New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is itching to play, but a recent quad injury suffered on the 20th and final day of his minor league rehab stint has pushed back his expected return date.
A frustrated Rodriguez seems to have gone on a media offensive, publicly questioning the diagnosis of a Grade 1 quadriceps strain by getting a second opinion from another doctor, Michael Gross.
Gross made the New York media rounds proclaiming the third baseman fit to play, and A-Rod has made noise about wanting to be in the Yankees' lineup on Friday. Speculation is rampant that the Yankees may indeed be exaggerating the injury in an effort to delay his return. With the suspension of Ryan Braun in relation to his involvement in the Biogenesis performance enhancing drug scandal, the MLB is turning its ire toward A-Rod.
MLB reportedly has more evidence of A-Rod's misdeeds than they had on Braun, and he accepted a season-ending 65-game suspension without appeal. Rumor has it that Rodriguez could be facing a much stiffer penalty, and possibly a lifetime ban.
As the war between A-Rod and his employer worsens, news has broken that Gross has never met Rodriguez. Furthermore, he has been reprimanded for improperly prescribing medications, including steroids.
Gross defended himself saying:
"These were not anabolic steroids. They weren't that stuff. We weren't treating athletes. Steroids are not illegal. They are banned in professional sports, but we weren't treating those people. We were treating people with a medical problem -- low testosterone or menopause."
Gross has admitted to not meeting Rodriguez. I spoke with Alex on the phone, and I asked him if he has any pain and he said, 'I don't,' " Gross said "I said, 'Do you have an injury?' And he said, 'I don't.' He said, 'Would you be willing to say I'm ready to play?' I said, 'No, I'm not willing to say that. I've never examined you. I've looked at your MRI.' But I asked him if you think you are ready to play and he said, 'Yes.'"
"I explained it [to Rodriguez] as a little unusual to just look at an MRI without actually examining the patient -- and I'm not a radiologist -- but I'd be happy to look at the MRI," Gross said. "I did it because I thought it would be fun. I thought it would be interesting to be on this side of stuff. It was a lot of fun until the last half hour."
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