Bitter Sweet

What an amazing game by Phil Hughes. Forget for a moment that he is 20 years old and in his second major league appearance. He showed the command of a veteran. Carrying a no hitter through 6 and 1/3 innings he falls prey to the year-long curse of Yankee starting pitchers and has to be removed in the middle of the 7th with a leg injury. The future is bright for Hughes, but we have to wonder how serious the injury is and how long he will be out of action. He walked off under his own power, so I am hopeful that this is a matter of the Yanks being cautious, and not a long term injury. Whenever he gets back to health, it looks like the Yanks have found someone that can have a positive impact on the rotation.

Speaking of injuries, this has been the season from hell. Why are so many people getting injured this year compared to years past? You could make an all star team from the players that are on the DL right now. In fact, I did.

C- Josh Bard, Greg Zaun
SP- Cliff Lee, Kenny Rogers, Jason Schmidt, Jered Weaver, Bartolo Colon, Francisco Liriano, Pedro Martinez, Rich Harden, Felix Hernandez, Chris Carpenter
RP- Bob Wickman, Eddie Guardado, LaTroy Hawkins, Jose Mesa, Brandon Backe, Octavio Dotel, Eric Gagne, BJ Ryan
1B- Mark Sweeney, Frank Catalanotto
2B- Freddy Sanchez, Howie KendrickSS- Rafael Furcal
3B- Andy Marte, Troy Glaus
LF- Scott Posednik, Reed Johnson
CF- Jeff DeVanon, Mark Kotsay
RF- Chone Figgins, Juan Encarnacion
DH- Jim Thome, Rondell White

Just look at those starting pitchers. That is a list of two full 5 man rotations that could start for any team in baseball. There has to be an explanation, but what? I think that one of the issues with baseball players in the past 15 years or so is that they have become too muscular. Baseball is a game that requires flexibility. The more musclebound you are, the less flexible you become, and the more prone to injuries you are.