Yankees put Chien-Ming Wang on DL because of hip problem

BY Mark Feinsand
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Saturday, April 25th 2009, 4:00 AM

BOSTON - Chien-Ming Wang won't be back on a mound for the Yankees for at least the next few weeks, as the Bombers believe they have located the root of the righthander's problems.

Wang was placed on the disabled list following Friday night's 5-4, 11th-inning loss to the Red Sox, with a condition general manager Brian Cashman called "weak abductor muscles in his hips," a problem diagnosed by Dr. Mark Lindsay, the rehab specialist currently working with Alex Rodriguez in Tampa.

Wang was examined by Lindsay on Thursday, as the Yankees searched for answers after the former ace opened the season 0-3 with a 34.50 ERA.

"That's what's preventing the power. It all has to do with the Lisfranc issue," Cashman said, referring to the ligament tear in Wang's right foot that cost him the final 3-1/2 months of the 2008 season. Wang will work with Lindsay to rehab the hips for the next 10-14 days, though he will continue a throwing program during that time. Cashman had no timetable for Wang's return.

Dave Robertson will join the Yankees today to take Wang's spot on the roster. Wang's next turn in the rotation would have come Tuesday in Detroit. Phil Hughes is the obvious candidate to replace him, as he would be on normal rest after improving to 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA in three starts for Triple-A Scranton on Thursday.