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NASHVILLE – On the first official day of the Winter Meetings, Alex Rodriguez emerged as the most discussed player at the cavernous Opryland Hotel. It wasn’t for a good reason. Rodriguez has a tear in his left hip that will require surgery, meaning he will miss part of the 2013 season. The New York Post first reported the Rodriguez news while adding that it’s not the right hip previously operated on in 2009.

Rodriguez injured the hip before the postseason, a dismal stretch in which he went 3-for-25 with no extra-base hits and 12 strikeouts. The hip problem could help explain why Rodriguez looked lost at the plate and showed no power in the playoffs. The Yankees had hoped that Rodriguez would return as a much more productive hitter, but now they will have to wait and see

It was bold, gutsy and daring. When Joe Girardi decided to use Raul Ibanez as a pinch-hitter for Alex Rodriguez in the ninth inning on Wednesday night, it was one of the more delicate decisions he has made as a manager. It was also one of the smartest decisions he has made.

Even before Ibanez drilled a game-tying homer off Jim Johnson and a game-winning homer off Brian Matusz in the 12^th inning, inserting Ibanez for Rodriguez was the proper move. Even if Ibanez had made an out and the Yankees had lost to the Orioles, I believe Girardi did the right thing. The manager’s job is to give his team the best chance to win. That’s what Girardi did.

Because Ibanez had a dream of a postseason game, the Yankees defeated the Orioles, 3-2, in Game 3 of the American League Division

Before Alex Rodriguez took his first swing against the Orioles in the American League Division Series, I exchanged text messages with an AL scout. I asked the scout for his evaluation of Rodriguez, who had been repeatedly beat on fastballs as he faltered at the end of the regular season. His response was blunt.

“A-Rod will only show up if the pen does not have good stuff,” the scout wrote.

In one brief and damning sentence, the scout gave an accurate appraisal of what has happened in the first two games of the best-of-five series. While Rodriguez is 1-for-9 with five strikeouts overall, he is 0-for-4 with four strikeouts against Baltimore’s relievers. He is 0-for-2 off Darren O’Day and 0-for-2 off Jim Johnson.

With each unproductive at-bat by Rodriguez, the questions

By Zachary Finkelstein

“Showing up is half the battle,” is an adage that has rung true for the Yankees since July 18, when they owned a 10-game lead in the American League East.

The Bombers had been without Andy Pettitte for a few starts at that point, but their division advantage had nonetheless reached its apex. Since then, however, New York’s AL franchise has gone 18-22, the latest loss coming from a 6-1 defeat to the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night at Yankee Stadium.

The Bombers’ bats were quieted by Miguel Gonzalez, a 28-year-old rookie who retired 14 of the first 15 Yankees faced en route to a scoreless seven-inning gem.

Gonzalez, who scattered four hits and one walk with nine strikeouts in the Bronx, is emblematic of the enigma that has blessed Baltimore’s

The Yankees confirmed after the game that Brian Cashman has made the decision to send Andy Pettitte to Tampa to make his next start with the Class-A Tampa Yankees on Monday. He was schedule to pitch with the Double-A Trenton Thunder on the road against the Portland Sea Dogs, but weather concerns have derailed that plan.

Before the game, Yankees manager Joe Girardi hinted that this was a possibility noting the conditions of Pettitte's last start in Trenton.

"He pitched in some pretty raw conditions the other day, as well," Girardi said before Saturday's game. "Because of that we might change where he throws. He might pitch in Tampa on Monday depending on talking about some conditions."

Pettitte most likely will not be pitching with the Major League club until early- to mid-May, making

Alex Rodriguez now stands alone in fifth place on the all-time home run list with 631 surpassing his former teammate and friend Ken Griffey Jr. In the history of baseball only Willie Mays (660), Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762) have amassed more. With a strong push in 2012, A-Rod may be able to catch Willie Mays.

A-Rod, in his ninth season with the Yankees, has hit 285 of those 631 career home runs in Pinstripes. He also played spoiler hitting this very historic home run on the same day the Red Sox celebrated the 100 year anniversary of Fenway Park. He did it iconic fashion, hitting it over the Green Monster.

“I think it's interesting,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said about A-Rod climbing up the home run chart. “I think it's something to follow.

Joe Girardi talked all spring about how he planned to rest his aging stars (specifically Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez) more often this year to keep them fresh.

Injuries, both minor and major, are unavoidable throughout the marathon that is a Major League Baseball season, so it was a very valid thought. Yet, through two weeks and so much scratching that Girardi’s lineup card might soon need some calamine lotion, it’s Jeter and A-Rod who are among the five Yankees to have appeared in all 12 games so far.

Life is weird sometimes, no?

Brett Gardner was scratched against the Angels Saturday due to flu-like symptoms, Mark Teixeira sat out Tuesday for the same reason (actually getting Jeter a “half-day off” as the DH as a result), and Wednesday saw Gardner once again

Opener Over

With the always highly-anticipated Home Opener over and resulting in a Yankees 5-0 victory, it's back to business as usual in the Bronx. The second game of the series between the Yankees and Angels is just that. It's still a very important test for the Bombers, but the team can now settle in and make themselves at home.

Designated Rest

The Yankees have chosen to DH Alex Rodriguez today with left-hander and new Angels ace C.J. Wilson on the mound. The half day for Rodriguez will only help the Yankees in the long run and save his legs for the grind that is the baseball season.

Joe Girardi discussed his decision before the game, stating, “I could have done either one (Jeter or Rodriguez). I decided to go with A-Rod. I believe we'll see a left hander on Tuesday as well,

Chavez Ravine to the Bronx reminds me of Tommy John for some reason…

Welcome to New York, Hiro!  It was a terrific debut at Yankee Stadium for #2 starter Hiroki Kuroda, as he shut down the Los Angeles Angels, 5-0 in the team’s 2012 home opener.  The Angels, historically, play the Yankees very well in New York, so Kuroda’s performance was significantly more impressive than if it had come against a team like the Minnesota Twins.  Obviously, the former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher is not going to pitch like this every time out, but I do feel more confident in the #2 slot in the rotation than I did when it was held by A.J. Burnett. 

The game also marked the 630^th home run by Alex Rodriguez, which tied him with his former teammate, Ken Griffey, Jr.