Today, Tyler Kepner brakes down the Chien Ming Wang situation. Here are the takeaways: - With an ERA of 34.50, CMW is off to the worst statistical start of any Yankees pitcher ever.
- Wang is probably going to get skipped in the rotation.
- He is out of minor league options and there is no possible way he could be sent down without other teams having the option of claiming him.
#1 - Yes, he has pitched horribly. I called him the greatest batting practice pitcher the world has ever seen. At a certain point, he's getting a little unlucky too. If you were trying to give up that many runs without just intentionally walking everyone, I'm not sure you could. It's hard to imagine he's gone from a guy who pitched about three full seasons with an ERA under 4.00 to the worst Major League pitcher in the history of the game.
#2 - Pulling him out of the rotation lines up Burnett, Pettitte and Sabathia to start against the Red Sox at Fenway. Even if there is nothing fundamentally wrong with him, there's just no way the Yankees could throw him to the wolves against the Sox based on what he's done so far.
#3 - This puts him at a huge disadvantage. Wang is a humble guy, and I think he would accept a tune-up start in AAA to get his feet back under him, if that were an option. Now he has to throw in side sessions and won't be able to face live batters until his next start in the majors.
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What will become of Chien Ming Wang? Is he ever going to be the dominating presence he once was? How many more disastrous showings is it going to take before the Yanks give up on him? Luckily his next start projects to be against Detroit at Comerica, because the fans at home have already turned on him in the worst way. I'm starting to get nervous.
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