At some point. He will either have surgery now so that he can be ready in July or he will have to play with the increasing pain throughout the season and eventually get it done in the offseason. What do the Yankees do? I think this is a fairly easy answer: get it done now. The playoffs are another season in itself and that’s when every game counts. Even though ARod has shown nothing in the playoffs in recent memory, the Yankees still can’t replace his bat in the lineup and how it will effect the rest of the lineup, in particular Tex.
According to some doctor sources, if ARod delays surgery, he will experience severe pain to the point where he won’t be able to even walk without pain. The same thing happen to Mike Lowell last year and he was kept off the postseason roster because of it. Learn from the past. ARod’s cyst was caused by the torn labrum in his hip but was drained. The fluid can eventually come back and would have to be drained again.
The Yankees are currently weighing their options at the moment and haven’t really determined the best route to go. Cashman has been on record saying that ARod will need surgery but he would like to hold off now and see if he can play with the injury. I think with the money that is owed to ARod over the next nine years, he better get the damn surgery now before anything else seriously develops down the line because of the hip. I rather have him miss four months than one crucial month. If the Yankees can patch a rotation and still make the playoffs (2005-2007), they can fill the third base hole for now, even if that player is freakin Cody Ransom. I still don’t know why he is the guy all of a sudden? Just because he can play third base and was on the team last year doesn’t mean he should get first crack at it. But he can hold down the fort at the third base (only because he is on the roster). At least try Duncan there, but then the Yanks have to add him to the 40 man roster and take another player off. Then so be it. At worst he is better offensively and costs nothing other than a roster spot at the moment. His defense is nothing special which might hurt the Yanks, but how bad can he be?
I do think ARod will have the surgery now because he is an investment for the next nine years that can’t be played around with. Maybe Cashman has already decided, I haven’t checked ESPN yet. But that has to be the right and only decision.
I have heard many fans say that this can only help the Yankees. How is that remotely possible? Because he won’t be in the limelight given all the steroid hoopla? He won’t be booed at opposing parks and that won’t effect his psyche? He won’t diminish the opening of the new Yankee Stadium? I call shenanigans on all of you. He is the highest paid player in the game for a reason and one reason only: because he produces. Also, people pay money to see him play. Ok, that’s two reasons. But the second is because of the first. This injury and potential absence will only help the AL East close the gap on the division race before the season has even started! Put Barry Bonds on any team and he makes them better. Sure he brings negative spotlight, but he can contribute to win games. A contribution that can only help a team achieve its ultimate goal…win the Series. Face it, ARod is here for the next decade. He needs to be on the field for the Yankees. His contribution cannot be duplicated. But he can’t effectively contribute if he is playing with pain.
