THE OBLIQUE

Since the oblique muscle pull or strain seems to be the injury du jour these days in MLB and since our very own Alex Rodriguez is an oblique sufferer, I figured that some background information would be helpful.

Now, I am not a doctor, nor did I play one on TV, but this is what I came up with:

From LiveStrong:

The oblique muscles are considered part of the abdominal muscles. They are located between the ribs and the pelvis and make up the waist. The obliques help the trunk to rotate and bend. There are the external obliques which are large muscles close to the surface of the skin. The internal obliques are deeper and situated right below the external obliques. These muscles can become strained due to a direct blow to the waist area, from overuse or forceful twisting and bending motions.

Bending or twisting the trunk in a forceful or improper way can lead to a muscle strain of the obliques. Grade one sprains usually require avoiding movements that aggravate the symptoms and may take two to three weeks to heal.

If some of the muscle fibers in the obliques are partially torn, then there is usually pain upon movement of the trunk and the area will be swollen and tender to the touch. The pain can be sharp, stabbing or burning and may get worse when twisting, performing sit-ups or when trying to lift the legs while lying on the back. Even gentle movement or stretching will be uncomfortable. This level of injury is called a grade two sprain and can take up to six weeks to get better. Rest, ice and medication to control the symptoms may be needed to help the injury heal. It will be important to return to activities slowly and only perform movements that are painless.

If the oblique muscles suffer a third-degree sprain then the muscle has completely torn or ruptured. Pain and muscle weakness will usually be severe. There may be uncontrollable spasms even at rest. The abdominal muscles may push through the muscle tear causing a hernia and internal bleeding. Surgery is often required along with months of therapy before returning to normal activities.

NO NOESI?

So Mariano Rivera let one get away last night. Yea, the Yankees Universe will somehow manage to survive this odd and infrequent event.

Even more puzzling was the use of Ivan Nova in the 10th.

Why not Hector Noesi? He was brought up on April 13 and has not seen any action. Instead Joe Girardi used his #4 starter.

I understand that the Yanks have 2 off days this week, but that was the perfect time to see what the youngster can bring to the table.

He has not pitched now for at least 7 days. What happens next is that he comes in to a game, rusty from inactivity, then gets shipped back to AAA-SWB because he was ineffective?

The guy was brought here...USE HIM!

MILLWOOD CLUBBED BY SCRUBS

The Yankees continue to waste their time on the Kevin Millwood experiment.

In his second extended spring training start, Millwood threw 75 pitches over 5+ innings giving up four runs, (three earned), on seven hits against the lowest level Philadelphia's minor league scrubs.

He faced two batters who singled and scored in the 6th when he reached his pitch count limit.

In his 1st outing Millwood needed 48 pitches to get through 2 innings in an extended spring training scrub game.

WHAT THE HECT?

In a surprise move Hector Noesi has been called up to replace the DL'd Luis Ayala in the bullpen.

Noesi has made one 5 inning start at AAA-SWB this season. He gave up 2 earned runs on 9 hits with 4 k's, 2 walks.

Noesi, 24, is from Esperanza, Dominican Republic.

He signed with the Yankees as an international free agent in 2004 and made his pro debut in 2006 with the Gulf Coast Yankees.

He was with A-Charleston in 2007, but was down for Tommy John surgery.

In 2009, Noesi pitched for A-Charleston and A-Tampa then spent 2010 with AA-Trenton and AAA-SWB.

Noesi participated in the 2010 All-Star Futures Game.

JETER'S EGO PROBLEM

From Joel Sherman in today's N.Y. Post:

"Jeter is trapped between his old and new swing. He has returned to lifting his front foot a bit, a modification away from what he worked on all spring. He is left, currently, with a long swing and what is projecting as uncertainty for a player defined by his previously unflinching self-confidence."

Sherman has this one right. Others in the media are calling this Jeter's rejection of Kevin Long or even a rift between the two.

While others rave about how Long has helped them, it seems the Captain is not so sure. In the end, Jeter has to do what he feels comfortable with but this really is not the issue.

The big issue is whether or not Jeter still is a top of the order guy.

We know Joe Girardi is a loyal guy and will never drop Jeter below the 2 spot, but this is Derek Jeter we are talking about, you know "Mr. TEAM".

All his career we have heard from him that it's about the team, it's about winning. Does Jeter still believe that he is a top of the order guy? Does he believe that the best Yankees line up has him hitting 1 or 2?

If Girardi will not move him down, at what point does "Mr. Team" go to the manager and suggest the he be moved down in the order?

Kevin Long can fix a swing. He cannot fix an ego.

YO SO, NO NO ON THE NO SHOW!

After Joe Girardi's over-managing loss to the Twinkies in an extra frame last night, pitching goat Rafael Soriano was gone by the time reporters showed up in the clubhouse.

The Star-Ledger's Marc Carig tweeted that Soriano was "nowhere to be found..."

Note to Soriano: This is not Tampa. Running from the press (especially the YES Network) will not cut it (you don't stand up Kimmy!). I expect some "seasoned" Yankees will discuss this with him.

As for the over-managing of Girardi, he continues to feel that 100 pitches is the kiss of death for a pitcher.

CC Sabathia was at 104 pitches and had easily retired the last 17 Twins batters he faced, giving up just two hits. Sabathia said his arm felt fine after seven innings.

But for Mr. Pitch Count, that was it for his starter regardless of how effective he was. After the game the somberly annoyed pitcher said "I know Joe and how he is. It's early in the season, and he's trying to protect us. I kind of had a feeling that was my last inning. What's the point of arguing? When he makes the decision, that's what it is. "

G-man then chimes in with: "At this point in the season, he's over 100 pitches. You have to be smart about him. We have a long ways to go -- this isn't August or September, this is early April. "

That's great, but games in April count too. If they didn't, this game would have been played at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa and the reliever would have been sporting number 93 on his jersey.

So enter Sorriano who stinks up the joint. Then comes David Robertson who gives up a bloop bases clearing double, that was misplayed by Nick Swisher. "D-Rob" (uh...no) retires the next batter to end the 8th, Mo retires the 9th on 13 pitches as we go to the 10th tied at 4.

Boone Logan, who never met a man he didn't allow to reach base, starts the 10th and promptly walks the lead-off hitter who ended up scoring what would be the winning run.

Tonight, our ol' pal Carl Pavano faces Freddy Garcia. Let's hope that Freddy does better in his Yankee debut than is rotation competitor Tubolo Colon.