From the LA Daily News via SportsbyBrooks: Dodgers infielder Nomar Garciaparra said a genetic predisposition, one he didn't know he had until it was identified by a Boston physical therapist with whom he voluntarily consulted last week, is the reason his left-calf strain has been so long in healing. Garciaparra shut down a minor-league rehabilitation assignment after one game when he woke up Wednesday morning with more discomfort.

Garciaparra said the condition causes him to develop more scar tissue at the injury site than the average person, with that tissue limiting his flexibility and increasing the likelihood that he will aggravate the injury by playing on it.Garciaparra has been on the disabled list five times in his three seasons with the Dodgers with injuries to two different muscles and two different joints.

Well thank God that mystery has been solved. In spite of all the rumors of Nomar's injuries being caused by PED's or SMS (Steve McNair Syndrome), it was his really his DNA the whole time. Nomar can't help it; the Disabled List is in his blood. It's his heritage. So everyone who questioned his toughness or suggested he was dogging it that time in Yankee Stadium when he was sitting on his hands while Jeter was crashing into the stands is guilty of a hate crime. The sportwriters and 'EEI guys ought to count themselves lucky if he doesn't sue them for violating his civil rights.

EL PRES NOTE - People like Jerry Thornton can make fun of this all they want, but it explains a lot. Lesser men wouldn't even try to rehab when they are cursed with the slow rehab gene. It's a credit to how much Nomar loves the game and his work ethic that he continues to fight and battle to get back on the field where he belongs. The world just doesn't seem right when Nomar isn't on the ball field does it?