The situation between Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees is not getting any more civil, despite the fact that it seems like both sides are speaking publicly and releasing new statements every few hours. The best situation for both parties would probably be to keep quiet and wait for A-Rod to return, but instead it seems like everyone wants to have the last word.
On Thursday afternoon — after Yankees GM Brian Cashman and A-Rod both released statements regarding his decision to seek a second opinion on his (allegedly) injured quad — Rodriguez appeared on WFAN and shed a bit more light onto the controversy. Mike Francesa asked him about getting a second opinion from Dr. Michael Gross.
“You know, I’ve never met him,” Rodriguez explained, via Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News. “We wanted to get a second opinion as soon as possible to get on the field on Friday. I liked what I heard from him and we went with that. I don’t know anything about MRIs and I don’t know anything about doctors. I know that I feel good, I have no pain and I wish I was playing. Five or six days will be here soon enough and hopefully I’m out there helping my team win.”
[Related: A-Rod declared ‘100% healthy’ by his personal doctor]
The most telling part of the interview came when A-Rod was asked if he trusts the Yankees. He could have simply said his relationship with the team is fine to put a stop to all the speculation, but he chose not to.
“I’d rather not get into that,” he replied. “I’m just frustrated that I’m not on the field tomorrow. I’ll leave it at that. My frustration is obvious, but I’m going to put my head down here and get back to New York as soon as I can.”
Clearly, Rodriguez and the Yankees disagree about his recovery. It’s hard to say exactly why that is the case, but it is. Perhaps he’ll return and spark a Yankees lineup that has been lacking. Or, maybe he’ll come back just in time to be handed a fat suspension for his alleged involvement with Biogenesis. Time will tell — we think.
