Hughes' injury is legitimate

For a time, I thought Phil Hughes' oblique strain was just an excuse to demote him without actually demoting him.

According to Kat O'Brien, however, Hughes does in fact have an oblique strain.

He said he first felt something when he woke up after his start in Chicago. But he didn't mention it to anybody because he didn't think it was that serious. He felt something during the fourth inning Tuesday night, though, and told a trainer when he exited the game that inning.

In explaining why he waited to say anything, Hughes said: "I honestly didn't think it was a factor at all in anything I did."

By today, though, he felt much worse. He was examined before the game and found to have a right oblique muscle strain. He will be shut down for a few days, until he feels nothing at all. Brian Cashman said he expects Hughes to miss more than the minimum 15 days, as he will have to get built up to start a game and also do a minor league rehab assignment.

Hopefully that can explain at least some of his terrible pitching. The minor-league rehab assignment should be helpful, as Hughes can try to get back to what made him successful without feeling the pressure of New York.

Darrell Rasner will be called up in time to start on Sunday in place of Hughes. In five starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Rasner is 4-0 with a 0.87 ERA. He has pitched 31 innings, allowing 18 hits, striking out 27 and walking six. He certainly deserves a shot with the big club.