Wang gets some work in
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Apr 16, 2009 
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Staring pitchers throw at least once between starts, sometimes twice. But those session are in the bullpen early in the day with only a catcher and the pitching coach there.
So it was a little strange on Wednesday when Chien-Ming Wang took the mound at Tropicana Field and threw 21 pitches to Cody Ransom and Melky Cabrera.
Dave Eiland stood behind Wang. Joe Girardi was behind the cage, getting a close look at Wang’s pitches with bullpen coach Mike Harkey. David Cone, who knows quite a lot about pitching, was there as well. The Yankees had catcher Kyle Higashioka come over from Tampa to catch the session. He was a seventh-round draft pick last June.
Credit Eiland with a good idea. After two dreadful outings, Wang needed to take his adjustments out of the bullpen and onto the field. Granted, this wasn’t a game but it was a good simulation. We’ll find out Saturday whether it helped. But Wang thinks it will.
“I felt better. My pitches were down,” he said.
Wang’s left leg appears to be the issue as it’s getting ahead of the rest of his body and leaving his arm trailing behind. It’s a fairly easy thing to fix but Wang has not taken those adjustments out into the game.
I asked Wang later on about his confidence and he assured me it was back. The session on the field helped, he said. “It was good to be out there and throw the ball,” he said. “I feel better.”
Mark Feinsand has some more insight on Wang over on Blogging The Bombers.
go to bed Pete
Pete,
I just wanted to say that I know everyone else speaks to your awesomeness– but thank you for being so incredibly thorough in your reporting. While I have a very busy professional life and social life (I’d like to think) as well, I always squeeze in extra time to check out your blog many times throughout the day. At this point, not sure what I’d do without. Many, many thanks for a great job and for such up-to-date reporting on my beloved Bombers!
All the best,
Chris
Pete, you’re still up? Good man – thanks for the report!
I hope Wang gets straightened out- his talent didn’t just disappear and I don’t believe major league hitters just figured him out. We need him to be good – a good, healthy, mechanically sound Wang just makes our rotation beastly. I’m glad to see he’s getting encouragement from AJ, be it in English or Chinese, lol. I listened to the pre-game show clip on YES – I love how AJ pulled Wang aside to buck him up.
I hope, for Wang’s sake, it works and he pitches better on Sat. He’s too good to struggle like this.
The crowd on Saturday might get ugly if he turns in another performance like the first 2.
I really like hearing how Eiland brought other eyes in to watch today. I think that’s awesome.
Hey Pete,
just want to second Chris’s comments from above! You do an amazing job getting all of us our yankee fix everyday! Can’t wait to go to the stadium for the first time tommorrow! Go Yanks!
It would be great to watch Wang pitching this coming Sunday the way we know he can pitch. CMW is a great pitcher. I’m sure he’ll bounce back.
The good thing is that the other four starters have been pitching very well (CC had a real good second outing), so, if the Wanger can return to his form, this team will be hard to beat.
I miss Wang. The real Wang. I hope he comes home soon.
I’m laughing to myself. Mental image of AJ & Wang as Owen Wilson & Jackie Chan.
Pitcher or position player getting the call tomorrow? Russo has a mysterious ailment/injury. Is it just a coincidence that he was pulled in the same inning as Jackson? Hmmm.
I’m kind of thinking pitcher to back up Wang. If Nady goes on the DL, that opens up a spot for Tomko. Who pitched another scoreless 2 innings today.
GB7,
Who ya thinking?
Tomko isn’t on the 40 man roster. I doubt he will get the call.
The bullpen is back on normal rest, thanks to AJ and Andy.
Could be Miranda since he is on the 40.
If rumors are true, and the giants assume half of aaron Rowand’s salary, does Cashman bite and who do the ship out besides Cabrera?
Courtesy of MLB-Rumors-R-Us.
The San Francisco Giants are looking to unload the $44 million they still owe Aaron Rowand through 2012. The one problem? The Giants would have to be willing to pick up a big chunk of the deal to even get [White Sox GM Ken] Williams on the phone.
I’d venture to say the Giants would have to assume at least half of Rowand’s contract to make it viable to the White Sox. The Sox were reportedly in on Rowand when he was a free agent in December of ’07. Cowley also does a little speculating, suggesting the Sox should instead bring Washington’s Willie Harris back to Chicago once he’s healthy. What do you think the Sox should do about center field?
Any chance it could be Aceves?
I would think the last spot should go to someone already on the 40-man roster.
I hope it’s Dave Robertson if they recall another pitcher.
Pitcher or position player getting the call tomorrow? Russo has a mysterious ailment/injury. Is it just a coincidence that he was pulled in the same inning as Jackson? Hmmm.
I’m kind of thinking pitcher to back up Wang. If Nady goes on the DL, that opens up a spot for Tomko. Who pitched another scoreless 2 innings today.
GB7,
Who ya thinking?
————————————————————
Pulled hamstring?
I’m confused, SJ. I thought the 60-day DL opens up a spot on the roster?
But, yes, AJ & Andy (4-0) took one for the team (twice!).
Miranda’s been working against lefties in batting practice. Seems to be paying off.
Not what body part. Who do you think gets the call? I don’t know anyone named Hammy.
could Russo play all 7 positions excluding the catcher position?
m
April 16th, 2009 at 1:06 am
Not what body part. Who do you think gets the call? I don’t know anyone named Hammy.
————————————————————
Welllll, excussssseeeee meeeee. I was thinking about Marilyn Monroe’s legs while watching “Some Like It Hot”.
mel,
does Josh Hamiltion count? he could pass for Hammy.
I’d say that if Russo is healthy, he’d be the one, unless they want to take a gamble on Colin Curtis from AA.
Ed,
I don’t know what’s less likely. A call from Marilyn Monroe or a call back from the Texas GM.
mel,
GB, so you could say he’s a super utility player where he could play every position except catching?
It’s not a bad thing to keep an open slot on the 40-man roster just in case they really need to add someone later….like a Mark Melancon for instance.
Well, if the MLB rumor about SF wanting to dump Rowand is true, it might be worth checking it out.
Mia Hamm?
Jack (Will & Grace)? Now there’s someone who’ll run through a wall for the team.
He’s gritty & gutty.
I’m as concerned about Wang’s velo as his ability to induce GBs. I will need to see several effective starts with high GB rates and the gun showing 94 mph to think Wang is back.
who would you trade for Rowand? Veras? B or C prospect?
The Hamm brothers? They’re a little short, but they have fast-twitch muscles.
Ed – Swisher is awesome!!
April 16th, 2009 at 1:13 am
mel,
GB, so you could say he’s a super utility player where he could play every position except catching?
————————————————————
NYY really needs to have some of these kids that are position floaters get in some catching in batting practice and the bullpens. It would really help the team and could increase their value if they show some aptitude for it. having a guy that could catch in an emergency for an inning or two could be of big help.
Career before this season, in almost 100 starts Wang is 54-20 with a 3.86 ERA. If he were to keep up that winning percentage until he reaches the 1000 inning and/or 100 career decision plateau (he will obviously need a rebound this season) he would rank first on the all time list. In other words, this guy is proven. All he has done since he put on the pinstripes is take the mound and win consistently. Two awful starts in a row you certainly don’t expect from him but he’s shown way too much to cause a big panic. I expect a stellar start his next time out…
Rowand’s contract:
09:$8M, 10:$12M, 11:$12M, 12:$12M
Rowand’s OPS+:
Since 2004, he has had one season above 100.
Just say no.
Aaron Rowland is crap
I would rather Cashman pick up somebody like Eric Byrnes at the D’Backs…to Spell Damon and Matsui. He is a good bat,Good in the field and is a gamer
Ed – Swisher is awesome!!
April 16th, 2009 at 1:17 am
who would you trade for Rowand? Veras? B or C prospect?
————————————————————
SF hasn’t much need for pitching, but, Cabrera would need to be part of it. Minor league infielder, a relief pitcher, Miranda. Depends on how much salary of Rowand’s they’ll eat. 4 years at 11 mil per.
GB,
I agree that Cashman needs to draft our very own Buster Posey, who could seriously play every single position.
MLB early predictions revised to have NYY win east, Nick as most improved, and AJ as CY Young.
Is this new loving?
http://www.fannation.com/blogs.....edicitions
Why are we even talking old outfielders? We’re filling Melky’s spot, not Nady’s spot. Swisher stole that long ago.
I didn’t say I wanted Rowand. I’d prefer Skip Schumaker from St. Louis.
KO,
Agree…I too expect a good start from him when he pitches again…You don’t win 19 games two years in a row–and he was well on his way to another good season last year, before the injury–and then simply come to a halt…
I think it’s a confidence issue perhaps…once he has a good start it’ll turn around for him…
Next start he’ll get that power sinker down consistently and from then on, he’ll be back!
You watch…
Let’s Go Yanks!
Skip is starting to become a decent 2B. but that’s just me thinking.
Ed – Swisher is awesome!!
April 16th, 2009 at 1:27 am
Skip is starting to become a decent 2B. but that’s just me thinking.
————————————————————
Still below average, but could fill in. He’s a better than average center fielder, better arm than gardner, not as good as Cabrera. He can hit for a good average, hit leadoff or second, bunt….steal a few bases and hit a homer once in a while.
I could see Cashman trying to dump Igawa’s salary on the Giants in a potential deal for Rowland, but it blocks Jackson and I think the organization is going to want to go younger and more athletic.
Still, if you get the Giants to eat salary and we only have to pay Rowland 1/2 of his present worth, he becomes easier to trade down the road at the reduced cost since the Giants are off setting his salary.
I’m not even sure how good Rowland is right now. Is he still as good in CF as he was? Has he lost a step?
Skip ain’t going anywhere – Ankiel and Ludwick are gone after 2009, clearing the Cardinals’ logjam. Those are the two they’re most likely to trade.
I would have to think Kennedy (he’s better than <insert Cardinals’ 5th starter) would be more than enough for Ankiel, but I wouldn’t do that trade as the Yankees.
Piniero’s their 5th starter when Carpenter’s healthy, and their AAA arms are Ohlendorf/Karstens level guys.
Wow, my post got eaten alive. I would think Kennedy’s more than enough for Ankiel, but I wouldn’t do that as the Yankees. He’s worth more.
IPK is killing minor leaguers. I think the NL is just the place for him.
I think Cashman should had gave Scotty P a minor league deal after being dump by the Rockies before he reunited with the White Sox.
No Rowand.
Thanks for the update..
I think Wang will be fine though.
“IPK is killing minor leaguers. I think the NL is just the place for him.”
who to get, who to get? hmm…
“IPK is killing minor leaguers. I think the NL is just the place for him.”
I agree!! The problem is finding someone else who agrees too!
Who does cashman favour as trading partners ?
D’Backs, Reds, Padres maybe…then look who could be had
This team cant afford to have Melky and Gardner in the same lineup when Damon etc need a rest
Interesting tidbit regarding today’s victory.
This was just the third home series lost by the Rays in the last 23 series at the Trop since last April.
I’m assuming very few people on this board thought that was possible given the disaster on Monday.
Pete is now an official source for ESPN.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/swe.....sure-.html
“Nady left Tuesday’s game with a sharp pain in his elbow. Obviously, sharp pains in the elbow that lead to surgery and long stretches on the Pavano.*
* In YankeeLand, “Pavano” = Disabled List.”
Priceless.
Interesting piece on watching the broadcast through the now infamous net at the Stadium.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04.....38;emc=rss
There’s no doubt the fans will eventually win this battle. There will be a lot of complaints about it, especially by those watching in HD.
They will at least adopt the more conspicuous netting already seen at Citi Field or Kaufman Stadium, but it will be changed. You can bet your arse on that.
The fastest way to get them to change it is lots and lots of complaints and more media coverage focusing on this blunder.
“This was just the third home series lost by the Rays in the last 23 series at the Trop since last April.”
If that’s true, the Yankees have all of them then because they won a series in Tampa at the beginning and end of last season.
I just realized we are the only team not to have played a home game yet
So will we see the good Lee or the bad Lee tomorrow?
i hope wang pulls it together. he seems like a good guy, and he’s clearly well-liked by my two favorite beat writers.
aside from his mechanical flaw, he looked pretty shaken out there his first two outings. that look of confidence you saw on the faces of burnett and garza was nowhere to be seen with wang. i don’t expect him to be the glowering second coming of randy johnson, but looking less like a frightened child would be a good step, so hopefully he gets there.
Good Lee. He’s already had 2 bad starts.
From Kepner’s blog, the Souza march to be played tomorrow has significance because John Phillip Souza performed before the the opening of the original stadium.
Also, the pitching rubber & home plate that was used in the last game in the old stadium will be used in the game, then taken out and put in the stadium museum.
Wang’s performance kind of ruined our moods for a couple of days (and now it turns into waiting anxiety). But knowing that you guys are there to help and support him give us even more comfort. When you do come to Taiwan, Pete, we will treat you REAL GOOD and I’ll be the first one in the line to hug you.
Ima say bad lee.
Ohhh. I forgot about how the Taiwan stock market goes as Wang goes.
Must’ve been ugly after his last two starts.
Hopefully, it’ll be a bull market for his next start.
Lee is technically due for a good start but I’m hoping for total implosion Lee.
Hope this special session can help Wang a lot .
Wang will face his big carrer difficulty.
We all Taiwanese expect him very much and we believe he can return to King Wang
didn’t king wang star in several of the movies matsui treasures?
Wang will be ok, he was just a little stiff the other day.
I find it interesting that everyone here has been railing about how Wang’s arm slot is different and most likely the problem. Based on the analysis I’ve seen the slot is certainly different, but no one with the Yankees seems to mention that, and rather think that his foot work is the problem. Any chance it’s a combination of both, or are we, or the team really not seeing something?
Pete, has anyone on the Yankees staff even mentioned arm slot as a possible issue?