W-Hammy!

The Yanks were finally getting over the injury hump. Wang returned last week, Mussina pitches next, the Jeff Karstens injury was the culmination, then snap. The future, the present, Snap. Not only does this injury further decimate a reeling pitching staff, it also disrupts a march toward history and a coming out party. Unfortunately, Phil Hughes will remember his first win more for his injured hamstring and missed opportunity for a no-hitter.

First, I stand corrected. Last week I waxed poetic on how Hughes is not the savior. Five innings per start and keeping the team in the game would suffice for the first few months. And his debut was exactly that, not spectacular, flashes of brilliance interweaved with youthful exuberance. But start two, unhittable, vintage, dominant. Even Kerry Wood waited until start four to twirl his twenty-strikeout one-hitter. Texas can attest Hughes is the real deal. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe great things can come immediately. Fernando-mania, a young Doc Gooden carrying the Mets. We will find out more, just not for another six weeks. Maybe losing the no-no is a blessing in disguise. According to Jayson Stark, through baseball-reference.com, Wilson Alvarez is the only pitcher to throw a no-hitter in his first win. Not exactly a hall of famer.

Lost in the Hughes mess, the Yanks dominated Texas. As we keep saying, maybe this game can turn it around. Thankfully, for the Yanks and my fantasy team, Robinson Cano remembered how to hit. Torre can breathe easy. Steinbrenner backed him before the game, then they win. No worries. Until the next loss.

Alas, The Boss was still busy. Marty Miller, the sole link between all of the Yankees injury, felt the wrath. I am surprised it took so long. This was a terrible hire, based on Marty’s background. He was simply not qualified to run strength and conditioning for a professional sports team, after running some resort in Florida. While he was at it, Cashman could have hired me as pitching coach, and Barry Bonds as the nutritionist. Then, once all the players voiced their concerns in the first month of the season, Cashman should have at least brought someone else in to help, or “advice”. But it took an entire pitching staff’s worth of injuries, and a few All-Star outfielders with bad hammy’s, for Cashman to admit his mistake.

The only one to benefit from the situation is Gene Monahan. The legendary trainer received more camera time than an over-hyped Hollywood star, and lost five pounds with his new regimen of daily sprints out to the mound. Only in New York can firing the Strength and Conditioning coach make the front page.