The New York Yankees’ Wang Chien-ming was far from perfect in a three-inning relief stint against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night, but he did enough, at least in his own mind, to suggest there may be hope on the horizon.
“I hope to get back into the starting rotation very soon,” Wang said after giving up two runs — including a monster blast by Raul Ibanez — on six hits in three innings of relief in the Yankees’ 7-3 loss to the Phillies.
Wang flopped in his first three starts this year, his trademark sinker not showing nearly the bite or velocity it had in years past. The Taiwanese right-hander saw his ERA balloon to an unsightly 34.50 after allowing 23 runs in six innings and he was taken out of the starting rotation following his third dismal performance on April 18.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Wang, who became a national hero with back-to-back 19-win seasons in 2006 and 2007 and was 8-2 when he suffered a season-ending injury last June, has since pitched in the minor leagues to try and rediscover his signature offering.
He had been scheduled to pitch another minor league game on Friday night, but was activated to the Yankees’ roster to supplement a depleted bullpen.
Wang did not appear nervous when he took over from starter A.J. Burnett in the seventh inning and said he really wasn’t thinking much on the mound during his three-inning stint, focusing only on how to pitch to the batter he was facing.
He managed to keep his sinker down most of the time and his velocity ranged between 146kph and 151kph, a noticeable improvement from the 141kph to 145kph he averaged in his first three starts.
Manager Joe Girardi thought Wang showed signs of progress.
“I saw a lot more velocity, a lot more sink when the balls were down,” Girardi said. “He still left some balls up, but it was a big step in the right direction.”
While pitching coach Dave Eiland also complimented Wang on aspects of his performance, he still felt the 29-year-old’s mechanics needed work, saying Wang’s arm was still dragging behind the rest of his body during his follow through.
The question now is how Wang will fit into the Yankees’ pitching staff. In the short term, the Yankee brain trust intend to keep him in the bullpen in a middle relief role, although he probably will not pitch again before Tuesday.
The starting rotation has no obvious openings. Phil Hughes, the pitcher Wang would likely replace in the starting rotation, has been adequate and is scheduled to start tomorrow.
Joba Chamberlain, who left Thursday night’s game in the first inning after a batted ball hit him in the leg, said he’ll be ready to pitch on Tuesday. But if he cannot go, Wang would be the likely replacement.
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