Around the Yankee Universe, 05.03.09

by Ed Valentine on May 3, 2009 9:35 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

Let's take a look around the Inter-Google at some of the stories making the rounds of the Yankees' Universe this morning.

Chien-Ming Wang has admitted that the foot he injured last season running the bases was the primary cause of his atrocious start this season.

Wang said his back "leg came up and I was getting to the front (foot) too quick." Pitches he was trying to keep down in the strike zone were coming in belt high and hittable as a result. "He can't push off," said organizational pitching guru Billy Connors. "That's where you get your push and your torque. His pitches were up in the zone."

When the Yankees placed Wang on the 15-day disabled list, they had his injury as weakness in the adductor muscles in the hips. He is working to strengthen them, but both he and Connors clearly think the right foot has been the culprit.

Among other exercises, Wang has been running barefoot in the outfield at the club's minor league complex to increase flexibility in the foot. He works out in a pool with Alex Rodriguez to improve hip strength. The results were evident Saturday as he threw four no-hit innings with two walks and three strikeouts in an extended spring training game. He threw 52 pitches, 33 for strikes, and maxed out at 93 on the radar gun.

It's all well and good that Wang has admitted this now, and the Yankees are working to strengthen it. But, where was this admission 3-4 months ago? Wang, and the organization, should have been dealing with this a long time ago.

Alex Rodriguez' statements about PED use are again being probed by Major League Baseball. It's an ugly mess, and it isn't going away. Mike Lupica says A-Rod needs to win to write a new ending to his story.
Speaking of A-Rod, and it seems we always are, Peter Abraham wonders if the nine seasons left on his Yankee contract represent the biggest albatross in sports history. I'd say the answer is yes, and it's not difficult.
Mark Teixeira says his early-season struggles are "embarrassing."

"I seem to struggle every year at the beginning of the season. But it's just a matter of when I get out of it. Hopefully it's going to be soon."

Personally, I am not worried about Teixeira. By season's end, this rough patch will be a distant memory.

Bill Madden points out that the Red Sox have clearly done a better job than the Yankees drafting useful players the past few seasons.

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Comments

To me an albatross is something you want to dump but cannot. If the Yankees ever put A-Rod on the market, suitors would be lining up with huge offers. The Yanks might have to eat a chunk of the salary, but they’re not stuck with Alex if they don’t want him.

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by John B on May 3, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah. Teams might line up if the Yankees eat

about $200 Million of his salary.

by garp on May 3, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm going to have to

respectfully disagree with you on this one, Ed. If A-Rod can put up his numbers on a consistent basis, he was worth the effort. We can debate his salary endleslly, and for the record I do think he is overpaid, but IMO his production is a huge asset. I don’t particularly enjoy the sideshow that always seems to follow A-Rod, but please allow me to state the following:

I’ve followed Pete Abe’s blog for a few years and he always has had some sort of vendetta against A-Rod. It’s a bit too early to be speculating on whether or not his contract was worthwhile. Even with the negative publicity (Roberts is a hack, on a journalistic par with Geraldo Rivera) I’d like to see Alex given the benefit of the doubt. Has he earned it? Debatable, but he is a integral part of this team and I’d like to see him succeed.

by FrankDiscussion on May 3, 2009 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

Good points

You know by now that I love the debate, especially when it’s done with an intelligent, well thought out response. ‘Kudos’ to a job well done.

by Ed Valentine on May 3, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions

look how Lester, Beckett, and Penny are pitching

and then look at the Red Sox’s record
how the hell are they winning so many games?

by Brian5517209 on May 3, 2009 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

bullpen

by Frank Malzone on May 3, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for your positive

comments, Ed. That’s why I come here on a daily basis, intelligent discourse with fellow Yankee fans. Sure beats that other site we both used to frequent. Yourself and jscape2000 are doing a nice job here.

by FrankDiscussion on May 3, 2009 8:05 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks

I enjoyed the opportunity at ‘the other place.’ This, however, suits me better.

by Ed Valentine on May 4, 2009 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions

A-Rod

It would be so nice if we could trade A-Fraud for a real 3rd baseman. All he does is cause distractions. He’s not even playing and he’s the center of the news. Not all of it his fault I know but it would be best to get him out of New York. About Texiera…. ya no kidding its embarassing. When the guy who is supposed to come in and be the greatest 1st baseman in baseball and he’s not hitting at all it’s awful. This team needs a major overhaul

by Blazer Fan From Ohio on May 4, 2009 10:44 AM EDT reply actions

I read

the Madden article in the Daily News yesterday. As I’ve said on other posts here, the only way these types of articles will go away is when the Yankees have players who come up and produce results on a consistent basis. Is our farm system producing AAAA players? This is something I’ve pondered for some time now.

"I don't want one of those guys who'll drive in two but let in three every game." Casey Stengel

by tnredneckyankeesfan on May 4, 2009 11:00 AM EDT reply actions

agree

I think that they maybe the farm system is producing AAAA players. They come up and are great for a short period of time but then tail off and are nothing. I think that is a very astute point. The reason we don’t really develop any major leaguers is because management is convinced you can buy your way to a championship, and it doesn’t really work

by Blazer Fan From Ohio on May 4, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Upsetting

I think Wang’s pitching performances so far this season have been upsetting. He was our main man in pitching before the injury in Houston last summer. A-Rod I dont even want to talk about. We need to get rid of him because of the drama and the roids. And Tex, I believe he is just struggling early on but he will eventuall break loose.

by NYY27 on May 4, 2009 2:14 PM EDT reply actions