Surgery to Keep Rodriguez Sidelined Four to Six Weeks

Shortstop Alex Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners will be sidelined four to six weeks because of torn cartilage in his left knee. Rodriguez, 23, will undergo surgery today.

He suffered the injury during spring training while performing an agility exercise that involves jumping over boxes that are about as high as a chair.

Rodriguez missed three of the last four days of spring training because of the injury.

He left the White Sox game Tuesday night in the seventh inning. He has not yet been placed on the disabled list.

Rodriguez hit .310 last season with 42 home runs and 46 stolen bases.

“Nothing is ever totally routine,” said Dr. Larry Pedegana, a team doctor, “but I don’t anticipate anything unusual and the MRI does not show anything unusual or unexpected.”

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For the first time since 1982, Cal Ripken sat out a game because of injury.

Ripken, who took himself out of the Baltimore Orioles’ season opener Monday in the third inning because of stiffness in his lower back, remained in the dugout for Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Baltimore while Willis Otanez took over at third base.

“I could beat my head against the wall and go do it today, but it doesn’t make sense,” Ripken said.

Last Sept. 20, Ripken voluntarily ended his record streak of playing in 2,632 games by sitting out the Orioles’ final home game against the New York Yankees.

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Manager Tony Muser of the Kansas City Royals said he doesn’t understand why people are “making such a big deal” out of his comments that Jose Offerman doesn’t always hustle.

“It’s obvious to a lot of people that Offie had periods when he didn’t run the ball out,” Muser said before the Royals’ game against the Boston Red Sox, whom Offerman joined after leaving Kansas City.

“That’s not something that’s dreamt up or anything. I lot of people saw that.”

Last season, his third with the Royals and his first full year under Muser, Offerman reached career highs in batting average (.315), hits (191), home runs (seven) and triples (13).

The former Dodger then bolted the cash-poor Royals and signed a four-year, $26-million free-agent contract with the Red Sox.

Offerman became angry this week when reminded that Muser had sometimes questioned his willingness to hustle.

“Muser can say whatever he wants to say. I don’t play for him anymore,” Offerman said. “I know I gave 100% every time for them. I hit .315 . . . I hit 13 triples. What else am I supposed to do? That’s stupid for him to say.”

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Left-hander Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees was scratched from an extended spring training start in Tampa, Fla., because of a sprained ankle, and is not expected to pitch for at least another three to five days. . . . Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, 78, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Milwaukee Brewers’ last opening day game at County Stadium, April 16 against the Chicago Cubs. The stadium is being replaced by Miller Park, which opens next spring.