ARLINGTON, Texas – The man who performed surgery on Jorge Posada’s left shoulder made sure there was no doubt the All Star catcher wanted the operation that forced the Yankees to trade for Pudge Rodriguez.
“He tried every thing he could to not have the surgery,” Dr. David Altchek said yesterday via phone.
“But there was no other choice. It was a significant problem, and if we kept trying things there was going to be no chance he would be ready for next season.”
Altchek repaired a torn labrum and capsule and said Posada will be ready to throw when spring training opens.
“He might not be 100 percent the first day, but as he builds arm strength he will be throwing and he will be there,” Altchek said.
Posada had the surgery on July 30; the stitches are to be removed Thursday.
“It’s not easy being here while the guys are playing,” Posada said from Manhattan.
Posada said had he been the Yanks’ GM, he would have made the deal to get Rodriguez.
“It fell into [Brian] Cashman’s lap,” Posada said. “We needed a catcher.”
Altchek said he advised Posada in April, when the catcher first suffered discomfort, to have surgery.
“My intent was that it was a significant injury and I mentioned that he shouldn’t try,” Altchek said. “He said, ‘I am trying anyway.’ He didn’t want surgery and then we went through a period we didn’t think he could justify playing catcher. When he couldn’t throw, he said he could hit.”
Posada first felt discomfort making an early-season throw and was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 28. When he came off the shelf on June 3, his arm strength was better, but faded. On July 21 Posada, who had never been on the DL until this year, went back on the shelf.
Posada said the injury robbed him of power at the point of impact hitting from the left side.