I was researching Marion Gaborik mid-week for my Puck Prospectus column, and I had to do a ton of work to try and figure out how a hip injury would affect a speedy winger. Little did I know that Rodriguez would end up with the same issue, and probably the same surgeon. While initial reports all focused on a reported cyst, that’s actually a result, not a cause. The cause is a torn labrum, resulting in irritation within the joint, and in this case, a cyst. The cyst was aspirated: they jammed a big needle in and sucked out the material inside. It’s painful and unpleasant, though I’m sure many of you are enjoying the image of Rodriguez and needles. It’s the cyst that’s causing the pain, and what sources are describing as a “slight instability,” which is likely more the result of the body’s compensation to avoid pain rather than an actual instability of the joint.

The key here is that surgery is not a given. The aspiration may give enough relief that he can play through the season with only occasional setbacks and more aggressive monitoring. It could be that it gets better and a strengthening program adds to the stability, allowing him to only miss a few weeks. The danger is that the conservative measures might fail, which would push his return date back further than it would have been had they gone straight to surgery. We have to remember that the gamble of taking conservative measures comes with a high payoff. Let’s say for the sake of this example that Rodriguez will miss no time if the aspiration works, four weeks if he just needs the strengthening program, and twelve if he ends up having surgery. It’s not as if this is a 1-2-3 game; the Yankees will know quickly that the aspiration is working if there is a reduction in his symptoms. He’ll begin the strengthening program immediately; if he’s falling behind, or if there is no reduction in his symptoms, they’ll shift gears.

It may seem as if hip injuries are becoming viral right now. Two other elite-level infielders, Mike Lowell and Chase Utley, are both recovering from labral repairs. We haven’t seen much of this in the past, with pitchers being the usual occasional sufferers. So what’s the root cause here, and why are we seeing this type of injury now? I’m still working on that question, and I hope to have a better answer for you soon; I’m just not willing to guess or speculate. What we do know is that surgery is likely, but the timing of the surgery is the key. Whether this plays out as it did with Utley, who played through some pain and had off-season surgery, or the way it did with Lowell, who was unable to deal with it and had to be shut down just before the playoffs, may end up being the difference for the Yankees.

Rodriguez’s hip won’t let him play in the Classic, but beyond that, it’s a matter of how things play out, his pain tolerance, and the decisions made by the Yankees’ medical staff. Knowing their history with rehabs, I won’t bet against them. I’ll continue to follow this story closely, and I’m consulting with some experts on how this should play out.

Is this the first (or second) sign that he is beginning to wear down?

Or is this a good opportunity to buy low on him and reap the rewards in the next 2-3 years? Specifically in AL-only keepers where the depth at 3B is thin?