[外電] Role reversal

[heartfree (讓心自由)]

Role reversal
By Jon Lane / YESNetwork.com  06/18/2007 1:32 AM ET

NEW YORK - One month ago, the Mets were the apple of the Big Apple's eye
while fans across Queens - and most of the country - were reveling in the
Yankees' jaw-dropping incompetence. The Mets had World Champions stamped on
them; the Yankees fallen dynasty scribbled all over their melancholy faces.
Mets fans owned bragging rights and shouted obnoxious obscenities at the
first sight of Yankee colors.

These were the teams' places May 20 following the Yankees' 6-2 win at Shea
Stadium that averted a three-game sweep: The Mets were 28-15, in first place
by 2 ½ games. The Yankees 19-23, tied for second in the AL East, but 10 ½
 back of the Red Sox with the worst still ahead of them. By the time the
Yankees were 21-29 and 14 ½ behind the pace, the Mets were at their high
point: 33-17 and five games ahead of the pack.

Their records since? The Yankees are 14-3. The Mets 4-13. These days, the
Yankees can beat nearly anyone in their sleep, and a bad night of shut eye
couldn't stall the engine that is Chien-Ming Wang. The right-hander reported
to Yankee Stadium early Sunday to receive treatment for a stiff neck suffered
overnight and though he spent most of the day wearing a hot pad, the pain
still bothered him during his first career start against the Mets.

All Wang did was come within an out of his second complete game in three
starts. He was touched for a run on two hits in the ninth, but when he
induced David Wright to ground into a double play, it looked like he was
going the distance. Joe Torre, though, removed him, refusing to string him
out further after he threw 114 pitches. Fans remaining booed the manager when
he walked towards the mound, but showered Wang with a standing ovation, which
he returned with a tip of the cap.

There was no sense in stretching Wang to as many as 120 pitches because by
then, his deadly sinkerball was up. The same can't be said for the Mets.
Never has a series split felt so pointless. The team from the Bronx pounded
old friend Orlando Hernandez for six runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings and
the indomitable Wang won his fourth straight by silencing the failures from
Flushing in an 8-2 victory.

That's 11 wins in 12 games for the Yankees and 12 Mets defeats over their
last 15. In taking two of three, the Yankees outscored the Mets 19-12 - and
eight of the Mets' runs came during Saturday's affair.

"We know we caught them at a bad time and we're playing really well right
now," said Johnny Damon. "In this game, you definitely want to catch these
good teams when they're not producing. But we've also played very well."

Derek Jeter's first-inning single set up Alex Rodriguez's Major-League
leading 27th home run - his fourth in seven games. The Yankees rode a Miguel
Cairo RBI double and Damon's first home run since May 30 to drop El Duque's
record against his former team to 0-4 with a 5.81 ERA.

By sharp contrast, Wang induced 13 ground-ball outs and scattered four hits
while adding a new wrinkle: a career-high 10 strikeouts. Pitching coach Ron
Guidry has been teaching Wang how to command a slider and those sessions paid
off Sunday night. He changed speeds and mixed in an effective change-up he
threw more often than any time in his burgeoning career.

Over his four-game winning streak, Wang (7-4) has allowed seven runs in 30
innings, good for a 2.10 ERA. He's worked at least seven innings in four out
of last five starts, but A-Rod couldn't stop marveling over Sunday's
collection of K's.

"I looked up and thought it was a different game and thought it was a
mistake," Rodriguez said. "His trademark game is eight innings and only two
strikeouts, and two or three double plays. I couldn't believe that.

"Wang is an incredible talent. He's a special pitcher for us. To be able to
do that against [Jose] Reyes, blow him away on a [2-2 pitch] ... you don't
see that every day.

Wang finished the eighth like a thoroughbred, fanning the side in the eighth
and whiffing Reyes with a runner on first, coming back from behind 2-0 to
throw a change-up followed by consecutive sliders that left Reyes (1-for-4)
shaking his head.

"It's difficult," Reyes said. "We tried to get a good swing but we can't
because he's got good stuff."

When Wang's slider or change is working - in other words what Torre calls his
"off pitch" - it's twice as hard to touch him. The heart of the Mets' order,
Carlos Beltran, Wright and Carlos Delgado, were a combined 2-for-12 with two
RBIs and three strikeouts on Sunday and 5-for-39 in the series.

Because Monday's off day affords Wang an extra day of rest - his next start
is Saturday in San Francisco - Torre was able to stretch him to the limit.
Wang will also have extra time to think about pitching before a large
Taiwanese population and against Barry Bonds. When asked and the prospects of
facing Bonds, seven homers from Hank Aaron's all-time record, Wang answered
with a simple nod and a tranquil grin.

"Keep the ball down," Wang said. "Maybe he'll see a change-up and a sinker."

The way he's pitching these days, Wang can throw underhand and he won't come
unglued. The Yankees have been following his lead.

Jon Lane is an Editorial Producer for YESNetwork.com.
He can be reached at [e-mail].

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