He is one of the most important pitchers on the Yankees and, presumably, will become even more valuable in the future. He shows as much emotion as someone who is napping. He produces grounders almost as steadily as a coach tapping them to infielders.
In a bloated rotation that features Randy Johnson's scowl, Mike Mussina's smarts and Carl Pavano's injuries, Wang Chien-ming could be the most interesting pitcher. He is obviously the pitcher who has the most room to blossom, a 25-year-old who delighted the Yankees last year with his poise and precision.
Wang is a rarity in the Yankees' high-rent rotation because he is young and inexpensive and is the first solid starter they have developed since Andy Pettitte. If Wang's shoulder does not hamper him, Yankees officials say they believe he can soar near the top of their rotation. By the way, the next great Yankee pitcher still lives with his parents during the off-season in Tainan.
PHOTO: AFP
"It's easier for me to go with my family," Wang said recently. "My mom is a good cook."
So, after the baseball season, Wang returns to the home he has lived in since he was seven years old. Same room, same everything. Well, almost the same everything. Wang is married now, but explained that it is logical for him and his wife to bunk with his family because he is in Tainan for such a brief period.
Besides, Wang feels secure at home. His success with the Yankees and in international competition has helped make him a major star in Taiwan, so it is complicated for him to even go out to dinner. When fans see Wang, they flock to him.
"Everybody's like, `Wang, Wang, Wang,'" he said, widening his eyes in what is an emotional outburst for him.
The Yankees were not expecting Wang to be a major contributor last year, but he joined them last April after Jaret Wright was disabled. At the time, general manager Brian Cashman hoped Wang was ready to produce in the major leagues. Wang stayed and went 8-5 with a 4.02 earned run average, despite missing almost two months with an inflamed right shoulder.
Now, while acknowledging the need to monitor Wang's shoulder, the Yankees are anticipating much more. Gordon Blakeley, the senior vice president of player personnel who signed Wang to a US$1.9 million bonus as a free agent in 2000, said Wang is different from most young pitchers because, quite simply, he embraces the strike zone.
"If you throw strikes, you got a chance to win," Blakeley said. "He throws strikes."
Wang, who depends mostly on a fastball and a diving sinker, also throws a slider, a changeup and a split-finger fastball. Blakeley said Wang could become even more deceptive if he improves his slider so it complements the sinker.
"What is he going to be for us?" Blakeley said. "Could he be a No. 2 starter? I guess we'll see in the next six months."
Manager Joe Torre cautioned that the Yankees must be wary of expecting too much from Wang, especially after his shoulder troubles. Wang missed the 2001 season after arthroscopic surgery. Still, even Torre eventually talked about how much Wang can mean to a team that has only one other starter (Shawn Chacon) under the age of 30.
"He proved to me he can handle pressure," Torre said. "I don't know what the ceiling is for him. He can win a lot of ballgames."
After Wang threw batting practice for the first time on Feb. 22, Alex Rodriguez said Derek Jeter was muttering by the batting cage about Wang's nasty pitches. Wang said he was worried after being on the disabled list last season, but stopped worrying once doctors told him the remedy was rest and exercise.
Gene Michael, a special adviser, gushed about Wang's effortless delivery and how it helps unnerve hitters. Michael said Wang was so smooth in attacking hitters that he "controls their bat speed" better than anyone on the staff by changing his velocity.
"I've never seen a pitcher who is so calm," Michael said. "He's almost sleepy out there."
Rodriguez remembered walking from third base to the mound to offer Wang encouragement during a tense game and realizing he did not need to be there.
"There was no fear," Rodriguez said. "He was ready for the challenge."
As Wang readies for his first full season in the major leagues, he could end up becoming as vital as Johnson or Mussina. He might be the only Yankee who still lives with his parents and, no matter how much he achieves this year, those distinct living arrangements will not change.
"It's better for me," Wang said, "if my mom cooks."
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