The best way to understand Chien-Ming Wang’s popularity in Taiwan is to compare him to the Beatles in the mid-1960s. So this week, when Chien-Ming Wang finally returned home to his native country for a few weeks, an adoring press corps was there to greet him. The news about the Yanks’ ace right-hander’s foot was encouraging as well.
According to the Taiwanese news, Wang says his foot is completely healed, and he had been throwing three times a week as part of his rehab program. The News Agency reported earlier this week:
Taiwan-born New York Yankees starter Wang Chien-ming returned to Taiwan yesterday morning and pronounced his right foot injury that forced him to miss the last four months of the season completely healed.
Wang, who suffered the foot injury while rounding third base in an interleague game against the Houston Astros on June 15, had to delay his return to Taiwan for several weeks to rehabilitate the foot in the United States following the end of the baseball season…
Wang said the Yankees have arranged a special training program for him during his time in Taiwan to help strengthen his foot, with the program including cycling and weightlifting exercises, but no jogging. Since being diagnosed as completely healed, Wang said, he has been throwing three times a week, including one session last month where he threw fifty pitches and “felt really good” afterwards.
Wang also let slip some details about his next few months. The so-called “Pride of Taiwan” won’t be participating in the World Baseball Classic because Brian Cashman doesn’t want him to. That’s the right call. By the time the WBC rolls around, it will have been nine months since Wang last appeared in game action. There’s no need to throw him into the middle of a heated international competition.
The sinker specialist also hopes to be on the mound come Opening Day. For that, I say, much depends on CC. It is very encouraging to hear that Wang is feeling good.