Alex Rodriguez To Undergo Hip Surgery -- Mlb FanHouse

Alex Rodriguez to Undergo Hip Surgery

Posted Mar 08, 2009 10:03 AM

By MARK DIDTLER

(AP)

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TAMPA, Fla. (March 8) -- Alex Rodriguez will have arthroscopic hip surgery Monday and is expected to miss six to nine weeks. The Yankees slugger will need further surgery after the season.

The diagnosis by Dr. Marc Philippon on Sunday was yet another jolt to Rodriguez during a tumultuous month in which the three-time AL MVP admitted using steroids from 2001-03 while with Texas.

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New York Yankees Cody Ranson bats in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers in a spring baseball game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL. Ransom is playing third base in the absence of the Yankees regular third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who is out with a hip injury. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman discusses Alex Rodriguez' hip condition with reporters in the press box during the Yankees spring training baseball game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL. Cashman said surgery had not yet been ruled out. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman talks to reporters in the press box about the hip injury of New York third baseman Alex Rodriguez during a MLB spring training exhibition game with the Detroit Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, March 6, 2009. REUTERS/Steve Nesius (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

** FILE ** In this Feb. 18, 2009 file photo, New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez stretches during spring training baseball in Tampa, Fla. The Yankees star will miss up to two months after he undergoes surgery to remove a cyst from his right hip. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Dominican Republic manager Felipe Alou (R) answers reporters' questions in the dugout regarding an injury to player Alex Rodriguez prior to exhibition game against the Baltimore Orioles in Ft. Lauderdale March 4, 2009. The Dominican Republic is preparing for the first round of the World Baseball Classic next week. REUTERS/Hans Deryk (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Alex Rodriguez, right, kisses his 4-year-old daughter, Natasha, through a fence while practicing with the Dominican Republic team during spring training baseball practice for the World Baseball Classic Monday, March 2, 2009, at the St. Louis Cardinals training facility in Jupiter, Fla.

Jeff Roberson, AP

JUPITER, FL - MARCH 3: Third baseman Alex Rodriguez #13 of the Dominican Republic prepares for the pitch while taking on the Florida Marlins during an exhibition game at Roger Dean Stadium March 3, 2009 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

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JUPITER, FL - MARCH 3: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the Dominican Republic scores against the Florida Marlins during an exhibition game at Roger Dean Stadium March 3, 2009 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

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JUPITER, FL - MARCH 3: Security stands by as Alex Rodriguez #13 of the Dominican Republic signs autographs after taking on the Florida Marlins during an exhibition game at Roger Dean Stadium March 3, 2009 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

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JUPITER, FL - MARCH 3: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the Dominican Republic goes through stretching exercises before taking on the Florida Marlins during an exhibition game at Roger Dean Stadium March 3, 2009 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alex Rodriguez

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Philippon spoke from Vail, Colo., on a conference call with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. Philippon, a noted hip specialist with the Steadman Hawkins Clinic, will perform the procedure. Also on the call was team physician Chris Ahmad.

Philippon is confident in the "85-90 percent range" that Rodriguez will be able to play through the entire regular season.

"I firmly believe this approach will be successful and allow Alex to return," Philippon said. "We've had very good success with this approach. Short term, we feel the risk is very limited that he will re-tear his labrum during that six-, seven-month period."

The decision eliminates the option of Rodriguez treating the injury with rest and rehab and playing through the season without surgery. This operation will not completely correct the hip. More aggressive surgery would have sidelined Rodriguez three to four months.

"The surgery that will just repair the labrum tear right now would shorten his rehab," Cashman said. "Then following the conclusion of the season going in and repair the remaining aspects that need to be repaired."

Rodriguez has a torn labrum and a cyst in his right hip. The cyst was drained Wednesday, and he had additional tests Friday to test the hip's strength and flexibility.

His hip had been fine until he experienced stiffness during spring training this year. The injury forced the 12-time All-Star to skip the World Baseball Classic, where he was to play for the Dominican Republic.

Philippon attributed the labrum tear to the rotational stress that Rodriguez - "a very strong hitter, strong batter" - places on his hip.

"Because of all the test findings, analysis, the function of Alex, I feel it's in his best interest to have his labrum repaired, remove part of his impingement and therefore stabilize his labrum," he said. "The goal here is to allow Alex to rehab rapidly in a safe manner."

Alex Rodriguez Controversies

After a report is released that he tested positive for steroids during his AL MVP campaign in 2003, Alex Rodriguez admits to injecting performance-enhancing drugs obtained in the Dominican Republic with the assistance of his cousin during his time as a Texas Ranger. Click through to find out more about A-Rod's checkered past.

Chris Carlson, AP

Former manager Joe Torre's recently released book, 'The Yankee Years', included details of A-Rod's tumultuous stay with the Yankees. In the book, Torre claims A-Rod was known by teammates as "A-Fraud" and paints him as mentally fragile.

Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

Rodriguez's decision not to play for the United States at the upcoming World Baseball Classic put him in the middle of another firestorm. A-Rod chose to join David Ortiz's Dominican squad over the nation of his birth.

Kena Betancur, AP

There have also been rumors that Rodriguez dated pop star Madonna, with numerous reports of the two spending time together.

Jim Rogash, Getty Images

In May 2007, many called this slide into the Red Sox's Dustin Pedroia to break up a double play dirty, as part of the heated Red Sox-Yankees rivalry.

Nick Laham, Getty Images

He filed for free agency during Game 4 of the 2007 World Series, drawing the ire of fans and officials. Some accused A-Rod of trying to grab the spotlight as the Yankees' big rivals were closing in on their second title in four seasons. He later re-signed with New York.

Jim McIsaac, Getty Images

The New York tabloids had a field day after the Yankees star was allegedly caught with a "mystery blonde" at the end of May of 2007. The woman was later identified as an exotic dancer, and his wife filed for divorce from him just over a year later, citing his infidelity.

New York Post

Things have been frosty for A-Rod and Derek Jeter since Rodriguez dissed his buddy by saying Jeter was "never your concern" when facing the Yankees.

Tony Gutierrez, AP

Despite being named AL MVP (48 homers, 130 RBI) in 2005, Yankee fans called out A-Rod by saying many of his homers came in meaningless situations.

Morry Gash, AP

A-Rod's awkward slap that knocked the ball from Bronson Arroyo's glove in the 2004 ALCS enhanced his reputation as a player who folded in the clutch.

Amy Sancetta, AP

Rodriguez will stay in Colorado for the foreseeable future.

"We'll keep Alex with us certainly for the first few weeks," said Philippon, who has treated several sports stars including golfer Greg Norman and figure skater Tara Lipinski. "The main reason being we're going to put him on the fast track so we will be very aggressive on his rehab. We'll check on Alex twice a day."

Rodriguez could swing a bat as a range of motion drill as soon as seven days after surgery.

On Thursday, Rodriguez's brother, Joe Dunand, told ESPNdeportes.com said the slugger was going to have surgery, with a projected 10-week recovery. But later that day Cashman said A-Rod would be treated conservatively in the hope of avoiding surgery.

Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon, speaking from Lakeland, where New York was to play the Detroit Tigers, said Rodriguez was doing the "right thing" in addressing this matter now.

"Now we know that we're going to lose him for a little bit of time. ... I think it's better to get it out of the way especially since he's going to be in New York for eight more years after this year, so you might as well take care of it," he said.

Rodriguez is in the second season of a record $275 million, 10-year contract. Now, New York must try replace its third baseman and cleanup hitter, placing further responsibility in the batting order on new first baseman Mark Teixeira.

The leading candidate from the organization to take over at third is Cody Ransom, a 33-year-old who has a .251 average and 24 RBIs in 183 at-bats in six major league seasons.

"It's going to create something different for us, so we're going to have to take a look at some of these other guys," manager Joe Girardi said. "There's still four weeks left in camp, and it opens up an opportunity for someone."

Last year, Rodriguez was sidelined from April 28 to May 20 because of a strained right quadriceps - his fifth trip to the disabled list in his career. An MRI exam at that time showed what Cashman called an "irregularity" in the right hip.

The labrum is cartilage that lines the hip joint. It can be torn through injury or repetitive wear and tear. When arthroscopic surgery is recommended, the doctor makes small incisions to insert specialized instruments into the joint space and either removes the torn piece of labrum or repairs the cartilage with a suture.

Rodriguez's 138 games last season were his fewest since 1999, when he tore cartilage in his left knee during a spring training drill. He played in the first two games of that season with Seattle, then was put on the disabled list April 7 and missed 32 games until he returned May 14.

Since joining the Yankees before the 2004 season, Rodriguez has averaged 42 homers and 123 RBIs, with a .303 average.

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2009-03-08 10:56:00