Nationals Looking at Wang

Chien-Ming Wang, still without a big league home, will choose which team he'd like to play for within the next 10 days.

Apparently, the former New York Yankees right-hander has two or three choices. He could go pitch for the Washington Nationals or some other unidentified team, according to an anonymous source familiar with Wang's negotiations.

Continue reading and comment on this story at SportsUntapped.

The Big Unit's Bones Are Creaky, Wang Sucks

Randy Johnson is one of those guys with a voice so booming that when he tells a joke, it rarely gets more than a courtesy chuckle.

However, Tuesday night he managed to make a funny regarding his recent accident at the plate:

Obviously the first thing I thought is that I won’t be able to do my instructional hitting video.

zing!

Continue reading this story at Fantasy Pros 911.

Yankees Cut Off Wang

Chien-Ming Wang and the fans of his team have finally been put out of their misery.

The New York Yankees right-hander has struggled all year long with control issues and injuries, his latest being a problem with his throwing shoulder. After landing on the disabled list on July 5th, he made the decision to undergo arthroscopic surgery which will end his season.

There isn't a timetable for his return quite yet, but manager Joe Girardi says the team should know more once the procedure is done. Wang led the American League in wins in 2006 and matched that total in 2007, but missed the last 3 1/2 months of 2008 after hurting his foot running the bases. He’s 1-6 with an unsightly 9.64 ERA in just 12 games this season, missing a month early on with a [hip injury] bruised ego.

Yankees Don't Know How to Handle Wang

The New York Yankees aren't quite sure what to do with Chien-Ming Wang right now.

The sucktastic righty threw a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium Wednesday, but the club isn't sure when he'll return to the rotation or what they're supposed to do with Phil Hughes when and if he does.

The 22-year-old Hughes is scheduled to pitch Wednesday night and would start again this coming Monday against the Texas Rangers, unless the Yanks decide Wang's sinker is back to what it used to be. If the team does decide to use Wang this Monday or after, Hughes could take a seat in the bullpen -- which has been struggling with a 5.37 ERA -- or worse, return to the minors.

All in the name of another great headline.

[NY Daily News] | [E-Boland and the Bombers] | [Bronx Banter]

The Return of A-Rod's Pouty Face

Alex Rodriguez could return to the New York Yankees lineup a little sooner than initially expected this season... which is a good thing, since I totally picked him to be the American League MVP this Spring. I may or may not have been under the influence, but I stand by my pick.

According to Dr. Marc Philippon, the doc who operated on his hip back in March, Rodriguez could be back in pinstripes as soon as ten days from now. Dr. Philippon even watched the three-time American League MVP work out on Wednesday at the Yankees minor league complex and said:

Sucking Wang

What's up with Chien-Ming Wang? I haven't seen this kind of suckfest from him since... oh. His last start.

It all started out just fine for the New York Yankees right-hander, who sent down the Cleveland Indians 1-2-3 in the first and enjoyed a two-run lead before silently imploding in the second.

It began with a lead-off single from Travis Hafner, followed by a Jhonny Peralta base hit, before Shin-Soo Choo belted one over the expensive new fence to give the Tribe a cushy 3-0 lead. So then Ryan Garko pops out to Jorge Posada and Wang is two outs closer to ending this debacle.

But wait! There's more. After Ben Francisco doubles up the middle, there is a highly-expected coaching visit to the mound. Words may or may not have been exchanged, and before you know it, Asdrubal Cabrera nails an RBI single, and Grady Sizemore and Mark DeRosa pull out back-to-back doubles. Sounds like a great time for a wild pitch.

Nick Swisher's Career 0.00 ERA

Nick Swisher can play at first base or in the outfield. Now, you can go ahead and add the mound to his repertoire. Sort of.

The New York Yankees' right fielder enjoyed a chuckle or two on the hill Monday during his team's 15-5 pounding by their newest nemesis, the Tampa Bay Rays. After a poor Chien-Ming Wang outing, the Yanks already-exhausted bullpen consisted of Jonathan Albaladejo, Edwar Ramirez and Phil Coke.

Swisher (and his 4-seam fastball clocked at 80 mph even) was the only "hurler" to keep the Rays off the board.

The 28-year-old, who last pitched as a high school freshman, became the first Yankee position player to toe the rubber since Wade Boggs threw knuckleballs against the Angels in 1997. Swisher walked B.J. Upton to kick off the eighth, gave up a base hit to Willy Aybar, got Gabe Kapler to go down swinging, Carlos Pena to pop out, and Pat Burrell to fly out to center. As 3:10 to Joba put it, he's the Anti-Ankiel. Swish also homered in the fourth, his third of the season.

Yanks' Wang Feels Good

With every Chien-Ming Wang outing comes at least one great headline.

Wang (yes, we know it's pronounced "Wong") made his first start Monday since partially tearing a tendon in his foot while tearing up the bases last June. The right-hander tossed two scoreless innings for the New York Yankees in their 5-5 Grapefruit League tie with the Houston Astros.

"I feel good," Wang said. "Nothing wrong."

On Tuesday, the Yankees get to face their captain, Derek Jeter, when they play Team USA in a World Baseball Classic exhibition at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.

The will not, however, face Alex Rodriguez, who has chosen to avoid the boos and don the Dominican Republic uniform at the WBC this season.

[Newsday] | [The LoHud Yankees Blog] | [Heartbeat of the Bronx]

Chien-Ming [Insert Wang Joke Here]

Chien-Ming Wang is expected to miss at least 10 weeks after injuring himself rounding third base on a Derek Jeter single during the clubs 13-0 victory over the Houston Astros. In turn, New York Yankees fans everywhere have come to love Interleague play even more.

The 28-year-old right-hander will be hobbling around on crutches with a boot on his right foot for at least six weeks, the latest blow to New York’s already banged-up pitching staff. Wang is looking at a September return after getting his arm back in shape and healing his foot.

No laughing matter for the Bronx Bombers.

[Lo Hud Yankees Blog]

Spring Fever: Reds Beat Wang

Grapefruit League: Reds 12, Yankees 8

Hot-corner man Edwin Encarnacion highlighted the Cincinnati Reds win over the New York Yankees Thursday, nailing a grand slam and a two-run single during his club's 12-8 Spring victory.

Chien-Ming Wang, on the other hand, did not have that great of a day. The right-hander didn't even make it out of the first inning alive, allowing six runs on six hits and retiring only two batters.

"My stride was too long," Wang said. “My ball was not moving. I’ll fix it quick."

Sounds like a plan.

Cincinnati's projected Opening Day starter, Aaron Harang, allowed two hits and struck out two over three innings.

Yanks righty Darrell Rasner walked three batters before surrendering Encarnacion’s grand salami in the fourth, which gave the Reds a nice, comfy 10-0 lead.

Yanks Beat Wang

It's been a while since we've had a dirty Wang headline.

Like many other players this week, Chien-Ming Wang lost his salary arbitration case against the New York Yankees, resulting in a $4 million check, rather than the $4.6 he requested.

Dontrelle Willis, who may have been a model for this case, is the only other first-time eligible pitcher to get more, receiving $4.35 million from the Florida Marlins in 2006. However, Bronx GM Brian Cashman called anything more for the right-hander "out-of-market."

Last season -- while making $489,500 -- Wang went 19-7 with a 3.70 ERA for his second straight season with 19 wins.

[New York Post]

Yankees Words of Wisdom

Well obviously there's been much coverage of the Yankees beat down at the hands of the Indians.

Wang blew it like a whore at a banker's convention. What can the Yankees possibly have to say? Let's take a look some of the wise words uttered to the media by the boys in pinstripes:

"They just were hitting everything," Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez said. "Even their outs were hard."
Well that just proves it. Smart guy. And totally not gay.

Things Are Heating Up Out East

Alex Rodriguez homered for this fifth straight game Sunday night as Chien-Ming Wang (3.69 ERA) pitched seven good innings for his 18th victory to lead the New York Yankees in 6-3 win and sweep of the Kansas City Royals.

The Yanks chased Zack Greinke off the hill early, as he lasted just 3.2 innings with 3 earned runs, 2 hits and a strikeout.

After A-Rod nailed his 52nd homer if the season in the first, Wilson Betemit lined a double in the second that made it 3-0. KC third baseman Alex Gordon, who accounted for his team's only runs, tied it up with a three-run double in the fourth, but Jorge Posada tacked on two more for New York the next inning with a double to deep right. Robinson Cano added the last run on a single in the ninth.

Meanwhile, Josh Beckett (3.27 ERA) earned his 18th win for the Boston Red Sox after tossing 7 strong innings with 8 strikeouts for a 3-2 victory ver the Baltimore Orioles. The right-hander allowed just two runs -- both on solo shots -- from Melvin Mora in the fourth and Nick Markakis in the sixth.

Mike Lowell kicked off the scoring for Boston in the third, with a single that scored two.

Coco Crisp singled in the eighth to break the 2-2 tie and closer Jonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless ninth for his 35th save of the season. The Red Sox remain 5.5 games ahead of the Yankees in the AL East standings, as New York holds onto their four-game edge over the Detroit Tigers in the Wild Card race.

Babes Love Wang

The aftermath of a Chien-Ming Wang start always makes for some great headlines.

From Yahoo! Sports...

Jays Beat Wang, End Yanks' Run At 5

Bravo.

The Disabled Yankees List

The New York Yankees' starting five just got a little bit worse. Carl Pavano has landed back on the disabled list, along with teammate Mike Mussina.

Pavano and Moose were placed on the 15-day DL before Sunday's game at Oakland. Pavano went down with a right forearm strain and Mussina with a left hamstring injury.

Pavano's injury-ridden past had been the target of media spotlight this spring, with many wondering if he could come back and produce after two seasons away from the game. There's your answer, people. He is 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA in two starts this time around.

Yankees' Wang Hurt

New York Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang underwent treatment after feeling discomfort in his right hamstring during some light running Friday.

Wang, who was a possibility for the club's Opening Day starter, is expected to be sidelined at least a month with a pulled right hammy. He will be placed directly on the DL when the Yankees leave camp next weekend and will remain at the complex for rehabilitation.

Wang went 19-6 with a 3.63 ERA in 34 games - 33 starts - with the Yanks last season, tying Cy Young winner Johan Santana for the AL best in wins. His non-start? A successful save opportunity.

[New York Post]