Game 54: Progressing to the mean
ByChien-Ming Wang will make his first start since April 18th today, following three progressively better relief outings in which he knocked 18.43 runs off his ERA. Six innings of three run ball today would trim close to another three-and-a-half runs off that mark. Wang says he’s good for about 80 pitches, so six innings seems like a best case scenario today, maaaaaybe seven if the sinker’s really on. If it’s not, well then expect to see plenty of Al Aceves because Phil Hughes is unavailable until tomorrow.
I’m not going to lie, at first I was disappointed in the move to swap Wang & Hughes, but clearly it’s the right thing to do. As good as Hughes has looked of late, a healthy Chien-Ming Wang definitely gives the team a better chance to win. Of course the key is health. If Wanger isn’t right, Hughes will slot right back in to the rotation, but for now he’ll help shore up another hole. Jay Jaffe of Baseball Prospectus wrote a piece for ESPN today explaining why this was the right move for the team, and I recommend you give it a read. It’s stuck behind the Iron Curtain of Insider though.
The weather doesn’t look too pretty, but it sounds like they’ll be able to get this game in. The almighty Derek Jeter saw his 16 game hitting streak come to an end last night, so now’s as good a time as any to give him a little breather. Here’s the lineup:
Damon, LF
Swisher, RF - .346-.457-.577 in his last 9 games
Teixeira, 1B
A-Rod, 3B
Cano, 2B
Matsui, DH
Melky, CF – .280-.302-.360 in his last 14 games
Cervelli, C
Pena, SS
And on the mound, Chicken-Wing Wang. (/McCarver’d)
Oh, and AJ Burnett has been suspended six games for throwing at Nelson Cruz the other night. Burnett has filed an appeal and is eligible to pitch until the hearing is complete.
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The Mason Williams Watch
That’s bull, he didn’t even touch the guy.
nor did he get tossed from the game–it seems to be very similar to Beckett’s suspension for throwing at Abreu earlier this year. I believe he appealed and got it knocked down to five games, and they just pushed off his regular start a day. I’m guessing the same thing will happen here.
Exactly what I was thinking. There’s already a precedent set this season. You can’t go from knocking Beckett’s suspension down to upholding Burnett’s.
I think the whole suspension is bullshit BTW. It was handled on the field. It was handled by the umpires. Warnings were given out and there were no other incidents. Let it go.
And by all means let the guy who actually hit a batter – twice – get off without any consequences.
well, what are you going to do to Padilla, suspend him? the Rangers released him
Yes, he should be suspended, just like Mike Cameron was suspended when he was not on a team (FA) for a positive amphetamines test. The suspension would then be enacted when/if Padilla catches on with another team.
He’s on waivers but still with the team. I don’t think his situation with the Rangers has any bearing on what actions MLB can take. But I’m just speculating…
I’m pretty sure he got fined.
You can’t go from knocking Beckett’s suspension down to upholding Burnett’s.
Burnett threw over Cruz’s head during the progress of the normal AB.
Bobby Abreu called for time and stepped out of the box and then Beckett threw DIRECTLY AT HIS HEAD OUTSIDE OF THE BATTERS BOX AFTER TIME HAD BEEN CALLED.
What Beckett did is still far, far worse than what any other pitcher has done this year, including A.J. the other night.
You don’t throw at a guy’s head. You certainly don’t do it after time is called outside of the box.
Beckett is a huge douchebag for that.
Mmmm…chicken wings.
Oh, and the AJ suspension is BS. However, (1) he shouldn’t have come in around the guy’s head, that’s always dangerous; (2) 6 games = 1 start, which Hughes can take, so probably no BFD about it; and (3) at least they’re being consistent (Beckett this year, Joba vs Youk two years ago).
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday.....de=gameday
93 mph near a guy’s head with clear intent to throw at Cruz (not at his head, but it doesn’t matter, Burnett is responsible for where the ball ends up). I love me some AJ, but there isn’t too much to complain about here.
He didn’t even hit the guy.
But if you suspend him and hold it up then you have to be consistent. Was Beckett’s suspension upheld? Was John Lackey suspended? Hell, he was thrown out of the game, AJ was not. Let the umpires do their jobs. They handled it on the field and there was no other incident.
I would imagine that this is MLB trying to be forward thinking, eventually someone’s going to get hit in the head on a payback pitch and MLB’s going to look pretty bad if it’s referred to as “part of the culture” of baseball. Hit him in the side,back, leg, butt, etc. Don’t go near the head
I agree–and in general, people don’t aim for heads. Intent pitches are either behind someone or way up and in (as this one was–it was a good foot or more over his head. Still scary to see that coming at you though)
Not if you think baseball is too quick with fines and suspensions, I don’t either should have a fine or suspension, if they came out and did the same thing next game, then perhaps.
And then when there’s a devestating injury after a guy takes a fastball to the face/head everyone will complain about MLB being reactionary and not stopping this sooner. I have no problem with the Beckett suspension or this one. Purpose pitches have a place, but not ones that end up where the batter’s head started.
Suspending & fining won’t end up changing an accident happening.
Most of the time when people throw one that actually hurt somebody it’s not out of intent.
In this instance it was not an accident. What your trying to avoid is purpose pitches accidentally hitting someone in the head, not pitches getting away from the pitcher.
And what was the last purpose pitch that hit someone in the head?
I’m asking.. I don’t know.
I don’t know either, and I’m not saying there has been one, but MLB seems to be playing the “better safe than sorry” route. It’s just my opinion though.
Didn’t Clemens hit Piazza in the head?
Who cares? We know what the result could be so why not prevent that from ever happening? I get that Burnett is “our guy” but I’ll take 6 games here because (1) he was wrong and (2) I don’t ever want one of “our guys” on the receiving end.
Beckett was suspended for his “aggressive actions” after the pitch that led the dugouts to empty. This is actually not as consistent as it seems.
what inning was it in i didnt get to watch the game last nigt?
At least Padilla got a fine.
Not bad move getting Jeter the day off & the better defensive SS in there when Wang is pitching.
Yeah. I’m thinking there’s no way Jeter doesn’t recognize the “coincidence”.
yea i was just thinking that but then again thats a offense your taking out of the line up especially with no posada. this sounds crazy but i would rather they gave alex the day off he had hip surgery and is not 100% and is pressing at the plate and it seems hes always up with the bases loaded and doesn’t do much
I’m sure we will see both Jeter and Posada pinch-hitting later
I don’t think we’ll see them, since that hopefully means the Yankees are blowing the Rangers out.
Actually, Jeter is fielding better than Pena at short.
In 434.2 innings, Jeter’s at 3.0 UZR/150
In 44 innings, Pena is at -6.7 UZR/150
Nice Matt very nice.
Small sample size on Pena. I’d be willing to bet if given regular playing time, he’d easily beat Jeter’s 3.0
Yeah I know, but I’m going to go with scouts & reputation on this one.
I’m not sure the Beckett-Burnett suspensions are a good comp. I hate the suspension, but just because I hate guys getting suspended for baseball’s self-policing (which obviously is no longer self-policing).
The Jaffe article is OK, but his final recommendation is Hughes as a set-up guy. MAYBE Phil could do that late in the year, but he should be starting in AAA if Wang is back and effective. I dont want to deal with a B-Hugheser movement, too.
+1.
Beckett was suspended for his actions after the pitch. Burnett’s suspension should have been less.
Agreed.
Beckett’s actions were the most malicious and egregious in all of baseball in 2009 so far.
By far.
I think they will reduce the suspension to 5 games inline with what they did with Beckett after he threw at Abreu (out of the batters box) in LA, LA, land….
“As good as Hughes has looked of late, a healthy Chien-Ming Wang definitely gives the team a better chance to win. Of course the key is health. If Wanger isn’t right, Hughes will slot right back in to the rotation, but for now he’ll help shore up another hole.”
Thank you.
tear rolling down my face.
The biggest reason that Wang needed to get back in the rotation is to get him ready for October.
The plan was always to have a four man rotation of CC, AJ, Pettitte, and Wang for the playoffs. We can’t count on the kids, even though they’re both excellent pitchers, being able to start a game in October due to their innings caps.
I love how they immediate throw Pena at SS when it’s available…but if 3B is available they’ll usually give it to Angel Borroa who (before this year) played it a total of 1/3 of an inning in his career I believe…
Not that I want Borroa at SS today…just saying…
Well there has to be some reason Angel is on the bench. Plus, I think he had good numbers against the pitcher starting that day
Yeah, but commmon sense tells you that he’d start at least ONCE where he’s played his whole career. Seems like Gerardi goes to Borroa for 3B and Pena for SS sometimes. Common sense states that if somebody like Pena is a good fielder he’d have it easier adjusting than somebody who isn’t that great a fielder even at a place he’s been comfortable with.
We all remember Borroa sleeping at 3rd when Ellsbury stole home and everybody thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread…
Pena at SS and Cervelli behind the dish? Is it 2010 already?!?
I don’t think you’ll be seeing a whole lot of Pena at SS in 2010 especially the way Jeter has upped his defense this season
God, I hope not.
If we have Pena at SS and Cervelli behind the dish in 2010 we better start lowering our expectations
How long a leash does Wang get? I hope not a long one.
With an 80 pitch limit, I don’t think they can really give him a long leash, even if they wanted to.
ok Wang lets simma down now and throw strikes.
Wang says he’s good for about 80 pitches, so six innings seems like a best case scenario today, maaaaaybe seven if the sinker’s really on. If it’s not, well then expect to see plenty of Al Aceves because Phil Hughes is unavailable until tomorrow.
Which makes this all the more odd. Why keep Hughes on the MLB roster, if not for insurance against Wang?
Wang isn’t on any sort of five day schedule, there was no reason to push CC back a day so that Wang could start today. He should have taken the mound tomorrow, in place of Hughes, so that Hughes would be available in case of a clunker.
He’s still insurance, if Wang blows up Hughes makes the next start. If you send him down you have to wait 15 days.
It’s only 10 days.
He’s still insurance, if Wang blows up Hughes makes the next start. If you send him down you have to wait 15 days.
Yeah, which means then Hughes has to start 5 days from today, which obviously includes skipping when he would have regularly started tomorrow and gearing up for four days after that.
As opposed to NOT pushing back your ace starter, so that Hughes could come in after Wang and then take Wang’s next start on normal rest.
Aside from all that, I kind of like CC v. Price tomorrow. Show Price how it’s done and hurt his pride a little bit
Bad call.
Actually, Gameday disagrees.
But teh eyes!!!!
That happens all the time, then I check Brooks baseball to realize that, hey, the umpire does a decent job most of the time. Especially compared to slanted TV views.
It’s pretty sad that Wang got one out and his ERA dropped by almost half a run…
Chien-Ming “K” Wang?
Just imagine when he starts throwing the slider and change
Chien Ming Kwang.
I like it, it still sounds appropriately Asian.
Solid inning.
Nice start, Wanger. Hopefully he continues this throughout the game.
Lookin’ good.
That’s what’s I’m talking….BABY !!!
How does the sinker look on TV? All I have is Gameday, and for the most part it seems he’s keeping it down in the zone
The Wanger appears to be back
he got through the first inning last outing too
Yeah but the velocity is back as well and he didn’t have that location before
Yeah, upon further review, still absolutely zero interest in driving around in a pinstriped mustang.
Love the Yankees and love the Mustangs, but I couldn’t agree with you more.
Very promising start. Got a little worried at the 8 pitch first at-bat but 2 outs on 5 pitches helps.
When Wang gets strike outs on sliders it make me happy. Even if it is Hank Blalock
A nice inning, to be sure, but let’s not get too excited yet – after all he had a 1-2-3 first in his last start…
or… get excited and hope for the best.
Sure, be an optimist, why don’t you
With injuries & some poor hitting I’m surprised that Andruw Jones isn’t getting more at-bats.
wow
BOOM
I’d say thats a good start to the ballgame.
That’s hot.
Johnny D’s in the hizzie.
Damon loves this place
Positively Damonic, eh?
That was a meatball.
Wow this is a tough crowd.
It’s ok Wang baby.
Swish has been swinging well lately. Very good to see.
Well this has the makings of a pretty good game from the Yankee’s side
What’s the record for the most consecutive at-bats going to a 3-2 count? Swisher is going to break that record if he doesn’t already have it
The bandbox strikes again.
can of corn fail
Haha
I guess today is going to be a good day.
Yanks caught a break
Lucky break there. Make them pay.
wow
PErhaps it was on the transfer, looked like it was when he flipped the glove over. He Murphy, next time, just don’t drop the ball.
Bad baserunning.
WTF was Teix thinking?
Tex needs to stop being caught on run downs.
What the hell is wrong with our baserunning lately.
I think Teix was at a press conference during SP base running.
well that kinda sucks
Can’t blame Cano for that one. Rocket right at em’. Come on Wang.
Well that’s a way to kill a rally quick. Gotta pull the head out of the ass Tex
What the hell happened w/ Teix? I’m at work and following on Gameday.
He tagged up and tried to advance on ARod’s flyball. Got nailed at second on what, according to Sterling, was a heads-up play by Andrus.
Thanks
Cano needs to not hit 5th.
why not bat posoda in back of Arod?
Because he doesn’t hit well while sitting on the bench
lol good one.. but on the regular days too Giardis been batting cano 5th and hes just not doing well there..
why?
+20
Definitely did not think Damon hit a home run.
Garcia’s line for the day ” 7 4 0 0 2 6
ERA in AA .41
Man, I miss that ARod that was watching all of the pitches out of the strike zone and taking his walks. Where did that guy go?
It’s his biggest ego flaw–he wants to be the hero, and forces it.
So why wasn’t he forcing it two weeks ago? His ego was on vacation?
On Wang: I was very happy with what I saw, loved the two strikeouts (even if one of them was ump-aided). If CMW could turn into a K pitcher, I’d be elated. It won’t happen, but I can dream.
Chien-Ming Lowe?
Did wanger strike a guy out with a
tridentchangeup?Chien Ming, where did you get a grenade?
Wang breezin’….make me a liar, Wang, make me a liar.
Bandbox rules…Damon with 11 homers. Come on.
You know how we’ll know, for sure? If Ortiz homers to right, then we can be sure it’s a bandbox/wind tunnel.
You know how we’ll know, for sure? If Ortiz
homers to righthits a ball out of the infield, then we can be sure it’s a bandbox/wind tunnel.FTFY
Hughes looks sad in the bullpen.
3k ??
2 perfect innings for Wang!!!
u serious? C’mon man!
Wanger, lookin’ good.
SUcked seeing Wang in the pen and it sucks seeing Hughes in the pen. Hopefully Philly will get out of there soon.
I sure hope not, that means one of our starting pitchers who are better than Phil is hurt
nah I’m planning on him goin to AAA if Wang sticks.
I think Pettite’s going on the DL shortly
I agree Pettitte looks hurt.
I’m just watching on Gameday, but for right now I’m liking these GB a little more than the K’s in the first
That’s 2 BABY !!!!
HEEEEEEEE
The Rangers are doing their best to make sure Wange pitches into the 7th.
I am loving the K’s.
I’m loving the 23 pitches in 2 IP even more. Good ol’ efficient CMW. Please be here to stay.
2 innings, 3 Ks. Are we sure this is not Hughes in elaborate makeup and Wang’s jersey?
shhhhh, don’t ruin the plan.
I like this Wang much better!
Time for a nice bottom of the order rally. Frankie, Ramiro, Melky, time to step up.
not so much..
Yup. Time to setp up…then sit down, I guess.
Wang looks confident again. I really, truly can’t tell you guys how happy that makes me.
If AJ misses a start I’ll be pissed.
Wouldn’t it be something if this whole injury+suckitude saga turned Wang into a BETTER pitcher than he was before the injury?
Lets just worry about him being a quality pitcher first
That melky at bat was just sad.
Joe Torre should be in the HOF as a catcher.
Question for any unemployed bums watching on TV:
Is Wang using the sinker much? Gameday registered him only throwing two sinkers in the second inning – both for balls. It has both groundouts and the strikeout all coming on 4 seam fastballs.
The Blalock strikeout was definitely not a fastball.
It’s funny that someone watching/listening at work and being paid for it calls those watching at home “bums.”
I keed I keed
Perhaps I am a fellow unemployed bum than can’t afford a TV?
I’d bet money you’re not.
You know, for all the hype that was the 2009 Tampa rotation, the guys in Trenton have been awesome. Kontos (now in AAA), Garcia, WDLR, McAllister and Nova have pitched amazing
Cervelli has a .313 OPS over the last two weeks.
Reality strikes.
Ouch.
Yo, TSJC, remember when I said I thought Frankie could do a .308 OBP? I was probably wrong about that.
It’s okay. You were being hopefully optimistic, I can’t fault you too much for that.
Chris Davis is up. My wife keeps saying he has “gorgeous eyes.”
Tell her to look at his chin. That ugliness out does whatever the hell his eyes may do.
Sounds like your wife needs to have *her* eyes checked…Then again, different strokes for different folks.
OICWUDT.
i stopped watching dodger games because my wife kept talking about andre ethier
Way too good of a pitch to give Chris “strikeout” Davis with a 0-2 count
why not throw a slider or change on 0-2 instead of another sinker?
ironhorse says teagarden is a pansie name
wow theyre worried about scoring 1 run on wang enough to sacrifice?? weird…
in teh 3rd inning no less
Yeah word. And Tegarden’s been swinging well latey. Since May 1st, he’s OPSing .895.
Beautiful, now let’s get out of this Wang
thats what the sperm said!
oh zing!
best one yet.
Agreed
Well at least Wang is missing low now instead of high
Fuck
Ouch.
Blergh. Lame-o!
awesome-o 3000 does nto compute
That was an ugly pitch
WTF was that.
cervelli should’ve had that!
Damn sac bunt bullshit…
http://riveraveblues.com/2009/.....ent-415148
Way to go, Wang
Dammit, dammit, dammit.
Geez
wang is doing better than dontrelle today
That’s not saying too much
This comment can now be interpreted in so many different ways.
Good Mo, Chris Davis is ugly.
Yeah, I wish there was a way to opt out of some of the pictures on Gameday.
crap
beautiful inning.
fuck limit the damage wang. dont let it get out of hand.
Ugh, one thing I hate about damon. He cannot fucking throw! A guy like Melky would’ve had Kinsler easy.
Good swing by Hank.
Two runs in one inning is not good.
Bright side: It’s not 8 runs. He’s still not getting tattooed like he was in April. Nothing hit hard.
Thanks Wang!
wang no likey the stretch
He actually made a bunch of good pitches out of the stretch.
O O <—–wheels
off…
not even close man..
sorry. let it get away from me there for a minute.
This is a weird inning. should have been over.
4 Ks. I like it.
Gotta say though Wang’s stuff does look really good today.
CHIEN MING KWANG!!!!
That was rough, Wang threw about 15 more pitches than he should have had to
there you go….that should build some confidence…limiting the damage…lets go O!
a little rough nice to see him workout of trouble
+1
we’re winning this game
no giving up first place!
This team seems a little hung over from Tuesday night. They looked like it last night and so far today, seem to be sluggish.
Now they can prove me wrong and put up a 5 spot.
Oh fuck you, Nelson.
I think that jump was unnecessary. He didn’t seem to know where the fence was.
If he didn’t jump the fan would’ve caught it.
I think that jump was unnecessary.
Nelson Cruz = Derek Jeter
OOOOOOOOOOOOH, SNAP!!!!!
Ha Cruz straight stole it from that fan.
This stadium is nuts that was off the end of the bat.
Ramiro’s luck has ran out, he seems to pop out to 3rd everytime.
Was Damon close there?
Cruz jumped and made the play.
fucker
Reason #4,080 why the A.J. Burnett head throw is nowhere near as bad as the Josh Beckett head throw:
Look at Nelson Cruz’s reaction. Was he mad? Pissed? Steamed? Perturbed? No.
He just sat there on his butt with a smirk like “Okay, touché, I kinda saw that one coming. That’s baseball. I’ll see you on first base.”
Bobby Abreu was ready to beat the shit out of Josh Beckett. Because he knew that shit was egregious and way out of line.
“Okay, touché, I kinda saw that one coming. That’s baseball. I’ll see you on first base.”
But you know he was sobbing in the dugout after A.J. struck his ass out.
MLB actually announced that the Beckett suspension was for his aggressive actions after the pitch. There were no such actions here, so why are they punished the same.
Plus, Aj’s was part of the AB. Bobby’s was during called time.
Beckett didn’t miss a start did he?
MLB doesn’t seem to have the balls to set a hard, fast rule about purpose pitches, so each time it happens there left treating it as an isolated incident.
explain to me why you would give Jeter the day off today, when you already have a weaker lineup cause Cervelli is playing instead of posoda? why not just give Jeter the day off tomorrow? that way you won’t have more than one scrub in the line up at a time? oh wait i forgot Girardi is in charge..
Good, god, the whole “WHY WOULD YOU PLAY THIS BENCH PLAYER TODAY?!?!?!?!?” concept is so tiring.
Players need rest. Joe gives them rest. In a 162 game season, those various days of rest are going to be on the same day quite frequently.
This is a non-issue. It happens. It’s going to keep happening. Joe Torre did the same thing. All managers do that. GET OVER IT.
uh oh. you made the geigh guy angry.
Seriously. Not to mention that they’ve got the Rays, Boston, and the Mets coming up without a day off and there’s no way in hell Jeter will sit out one of those.
no its not a non issue, common sense says you wants the strongest linup there possible if your resting one starter then wait a day to rest the next guy, its not like hes hurt or something..oh and by the way Cal ripkin and lou gherig beg to differ on the “players need rest” idea…
Haha, he pulls out the two exceptions in a century of baseball to prove the point that players don’t need rest
The argument could definitely be made that both the O’s and the Yanks may’ve been better off if both of them took a day off every so often.
oh and by the way Cal ripkin and lou gherig beg to differ on the “players need rest” idea…
Cal Ripken sucked balls for the second half of his career. He was playing on fumes. That streak probably cost him a good 2-3 years of production off the end of his baseballlife.
And Lou Gehrig died young. (Yeah, I went there.)
Albert Belle’s two arthritic hips would like to have a word with you as well.
Cap’n needed rest. He just snapped his 16 game hitting streak and hasn’t had an off day, while a game was being played, since May 17th. Give it a rest.
Games arent played on a computer. Real people especially 35 yr old SS need a day off now and again.
like i said cap’n could have rested tomorrow when Posoda was back in the lineup
http://riveraveblues.com/2009/.....ent-415243
P-O-S-A-D-A
What ads come off as more smug: Mac vs. PC or the Optimum ads? IMO, it’s Mac v. PC, but those Optimum ads are inching closer.
at this point do you want Pena, Ransom, or…Betemit?
Mike Schmidt.
Give him some steroids and greenies and get his ass back up here.
Billy Martin and Buck Showalter, no?
Yup.
Easy Trivia question today.
What was it?
Eh, good sinker there.
Davis, Blalock, and Murphy have all adjusted nicely to the sinker.
The lefties keep flipping the ball to right
and Wang not looking so hot
Anddd… here we go… Come on Wang
Oh boy.
Time for Ace to start stretching?
Nevermind, time for Ace to get up, forget the stretching.
That was fucking foul
That ball looked foul
Fudge
And the wheels are off.
I guess, but the first two hits were on good sinkers. Marlon’s hit bounced 3 feet in front of him. The pitch to Davis was a mistake.
er…uh oh
Shit Damnit Wang be better.
And back to the old Wang… Man, this is rough to watch. I feel bad for the guy.
He’s still made it twice as far and allowed half as many runs as before.
8 runs in 2 innings vs. 4 runs in 4 innings.
WE CAN BUILD ON THIS!!!!!
I have to keep reminding myself of that. This is a step in the right direction. Even minus Hamilton, the Rangers are a good hitting team. This is progress.
Haha, indeed they can.
OK Ill be the first to say it, 1st place was fun while it lasted. LOL
The Yanks still come to bat six more times. It’s far from over.
And Wang’s only given up 4 runs.
Andy gave up 4 runs and we were in last night’s game all the way till the end.
Cmon guys I said LOL at the end!!!!
Stop the positive talk. People prefer to wallow in their misery.
Fuck.
Well shit, this game is going down an ugly path.
I know they don’t have a day off for a while, but I hate when they look half speed.
2 more runs that this one could be over with the lack of offense in the Yankees line up.
Sooooo…for those watching on TV: is Wang straight-up sucking, or is he having some bad luck?
A little of both.
bit of both
This really escalated quickly
Yeah…it did get out of hand fast.
And I killed a man with a trident.
I’m ‘watching’ gamecast only….is he getting tagged?
This looks bad.
I can see trying to right this guy but do it in Scranton. Punting another game on the real level is getting tiresome.
Didnt Hughes just pitch a gem against these guys?
Oh my Mo…
They can’t put him in Scranton now unless the DL him again.
as usual your comments lack any analysis or worthwhile suggestions. why dont you suggest how you have him start at aaa? since you cant send him down and he is not injured.
I’m not going to lie, at first I was disappointed in the move to swap Wang & Hughes, but clearly it’s the right thing to do. As good as Hughes has looked of late, a healthy Chien-Ming Wang definitely gives the team a better chance to win. Of course the key is health. If Wanger isn’t right, Hughes will slot right back in to the rotation, but for now he’ll help shore up another hole.
What’s that old saying? If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Phil was progressing and Wang was doing well out of the ‘pen. There was no need for this switch IMO.
Well, I am loving the strikeouts, but it seems that Wang just fell too in love with the sinkers to lefties.
That’s not Wang though. He’s not a strikeout pitcher when he is going good.
Really? You’re complaining about him getting strikeouts? When Wang is really on, he gets strikeouts. Just look at the game against Boston I think it was last year where he got a bunch of em
Except for the fact that he’s improved his K/rate every year in the league. But hey, why take facts into account.
RIP:CMW and 1st palce goes with it. Why go with him when you could have had Phil Hughes who simply dominates Texas go?
it’s the 4th fucking inning brio chill out.
Thank you.
Teh 19 wins!!1! Twice!
RIP CMW? Really? I actually thought he has not looked too bad- two real mistake pitches. Not pitching great, but not awful either.
holy shit dude..
OAKTAG
Bats need to pick this up
nice recovery. like how he’s limiting the damage today
4 runs in 4 innings is limiting the damage now? I guess after his starts earlier this is considered a success. Maybe we should give him a trophy for competing
baby steps
Here’s what we shouldn’t do: Give you a trophy for commenting.
OAKTAG
I soooooo second that.
Typical mis-management by the Yankees. They failed to detect anything wrong with Wang in the Spring, failed to stretch him out in rehab, and now throw an 80 pitch-limit pitcher into the rubber game of a home series against a pretty good offensive team. Genius! And, to top it all off, sit BOTH Jeter and Posada. Lovely.
I can’t take it, this is turning into LoHud. Where will the intelligent fans go if the same virus is allowed to spread here?
I know. It really sucks that the entire season hinges on whether the Yankees win this game. It’s really too bad they’re only playing 4 innings today, and when they lose then the season’s over.
Haven’t you heard? The season has been over since the fist game of the season when the Yanks lost. Everything since then is just exhibition.
Ok that was ugly and still no where near the nightmare of his early starts.
True, but only Berrora could suxor THAT bad.
The guys has won enough and is pitching well enough to give him some room.
This is first start in a more then a month.
Seriously people, Wang is not having a great game but it’s not like he’s going out and giving up 8 runs in an inning out there. He’s got the strikeout pitch working and has gotten killed on some softly hit balls. If he ends up going six while allowing only 4 runs, you have to take that as a positive.
Not as much of a positive as Phil going 6+ while only giving up 1 or 2 with 6/7 K’s.
Yeah because that’s happened all of two times. Hughes just allowed four runs in five innings his last time out yet when Wang does it, it’s taken as a sign as he can’t pitch in the rotation
good piece of hitting single, foul-ball double, legit double….two more runs. some bad luck and some bad pitching
Hes getting boo’d before the play is over….christ
Alex, welcome to slumpsville.
WOW Arod’s ab’s have been pretty bad lately.
does it look like Alex is pressing
Actually, except for the top of this inning, 2 of the 4 runs for Texas were bullshit. Wang didn’t get hit until the 4th inning.
And the jackasses are there booing again. There are some really tools for Yankee fans.
yeah, even sterling and waldman were like these people are fools…
Alex, please stop swinging so early in the count. Please.
seems like Cano hasn’t hit a lick lately.
Nor melky
C’mon Robbie.
The offense just doesn’t have shit the last two days.
looks like another 0 out double could be wasted.
Not watching the game, but isn’t it possible Wang is just tiring? When was the last time he threw this many pitches? 2-3 weeks ago?
Eh, he had a bunch of good sinkers and still had his velocity. He wasn’t really up in the zone.
Okay, the whole Paul O’Neill press pass thing isn’t funny anymore. Please move on from it.
these boys need to sit dead red fastball all day.
Well it’s a good thing Wang’s back…I was worried for a minute…
It’s so funny how the oaktaggers only come when we are down early.
what does Arod have to do to get a break around here? he comes back early from an injury jumps starts the team, gets a walkoff and as soon as he starts slumping they start booing him!!
thats crazy he gets no love..
So ESPN is the new jinx.
ESPN raved about Toronto and their hot start, then losing streak and out of first place.
For the past two weeks they have raved about Detroit, who is getting beat again by Boston.
Now, we can only hope they will ignore the Yankees and talk about how wonderful Boston is – wait they do that already – so first place will be ours by 2 games by next Monday.
Oh patient Melky… Where have you gone, my good friend?