NEW YORK -- Brian Cashmans expression said it all. Every time Alex Rodriguezs name was mentioned Friday, the New York Yankees general manager appeared as if he might get sick. The subject was the third basemans claim that his left quadriceps really isnt injured, but it could have been any one several topics: Rodriguezs alleged performance-enhancing drug use, his pesky Twitter and radio appearances or his knack for creating tabloid headlines. Cashman challenged A-Rod to have his leg examined by an outside doctor or perhaps even file a grievance, defending the teams medical and training staff and saying he wouldnt comment on "extra noise." The third baseman detailed his frustration during a radio interview Thursday, just hours after team management said he wouldnt be ready to resume minor league rehab games until Aug. 1. Rodriguez wouldnt answer when asked whether he trusted the Yankees. "The MRI is the MRI. Its fact. You cant change the results on an MRI," Cashman said before Fridays 10-6 loss to Tampa Bay in a homestand opener. "So, were very comfortable with it, and if anybody wants to utilize the process in place with the union, go right ahead. Its not something were afraid of." Recovering from January hip surgery, Rodriguez is under investigation by Major League Baseball for his reported ties to a Florida clinic accused of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs. A lengthy suspension appears likely. Seemingly days away from rejoining the Yankees, he complained of leg pain last weekend, and the Yankees said an MRI on Sunday showed a quadriceps strain. An outside physician, Michael Gross, said Wednesday he looked at an MRI at Rodriguezs request -- its not clear when the MRI was taken -- and could not detect an injury. Gross is not on baseballs list of doctors recommended for second opinions, and he admitted he never personally examined Rodriguez. The Yankees responded angrily because Rodriguez didnt follow the procedure in baseballs labour contract, which requires him to provide written notice when a player wants a second medical opinion, and the team intends to discipline him -- most likely with a fine. Rodriguez did conditioning work Friday at the teams minor league complex in Tampa, Fla., a day ahead of his 38th birthday, and Cashman said the three-time MVP is on a schedule that could have him resume minor league games Aug. 1. As Rodriguezs car was departing, a fan held a light-colored, oversized card above his head and saw the side that read: "Happy Birthday!" and had a cartoon-like drawing of a clown. Rodriguez went by quickly and wasnt around by the time the fan opened the card to reveal the side read: "From One Clown to Another." When or whether he returns to the Yankees has become a daily drama. "I think we all kind of want it to get behind us, no matter what it is, and once something happens or doesnt happen, then we can kind of deal with it then," injured first baseman Mark Teixeira said. Cashmans careful answers sounded more like those of a White House press secretary rather than responses of a big league GM. "Im not going to comment really on the Alex stuff. Feel free to just reach out to Alex and ask him, because thats something thats hard to keep up with and follow," Cashman said. "So I can just provide you the facts, and thats what Ill continue to do. Were running a baseball team, and I will provide you with the most accurate information that I can provide on a daily basis about anybody and everybody whos either healthy on that field or hurt and what the current state of their medical condition is and their rehab." Cashman praised outfielder Alfonso Soriano, acquired Friday from the Chicago Cubs for minor league right-hander Corey Black. His accolades for Sorianos attributes could be interpreted by some as criticism of what Rodriguez is not. "Over the years, we used to be attracted to all types of players and all types of personalities. If they could play, thats all the mattered," Cashman said. "I do think with the evolution social media and the explosion of the Internet and ESPN, everything, that having high-character guys that work hard and get along with everybody and obviously you have talent to boot, clearly is important." Given his teams offensive struggles, manager Joe Girardi said he would be happy to have Rodriguez back as quickly as possible. "People follow him around a lot. I never really had to deal with that," Girardi said. "When I was in rehab, no one came to watch. They didnt care if I teed or tossed or anything." NOTES: CC Sabathia allowed six runs in the second inning and seven runs over five innings in all. He is 0-3 with a 7.04 ERA in his last four starts, dropping to 9-9 on the season. "Left a fastball up, a couple sliders, a changeup up," Girardi said. "That was the problem in the second inning. He was up in the zone, and they didnt miss it." Sabathia became the only big league pitcher this year to give up seven runs or more in three straight outings and only the second Yankees pitcher since 1935, joining Chien-Ming Wang in April 2009. "If I can help us out, I feel like we would be doing a lot better. But getting no help from me is making it tough," Sabathia said. ... Soriano was 0 for 5 with an RBI grounder in a three-run ninth in his first game for the Yankees since 2003. Wholesale Jerseys Online . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. http://www.cheapjerseysreal.com/ .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. Cheap NFL Jerseys . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. China NFL Jerseys Authentic .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. NFL Nation reporters are taking a position-by-position look at the teams they cover, with a fantasy spin. They covered starting quarterbacks?Monday, running backs?Tuesday,?wide receivers Wednesday and tight ends Thursday.Todays topic: Over/under on tight end performance in 2016, based on their ESPN fantasy projections. Click the links after each team to view the full posts.Arizona Cardinals: The addition of Chandler Jones could pay big dividends in terms of sacks and interceptions for a talented Cardinals defense. Read more.Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons should improve on their league-worst 19 sacks from last season with help from Dwight Freeney and second-year starter Vic Beasley Jr. Read more.Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens picked up some young pass-rushers in the draft and should get back to pressuring opposing quarterbacks like they used to. Read more.Buffalo Bills: Should you take a gamble on Rex Ryan and draft the Bills defense this season? If you do, be sure to lower your expectations from ESPNs fantasy projections. Read more.Carolina Panthers: With an emphasis on pressuring the quarterback to cover for the inexperience of rookie corners James Bradberry and Daryl Worley, defensive coordinator Sean McDermott will get even more creative. Read more.Chicago Bears: The Bears defense looks better on paper and should have more sacks, but the secondary and special teams lack playmakers. Read more.Cincinnati Bengals: ESPNs fantasy projections have the Bengals reaching 43 sacks. Lets just say Cincinnati is talented enough in its front seven that 43 sacks could really be too low. Read more.Cleveland Browns: The Browns have too many questions on defense and special teams and not enough playmakers to be considered a viable fantasy option. A potential upside would be the punt return ability of Corey Coleman. Read more.Dallas Cowboys: As was the case in 2014, how well the Cowboys defense performs will directly correlate to how well the offense performs. Expectations for the defense are low, which means they can only surprise people in a positive way. Read more.Denver Broncos: The Broncos defense might not be the fantasy juggernaut it was in 2015, but it still has Wade Phillips calling the shots and Von Miller rushing. Read more.Detroit Lions: A reasonable schedule and a strong defensive front could bode well for the Lions defense, but be wary of total yards allowed. Read more.Green Bay Packers: With Clay Matthews moving back outside and Sam Shields healthy, the Packers should see more sacks and interceptions in 2016. Read more.Houston Texans: The Texans are projected to have the eighth-best defense in the NFL this season. If J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney can stay healthy, the team has the potential to be even better. Read more.Indianapolis Colts: The Colts defense and special teams havent been a serious fantasy option under coach Chuck Pagano, and with no significant changes this offseason, its hard to foresee any uptick in 2016. Read more.Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars focused on their defense in the offseason, but untested pass-rushers in Dante Fowler Jr. and Yannick Ngakoue make the units fantasy value hard to predict. Read more.Kansas City Chiefs: While Tamba Hali and Eric Berry could be available when the regular season starts, its still unrealistic to think the Chiefs will be as strong defensively as they were last season, particularly eaarly in the year.dddddddddddd Read more.Los Angeles Rams: The Rams offseason was littered with key losses throughout their defense. This unit still has talent, primarily on the defensive line, but another step back might be inevitable. Read more.Miami Dolphins: From a reality and fantasy perspective, Miamis defense was a huge disappointment in 2015. New coordinator Vance Joseph should be able to make a difference. Read more.Minnesota Vikings: As the Vikings secondary in particular grows more sound in its fundamentals, it should get more interception opportunities. Read more.New England Patriots: The Patriots are unlikely to maintain their No. 2 ranking in sacks, but remain a strong fantasy option because of their depth, especially on the line. Read more.New Orleans Saints: The Saints had one of the worst defenses in NFL history last season. But they have gotten off to a promising start under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, so they cant help but be better in 2016. Read more.New York Giants: The Giants defense should be better this season and could be worth an occasional fantasy start based on matchup, but theyre not an every-week option. Read more.New York Jets: The Jets potentially dominant line and coach Todd Bowles aggressive approach should help push them toward the top tier of fantasy defenses. Read more.Oakland Raiders: With the additions the Raiders made via free agency, the defense and special teams should be capable of putting up some big point totals in fantasy. Read more.Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers have enough talent to make improvements defensively this season, especially if Bud Dupree takes an expected leap forward. Read more.Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles are only ranked No. 30 in the preseason fantasy rankings on defense and special teams, but theres reason for optimism, especially with Fletcher Cox working in Jim Schwartzs attack scheme. Read more.San Diego Chargers: The addition of nose tackle Brandon Mebane should improve the run defense up front, while rookie defensive end Joey Bosa will be a bonus once hes on the field. Read more.San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers defense is flush with promising young players. Add those youngsters to established veterans and you have a group the organization hopes is ascending. Read more.Seattle Seahawks: If youre looking for a safe -- and possibly the best -- fantasy choice, look no further than the Seahawks, who allowed the fewest points in the NFL last season and return nine of 11 starters. Read more.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: This Bucs team finished 17th in fantasy points last season. While the defense appears vastly improved, special teams is still settling in, with draft pick Roberto Aguayo missing an extra point in the Bucs first preseason game. Read more.Tennessee Titans: Its hard to project this group, as Dick LeBeau is now the Titans defensive playcaller. The presumption is that this will be a far more aggressive blitzing team and that a stretch of corners playing fearfully far off their man at the snap is over. Read more.Washington Redskins: The Redskins overall defense has a high football IQ. They will be a gritty, tough bunch -- or at least they should be. But will they be a defense capable of causing lots of turnovers and sacks? Read more. Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '