Chien-Ming Wang is Doing Something Wrong
Posted by Matt Sisson on Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 2:44 pm
After another less than stellar performance last night, the Yankees have to be worried about Chien-Ming Wang. Wang, who entered the 2008 season fresh off back-to-back 19 win seasons, suffered a season ending sprain to his right foot while running the bases in the middle of the Yanks’ eight-run sixth inning against the Houston Astros. Wang was limiting to just 15 starts (8-2, 4.07 ERA) for the year. People around baseball thought that Wang would be able to bounce back in 2009, but he was not able to pick up where he left off before the injury. So far this season, Wang has pitched in 8 games, making 5 starts, posting a 14. 34 ERA and has already made a trip to the DL. Wang’s 21.61 ERA as a starter is the highest starter’s ERA through five starts since 1913, when baseball began keeping track of ERAs.
Something is obviously “off”, but what is it? There has to be some sort of lasting effect to the foot injury that is throwing off his mechanics. Comparing Wang’s last start against the Red Sox to one against Boston back in April of 2008, it’s easy to see that he hasn’t lost anything in the MPH department.
He’s able to consistently hit the 94-96 mph which is a good thing. The bad thing is that something had to be thrown off by the injury and Wang will need to work through his mechanics to get back to where he was a little more than a year ago.
Results of game on 6.10.09: 2.2IP 4ER, 3BB, 6H
Results of game on 4/11/08: 9.0IP 1ER, 0BB, 2 H
As the graph below shows, Wang’s release point has drastically changed from 2008-2009.
If Wang can get his mechanics under control and work out whatever issues his foot injury has caused, Wang should easily be able to return to the pitcher he was. He can still throw as hard as he used to, but something isn’t right. The Yankees should send him back down to the minors and let him work out whatever issue’s he’s having. Doing it at the Major League level is only going to hurt New York and could be the difference maker in a tight divisional race.
