Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
March 24, 2007
Pulling the Wang Muscle

Chien-Ming Wang heads to the disabled list:

Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang, a 19-game winner last season, will start the season on the disabled list with a right hamstring pull.

Wang, who had been under consideration to start opening day April 2 against Tampa Bay, is expected to be sidelined at least a month.

That's a bit of a blow to the Yankees, but all those off-season trades means the Yankees have pitchers available:

"We have depth. We have choices," Cashman said. "It's a short-term issue that you're dealing with. Somebody else will get an opportunity."

Also, looking at the Yankees schedule, they could get away with just one start from the fifth spot in the rotation during the first 17 games.


Posted by David Pinto at 12:09 PM | Injuries | TrackBack (0)
Comments

"We have depth" is a nice way of putting it. The Washington Nationals have "depth." Nobody has more depth. The question is quality, and the Yankees have no margin for error in the rotation. They may not need their #5 starter much, but their #3 and 4 are now Igawa and Pavano. Who the heck is the #5, anyway? Darrell Rasner? Colter Bean? Jeff Karstens?

Cashman has to sound optimistic in public, that's his job. But inside, he has to be desperately hoping that Wang's hammy heals up right fast.

Posted by: jvwalt at March 24, 2007 03:29 PM

My guess is Hughes is probably ready and should be in the rotation anyway.

Posted by: David Pinto at March 24, 2007 03:53 PM

I read that it will be between Karstens and Rasner. Hughes is not being considered.

Posted by: Alex at March 24, 2007 04:00 PM

I thought this headline was reserved for if Wang ever suffers a groin pull...

Posted by: tas at March 24, 2007 04:08 PM

What's more scary is that Pavano now might be the opening day starter.

http://www.waswatching.com/archives/CampQ.html

Someone seem to have forsaw this...?XD

Posted by: RollingWave at March 24, 2007 11:57 PM

Maybe we lost our Wang, but we still have our Meat. :P

As for the number 5, now it'll be Karstens. Rasner is behind him on the depth chart, and from there it'd probably be Ohlendorf or Hughes.

Posted by: Adam B. at March 25, 2007 02:35 AM

Hughes didn't pitch well this spring. He's probably a year away from being ready for the majors.

Posted by: rbj at March 25, 2007 12:56 PM

Pavano looks to get the ball opening day. That says volumes re depth.

Posted by: abe at March 25, 2007 04:32 PM

"Pavano looks to get the ball opening day. That says volumes re depth."

How so? Pettite won't get to fit a 'warm-up' start in before Opening Day, and Mussina prefers to stick to his schedule. Pavano makes the most sense from who's available - he has the most ML experience among Igawa, Karstens, et al.

Would you have a rookie or a Japanese import start opening day in the Bronx?

Posted by: Pete at March 26, 2007 01:07 PM
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