Alex Rodriguez's appeal hearing for his unprecedented 211-game suspension from the MLB for his connection to the Biogenesis scandal linking him to performance enhancing drugs may be pushed back from Sept. 30 if the Yankees are contending for a playoff berth in their final few games of the season.
According to Newsday's Steven Marcus, if the Yankees are stil alive after Sept. 30, A-Rod's appeal hearing before arbitrator Fredric Horowitz will be delayed.
#A-Rod appeal: Scheduled Sept. 30 hearing will be delayed if Yanks still alive, source said.
— steven marcus (@newsdaymarcus) September 19, 2013
The Yankees (80-72) have managed to keep their postseason hopes alive and enter their game with the last place Toronto Blue Jays Thursday just 2.5 games shy of the second wildcard spot currently owned by the Texas Rangers (82-69) The Tampa Bay Rays own the first wildcard spot, and the Yankees would have to jump the Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians to steal one of the two spots away from Texas or Tampa Bay.
The Yankees wrap up their series with Toronto with the rubber match of their three-game set on Thursday night before coming home to play the San Francisco Giants in three games and then the team finishes up its final home stand in what could be a crucial series against Tampa in a three-game set. New York closes out its season with a visit to the lowly Houston Astros from Sept. 27-29, and if the team is still standing come Sept. 30, the hearing for Rodriguez's grievance will be pushed back to allow him to focus on the playoffs.
If it has to be pushed back, it is unknown at this time when his case will be heard.
Major League Baseball announced on Aug. 5 that Rodriguez would be suspended for the remainder of the 2013 season through the playoffs and all of the 2014 regular-season, but the controversial third baseman appealed it and has been able to play for as long as the appeals process plays out.
Rodriguez returned on Aug. 5 and has played in 38 games this season for the Bronx Bombers, hitting .267 with six homers and 14 RBIs after offseason hip surgery kept him off the diamond for most of the season.
A-Rod has endured some health problems since returning, but will look to help the Yankees avoid missing the post season for the first time since 2008 and just the second time under manager Joe Girardi.
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