There is no peace in the Bronx — not even close — but there is a plan.
Another day of he said/they said at least produced a concrete timeline for Alex Rodriguez's return to the Yankees, even as it left A-Rod unhappy once more and the Yankees poised to discipline their beleaguered third baseman for violating protocol regarding second opinions.
General manager Brian Cashman announced yesterday that, following a re-examination of Rodriguez and a conference call with the beleaguered third baseman, the Yankees and A-Rod are in agreement on a schedule that would have him back in either a simulated game or a minor-league game by Aug. 1 — and then back with the Yankees "really soon after" — barring any health setbacks.
Paul J. Bereswill
UNEASY TRUCE: Alex Rodriguez (pictured) and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman appear to have agreed on a rehab schedule for Rodriguez's injured quad muscle that will have the third baseman playing a simulated game or rehab game by Aug. 1.
Meanwhile, as a penalty for seeking a second opinion on his left quadriceps injury without going through the proper channels, Rodriguez is likely to receive a small fine from the Yankees.
Rodriguez contended in an interview yesterday with WFAN's Mike Francesa that he alerted team president Randy Levine late Tuesday night that he was seeking a second opinion — with Hackensack Medical Center orthopedist Michael Gross, who declared Rodriguez to be fine after examining his MRI exam and speaking with him on the phone — but the Yankees' position is Rodriguez did that only after setting in motion his consultation with Gross.
Rodriguez told Francesa he hoped to return to the Yankees' lineup tonight and voiced his frustrations about the situation.
"I made it very clear to everyone I spoke with today that I'm ready to go," Rodriguez said. "Obviously, I'm an employee. I have to follow my bosses."
Earlier yesterday, Rodriguez released a statement that read, in part, "Enough doctors, let's play."
An early August return to the Yankees would align with the time, roughly, when Major League Baseball is expected to announce suspensions for Rodriguez and other players because of their alleged involvement with Biogenesis, the shuttered anti-aging clinic in South Florida. If Rodriguez chooses to appeal the suspension, as he is expected to do, then he could keep playing until an arbitrator ruled on his case — which might not happen until this winter.
Rodriguez met yesterday in Tampa with team orthopedic surgeon Daniel Murphy, Cashman said, and Murphy concurred with the July 21 analysis of team physician Christopher Ahmad that Rodriguez had a Grade 1 strain of his left quadriceps. Nevertheless, with four days having passed since the initial test, Cashman said, "There's been clearly some improvement in Alex's quad injury."
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