What’s up with Wang?
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- August
- 19
What up, Wang? That’s the question Derek Jeter asks every day when he enters the clubhouse. Now it’s a question everybody is asking.
Chien-Ming Wang is 14-6 with a 4.10 ERA. He’s a “problem” plenty of teams would like to have. But there’s no getting around the fact that he has allowed 16 runs on 26 hits in his last 14.2 innings.
I literally helped write a book on the guy last winter and know him better than anybody else covering the team. I can tell you it’s nothing physical. He’s in the best shape of his career and his finger doesn’t get nearly as mangled when he pitches as it did a month ago.
My theory is that he’s trying too hard. He is the athletic focal point of an entire nation and all they expect is a perfect game when he pitches. He also is feeling the heat of being the ace on a team that includes Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte.
That emotion is reflected in how poorly he has pitched with men on base.
He also lost his best friend when Mike Myers was released. Myers was the guy who would prod Wang to go out and get dinner instead of having room service. They also worked out together before games.
It may not sound like much to you, but Wang is an introverted, quiet guy who doesn’t trust people easily. Imagine being in a totally foreign culture and losing the person who was helping you through it.
From a baseball standpoint, teams have done their homework on him and are taking his sinker and waiting on his other pitches, which aren’t as good. If an umpire gives Wang the low strike, he’s OK. If not, he’s got trouble.
All that said, he’s 14-6 with a 4.10 ERA and has ample opportunity to get himself right. One of Joe Torre’s strengths as a manager is getting people to trust their talent, put aside distractions and perform to their abilities. I suspect Joe and Wang will have a nice long talk sometime soon.
I personally have faith in the guy and suspect that when the regular season is over, he’s going to have 18 or 19 wins and an ERA of 3.75 or so. Getting through rough times is part of the process of maturing as a pitcher.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, August 19th, 2007 at 9:14 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
Geez!! Wanger is doing fine. Yankee fans should be thrilled you guys are only 4 games back at this point. How many of you guys were PO’ed because they looked like toast at the All-Star break?
Wang hasn’t been right lately. He hasn’t gotten anywhere near the amount of double play balls he usually gets recent. Which is somewhat surprising considering the amount of runners he’s put on.
What about his fingernail it looked terrible when i saw it a few months back, i cant imagine it got any better
What is Myers’ status? Did he get picked up? Is he in SWB? Is he ont he couch?
Maybe they can pay him to be a “consultant” and take care of the Wanger.
Peter,
“Raise if your hands if you thought in April that the Yankees would win a series against the Tigers in August with Joba Chamberlain and Edwar Ramirez pitching the final three innings and striking out five batters.”
I’m raising my hand but I’m also a liar.lol
Myers was signed by White Sox today.
The Yankees signed 33 of 50 draft picks. The first 15 picks signed. Anyone know the names of the other 18 signees? or where I can look up their names?
Thanks
I know it’s sappy, but I wish I could go up to Wang and tell him that he’s got millions of people pulling for him every day…
Also, Cairo was signed to a minor league deal by the Cardinals.
And Cairo was signed by Cardinals to a minor league contract. Wish him good luck.
It is telling that Yanks did not offer him Minor League opportunity. May be they did and he declined.
Ed FL, on Baseball America or Yankees mlb site, i have them if you need it I`ll post it
Pete, why don`t you take Wang out, should make a good story, have him join the CC boys for a little latin music.
Wang has a 95 mph fastball and he needs to throw it for strikes early in the count to get ahead of the hitters.
The strategy is to take pitches early in the count and make him throw strikes after he falls behind.
I feel for Wanger, but I know he can pull through this. It really sux that his bud is gone. This is where the rest of the team led by Jetes should be patting him on his back. Today he obviously didnt have it but there glimpses of him bearing down and gettin himself out a heap of trouble. Wang will be ok.
It maybe considered a conflict of interest or un-ethical if Pete over fraternized with Wang to much. It shame he is so shy but someone always comes along they always do
Actually, it was not just Myers. According to the Taiwanes media, It was also sort of hard for Wang when Nieves had to leave.
I totally agree with Pete that Wang’s problem is trying too hard. After his big defeat in Toronto, he wants so such much to win that he has given himself too much pressure. He told the Taiwanese media that once there are runners on the base, he tris so hard not to give up runs that he can’t fully concentrate on the hitters. Also, he mentioned his control was better last year than this year, and he can’t really explain why. One thing is for sure, though. Wang needs to loosen up, and hopefully he will soon be his old self.
“The Yankees signed 33 of 50 draft picks. The first 15 picks signed. Anyone know the names of the other 18 signees? or where I can look up their names?
Thanks”
http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread.php?t=105482
Bob Michaels & Steve,
I just came back from dinner. Thank you
Steve
http://www.baseballamerica.com/draftdb/2007xteam.php?team=NYY
Nieves will be back in a couple of weeks (I assume) so that should help him a bit.
I am not worry about Wang! He will doing just fine.
Though he is not as sharp as last season, he always wants the team win. Pete, I do agree with your point!
Wang has been shaky (by his own lofty standards) since well before Myers was released. this stretch of outright “badness” is more recent, but the shakiness really started in San Fran when he couldn’t hold them down in a what should have been a sure win. he’s mixed in some good games along the way, but he hasn’t been the same pitcher he was last year for months.
he is one of my favorite players, i hope he figures out what is wrong.
I agree. I love Wang and believe him to be a very under rated pitcher. He does need to keep the ball down though. I was not aware of his relationship with Meyers but Meyers had to go. He did go out like a gentleman though. I’m sorry for Wang’s loss. I’d hope maybe someone like Matsui would take him out and bond with him since he’s having a similair experience.
Wang is just in a little slump but the Yanks have won the last two games he’s pitched. If he gave the Yanks 6 IP and 3 R (0-3 earned) in each of his final 7 starts like he did today, I think the Yanks would go at least 5-2 in those games and could do that even if Wang pitched worse with their offense.
It’s time for Mussina to step up cuz if flops again, the rotation in Detroit should be Clemens/ Wang /Hughes/ Pettitte (the day off this Thursday allows that). It’s not saying Hughes can’t get it done vs. Boston, it’s saying Mussina should be the one to get it done vs. Boston. That way Mussina can’t bitch about being skipped over cuz he gets the first game vs. Boston at home (with Clemens and Wang to follow). If he flops vs. L.A. and can’t get it done vs. Boston, either ef him, he’s the fifth starter fighting Hughes for the Game 4 A.L.D.S. start and #4 starter slot in the postseason rotation beginning with a start vs. T.B. 9/2 and K.C. 9/8. The Yanks owe him nothing after giving him 8 years incl. next year. If he loses out to Hughes, he’ll surely want out of N.Y. after this year/ before next and I think the Yanks would accomodate him, only they’d tell him they’re not trading him to an A.L. team and at least the Mets N.L.-team wise. No more free rides.
Another thing:
It is time the Yanks motivated Mussina. Wang, Pettitte, and Clemens are absolute locks for Games 1-3 in the A.L.D.S. This means Game 4 belongs to Mussina or Hughes. If Hughes pitches so well and better than Mussina in his final 8 starts, he has to be the Game 4 starter in the A.L.D.S. in position to remain that for the A.L.C.S. and World Series. He’s not only the future along with Chamberlain, but he’s also the future for winning World Series championships. Let him start here cuz if they win it all and he’s a good part of it, his life his gravy and that could translate into a stellar career (I already won one in my rookie year, so let’s go for another 5-6). If Mussina doesn’t like it, too bad, he’s had 6 chances to get it right (2001-2006) and quite frankly, he’s been ehhhh. The Yanks can’t afford another cr ap performance by him or he might as well be Randy Johnson II.
Honestly, I’m hoping Hughes beats him out for the #4 slot so
(Mussina) demands a trade in the offseason as I’m sick of Mussina’s whining, excusemaking, etc.
2008: Wang/ Pettitte/ Hughes/ Chamberlain & Clemens for June on as a possibility. The new guy would be ahead Hughes or Chamberlain depending on who he is. Johann Santana the ace in 2009 (Wang/ Hughes/ Chamberlain/ Pettitte or new guy in 2008 ideally).
Why are we talking about who is going to start Game 4 of the ALDS?
If the season ended today, the Yanks wouldn’t even make the post-season.
The Yanks should cross that bridge when they come to it.
Oh yeah, and Moose ain’t going anywhere. He’s a 10-5 guy and has a full NTC.
Like it or not, he’s going to be a Yankee in 2008.
We are getting WAY ahead of ourselves here.
Isn’t Clemens his idol and the reason he signed with the Yanks back when he was an amateur? Clemens should give him a pep talk if it really isn’t physical.
Brilliant read Peter. Thanks for the great insight.
Mussina is not going anywhere. No chance.
Wang just needs to make the adjustments. Hes not hurt. His stuff is fine. He’ll be fine.
Myers can not accompany with Wang anymore …
Wang is along …Myers please back to Yankees
Great stuff again, Pete.
I hereby nominate Pete for the Pulitzer.
Do you have a release date for the Wang book galleys?
Guidry was saying that the Blue Jays game really shook Wang up and it effected how he pitched in the O’s game. His sinker was up in the zone too much yesterday. Hopefully he can make some mechanical tweaks and get back in the groove. This guy, even when struggling, still knows how to win.
Pete, any word on when your book will be published over here? (hopefully in English
).
It’s lucky for Yankees to see:
1. wang is shaky recently not in september or october.
2. it’s mentally not physically.
I have seen the sign of wang’s mentally of taking pressure better and better.
Granderson, Ichiro on bases ? Forget about them, Wang, get rid off the hitter first…go wang…
I think Mussina is the problem that Yankees should worry about…
I do agree with your point..about Mike Myers
I’m not worried about Wang. I thought yesterday showed that he’s good enough to win even if he’s not pitching terribly well.
I also think the “problem” with Wang is being overblown. He’s really only had two BAD outings, and yesterday certainly was not one of them. It also appears he’s been seriously unlucky in terms of BABIP (.400 over the last 5 starts).
This could ultimately prove to be a good experience in terms of Wang’s continued maturation as a pitcher. He got beat up badly in Toronto, probably had his confidence shaken, probably got down on himself because he’s trying to live up to the “ace” label, yet was able to pull out of it and bounce back with a quality start yesterday.
Wang needs to learn how to make friends with better baseball players….
Wang is actually a very shy person. Even with Taiwan media he doesn’t say much. His high school/college coaches all say that he is very smart but sometimes over-analyze the situation instead of just pitch. He just needs to trust his stuff and stop doubting himself.
It is relieving to see there are so many people that support Wang. Hopefully he can get back his confidence and concentration and enjoy the game. I mean, watching him throw spotlessly is great, but sometimes it is even more exciting to see him solve the problems that may rise during the game. And along with the wonderful defense of the team.
I have read the Pete’s book (in chinese). It’s awesome! It says so much about baseball in Taiwan and historical competitions by Chinese Taipei in international tournaments like the Olympics that even I as a taiwanese didn’t know. And I treasure much more the details about Wang in the minor leagues and up to Yankees. I am new to MLB and the book helped me a lot getting acquainted with names and concepts. Thanks, Pete!
Go Yanks! Go Wang!