ESPNDeportes.com (is that different from ESPN?) has reported that Alex Rodriguez will be sidelined for 10 weeks due to hip surgery.  Peter Abraham from the LoHud Yankees Blog (the #1 source on Yankees news) says that A-Rod would be out for four months if surgery is needed, so the Yankees are going to try and nurse him through the season.

All this adds up to one potential truth this Summer in the Bronx, the "Yankees Universe" may be without its star distraction attraction.

During Rodriguez's 10-minute press conference pause, I had a lot of time to think about the situation.  My best case scenario: A-Rod gets suspended for the season and the Yanks win the Series without him.  Then, they do what they have to do (swallow $100 mill or so) and deal him in the offseason.

But this is better.  Instead of the stain of a suspension, Rodriguez's physical breakdown could be the ultimate blessing in disguise.  Of course, it could also be a disaster.

Rodriguez is the best all-around regular season player in the game.  In 2007, he was immense and probably turned two dozen losses into wins.  

Can they win without him?  Yes...but there are conditions of course.

1) The Yankees must be decisive about Rodriguez's surgery.  If he's playing badly, they need to pull the plug on him.  His presence is a chemistry killer, which is only counteracted by superhuman play.  If he's just mediocre, the team would be better served to shelve him.

2) They need someone who can pick it at the hot corner.  They have zero organizational depth at third base, so they need to plug the hole with a solid defensive presence and let someone else cover the offensive chasm left behind.  Scott Brosius hit .247 in 1999 and .230 in 2000, the Yankees won the World Series both years. 

3) "Godzilla" must reemerge.  Hideki Matsui's balky knees have ruined two of his last three seasons.  He's now been relegated to full-time DH duty.  When healthy, he's never missed the 100 RBI mark.

The general sentiment is that A-Rod creates a mushroom cloud of negativity over the organization and the locker room.  This will be the ultimate test to determine his future with the franchise.  If his absence galvanizes the team, the title of this post becomes the headline for the New York Post. 

If not...they better get used to hearing, "Booooooooooooo!!!"