Rodriguez: “I plan on cooperating”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Mar 01, 2010 
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Alex Rodriguez acknowledged this afternoon that he is participating in federal investigation into Dr. Tony Galea.
“I’m aware of an investigation and I plan on cooperating,” he said.
Rodriguez would not say whether he’s been in contact with Dr. Galea and said he’s not sure when he will meet with investigators.
“I can’t really get into that,” Rodriguez said. “I know that you guys have to ask those questions, but I have to speak to those guys first and then you guys will know, pretty much all at the same time.”
This time, Rodriguez is not at the center of the story. He seems linked to Dr. Galea through Dr. Mark Lindsay, who managed Rodriguez’s hip rehab. Mets shortstop Jose Reyes has already been interviewed as part of the investigation.
“This is about someone else,” Rodriguez said. “I’m going to cooperate as best I can and focus on baseball.”
UPDATE, 2:55 p.m.: Statement from the Yankees.
“The New York Yankees have not been contacted with regard to an investigation of Dr. Tony Galea. The Yankees never authorized Dr. Tony Galea to treat Alex Rodriguez, nor do we have any knowledge of any such treatment. The Yankees authorized Dr. Marc Philippon to operate on Alex and oversee his rehabilitation. At the request of Dr. Philippon, we also authorized Dr. Mark Lindsay to supervise the daily rehabilitation program established by Dr. Philippon. We will continue to monitor the situation.”
Did A-Rod say anything about Brackman
Haha. Easy cheese!
hahaha
It’s now a non-story.
A high profile player being involved in this sort of federal investigation is always a story, but right now it doesn’t seem like an especially big one.
Alex could not have handled it better. He knew what we needed to ask him. He directly addressed the Daily News reporter, because he knew that’s who had to ask the questions. He was calm and at ease with the whole thing. It wasn’t a standoff between Alex and the reporters, it was Alex standing up to address the situation and answer the questions he knew had to be asked. Not a big deal, just something that’s going on in the world of the Yankees at the moment.
Maybe jumping the gun here, but why would the Yankees set up Arod’s rehab with a doctor so tightly connected to BALCO? Or was it Arod’s decision as to who managed the rehab?
On the bright side, the rehab worked out beautifully, but you’d think they’d vet these doctors a little and try working with guys living life a little less on the fringe, medically speaking.
Doesn’t seem like it’ll be a big deal, but it is kind of a pain in the rump, nuisance kind of thing the player and team could do without.
steveoh,
Ignore may have been the wrong word, grain of salt maybe?
I would trust the Yankees and my own eyes to tell me if someone lacked the mental capacity to be a professional ball player.
And yes, I’m aware that players are scouted for such things all through out their careers.
Let’s just say, that I don’t need a writer to tell me what to think of a player. If someone like Pete reported that Ian Kennedy made certain post-game remarks, that goes into the opinion of a player. If I see something bone-headed on the field, I file that under, ‘Hmm…’.
We’re not all blind sheep who hang on every word that these guys write and are totally influenced by what they say.
“Maybe jumping the gun here, but why would the Yankees set up Arod’s rehab with a doctor so tightly connected to BALCO? Or was it Arod’s decision as to who managed the rehab?”
Not sure if this is 100% correct, but I believe it was neither.
I think it was Philippon who set up the arrangement.
Philippon is an orthopedic surgeon. I believe Lindsay is a chiropractor and physical therapist. Lindsay has a working relationship with the clinic Phillipon runs in colorado. I think Phillipon has Lindsay work on the physical therapy for some of his patients after surgery. Linsday is the guy who will travel to where the high profile patients are and work with them there, as I understood it.
It sounds like it was probably a standard type of relationship that was directed by the way Philippon frequently works.
If your boss told you to cross the border with something that was illegal, would you do it?
I’d like to keep my job, but I think I would like to stay out of trouble more.
Rich in NJ
March 1st, 2010 at 1:57 pm
It’s now a non-story.
**********************
That’s good
We would like to believe it’s a non-story. However, with ARod, nothing surprises me
ok back to baseball…who’s ready for Wednesday. I know I am. Already got my DVR set.
CB:
Interesting. Makes sense that a relationship between surgeon and rehab coordinator would exist.Did the Yankees get together with Rodriguez on selecting Philippon?
As I said earlier, it seems like small potatoes at this point, and the results of the surgery/rehab apparently could have gone any better. Yet I wonder whether that’s a prophecy or a curse. Is some pain in the posterior, intrepid reporter going to try an make something of this (“He was supposed to miss more time” “He was supposed to require a 2nd surgery” “What was the magic elixer?” and so on)?
Anyway’s, I’d just assume the Yankees vet all guys involved in these matters, be it surgically, rehab-wise, medicinally, etc. and steer clear of the medical cowboys.
*could NOT have gone any better
Frank,
“Interesting. Makes sense that a relationship between surgeon and rehab coordinator would exist.Did the Yankees get together with Rodriguez on selecting Philippon?”
Hes the best in his field for that specific surgery.
Yankees official statement on the situation:
“The New York Yankees have not been contacted with regard to an investigation of Dr. Tony Galea. The Yankees never authorized Dr. Tony Galea to treat Alex Rodriguez, nor do we have any knowledge of any such treatment. The Yankees authorized Dr. Marc Philippon to operate on Alex and oversee his rehabilitation. At the request of Dr. Philippon, we also authorized Dr. Mark Lindsay to supervise the daily rehabilitation program established by Dr. Philippon. We will continue to monitor the situation.”
http://steadmanhawkins.com/physicianPhilippon.asp
Frank read his brief bio here.
I love A-Rod!
Chad,
I would assume that Dr. Mark Lindsay recommended Dr. Tony Galea then?
Thanks Carl.
I have always said that ARod was standup before he was awesome last postseason. He used to interview and say he messed up when he did and people just believed what they wanted.
BTW, Klapisch doesn;t have a clue about how baseball works (in response to the pedrioa and Cano defense). Dustin is an excellent defender and Cano is as well.
Carl,
From what I’ve read, Alex has no connection with Galea except that his doctor (Lindsay) is Galea’s partner.
Are you suggesting otherwise?
I think Dr Lindsay and Victor Conte shared some high profile clients like Bill Romanowski and Tim Montgomerey.
That doesn’t mean he was involved in the BALCO scandal.
And if I were Dr. Galea, I think the last athlete I would want to risk it all and give HGH to would be Alex Rodriguez.
And it wouldn’t make a lot of sense for Arod, with the eyes of the world on him, to suddenly start taking HGH.
I do understand the need for the media to cover this, but I don’t think there will be much of a story.
So A-Rod had contact with a doctor who had contact with another doctor who’s being investigated?
So what’s he guilty of? 2nd degree association?
I’m willing to bet everyone is going to attempt to put him at the center of the investigation, and not Dr. Galea.
Minus this blog of course, which has done a good job of keeping the facts straight.
Eh, much ado about nothing – glad to hear Alex handled it well.
I hope we can get back to baseball, lol.
Bodh, why did you type DEPAULADEPAULADEPAULA before?
Regardless, it’s still a headache for the Yankees. And please don’t suggest otherwise.
m March 1st, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Carl,
From what I’ve read, Alex has no connection with Galea except that his doctor (Lindsay) is Galea’s partner.
Are you suggesting otherwise?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03.....galea.html
“One athlete who was treated by Galea in Canada was told by the doctor that he had traveled to New York to treat Rodriguez, according to a person who talked to the athlete afterward. Neither that person nor the individuals who have been briefed on the investigation wanted to be identified because the investigation is continuing.”
I don’t know how true this is.
I don’t know whether Lindsay recommended Galea. I don’t even know whether Rodriguez has ever met Galea. I’m guessing that’s what the investigators want to find out.
np Frank
Carl,
Lord, my cognitive skills are sorely lacking today. Guess I can’t multi-task. Yes, I did read that quote. I think I glossed over it because of the whole he said/patient confidentiality thingy.
Keep it
March 1st, 2010 at 2:43 pm
So A-Rod had contact with a doctor who had contact with another doctor who’s being investigated?
So what’s he guilty of? 2nd degree association?
**********************
LOL
Bets,
Just expressing my enthusiasm
.
Was in response to another post. Haven’t heard anything new.
m March 1st, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Carl,
Lord, my cognitive skills are sorely lacking today. Guess I can’t multi-task. Yes, I did read that quote. I think I glossed over it because of the whole he said/patient confidentiality thingy.
I was confused the first couple times I read it lol
Ick, I was just called “honey” on board I post on all the time. The guy wanted to put a statute of limitations on the development of young pitchers (meaning Eiland has to go if Joba and Phil, among others, don’t produce right away). He responded to my response with “honey”. I’m disgusted.
Oh – I thought we signed him.
Jose Reyes apparently has met with this Dr. Galea, admitting to having his blood subjected to this blood spinning technique he’s noted for. Doesn’t seem like he is destined for any trouble. I doubt Rodriguez would be if he met with the guy either. ‘Cept maybe with the Yankees, who just indicated that they never authorized Galea to treat him.
“One athlete who was treated by Galea in Canada was told by the doctor that he had traveled to New York to treat Rodriguez, according to a person who talked to the athlete afterward. Neither that person nor the individuals who have been briefed on the investigation wanted to be identified because the investigation is continuing.”
I don’t know how true this is.
———————————————————-
It could be that Galea was talking about his medical group having flown down to NY which would include Dr Lindsay.
It also wouldn’t be too unusual for Lindsay to ask Galea to check in on his high profile patient if Galea was going to be in NY.
Good answers, A-Rod.
**points**
**nods**
I don’t know – Alex already answered the questions, the Yankees made a statement and that should be it. I don’t think it’s going to cause much of a stir at camp because I don’t think the Yankees are going to let it.
Ya think Alex still wants Jose Reyes on his team?
Let’s turn the page to baseball shall we? New post.
hopefully it is nothing and this doesn’t blow up into another mess:(
I hope AROD is/was not that stupid
I don’t even care anymore. I don’t beleive for a second Arod’s convenient timeline that he never took steroids after being traded to the Yankees – but I just don’t care. It seems like half the guys in the majors were using something. What good would a witchunt do right now ?
Play ball !