The good news is that Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano’s knee surgery yesterday was a success. The bad news (well, is it bad?) is that he’s now definitely done for the year.
Soriano underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, and the team reported that orthopedic specialist Stephen Gryzlo found acute inflammation and expected cartilage degeneration, and did a debridement.
Soriano is expected to join the Cubs in Milwaukee next week to begin his rehab. He will spend three weeks with the team, then work out another three weeks at the Cubs’ academy in the Dominican Republic when he returns home for the offseason.
“According to the reports I had, [the surgery] was very successful and he should be ready to go full bore by next spring,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. cubs.com.
There is, of course, hope that Soriano’s knee will be all fixed by next year, and he will return to a normal, excellent offensive performance. But I remain concerned about Soriano’s repeated comments, when he was in the throws of his deepest slump, that his bum knee had nothing to do with his struggles.
Yes, it’s possible that he was just being a tough guy, and not wanting to make excuses. But what if he was being sincere?