Wang Would Have Been Perfect
By Mike Silva ~ December 7th, 2009. Filed under: Mike Silva.
I was thinking what a shame that Chien Ming Wang is going to be non tendered. This isn’t a surprise to us at NYBD, as contributor Frank Russo has been saying this since the summer, but Wang carried the load for the rotation when they had no ace from 2005- to early 2008. It was clear in the 07′ playoffs, just a few weeks after Howard Megdal’s infamous “Occasional Ace” NY Observer piece, that Wang was more Robin than Batman. Regardless, the current Yankees rotation would be perfect for him if he were healthy.
Reports are the Yankees believe Wang is not going to pitch very much in 2010. In speaking to Frank earlier some in the organization are concerned enough with his shoulder they are unsure his hard “bowling ball” sinker will ever return.
Andy Pettitte is going to command close to $15 million dollars per year. The final two slots are could be given to huge question marks in Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. The presence of a healthy Wang would have made for the perfect number three starter. It may even have made talk of acquiring Roy Halladay unnecessary. His 2007 season where he pitched 200 innings and had a 3.70 ERA is exactly what this team needs. Are you confident that Hughes, Chamberlain, or any other free agent starter can give the Yanks that type of production? Do you think Pettitte is still capable? If you go by ERA+ Andy hasn’t had a season as good as Wang since 2005. I also suspect that Randy Wolf, Joel Pineiro, Jon Garland, or Jason Marquis wouldn’t give you Wang’s numbers in the heavy hitting AL East.
If Chien Ming Wang is never the same again he will go down as the “near ace” that was good, but not good enough. What a shame that he couldn’t be healthy to finally fill the perfect role on the Yankees pitching staff – second banana to Sabathia and Burnett.
