I am sure Alex thought the same thing that I did. It will go away. I will heal.

I did the conservative approach, physical therapy. It left me breathless. I would feel a little better, go back on the tennis court, win a few, lose a few. I lost my power in my forehand, because I couldn’t turn on my locked hip. Didn’t matter. People hit to my back hand which I could handle. I adjusted my game for years, never going full out.

During a lesson, I reached for a ball and that was it. I went to the doctor, he said hip locked. Physical therapist tried for three months to unlock it. Finally, they said go to an orthopod. I had avoided it like Alex. The doc looked at the x-ray and said what are you doing next week? You need a hip replacement.

Three years later, number two coming up in May. Alex should do it sooner than later.

They already knew what the problem was.

To keep with your mechanical analogy, this is the equivalent of a mechanic not turning your rotors every time they change your pads.

That’s OK …. I was trying to poke fun at Girardi’s description of Ransom in those “intangible” words used for those “scrappy, gritty” guys ….

If you think that’s second guessing, I’ll pre-guess on another player. The Mets should absolutely have Johan Santana get an MRI and exam on both his elbow and shoulder before throwing another pitch. He’s their best pitcher, and most expensive. They have no chance without him. Why not get him an MRI during one of his off days? What’s the harm? I’ll come back to my racecar analogy. If my car sputters once, but then keeps running, I’ll finish the race I’m in. But you better be sure that the second the race is over, I’m tearing open the hood to find what the problem is. What the Yankees (and now Mets) did was to just assume the car was fine and put some gas back in it for the next race.

I also do not buy this argument that Alex didn’t complain so he must be fine. Players are often the worst sources when it comes to injuries. Jorge Posada last year was a perfect example, hell Posada this year is a great one. He decided to do stretches he was told not to do because he felt fine. I’ve had to be physically locked out of a weight room during my own rehab because I refused to accept that some tendinitis should keep me off strength training for two weeks.

To sum up, player X, the best player on your team has one bad MRI, an issue during the season that affects his swing and you decide at the end of the season not to follow up. I don’t care which specific person was responsible, that is bad to awful team management. It just is.

I am not a doctor, and I don’t have access to Arod’s medical reports, so I am not comfortable suggesting that the team or its medical staff “blew it”, nor do I give those without that level of knowledge much credibility when they make similar claims.

How quickly can Jesus Montero learn third base? (I kid .... I kid)

In my mind, I temporarily swapped Thames with Curtis Granderson …. my bad.

Thames: The guy is a terrible corner outfielder and has never played center in the majors.

As for Arod having the surgery, it makes no sense to rush into it until it becomes clear that is the best option. Considering that the surgery Arod would have could potentially keep him out for the season, it makes complete sense for the Yankees to see if Arod can wait until the off season before going under the knife.

[8] Joba has only pitched two spring outings…I don’t think we need to panic just yet.

“David Eckstein with a higher slugging percentage”

Uh, Diane, is that like, you know, a relief pitcher who’s Mo Rivera only without the cutter?
A guy who’s a little like Alex Belth, only he doesn’t write?
Maybe he’s sort of like God, only not omnipotent?

The Yanks have had an awful lot of bad luck the last few years…