Chien-Ming Wang showdown looms
BY ANTHONY McCARRON
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Wednesday, February 13th 2008, 4:00 AM
TAMPA - Chien-Ming Wang said it took "one month" to forget his disastrous
two starts against the Indians in the playoffs last October. He may have
to relive the experience Thursday when he and the Yankees are due to clash
in an arbitration hearing.
Barring an unlikely late settlement, Wang will be in the room at the
Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club in St. Petersburg when his agent,
Alan Nero, makes the case that Wang is worth $4.6 million while the Yanks
try to convince a panel he should be paid $4 million.
The Yanks likely will dredge up Wang's 0-2 record and 19.06 ERA against
Cleveland as evidence against him. He logged only 5-2/3 innings in the
two starts and allowed 14 hits and four walks.
Wang, who showed up at the Yanks' minor-league complex yesterday and
played catch with new pitching coach Dave Eiland, blamed a tired arm
for his dismal performance. "It was dropping down, so the ball (didn't) sink,"
Wang said.
Wang seemed resigned to a hearing, though when someone asked about the
possibility of the sides reaching a deal first, he said, "Hopefully."
Asked if he was upset at the possibility of a hearing, Wang replied, "No."
Wang admitted he would have liked a long-term deal - Robinson Cano, who
made his major league debut in 2005, the same year as Wang, got a four-year
contract worth at least $30 million - but the pitcher said the Yanks weren't
interested.
"The Yankees told me it's not the time, because pitchers have to stay
healthy," Wang said.
Arbitration is a potentially divisive process that forces a club,
essentially, to say bad things about its own player - with the player
present at the hearing - to win a case. Relations between player and
club can be irreparably damaged.
The Yankees believe Dontrelle Willis' 2006 contract - Willis got $4.35
million in a settlement after going 22-10, a record for a first-time
arbitration-eligible starting pitcher - helps their case and seems a
primary reason they haven't offered to split the difference with Wang.
Wang was 19-7 with a 3.70 ERA last season, earning $489,500. He is 38-13
over the last two seasons and has led the majors in victories and winning
percentage (.745) over that span. His 38 wins are the most by a Yankee
pitcher over two seasons since Andy Pettitte won 39 in 1996-97.
The Yankees have not gone to an arbitration hearing since 2000, when
they beat Mariano Rivera and saved $2 million, paying him $7.25 million
instead of $9.25 million.
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