I understand that you are disappointed about the news concerning your injury.  It’s very disheartening to work hard only to saddled with the prospect of missing out on almost an entire season doing something that you love to do, and which will enable you to forget all of the other “off the field” issues.  But since it seems that you do not have anybody in your “inner circle” other than “yes men (and perhaps women)” please accept this letter as some advice as you consider your options.

You need to work through this.  And what I mean by “work” through this, I mean you need forget about the WBC, and get yourself into some type of playing shape to get yourself on the field to play through this.  This is one time in your life where you are going to forget about putting yourself or your career first and make something other than those considerations a priority in your life.  Right here, right now you need to put the NY Yankees first, your teammates first and the fans that financially support the “Yankee Brand” first.  There is no feeling sorry for yourself.  Dust yourself off, and play through it.  You are being paid a boatload of money to play baseball for the NY Yankees, it’s time you forget all other considerations and make that your no. 1 priority.  If it turns out, your body just won’t let you do it —- and when I say “do it” I don’t mean playing at a level you are used to.  I mean “Play at all.”  Forget about hitting 40 HRs, and driving in 140 RBIs —- we need someone to play third base and you are under contract to do it.  If you just can’t do it at all, the Yankees will make a decision to acquire another player, but right now the Yankees have NO LEVERAGE to do that right at this moment.   This may not what you want to hear, but you need to hear it.  You are 33 years old, you are in the prime of your career, we cannot worry at this point what shape you will be in at 36, 37 or 38.  That’s too specualative for us right now.  We need it now.  The organization spent a tremendous amount of money this off season and sorry if this is harsh but sometimes in life – you have to live up to responsibilities even when it means a personal sacrifice. 

Lawrence Taylor said upon his induction to the football hall of fame, “the crime is not getting knocked down, the crime is not getting back up again.”  We need you, now, to get up and work through this. 

Sincerely,

The Roundtable