David Robertson, Yankees All-Star, Falls Down Stairs, May Miss Opening Day

David Robertson has added to the long, long list of embarrassing injuries suffered by sports stars – the New York Yankees pitcher has sprained a foot while moving empty boxes at his home.

The injury could rule Robertson out of the Yankees’ opener at Tampa Bay on April 6. The All-Star reliever was spotted limping gingerly from the Yankees clubhouse in Tampa with his right foot encased in an oversized black boot. Yankees manager Joe Girardi was in philosophical mood about the injury on Thursday, telling press:

“There’s always something in every camp. Something freaky happens, whether it’s a foul ball, or you get hit with a ball in BP. It’s the nature of the game. It’s life. You can’t stop living because you have a job. You have responsibilities.”

His laidback reaction may have been relief: initially, it was feared the injury was far worse. Robertson had to make two trips to a hospital for X-rays, an MRI and CT scan. Girardi hopes Robertson can be training again two weeks from now; that would mean he can probably feature against Tampa.

As for Robertson himself, it’s not only his ankle that’s been hurt – his pride has taken a knocking. He admitted to Associated Press reporters:

“It’s embarrassing. I already had [team-mate Mariano Rivera] rag me out about it. I just misjudged one step and just caught it funny, and it just kind of rolled under me. I can tell you right now that’s the truth. My wife was like, ‘What are you doing down there?’ She saw me laying there on my foot.”

Robertson enjoyed an eye-catching breakout season in 2011, going 4-0 with a 1.08 ERA in 70 games. He quickly became the Yankees’ primary setup man.