BALTIMORE — When Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees picked Dr. Marc Philippon to operate on the superstar’s right hip in March, they did so because they believed the Vail-based surgeon was the best in the business.
Apparently, they were right.
When Philippon was done with the March 9 surgery, which repaired a torn labrum, removed an impingement and drained a cyst, the doctor said Rodriguez was looking at another operation after the season was finished. Now, there is a chance Rodriguez can avoid the second operation.
“Eighty percent no; 20 percent yes,” Rodriguez told The Post before sitting out last night’s game against the Orioles at Camden Yards. “But you got to call him.”
A message left at Philippon’s Colorado office early last evening wasn’t immediately returned.
Though Philippon deserves credit, so does Mark Lindsay, the chiropractor Rodriguez has worked with since the surgery.
Rodriguez was rested last night as part of the Yankees’ plan to keep him from wearing down like he did in June. His batting average had sunk to .212 on June 18, when he had nine homers and 27 RBIs in 38 games. Two days off rejuvenated Rodriguez, who was hitting .270 with 23 homers and 70 RBIs in 97 games going into last night’s action.
Now, Rodriguez has a regular schedule for rest.
“One every seven days,” Rodriguez said.
Manager Joe Girardi spoke to Rodriguez over the weekend and said he was going to rest the cleanup hitter Sunday or last night. And with four games on Toronto’s turf slated for Thursday through Sunday, Girardi said he will have Rodriguez DH or give him another day off against the Blue Jays.
Lately, Rodriguez has been swinging a hot bat. In his previous six games, he was 8-for-22 (.364) with a homer and two RBIs.
He had hit in nine straight games and during his last 56 games (since June 24) Rodriguez is hitting .313 (65-for-208) with 14 homers and 42 RBIs.
“We have been extremely pleased,” Girardi said of what Rodriguez has delivered after missing the first five weeks of the season before returning May 8 against the Orioles, when he hit the first pitch he saw for a three-run homer at Camden Yards.
“If he has a big [September] he could drive in 100 runs,” Girardi said. “We are extremely pleased with what we have gotten.”
The longer Girardi talked, the more it sounded like Chad Gaudin, and not Sergio Mitre, will start Thursday against the Blue Jays in Toronto.
“His start is still in question,” Girardi said of Mitre, who was forced out of Saturday’s game when he took a liner off the right arm in the seventh inning against the White Sox while tossing a one-hit shutout. “If he doesn’t make it we will go with Gaudin. … We are having Chad prepare as if he is starting Thursday.”
Mitre was slated to play “light catch” yesterday.
“He is coming off Tommy John surgery so you have to be smart about it, too,” Girardi said.
Gaudin has made one start as a Yankee (against Oakland) and relieved Mitre on Saturday. Gaudin hurled 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and didn’t allow a hit. He struck out four and walked one.
According to Girardi, the Yankees are going to promote “a few pitchers [more than two] and a couple of position players” today when the rosters expand.
Their top prospect, outfielder Austin Jackson, isn’t expected to be among the first group, but he is expected at some point before the season ends.
According to a source, lefty reliever Mike Dunn will join the club today. Other pitchers on the 40-man roster who will be considered are Edwar Ramirez and Mark Melancon. Catcher Francisco Cervelli and infielder Ramiro Pena also are expected to rejoin the club.
When Shelley Duncan was put on the 40-man roster in late July, it was expected he would get a September call-up, but that wasn’t a lock as of last night. Having Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher and Eric Hinske to play first will also likely block Juan Miranda, another 40-man roster guy, from getting a call at least until Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is done with postseason play.
Brett Gardner is hoping to be on a minor league rehab assignment when the Yankees open a four-game series against the Blue Jays in Toronto on Thursday.
“Maybe play a game Thursday,” said Gardner, who has been shelved since July 26 with a fractured left thumb. “I did flip [drills yesterday]. Hopefully it feels good and I can take BP [today]. I feel like I could take BP [yesterday].”
When Gardner returns, he won’t dislodge Melky Cabrera as the regular center fielder, but will be welcomed so that Cabrera doesn’t have to play every day. And having Gardner back will allow Girardi to use Cabrera in right and left to rest Swisher and Damon.
“It depends how good his at-bats are,” Girardi said when asked how many rehab games Gardner would need. “You have to make sure his legs are under him, that’s a big part of his game.”
Ian Kennedy threw 45 pitches off a mound in Tampa yesterday and will throw batting practice tomorrow for the first time since he had surgery May 12 to remove an aneurysm from beneath his right biceps.
Girardi said he will use this week to get his regulars a day off. And he hinted tonight could be Hideki Matsui’s turn to sit.
“He is healing and doing well,” Girardi said of Matsui, who was hitting fourth last night against the Orioles with Alex Rodriguez sitting it out. “I might give him a day off tomorrow.”
When Matsui had his left knee drained on Aug. 16, he was batting .266 with 19 homers and 58 RBIs. He entered last night’s action hitting .268 with 23 homers and 72 RBIs. The RBIs were third on the team.
The Yankees acquired minor league outfielder Freddy Guzman from Triple-A Norfolk (Baltimore) in exchange for a player to be named or cash. Guzman will be assigned to Scranton. In 95 combined games with Triple-A Tacoma, Pawtucket and Norfolk this season, Guzman batted .218 (72-for-329) with nine doubles, four triples, two home runs, 16 RBI and 38 stolen bases. He appeared in the majors with the Padres in 2004 and the Rangers in 2006 and 2007.
A.J. Burnett (10-8; 4.10 ERA) draws RHP David Hernandez (4-6; 4.24) tonight and CC Sabathia (15-7; 3.56) faces RHP Jason Berken (4-11; 6.33) tomorrow night.
