推 royalray:JOBA要學伸卡?? 03/12 18:03
Wang rebounds after rough outing
By Peter Abraham
The Journal News ‧ March 12, 2008
TAMPA, Fla. -
It was only a spring-training game but Chien-Ming Wang was embarrassed at
what happened last Thursday at Ed Smith Field in Sarasota.
A 19-game winner for two consecutive seasons, Wang couldn't get out of the
first inning against the Cincinnati Reds. He allowed six runs on six hits
and two walks before being taken out of the game.
Wang said his last first-inning exit came in 2003 when he was pitching for
Double-A Trenton.
"I was mad," Wang said. "Every time I go to the mound for me is
important."
That made yesterday's start against the Toronto Blue Jays at Legends
Field an important one for Wang. Facing a team that often gives him
trouble, Wang threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing only two singles.
"After he got through the first inning I told him he had already
accomplished something and he smiled," catcher Jose Molina said.
"I wasn't worried, I knew Wang would be OK."
Wang was at Legends Field early the day after his debacle to watch
videotape with pitching coach Dave Eiland. Wang saw that he was too
crouched at the start of his delivery, which affected the angle of his
arm and left his pitches up. For a sinkerball pitcher, it was a fatal
mistake.
He worked on correcting the flaw on Saturday during a long bullpen session.
At Eiland's suggestion, he worked on his mechanics again on Monday, this
time without actually throwing a ball.
"I wanted to keep the motion the same," said Wang, who repeated his delivery
for about three minutes, just to further ingrain it into his muscle memory.
The extra work paid off. Eight of the 11 outs Wang record came via ground
balls. He walked two and struck out one. He threw 58 pitches, 34 for strikes,
and left to applause from the crowd of 10,510.
"Each inning I thought he actually looked better," manager Joe Girardi said.
"That's a great sign. His sinker was much better; he was down in the zone
today. Much, much better."
Knowing that the Blue Jays were familiar with his sinker, Wang used his
slider, four-seam fastball and a split-finger fastball more often,
along with a few changeups.
"I know I need to change speeds," he said. "That's important."
But the most important aspect of the day was maintaining his delivery for
nearly four innings. At 6-foot-3, Wang is most effective when he stands tall
and pitches down at the hitters.
Eiland, who is more adept at making mechanical adjustments than former
pitching coach Ron Guidry, kept a close eye on the right-hander. But outside
of a five-pitch walk of Scott Rolen in the second inning, Wang was efficient.
He retired six of the last seven batters he faced, ending his outing with
a strikeout of Rolen in the fourth inning.
"I feel much better now," he said. "I was throwing all my pitches."
Wang will have three more starts this spring before facing the Blue Jays
on Opening Day in the Bronx.
"I'm still not 100 percent. I'm not in game shape," Wang said. "It will
get better."
Wang may do a little teaching himself this week, as teammate Joba Chamberlain
wants to learn how to throw Wang's sinker. Chamberlain tried a few on Monday
night and is eager to incorporate the pitch into his already impressive
repertoire.
Wang laughed when asked how Chamberlain was coming along with the pitch.
"Joba? He doesn't need it," he said.
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