Chien-Ming Wang, Phil Hughes & Mariano Rivera Are Keys to Yankees Championship
June 29, 2009 · Colin Linneweber · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
In last night’s 2009 Subway Series finale at Citi Field in Queens, the New York Yankees defeated the New York Metropolitans, 4-2, to capture five out of the six games played between the cross-town rivals this year.
Erstwhile Yankees ace pitcher Chien-Ming Wang (1-6, 10.06 ERA) yielded two runs on four hits over 5-1/3 innings to earn his first victory since he suffered a season-ending foot injury running the bases in Houston against the Astros last June.
Wang, 29, entered the season with a .754 winning percentage (46-15) that was the best mark among active hurlers from 2006-2008 with a minimum of 60 starts.
But Wang’s severely fractured foot was clearly not entirely healed at the start of the 2009 campaign and his putrid numbers emphasized that reality. In his first three starts, Wang went 0-3 and compiled an unsightly 34.50 ERA before he was placed on the disabled list in late April.
Since being reactivated from the DL in mid-May, the Taiwanese icon has exhibited gradual improvement on the mound and he seems destined to eventually regain the form that made him one of Major League Baseball’s most accomplished recent pitchers.
“It seems like every time he goes out there, he has more confidence,” said Yankees catcher Jorge Posada about the former two-time 19-game winner. “If we get this guy straight, we’re going to have a fun summer.”
Bombers’ manager Joe Girardi conceded that it was vital for Wang to achieve a victory strictly from a mental standpoint alone.
“I think it’s a great win for him,” said the much-maligned Girardi. “Everybody needs a win, no matter how well you are pitching. You need to have some fruit for your hard work. And he got to be a part of something special.”
Wang was relieved in the sixth inning by Yankees prodigy Phil Hughes (3-2, 4.44 ERA).
Hughes, 23, the Yankees’ 2005 Minor League Player of the Year, pitched 1-1/3 scoreless innings and helped the Bombers ready themselves for a rendition of Metallica’s song, “Enter Sandman.”
With two outs in the 8th inning and the Yankees clinging to a precarious 3-2 advantage, Girardi decided to hand the ball to the great Mariano Rivera (1-2, 2.93 ERA).
Rivera, 39, a nine-time All-Star selection and four-time AL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year, easily registered four outs and attained the 500th save of his illustrious career.
“I didn’t expect any of this,” admitted Rivera when asked about the goals he had set for himself when he made his professional debut in the Bronx in 1995.
“It’s definitely special to be the second guy in the history of baseball to do it,” said Rivera, who trails only Trevor Hoffman on the all-time saves list. “But I’m a team player, all these 500 saves belong to my teammates and the great New York Yankees.”
The stoic Wang claimed he was certain that his first victory of the 2009 campaign was inevitable once “Mo” came trotting out of the Yankees bullpen.
“I knew we were going to win,” Wang said once he saw the greatest postseason reliever in the annals of baseball assume his position on the hill. “Mariano’s a very good pitcher and a very good closer. I was happy to see him get his 500th save.”
The Yankees (43-32) have recorded five consecutive victories and currently stand three games behind the vaunted Boston Red Sox (46-29) for first place in the American League East.
The Bombers flaunt one of the most powerful and explosive offensive lineups in the sport and one can safely predict that they will continue to score runs at a relatively blistering pace.
So, like usual, pitching will ultimately decide the Yankees’ fate in the second half of the season.
If, as expected, Wang regains his prowess on the mound, he will be an invaluable asset for the Yankees once the All-Star break concludes in the middle of July.
Additionally, one can envision that Hughes will soon be promoted and supplant Brian Bruney as the 7th and 8th inning bridge to Rivera.
The Red Sox are a dynamic franchise that is run with steely precision by the brilliant baseball minds of “Theo and the Trio” and it would be foolish to overlook the team based on Yawkey Way.
Nevertheless, provided the Yankees’ hitting remains a constant and their starting pitching staff materializes as anticipated, the Yanks will be a force down the stretch.
If Hughes develops into a dominant set-up man for Rivera, the Yankees will simply need to have an advantage on the scoreboard after seven innings and the game’s outcome will often be determined by that point in the contest.
Presuming that Hughes proves capable in his impending slot, “Exit, light. Enter, night. Take my hand, we’re off to never-never land.”
There will be a 27th championship banner flying from the new Yankee Stadium come November.
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