Gleyber's injury shows how quickly everything can change - and how far away October is

If they can be believed, the Yankees say Gleyber Torres suffered a minor ankle sprain Sunday. Thus, he'll miss weeks, not months... 

Frankly, they lie - especially in the early hours, when Cooperstown Cashman goes dumpster-diving for spare parts. He doesn't want to look desperate, swimming amid the Big Mac wrappers and the Huggies, so the official Death Barge line goes that Torres feels great! that DJ LeMahieu can play 2B! and that all is - no lie, bro! - totally, seriously, wondrously, awesomely excellent!  

It's bullshit, of course. I say this without rancor, but merely to remind everyone that the Yankees always spin hopeful drivel about injuries, and the YES announcers have no problem with it. Everyone joins in, and who knows? maybe Cashman will scare up a Brigadoon Refsnyder, who can straddle the bag for the next month. Because ankles are slow to heal.

Watching Gleyber writhe on the dirt yesterday, I felt an immediate rage towards Aaron Hicks - for striking out. It later reminded me of my insane anger at Nick Swisher, after he botched the line drive that wrecked the 2013 playoffs and led to Jeter's broken ankle - an injury that messed up the next two years. To this day, I blame Swisher, and if Gleyber had broken his ankle, right or wrong, I would never, ever, forgive Hicks.  

I'm still dazed from the weekend. Idle thoughts:

1. Despite the great finales, Houston looked like the superior team. With a blip or a blooper, the Yankees could have been swept at home. Houston was always leading, and no-hitters aren't easily digested. The Astros have a genuine Yankee killer, and my guess is they'll finagle their rotation so the Yankees don't see Christian Javier until October, in the post-season. Ow.  

2. Something's wrong with Nasty Nestor. Opposing batters have collectively published a book on him, and they're not lunging for curves in the dirt. I think Cortz  possesses the guile to adjust, because that's how he got this far. We always knew this time would come. Well, it's here.

3. Boston continues to rise, now the AL's third best record. Late next week, (beginning July 7) we play four in Fenway, last games before the all star break. That's the next crucible, to determine whether the AL East will have a second-half divisional race. And later that month, the Mets. A long way between here and October.

4. Aaron Judge just keeps going. Where would we be without him? What if he breaks a thumb? (Like Bryce Harper.) The drop-off would be insane - from MLB's premier slugger to - say - Estevan Florial, or another month of waiting on Gallo? Gulp. Not trying to scare folks, but at some point, somebody else - looking at you, Giancarlo - needs to go on a massive tear. 

Dusty Baker yesterday described the series as "Judge 2, Houston 2," and the scary thing is, he's sorta right. 

An in a seven-game series, bet on the team, not the player. Just sayin'...