It seems that, while all others were contemplating the possibility of Joe Torre, who should take the word “embattled” as his new first name, meeting the same fate of Yogi Berra and Bob Lemon, one commentator knew exactly whose head was going to roll. That’s right, you can all end your speculation: the Yankees’ babyfaced strength coach Marty Miller won’t be the media’s punching bag any longer.
From The New York Times’ Tyler Kepner:
Marty Miller, who was hired last winter to the newly created position of director of performance enhancement, was let go on Wednesday, according to a Yankees official who was granted anonymity because the move has not been announced.
Howard Rubenstein, the spokesman for principal owner George Steinbrenner, referred questions to General Manager Brian Cashman, who will address the issue at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington before the Yankees™ game with the Rangers.
Hughes, 20, was working on a no-hitter when he severely strained his left hamstring while throwing an 0-2 curveball to the Rangers™ Mark Teixeira with one out in the seventh inning of a 10-1 victory on Tuesday. Manager Joe Torre said he expected Hughes to miss four to six weeks.
Other Yankees who have landed on the disabled list with hamstring injuries this season include outfielder Hideki Matsui and starters Chien-Ming Wang and Mike Mussina.
Last month, when a rash of muscle-related injuries felled five key players in four weeks, Cashman did not blame Miller or his assistant, Dana Cavalea.
“I™m constantly evaluating everything we do,” Cashman said in a telephone interview at the time. “But do I blame Marty and Dana for this? No.”
…Miller, 34, was unpopular with some players, and several opted out of his program. Miller had not worked in baseball for 10 years before Cashman hired him last winter. His previous job was director of fitness at the Ballen Isles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.