Friday, March 6, 2009

What to do with A-Rod?

With the news of A-Rod's torn hip labrum, many people are calling into the question what should happen next. The Yankees want to move forward by having A-Rod rest and rehab and the hopefully last with the injury until next off season. By the sounds of things, they knew he had the hip problem since last season, but did not think it was a problem. Now they have to be kicking themselves since had they pressed it then, he could have had the surgery last October, and been ready to go now. What's done is done, the question is how do you think the Yankees should proceed. On the one hand, if the Yankees follow through on Cashman's plan, A-Rod will play and probably do well for the first month or so, but the condition will only worsen as the months progress, and they may end up needing to have him get the surgery in July or August. The other solution is that they have him get the surgery now, he misses the rest of spring training and is back ready to play by May/June.

Personally, I think they should have him get the surgery now. He'll be back in the lineup early in a few months, and I'd rather be getting reinforcements mid-season, than losing them. As some have mentioned, if he goes down in July, the Yankees will get bled for any trade they make. The question is how you fill up third base in the mean time since no one on the team has much experience. Do you make a trade to fill a position for a couple months, and then bench the guy you traded for? Personally, I'd be playing as many players at third base as possible to see who could do it. Cody Ransom, Nick Swisher, Shelley Duncan and Angel Berroa should all be taking grounders there. Who knows, maybe one of them is a natural. If not, you may need to make a trade, but if one of those guys is at least passable at third (and I suspect several of them would be), then have them fill the spot in the meantime. Our lineup without A-Rod is still pretty good, and for the first couple months of the season, should be fine.

Some fans may want A-Rod to play now and then miss the later part of the season since we would effectively get him when he's at his best (April) and lose him when he's at his worse (October). Its cruel, but partially true. There really is no right or wrong answer to this I suppose, but what do you think the Yankees should do with A-Rod? Surgery now or later? Do you want A-Rod in April or in October?

16 comments:

TribeGirl said...

ARod needs to have the surgery NOW. He'll just get worse and be on and off the DL or sitting out games left and right. As I watched Cashman on ESPN yesterday, the only thing I could think of is - Hmmmm....that's what you get for calling him an ASSET you jerkoff!!!

Anonymous said...

Didn't they learn anything from Jorje last year?
Same injury, different joint.
Get him repaired, and have an Arod in Sept and October chomping at the bit, rested and with something to prove.
Go ahead and trade Melky and IPK.
The can get someone pretty damn adequate for them, and stay at least in the hunt until he gets back.
Wouldn't you love to have September be ARod's usual April?

Joe

Anonymous said...

Anybody remeber him complaining about his "mechanics" being responsible for his off year last year?
And now, we hear that "hip discomfort" was affecting his swing.
Is this part of Girradi's hype last year about how his intensive conditioning program (and candy ban)was going to reduce injuies?
Christ.

Joe

Anonymous said...

I'd like him to have surgery now as it inevitable, but it is common for docs to suggest trying rest and rehab first.

Roberto E. Alejandro said...

I agree that the Yanks need to learn from Jorge's injury last year. Pretending it will go away will not help. Have the surgery now and let's get some use from him down the stretch.

Anonymous said...

Come on RJG - you guys are supposed to make me laugh, not depress me like every other yankee blog! JK....sort of. But yeah, he should have surgery now - better to use a replacement level player earlier in the season than later. Plus, postponing the medical attention may make his condition even worse. Unfortunately, now the Yanks gotta hope Posada and Matsui can back up Marky T...

Fernando Alejandro said...

Pranav K, our apologies. We'll be back at it in no time!

But yeah, it does seem to make more sense to have him get the surgery now, while there's still a month of spring training that he can use to recover.

I think Cashman is hoping/thinking that A-Rod will last until the end of the season and then get the surgery, but its wishful thinking. He's likely going to need the surgery mid-season, and the longer he holds off the more it hurts his performance, and who wants a performance-less A-Rod?

Anonymous said...

Azbolutely, Fernando!
Without performence, all that's left is personality, and Damn NOBODY needs that!

Joe

Fernando Alejandro said...

Joe, hahaha! I hope all this really humbles A-Rod and he becomes more human. By all accounts Alex Rodriguez is a nice guy, while A-Rod is a horrible entity. Maybe after all this nonsense we'll see Alex Rodriguez.

Anonymous said...

fernando - i think you said that perfectly. I can't wait till the boys get their championship rings...A-rod will hopefully become Alex in the eyes of the masses.

TribeGirl said...

As Alex's BFF, I already see him as human....GOD!!!!! How can you guys not???? The way he's so sensitive and gets his feelings hurt when everyone is mean to him... Anyway, why are we the only smart ones who say he needs to have the surgery now? Aren't these guys getting paid the big bucks to do what's best for their ASSET and the team????? I am SO mad by this!! Of course I don't want to be without AROD for any amount of time, but I'd rather lose him now and have him back later on healthy and ready to rock and smash some balls for the Yankees so they can win the championship in their new stadium, since it appears my Tribe didn't make any serious moves in the offseason....

Anonymous said...

he should get the surgery now and get it over with.

Fred Trigger said...

I cant help but feel bad for AROD. He just tries to be liked, but no matter what he does, he always gets criticized. He could save 9 people from a burning house and people would say, "well, that great and all, but he didnt put out the fire, so he didnt do enough. He was selfish for not trying to save the house."

Anonymous said...

Well, Fred, that's because we'd find out that he rescued 9 people from the patio of the house next door, where they were sipping pina coladas and watching the fire department work their practice fire on the empty neighborhood eyesore.
Sort of like hitting 2 home runs in a game that already had a 10 run margin.
I'm sorry. I couldn't help it. No discipline. I'm a bad person.
So-- The New Solution?
Sound half assed to anyone else?

Joe

Anonymous said...

Just read that he's having the "hybrid" surgery, which could ease his discomfort during the season. But he'll still need the surgery after. I think he should have the full monty right now and get it over with.

Fernando Alejandro said...

I saw that Jane. Its an interesting idea, but if it gets him through the season, and playoffs I guess it could be worth it. This is something that we're going to have to revisit at the end of the season to see if its a good call.