 50-50 shot Matsui isn’t ready. … If Posada is not able to catch regularly, they could keep Kevin Cash as a third catcher. … I’m not sold on the idea of keeping both Gardner and Cabrera. But Cabrera is out of options, so maybe they would keep him if he doesn’t win the job. Ransom can play 2B, SS and 3B. Swisher can play 1B, as can Nady, so that covers the infield. But this team probably needs an extra middle infielder more than an extra outfielder.

I’m not sold on Aceves quite yet as the long reliever. But Jason Johnson won’t be ready and Brett Tomko may be a reach. Giese has a shot. I can’t see them using Hughes or Kennedy in that role. It would be a waste.

Alex Rodriguez went to Colorado to get his hip examined. Joe Girardi said yesterday that the issue first came up last season. That being the case, why did they wait to send him to a specialist on March 4?

Mariano Rivera will throw in the bullpen today. This notebook also has news on Ian Kennedy, Hideki Matsui, Chien-Ming Wang and Dan Giese.

There is nothing to report as of yet on the condition of Alex Rodriguez. This could mean any one of a number of things:

· The team is trying to convince MLB to that he should not play in the WBC and there will be some resolution tomorrow.

· They’re trying to get their story straight, whatever it may be.

· The doctors are waiting for the results of tests.

· A herd of rabid Vail elk attacked A-Rod when he was on his way to see the doctor.

The Yankees are not saying anything. If anything develops tonight, I’ll provide an update. But the clubhouse opens to the media at 7:55 a.m. tomorrow and it’s time to get some sleep.

Here’s some good news: Mariano Rivera will throw in the bullpen tomorrow for the first time.

Rivera has been limited to playing catch and participating in defensive drills so far as he recovers from shoulder surgery. Because he needs only 8-10 innings, the Yankees are being cautious with him. But Rivera will take the Carl Pavano Memorial Half Mound tomorrow morning for a few tosses.

The hope is to get him in a game on March 17. That would give him enough time to be ready for Opening Day.

Jorge Posada also went through his throwing program today back in Tampa. He seems over his little bump in the rehab road last week.

————

No news yet on A-Rod’s hip. Once we find out, it will be posted. As of an hour ago, he was being examined in Colorado.

Nice quick game here at Disney. Meanwhile, the Disney Garbage Army completely cleaned the entire stadium in 15 minutes. It was frightening to watch.

Not much to report from this one as the Yankees lost 3-2. Ian Kennedy allowed two runs and Dan Giese one, going three innings each. Andrew Brackman and Mark Melancon each went an inning.

Melancon allowed a leadoff double then retired three batters in order in the eighth. He has thrown three scoreless innings this spring, allowing two hits.

The five starters will get into the rotation starting tomorrow when Joba faces Team Canada. CC, Wang, Burnett and Pettitte will follow him. Sabathia starts Friday, Wang on Saturday and so on.

Joe Girardi said the long-reliever candidates (Tomko, Giese and Aceves) will continue to get innings. Kennedy and Hughes could be relegated to minor-league games once the starters get stretched out. Girardi called Phil Coke “half a long man” and said he would still get work.

They envision him going anywhere from one batter to two innings. Girardi they could keep Coke and a long man in the bullpen. With Edwar Ramirez on the shelf, that could be what they end up doing.

YANKEES
Damon LF
Gardner CF
Nady RF
Miranda 1B
Berroa 2B
Molina CF
Russo 3B
Pena SS
Kennedy RHP

Pitching today: Ian Kennedy followed by Andrew Brackman, J.B. Cox, Dan Giese, Kei Igawa and Mark Melancon.

BRAVES
Anderson CF
Escobar SS
Johnson 2B
Kotchman 1B
Francoeur RF
Heyward LF
Infante 3B
Ross C
Kawakami RHP

Pitching today: Kawakami, Blaine Boyer, Todd Redmond, Kris Medlen, Francisley Bueno, Mariano Gomez.

Notes: There should be more info on A-Rod’s medical condition later on today. … Mark it down on your calendar now: Live video chat on Friday at 11 a.m. … Long ride to Disney for the game. I’ll check in from the stadium later on

Derek Jeter is here this morning. His comment on the latest A-Rod mess: “I’ve got nothing to say, man.”

Smart guy that Jeter.

UPDATE, 12:01 p.m.: Here’s Yogi signing for fans:

UPDATE, 12:33 p.m.: We just spoke to Johnny Damon, who said he took no offense at what A-Rod said yesterday. “I’ll just have to show Alex what I can do,” he said with a laugh.

As for Alex, his appointment is in Colorado this afternoon, so we may not find out his status until late tonight or tomorrow. Joe Girardi said the Yankees would abide by what the specialist decides But he made it clear that the organization will take no chances.

“We have to err on the side of caution for the Yankees,” he said.

Girardi said that A-Rod had the hip issue at the end of last season. He described it as “stiffness” and not pain. “He’s been able to play and play at a high level,” the manager said.

It sounds like the Yankees are clearing a path for Alex to be taken out of the WBC. But the injury doesn’t sound all that serious. He doubled yesterday and scored from second on a single.

UPDATE, 1:21 p.m.: IPK is not having a good day. Double, groundout, walk, two-run double. 2-0 Braves.

UPDATE, 2:01 p.m.: It’s still 2-0, now at the top of the 4th inning. The Yankees don’t have a hit.

Get used to this. With three key players at the WBC, Matsui out, Posada limited and other guys not playing every day, you’re going to see AAA and AA lineups.

Meanwhile, Ty Kepner has a cool blog post on Cody Ransom.

UPDATE, 2:22 p.m.: Well, how about that? Down 2-0 and getting one-hit, Dan Giese ignites the Yankees with a two-out single. Then he scores on a triple to the right field gap by Johnny Damon.

A triple for Johnny Damon? Take that, A-Rod. The Yankees don’t need Jose Reyes!

(Disclaimer: I am joking. There is no reason to get excited.)

2-1 Braves, middle of the fifth.

UPDATE, 3:09 p.m.: Yankees trail 3-2, bottom of the eighth. Just spoke to Ian Kennedy, who said he could not command his curve today. “It’s tough when you feel like you’re going well and then you take a step back,” he said.

Dan Giese, meanwhile, was told not to swing. But he didn’t hear the voices from the dugout and took his hacks. He singled and then scored on Damon’s triple. “It was like the dizzy bat race,” he said.

Giese said it was his first at-bat in spring training. He’s never had an AB on the majors.

Best-selling author Jane Heller has published Confessions of a She-Fan: The Course of True Love with the New York Yankees.

Jane, a reader of this blog, will be at Barnes & Noble in Tampa on Friday afternoon.

You can read more about the book on her web site.

Jane also has a blog.