Marty Miller...DIE!!

Yesterday evening, the Yankees lowered the inevitible hammer on Marty Miller, the FORMER Director of Performance Enhancement. Thank God!!

Since Spring Training...four players (Matsui, Wang, Mussina, and Hughes), including three starting pitchers have strained their hamstrings. Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, and Andy Pettitte all have strained other muscles. Carl Pavano's ongoing tale is certain to be ripped from the headlines soon for one of the many TV doctor shows polluting the airwaves. But, when STUD Phil Hughes went down in the 7th inning of a no-hit bid on Tuesday, the time to treat the epidemic at its source had arrived.

Before Miller's hiring this season, he had next to no experience. From 1995 - 1997, Miller worked as a trainer within the Expos' minor league system. Since then, he had been working at a country club in Palm Beach Gardens -- "getting weekend athletes in weekday shape". ARE YOU F'N KIDDING ME???? This is the freakin' New York Yankees were talking about -- the same organization that EVERY organization strives to be! And, Cashman brings in Marty Miller with this pedigree. Essentially, Miller was teaching pilates and golf swings to upper class citizens for the past 8 years!

According to the NY Daily News, Miller junked many conventional strengthening programs such as arm stretching, rubber-band resistance, and some running. Wait a minute -- you had pitchers not using rubber-band resistance...WHAAAAAAT?? He even advised Pettitte to change the way he performed stomach-strengthening squats. The players laughed it all off at first, until the disabled list began multiplying like a pyramid scheme.

Last month, one player, speaking on the condition of anonymity, called Miller's stretching program "inadequate," saying that many players had started doing their own programs.

Even intercity rival, Tom Glavine (of the Mets) chirped in..."I've never seen anything like it, where one portion of their team is devastated like that. It's odd it's one area and one area having the same injuries. The first thing you look at is what everybody is doing and what's changed. Is it a coincidence? I don't know. But I'm sure they are looking for someone to blame."

As a side note...in addition to Marty Miller, Carl Pavano is also on my "hit" list. The latest prognosis relating to Pavano's woes is bad. He currently scheduled to see Dr. James Andrews in Alabama and may, in fact, require Tommy John surgery (which would wipe out this season and maybe all of next season). With this news, I can now make the bold statement that I have never hated a player more than Carl Pavano.

Get well soon, Phil Hughes. I love you!