Wang out, Yanks in trouble

The dreaded Lisfranc injury, which once shut down Michael Strahan and currently has Brian Bruney on the shelf, claimed a new victim on Sunday. And if you're a Yankee fan, you're probably hyperventilating.

All Chien-Ming Wang has done is post consecutive 19-win seasons and is 8-2 with a 4.07 ERA in 15 starts this year. He'll be on crutches for at least six weeks and is expected to be out until at least September. That, my friends, is an optimistic forecast. Once Wang is actually cleared to throw - again he won't be doing a thing for at least six weeks - it's Spring Training all over again. That means throwing off flat ground, then off a mound. Then the Yankees will monitor simulated games and decide when to start the clock on his rehab, which will comprise of at least two or three starts in the Minor Leagues.

If the Yankees are fighting for their playoff lives come September, Wang, historically a quick healer, could be back by then. That's a big if at this point. Unless the offense scores 1,000 runs again, Mike Mussina continues his resurrection season and Joba Chamberlain emerges as staff ace, the Yankees will be looking ahead to 2009 by football season. You just don't throw someone in place of a two-time 19-game winner. Phil Hughes? (Out until at least August) Ian Kennedy? (Hurt and destined for more time in Scranton) Jeff Karstens? (More injury prone than Hughes). Kei Igawa? (Yeah, right) The Yankees have limited options, so it's looking like Dan Giese, who's done a good job in long relief, who will start in Wang's place on Saturday. Why not?

Incidentally, Hughes' and Kennedy's combined record: 0-7 with a 7.99 ERA. Don't trade them, but they aren't helping this year.

Trade for C.C. Sabathia, you say? OK, the Indians, underachieving but 5.5 games out of the AL Central penthouse, will say, "Sure, take our best pitcher. We'll accept Karstens, Melky Cabrera and Shelley Duncan. That's cool." Here's a more realistic thought: Bronson Arroyo. 1) He's cheaper than Sabathia (his 2009 salary will be for $9.5 million. He will earn $11 million in 2010). 2) It'll be easier to pull a deadline deal with a team outside of the American League. 3) His postseason numbers may not be stellar, but he's battle-tested in the AL East and in big spots against the Yankees. And his ERA is 7.41 in October in 10 games. Sabathia's is 7.17 in four starts.

The point is this: Arroyo isn't a sexy name, but neither was Shawn Chacon in 2005.

You never count out the Yankees, not after their second-half surges the last three seasons (in 2006, they were without Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui for most of the summer). But neither Sheffield, nor Matsui, nor Babe Ruth replaces a pitcher who's 54-20 in 95 starts covering three-plus seasons just like that.