James Paxton of the Yankees has a painful left knee and a theory about why

Paxton then explained what was wrong each time he pushed the boundaries.

"I have the impression that my foot gets stuck while I turn, which puts pressure on my M.C.L.," he said about his internal collateral ligament. "And the only place where I think it's on the mound here."

With only an early career at Yankee Stadium before being traded here, Paxton's logic is reinforced by the elimination process. "It's really the only thing I can think of," he said.

This theory made sense for another Yankee who had knee problems.

Although C. C. Sabathia has osteoarthritis in his right leg, which is his landing leg, he said, "I know exactly what he's talking about, I've already felt it. The way the mound is here, you can feel as if you are stuck in the ground. It's something you have to work around. "

Paxton is not the only Yankees pitcher to fight a strange injury. Severino still does not know how or why he was partially torn while he was already on the I.L. "No idea," he said to the question of how his condition had worsened while he was being treated for an inflamed shoulder in March. Managing director Brian Cashman has investigated the issue, but he too is baffled. There is no expected date for the return of Severino.

The Paxton calendar is less intimidating. It should miss only one beginning after receiving a cortisone injection. He just freezes his knee and rest – "to get back to square one," he said. "I hope it'll calm him down."

If the Yankees are lucky, Paxton will be back in time to face the Division Rays this weekend. This will be the most important series of the Yankees in 2019, and even more so for Paxton, it will launch on the road. But the Yankees will return home the following week, which means Paxton will seek to unravel the mystery as soon as possible.

He will get help from the replacement dirt and Rothschild's suggestions regarding smoothing the rotation of his hip. Then there is the age-old remedy of simply crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.

"I hear what he says about the mound," said J. A. Happ about Paxton. "If that means using different dirt, of course. He is a very good pitcher. We obviously need him. "