Chien-Ming Wang To Pitch in EST Game
April 22, 2009 · Rob Abruzzese · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
According to Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record, Chien-Ming Wang will pitch in an extended spring training game this weekend to try to get his mechanics straight.
“As for Wang, Cash is not ruling out the fact that a physical ailment—his foot, or something else—might be the cause of his command woes. ‘Sure, it’s a concern,’ Cash said of Wang. Because his velocity is down and his sinker is AWOL, ‘those indications, you can’t ignore.’”
Wang has a 0-3 record and has been downright bad in all three of his starts. He is now the owner of a 34.50 ERA that has only been getting worse with each start.
It is uncertain right now what his problem has been, but it is likely that he slightly adjusted his mechanics due to the foot injury he suffered last season.
Whatever the cause, his velocity has been down this season. In his last start against Cleveland, he was mostly sitting at 90 to 91 MPH, and only occasionally hitting 92.
In contrast, when he is going well, like last April 11, 2008 against the Boston Red Sox (9 IP and 1 ER), he usually sits at 93 to 94, while topping out at 95 MPH. A slight change in his mechanics could have been the culprit of the change.
After his EST start, it is possible the Yankees could put him on the DL if they don’t like what they see.
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