From Newsday

No shoulder surgery for Jorge -- for now

Docs to Jorge: No shoulder surgery; rest it, then test it

BY JIM BAUMBACH | jim.baumbach@newsday.com

May 3, 2008

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When Jorge Posada gave in to his shoulder pain last weekend and went on the disabled list for the first time, the catcher not only feared the worst, he expected it. "I thought I was going to have surgery," he said.

But after a week of waiting while his MRI results were sent to various specialists, Posada finally breathed easier Friday.

Surgery, he said, has been avoided ... for now.

Upon the advice of three doctors who specialize in shoulder injuries, he is going to rest his shoulder for the next 10 days. He will not throw or swing a bat during that time and will treat the shoulder with ice and heat.

Then he will test it by throwing, and Posada believes he will know instantly whether the time off was successful in getting rid of the inflammation that has built around his rotator cuff.

If Posada has no pain, Joe Girardi said he will throw for two weeks before a minor-league rehab assignment. That lines him up for a possible June return. When that was presented to Posada, he seemed to think it was overly optimistic, saying, "I don't know about that." He said the doctors originally recommended that he rest his shoulder for six weeks but said, "I don't think that's going to happen."

The best news, he said, was that the doctors said the MRI of his labrum didn't look much different from the one he took after signing his four-year, $52.4-million deal. "They don't know if the labrum has been like that for a while," he said. "If it has, it is great news. We just need to make sure that the rotator cuff - with the tendinitis and whatever - that with rest, it goes away."

Glasses for Hughes

When Phil Hughes returns after recovering from the stress fracture in one of his ribs, he will be sporting a new look: glasses.

Hughes visited an eye doctor Friday and learned he is slightly nearsighted, which explains why he has had trouble seeing the catcher's signs. On Tuesday, he and Chris Stewart had trouble getting together on what pitch was being thrown, but Hughes said picking up signs was a problem even before that, especially during night games.

Hughes said he doesn't need glasses to drive or watch movies. He just has a problem clearly seeing tiny objects - such as a catcher's finger.