At around 6:30 last night, The Post spied Alex Rodriguez in a stairwell at Yankee Stadium. Asked how he felt, A-Rod winced.
It was far from an uplifting answer – and after last night’s 6-4 loss to the Tigers, it became clear why.
Rodriguez had an MRI and last night the Yankees announced that the test revealed a Grade-2 strain of his right quad. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list, joining Jorge Posada (right shoulder strain) on the shelf.
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It’s unknown whether Rodriguez will be able to return as soon his 15-day DL stint is up. The truth is, it could be longer. His injury is more severe than Derek Jeter‘s strained quad earlier this season, which was a Grade-1 level. Jeter’s, though, did not force him to the DL.
“We’ve just got to make sure we get him right,” GM Brian Cashman said, “so we can get him going again.”
It would help the Yankees if Phil Hughes also were to get going again. But on a night when the Yankees were without two of their most important players, he made things worse in The Bronx – so much so, he’s not guaranteed to make his next start.
Hughes was crushed by the Tigers and the Yankees lost the opener of a three- game series. Hughes in 32/3 innings, allowed six earned runs, eight hits, three walks, two homers and two wild pitches. It was pretty atrocious.
“I had really no command of my fastball from the get-go,” Hughes said.
The Yankees managed only two runs off Kenny Rogers in his six innings, and blew chances all game long. They left 13 men on base, including the bases loaded twice.
Without Rodriguez and Posada, the once-fearsome offense is far less threatening.
Rodriguez’s quad forced him to sit out three games last week, but he returned before having to leave Monday’s game in Cleveland when he aggravated it. The Yankees ordered the MRI yesterday.
When asked if A-Rod made the injury more severe by continuing to play, Cashman replied, “You’d have to ask him in fairness.”
While Rodriguez is out, Morgan Ensberg will man third base.
“He’s a hard guy to replace,” Joe Girardi said of Rodriguez.
Posada, on the DL with a strained right shoulder, last night saw team doctor Stuart Hershon – one of four doctors planning to evaluate him. The catcher also saw noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews on Monday, and his test results were shipped to Reds medical director Tim Kremchek. Posada will see Mets medical director David Altchek tomorrow.
Nevertheless, Girardi remained confident Posada wouldn’t require surgery.
“Until all the doctors weigh in, I’m not going to guess and speculate,” Posada said in a statement through a team spokesman. “When they give me concrete information, I’ll be sure to share it with [the media].”
Hughes put his team behind by allowing two runs in the first. The Yanks tied it on Robinson Cano’s two-run homer in the second, but Hughes was simply pounded after that. He gave up Curtis Granderson’s solo homer to lead off the third, then Gary Sheffield’s two-run shot one batter later for a 5-2 Tiger lead.
Hughes is now 0-4 with a staggering 9.00 ERA. Will he remain in the rotation much longer? Cashman wouldn’t say one way or the other.
“The question’s been asked,” Cashman said. “We’ll evaluate and talk about stuff. If we decide to do something, we’ll talk to the player first.”