A-Rod will have knee surgery, out 4-6 weeks

July 10, 2011 by Mike Axisa 79 Comments

Via Peter Botte, Alex Rodriguez will indeed have surgery for his slightly torn meniscus tomorrow in Florida. He’s expected to be out 4-6 weeks. It sucks, but having A-Rod healthy for the last six or seven weeks of the season is the best course of action.

http://twitter.com/Carlosologist_7 Carlosologist

Good decision by A-Rod to have the surgery. A healthy, 100% A-Rod >>>> 70-80% A-Rod.

It’s gonna suck not having Alex’s bat in the lineup for the next month, but hopefully he comes back strong. That will be a big help going down the stretch and into the playoffs.
- Rookie
  
  Exactly right, Carlosologist. And while I’m not a doctor and don’t even play one on TV, I have to think that it dramatically reduces the possibility of ARod further damaging his knee.
Total Dominication

Thus ends The Streak ™.
- Johnny Nitro
  
  What streak?
  - 28 this year
    
    30 HR and 100 RBIs. He’s at like 14 straight seasons or something.
    - Johnny Nitro
      
      Oh that streak. Well it’s not like A-Rod was the type to care about stats.
      - mike c
        
        you’re joking, right?
        
        Johnny Nitro
        
        Yes, of course.
  - 28 this year
    
    The best part of the streak was sometime recently, Arod hit like three homers including a grandslam to get the 3 homers and 7 RBis he needed in the final game of the season to get the even 30/100.
    
    (If memory serves correctly)
    - Karl Krawfid
      
      2009. Needed 2 bombs and 7 rbi. He did it in one innings in the last game of the season against the Rays. Grand Slam, 3 run home run.
    - Kiko Jones
      
      I believe that was the last day of the ’09 season. He still holds the record with 13 straight seasons of 30/100.
    - MikeD
      
      If he comes back fully recovered, I an see him hitting 17 bombs over seven or eight weeks. He won’t get to the 100 RBI mark, though, as he’d have to drive in nearly 50 runs. Meh. Sometimes ending streaks like this one turns out to be a good thing as the personal accomplishment no longer threatens to override the needs of the team.
- CP
  
  A-Rod will get there. He always does.
Bo

Can Nunez play 3B?
- YankeesJunkie
  
  Can he? Yes
  
  Can he play above replacement level? No
  - CP
    
    Actually, he should be above replacement level. Maybe not very good, but at least above replacement.
    - YankeesJunkie
      
      Honestly, Nunez’s batting ability is good enough for SS and 2B. However, his offensive ability at 3B is questionable, but not awful. Although his defense has been horrendous and that is what will make or break any value he can contribute.
  - MikeD
    
    He should easily clear “replacement level,” unless he goes into a long slump. That doesn’t mean he’d produce 100 OPS+ while there, although if he gets hot he might.
Gerald

Wouldn’t this be a great time to see what Brandon Laird can do to major league pitching? We really do need a power bat at 3rd and if nothing else it’ll let us showcase him as a trade chip.
- sodapopinski
  
  I saw him last week in scranton, and he ripped a hr off the scoreboard. Love to see him get some cuts in at the mlb level.
  - Neil
    
    Laird is hot right now. Who knows maybe it could carry over to the major league club…last 10 games .351 4HR 14 RBI
bonestock94

Ugh this sucks, big blow to the offense. Better fix the problem now though.
mike c

the right decision, for the greater good
Naved

Even at this age a 100% ARod is a G.O.A.T. player. We need him for September and hopefully October.
- Johnny Nitro
  
  Babe Ruth has a bone to pick with you.
  - Naved
    
    I should rephrase that and say a G.O.A.T. player
    - MikeD
      
      Right. There is really only one G.O.A.T per position, but there are G.O.A.T.-like players.
- YankeesJunkie
  
  Even with this injury this will be A-Rod’s best year in the last three. If he comes back healthy for August and September he could still put up 5.5-6 WAR which would be awesome. A-Rod while grossly overpaid is still an essential part of the Yankees success (and when his on he is awesome to watch).
Jonathan Harker

We’ll get by. Tampa is the only team left on our schedule in July that has a winning record. It’d be great to have him back by the Boston series on August 5th but they won’t rush him.
Johnny Nitro

Trade Austin Romine for Cody Ransom. Git r’ done Cashmoney.
- David, Jr.
  
  The famous Box Jumper. Like Mitre, another Girardi favorite.
EndlessMikeJr

Sad Chavez got those set backs.He looked ready to come back after the all-star.
- Karl Krawfid
  
  Set BACKS.
Len S.

What are they gonna do? Fuuuuuuuuuuuucccckkk….
nathan

Adios to 30Hr/100Rbi seasons. Good thing he played through with that sore knee earlier.

Hopefully, this is not a chronic thing. Back and knee issues are a bitch.
- CC’s third leg
  
  Ive had tendonitis in my knees since i was 15 and eventually u dont even realize it and the pain goes away
  - nathan
    
    Wow.Good to hear it went away
Kevin D.

Wow, I am not even worried one bit. Good to know that he will be healthy for the stretch run.
David, Jr.

This would be a perfect time for Derek to turn it up. Twelve more homers would do.
Bob Michaels

Can`t generate the power, that has to be a major reason for the decision to cut now rathewr then later.
- Jimmy McNulty
  
  That and you don’t want to risk it getting worse, this is the right move.
- YankeesJunkie
  
  Yankees are at the point of playing for October not just to get to October. The Yankees and Sox are easily the best teams in baseball and while Rays are good they don’t have the offensive weaponry to win the 95 wins to win the wild card.
  - http://none Favrest
    
    They’re the two best teams in the American League, but what about the Phillies?
Anthony D.

Definately think that Brandon laird should get the call up and share time with nunez….he is a guy who in the time arod is out could pop out 15 hrs and about 35 rbis which is far more than nunez is gonna produce…..nunez is a better defender but in the al east u need power and with out arod he is a choice to keep some pop in the line up…give the kid a shot…
Jimmy McNulty

Wow, this sucks. Hopefully Nick Swisher turns it on and Teixeira’s BABIP normalizes.
Mickey Scheister

NOOOOOOO! He looked fine, he had a good BA and OBP albeit with little power, yes, but he could’ve waited till after the season and still been a force at the plate. The streak is officially over.
Anthony D.

If anything it will put laird on display and maybee get us a good lefty rp that we need so we can get rid of boone logan and his weak left arm from the bullpen
- YankeesJunkie
  
  Eh…he has not done really well and honestly at this point Vazquez is a better option than Laird, but right now Nunez or Pena are the best options.
  - Anthony D.
    
    But vazquez would take another bat like posada’s out of the line up cause he only plays 1st or dh at least laird will keep them in and provide some pop…no one is asking him to be arod but give some pop and play good d….nunez and pena can provide great d but no pop
    - YankeesJunkie
      
      I think Vazquez has played a little 3rd base, but once again Pena and Nunez are the best options.
  - Brian S.
    
    Jorge Vazquez’s time was back in April/May when Posada couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn. Now that he’s not an automatic out at the plate anymore I don’t think we have room for Vazquez :/.
  - David, Jr.
    
    Nunez is the best option. His bat can win games. His speed can win games. Also, there is some upside there.
    - Monteroisdinero
      
      I like the way you think. Nunez>>>>>Laird (who I have seen several times at Scranton).
Anthony D.

plus laird is on 40 man roster where as vasquez would need to have a roster move
Donna L

The only good thing about the Streak ending is that Pujols was only a few years behind him, and I think Albert’s streak is going to end this year too. And there’s nobody else close. So A-Rod’s record should stand for a long time.
- Brian S.
  
  Records cannot stand, for they do not have legs. Your statement is ruled invalid.
Bavarian Yankee

that really sucks. Let’s hope he’ll be at 100% for the pennant race and the playoffs.
Brian S.

Cano really needs to step his game up with A-Rod out for an extended period of time. Hopefully his second half is better than his first like it was in 2007 and 2009.
Your mom

Bring up Laird and see what he’s got. Can’t be any worse than Pena(offensively). Nunez can play SS and 2B if need be.
http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Matt Imbrogno

Oh well. This sucks now, but is for the best.
The BIG 3

Gotta bid everyone adieu. I’m convinced that 1) ARod is not coming back in “4-6 weeks” (doesn’t he have a torn labrum too?) 2) This offense is toast without him, and if Levine wasn’t willing to pay for Lee, he sure as shit isn’t going to pay for Ramirez or the like. I suspect it’ll be Nunez and Pena. I also suspect runs will be much harder to come by.

I say the team now misses the playoffs. But I have far too much respect for the club to sit by while the posters here rip it to shreds, which will happen. I’s rather not read that shit.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  I’m convinced that 1) ARod is not coming back in “4-6 weeks”
  
  Because he has a history of long recoveries? No, it’s quite the opposite.
  
  (doesn’t he have a torn labrum too?)
  
  No.
  
  This offense is toast without him
  
  Nope. You can say it all you want, won’t make it true.
  
  and if Levine wasn’t willing to pay for Lee
  
  They offered him more money than anyone else, and Levine’s not the owner anyway.
  
  he sure as shit isn’t going to pay for Ramirez or the like.
  
  Why would you want Aramis Ramirez anyway? Not enough old and overpriced players on the roster?
  
  I say the team now misses the playoffs.
  
  Name the four better teams in the AL. I’ll wait.
  - Dela G
    
    ax-ee-sa with the pwn
  - mike c
    
    even if a-rod takes 8 weeks it’s worth getting the surgery now
  - David
    
    “Name the four better teams in the AL. I’ll wait.”
    
    Ok: Boston, Boston, Boston, and Boston
    
    /Peter Gammons’d
- Mickey Scheister
  
  Mike layeth the smacketh down!
- http://www.youcantpredictbaseball.com bexarama
  
  But I have far too much respect for the club to sit by while the posters here rip it to shreds, which will happen. I’s rather not read that shit.
  
  ….which you just did…?
- David, Jr.
  
  I’m not ripping the team at all. You are far too negative. I still have them at about 88% to make the playoffs. Nunez will do a decent job. Jeter seems to have picked it up since he came back. Colon and Hughes are back. Soriano will likely be back soon, and he could make a big difference. Most of all, they have huge cards to play in the form of $ and excess prospects to trade.
Cuso

This is the right move. they just need to hang around and beat back TB to keep a healthy lead in WC hunt for the next month.

When Al gets back, maybe the division title becomes a reality, who knows?

But in the interim, I think a jack-of-all-trades acquisition a la the 2009-Hairston pickup may be in order.

I know Nunie is (and rightfully so) going to get a majority of playing time at 3B. But a move for a Ty Wigginton or maybe Hairston (maybe Scott this time around?) seems appropos.

Someone that has flexibility to play 3B & OF with a little pop would be a likely Cashman target IMO.
- Zack D
  
  Scott Hairston has play 85 games in the IF in his career, all in 2006. Not sure how he’s an appropriate pick up.
  - Cuso
    
    Question for ya. How many games in the OF did Jerry Hairston play in his career before coming to NY in ’09.
    
    And then he played third ANDDDD OUTFIELD several times for us in ’09, correct?
    
    Seriously dude, just be quiet.
    - Dean Travers
      
      Okay–then let’s pick up Beltran & play him at 3rd; why settle for Hairston
Monteroisdinero

Nunez will get it done. He did last year and he has already this year. he is in a good spot being a supersub for the aging duo that is A-rek.
- David, Jr.
  
  He did a decent job when Derek was out. I can see why they wouldn’t trade him. He has real ability, a little rough around the edges but when he figures it out you are looking at an above average MLB infielder.
  - MikeD
    
    He had those two excellent hitting while Derek was out. He was horrid the rest of the time, at the bat, in the field, and on the bases.
    
    I’m willing to give Nunez a shot, and between what we saw when Jeter was out (not good but for two games) and what we’ll now see over the next six weeks should give us an idea of what kind of player he is. He needs to tighten up his defense substantially. He lucked out when Jeter was away because the overall offense was ticking, masking his continual errors. Most games will be tighter over the course of the season, which means Nunez will cost the Yankees a lot of games if he played like he did 90% of the time.
    
    Hoping he improves. We’re going to need him now because he’s not replacing a league-average SS. He’s replacing A-Rod.
CMP

4-6 weeks for a meniscus sounds like a long time. Unless they really baby him, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was more like a 3-4 week time frame.
JB

let Nunez and Laird battle it out. See who wants to step up.. I think Nunez can do it.
- mike c
  
  nunez earned the spot, he’s way higher on the depth chart than laird right now
JobaTheHeat62

i am not advocating this, but russell martin can play 3B…you could always let him play third and call up Montero haha