WANG: THE FORGOTTEN ACE
February 16th, 2009 at 9:42 pm · 3 Comments
With all the talk and attention in camp on CC and AJ, it’s easy to forget
about Chien Ming Wang. It remains to be seen if Wang opens the year as the
#2 or #3 starter behind CC Sabathia. (Personally, I’d put his sinker
between Sabathia and Burnett). Manager Joe Girardi has stated that he
wants to split the lefties, meaning Pettitte will be #4, then there is
Joba. As Burnett stated, (maybe not in these exact words) “there is no
back end”.
But the forgotten man, Wang, is 54-20 in his career. That is a winning
percentage of .730. Look at that number again. .730. 8-5, 19-6, 19-7, 8-2.
The 8-5 and 8-2’s were basically half seasons, one caused by his rookie
callup (and an injury that year) and the other by last season’s injury.
18 and 15 games. Like a full season if you combine the two, which would be
16-7.
54-20. Divided by three equals roughly 18-7. Ace material. Yet with the
two high-priced free agents, King, George III rightly points out that Wang
is the 14th highest paid Yankee. It’ll be interesting to see what happens
when it is Wang’s turn to be rightly compensated. Wouldn’t it be
something if it is Wang, and not CC or AJ, who leads the Yanks in wins
this year (we’ll gladly take 19-18-17 if that is the case!)
One disconcerting thing I’ve read is the talk of Rivera. Not that there
is anything wrong with Mo. It’s the talk that there is nothing
closer-wise if he goes down or fails. Who’s to say? It is like the
writers discussing that (and those who mention Joba going back to close if
Mo fails or gets hurt) won’t discuss a Melancon or any other minor
leaguer. Don’t get me wrong…I’m not putting Melancon in Mo’s class,
for no one is in that class. But in 1995, who’d have thought Rivera would
become the greatest? Had someone told you then that he would be taking
over for Wetteland in 1997, what would you have thought in 1995? Panic,
right? So why the unbelief in a Melancon, who you don’t know about yet?
Another example. 1979. Granted the Yanks didn’t make the playoffs that
year. Goose Gossage missed half the season with a torn thumb ligament due
to a scuffle with “Heathcliff,” Cliff Johnson. But do you remember what
Ron Davis did that year? Who’d have thought? 14-2, 9 saves, 2.85. ERA+
143, 4th in ROY voting. The following year Davis teamed with the Goose for
a 1-2 punch that helped the Yanks to the 1980 AL East title. 9-3, 2.95, 7
saves, ERA+ 133. He was 4-5, 2.71, six saves ERA+ 131 for the 1981 pennant
winners (strike season). Tell me in the spring of 1979 you saw that
coming.
But this week, different writers disparaged any closer outside of Mo. Now
we all know about Mo’s greatness. We won’t say there is another Mo in
the wings, but maybe there IS another Davis? Joel Sherman in a post
mentioned Yankee pitchers by naming them the most expensive (Sabathia) to
the most anonymous (Eric Hacker, anybody?) Sherman should be ashamed of
himself for categorizing Hacker that way. But most of the beat writers
like Sherman know nothing of the minor leaguers. Sherman should know that
while Hacker may or may not make the major leagues that he WAS a combined
9-6, 2.43 last season between Tampa and Trenton. He’ll probably start the
year in AA. Granted he’ll be 26 and the chances are good he won’t have
more than a cup of tea in the majors, but once again, who’s to say? Maybe
he gets a callup and does well for a couple of games….maybe not. After
all, the ex-president of the Aaron Small fan club (”Uncle” Joe
Colarusso) can tell you all about some unexpected surprises.
I see the debate about Joba starting or relieving continues to thrive. It
’s not new in Yankeeland. Allie Reynolds’ usage by Casey Stengel may have
started the debate. Here are Reynolds numbers while with the Yanks. 1st #
is games, the 2nd # is starts
1947 34/30
1948 39/31 (1947 and 1948 Bucky Harris manager)
1949 35/31 Casey takes over
1950 35/29
1951 40/26
1952 35/29
1953 41/15
1954 36/18
Then of course, we have the debate that occurred in the spring of 1984,
when the Yanks switched Dave Righetti to the closer role after losing
Goose Gossage to SD via free agency.
So it’s nothing new.
One person a long way away, but impressing, is Andrew Brackman, the #1
pick of 2007 who missed considerable time due to TJ surgery. Brackman, you
may recall, is one long pinstripe—as tall as the Big Unit.
So far so good on the Posada and Matsui front. As long as Mo makes three…
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