Losing one All-Star pitcher is difficult enough. Losing two in the same day? That just seems unfair.
On Wednesday, the New York Yankees learned that they would be without the services of ace C.C. Sabathia for at least two turns in the rotation due to a pulled leg muscle, and will also lose Andy Pettitte for at least six weeks after taking a Casey Kotchman liner off his ankle. If you're keeping count, that's three presumed Yankees frontline starting pitchers currently sidelined.
The injuries may well change the complexion of the American League East, as our own Jen Slothower wrote earlier Wednesday. The Yankees clearly have been on a roll lately, and have looked about ready to take firm control of the division.
But now those plans are on hold, as the club wonders if starts by Freddy Garcia and Adam Warren can keep the Yankees at the top of the American League East. The Yankees are also hopeful that its offense can continue to shoulder the load. But for a team like the Red Sox, which has been playing infinitely better as of late, they have to be salivating at the possibilities at this point.
No one really expects Baltimore to continue to contend, the Rays look vulnerable this year with Evan Longoria missing significant time, and — all of a sudden — the Yankees are a wounded team. The Sox may have their own injury issues, but while their fill-ins (Daisuke Matsuzaka and Franklin Morales) have been peforming admirably, it remains to be seen how the Yankee replacements will fare.
Photo of the Night
We're not exctly sure who she's rooting for, but Portugal is closer to her heart, so… Sorry, lost my concentration there for a second.
Quote of the Night
"I don't want anyone to try to grow a unibrow because of me and then try to make money off of it,"
–Presumed No. 1 NBA Draft selection Anthony Davis, on trademarking his unibrow
Tweet of the Night
The Yankees really are desperate for pitching.
Just received a telegram from one B. Cashman.
— Old Hoss Radbourn (@OldHossRadbourn) June 27, 2012
Video of the Night
There's a split second of hesitation here, where you can tell Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk is wondering to himself, "How hard should I hit this guy?" Apparently, it didn't take much.