TAMPA — They arrived in camp with a big question about Jorge Posada’s surgically repaired right shoulder and a larger one concerning Alex Rodriguez’s head in the wake of him being outed as a steroid user and later admitting it.
Plus, Mariano Rivera was coming back from shoulder surgery, Hideki Matsui had knee surgery and Chien-Ming Wang missed the second half of last season with a foot problem.
Yesterday, the Yankees split Florida with a positive answer on Posada, Rivera, Matsui and Wang but not knowing about Rodriguez’s head. And there are huge questions about how the cleanup hitter will bounce back from March 9 arthroscopic surgery on the right hip.
Posada passed every test and will be, as he promised, ready for Opening Day on Monday in Baltimore.
Rodriguez? He is expected back in mid-May or possibly sooner. As for his head, flip a coin. If we have learned one thing about Rodriguez in five years as a Yankee it is this: The next distraction isn’t far away.
As much as Rodriguez means to the lineup, he wasn’t lost for the season. That meant Posada was always a bigger issue.
“I wasn’t sure really what to expect,” Girardi said of his thoughts about his catcher coming to camp in February. “When I got here he was playing catch at 75 feet and I knew there was a long way to go. I saw him every day. I saw him improve, and I feel better and better.”
Now, Posada believes he can play in excess of 120 games. The switch-hitting catcher is vital to the Yankees returning to the postseason because though Jose Molina is among the best back-up catchers in baseball, he isn’t a regular.
Rodriguez’s surgery gives journeyman minor-league infielder Cody Ransom the chance of a lifetime, since he will play third until Rodriguez returns.
Center field hopefuls Brett Gardner Melky Cabrera had terrific springs and Gardner won the job by playing better defense. Cabrera, who is out of options, made the 25-man roster.
The high-profile trio of new Yankees — CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira — were seen but rarely heard from outside the lines, a refreshing contrast to A-Rod.
Andy Pettitte’s left shoulder, which was an issue late last season, gave him no problems. Joba Chamberlain’s outing Monday muted some, but not all, concerns about his arm strength.
Today they work out at the new Yankee Stadium. That’s followed by two exhibition games against the Cubs before the curtain goes up on the season Monday in Baltimore.
All in all, Girardi’s second spring training has to be viewed as a success.
Now, as for Rodriguez’ head and hip, well, the hip will heal. Which leaves one question: Where will his head be?
