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06/10/2007 5:32 PM ET
Notes: Alfonzo weighing knee surgery

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants are having a rough couple of weeks, what with losing three players to the disabled list and going 0-4-1 in the past five consecutive series, but losing backup catcher Eliezer Alfonzo for a minimum of two months is especially painful.

Alfonzo, a reliable backup catcher and clutch hitter, suffered a grade-three sprain to his left posterior cruciate ligament Friday when he collided at the plate with Oakland's go-ahead run in the 10th inning. The PCL is located in the knee next to the anterior cruciate ligament, and a grade-three sprain (four being the worst) means the ligament came off Alfonzo's bone.

Alfonzo is seeking a second opinion from team orthopedist Michael Dillingham before deciding if he will opt for season-ending surgery. Even if Alfonzo forgoes surgery, he's looking a minimum rehab period of two months, head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner said.

"We don't see a lot of these. It's more of a football injury, but a lot of players don't have surgery. They let it scar down," Groeschner said.

Players who usually just let it scar down, however, aren't crouching on their knees for three hours a day. There's a higher probability of surgery for Alfonzo simply because he's a catcher.

There's also a risk that if Alfonzo tries to rehab, he will end up needing surgery in the long run anyway.

"There's a possibility that we'll try to rehab this, then down the line decide this isn't working," Groeschner said.

If it was an ACL tear, the decision to have surgery would have been easy, Groeschner said. The answer to a PCL sprain is not as obvious, and Alfonzo may seek a third opinion before making any decisions.

In the meantime, manager Bruce Bochy said recently called-up catcher Guillermo Rodriguez will get a chance in the starting lineup soon because Bengie Molina's legs could probably use a break.

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