The reports are coming in on Chien-Ming Wang and they are not good. At best, Wang might be back in September. But, that’s if all goes according to plan.
Here’s the deal: Over his career, Worm Killer Wang has averaged 6 2/3 innings pitched per start while allowing 2.8 earned runs per start. This is what the Yankees will now be missing this season. This is what the Yankees will need to replace with Wang out.
Could Joba Chamberlain be that guy? Maybe. But, we don’t know for sure. Could Darrell Rasner be that guy? Geez, that’s asking a lot. How about Ian Kennedy? Jeff Karstens? Kei Igawa? Dan Giese? Alan Horne? Dan McCutchen? Somebody from Double-A Trenton?
Go back and check those numbers from Wang. We’re looking for someone who averages getting deep into the seventh inning, per start, while pitching to an ERA of 3.80 (to boot).
Right now, the Yankees don’t have anyone who can replace Wang – and be a lock for the same production.
This situation will be a true test for the Yankees – in terms of disclosing to their fans if they really want to win this season – or not. Hey, the Yankees don’t need to win to make money. They get a ton from YES – no matter what. They’ve sold every ticket this season and will sell every ticket next season – even if their team only wins 80 games per year.
So, with Wang out, what will the Yankees do? Will they just sit back, let the season slide, and continue to collect cash. Or, will they make a move to try and replace Wang in an attempt to make the post-season this year? It’s a very, very, interesting test for the team’s ownership and management. In fact, it may even be a situation where ownership wants one thing and management wants another.
It’s amazing what one little misstep at third base during a blow-out game can do to an organization, it’s season, and perhaps the future of those in charge.
8 Responses to “Wang Out At Least 10 Weeks – Maybe For Year”
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June 16th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Cash told Pete Abe that there really isn’t a trade market right now. So for the time being, it looks like the team needs to try to solve its pitching needs internally.
That doesn’t mean that the organization is throwing away the season.
The trade market should start to develop in July, but the team needs to get through at least the next three weeks with internal solutions, and based on where they are then, it will be clearer whether it makes sense to trade prospects for Sabathia, or Harden or someone else.
June 16th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
It’s a problem but not the end of the world. If the rest of the rotation holds their own then we can survive and still look good for the wild card. These are situations in which someone rises to the occasion. Let’s see who that will be.
I don’t want to throw away too much for CC. Better to trade lesser talent and get a legitimate starter, if not an ace.
June 16th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Steve,
In your opinion, does the team have to do something immediately? Or can they wait, give their internal options a chance, see if the offense can bash its way to more wins than it has so far, and then reconsider its position in July when there might actually be a market for pitchers? For that matter, what position does the team need to be in to make a move necessary in order to make that push for the post-season? Less than five games out of a playoff spot? Less than 10?
Wang is a big loss, the biggest that can be imagined pitching-wise short of Mariano going down. But it is a team game. And there are a variety of ways to win enough to make the post-season. A productive offense plus slightly improved (or just continued) performance from Andy and Moose can go a long way toward covering up for what may be a league-average or slightly less than league average replacement for Wang.
I think we all know that I don’t want the Yanks to make the playoffs. But I don’t think their response, right now, indicates that they are more than happy not to make it to October.
June 16th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Ultimately, the Yanks are going to have to make a big move. It may take a few weeks, but they need to bring in a front-line starter. Sabathia is a possibility. And given Seattle’s woes, I would add Bedard to the mix.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Sidney Ponson was just officially released. Sure he’s an asshole. But he was 4-1 3.88 for Texas.
Just a thought.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
did anyone call out mike and the mad dog today about how lucky the yanks are that joba is a starter? Hell if he pitches like he did in his last start he can just assume CMW’s role as ace and the yanks have roughly the same roation as when they started: an ace, 2 good vets, 2 young struggling pitchers
June 16th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
~~In your opinion, does the team have to do something immediately? ~~
Like today, or tomorrow? No. There’s no decent pitchers available this split second. IMHO, you try and cover for the next 2 to 3 weeks with what you have…and, AT THE SAME TIME, start putting feelers out there, NOW, so that when someone is ready to deal, you’re all tee-ed up and ready to hit the ground running…and pull the trigger on a deal.
June 17th, 2008 at 5:31 am
The Yankees are probably the only team on earth where income and revenue are items way down on the priority list. They know that that revenue is not going to be affected unless all hell breaks loose and the whole team goes down.
Bottom line is post-season success. The only way to get to the post-season is the regular season. That is exactly why Big Stein didn’t give a damn about spending money because the reward of a WS far outweighs any cost.
The saying is the Yankees don’t rebuild, they reload for a reason