By GEORGE A. KING III
Hideki Matsui wants to avoid surgery, but if his left knee fills with fluid again, GM Brian Cashman said it will be impossible for the Yankees DH to avoid a second operation on his knee inside a calendar year.
âIf the knee swells up we are dealing with last call,” Cashman said last night after Dr. Scott Rodeo recommended to Matsui that surgery was required. âBut we will see.” Rodeo performed arthroscopic surgery on Matsuiâs right knee last November.
Cashman admires Matsui, who has had the knee drained three times, wanting to give it another try even though the odds of Matsui playing again this year are long.
âMatsui is one tough cookie, I will tell you that,” Cashman said of the 33-year-old left-handed hitter who hasnât played since June 22 and is batting .323. âI wouldnât say I am optimistic. The doctor recommended surgery and (Matsui) wants to fight through it. There is no harm doing that because he canât make it any worse. He wants to see if he can help the club and how can you deny that?”
Matsui will go through a rehab process, likely 10 days, and reassess where he’s at. Surgery at this point would end Matsuiâs season.
âItâs not complicated,” Matsui said of the decision to ignore the suggestion of surgery. âI still have a desire to come back this year and be a force for this team.”
