The Yankees Will Be Eunuchs for at Least Two More Months

Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang had the cast removed from his right leg earlier this week, and he was so happy about it that he began wondering if he'd be able to return in time to help the Bombers make a playoff push in September. Unfortunately for Wang, his manager Joe Girardi isn't much of an optimist when it comes to Wang's recovery time.

According to Girardi, he doesn't see any way that Wang will return before the playoffs.

"The chances of us getting him back Sept. 1 are zero," Girardi said. "Oct. 1? It's possible."

Still, the doctors haven't told Wang that a September return is out of the question, so it's still his goal. Of course, the real problem if Chien-Ming can't come back by then is that the minor league season will be over so he's not going to be able to go on a rehab assignment. Not that it would keep Girardi from throwing him right back in the rotation.

"As long as we felt he was healthy, strong and ready to go, I would not (have any hesitation)," Girardi said. "It will be like spring training again, and you don't have concerns when he's your Opening Day starter six weeks after doing his work. We have to make sure he's healthy."

All of which means Yankees fans will get a few more months worth of Darrell Rasner and Sidney Ponson, but some of them would probably tell you they prefer Wang on a broken leg over both of those two. Though somebody should probably tell Girardi that the Yankees have to get to the playoffs first. The Yankees streak of consecutive playoff appearances may have him thinking their berth is automatic.