Isn’t it amazing how one moment can change a pitcher’s career?
For Chien-Ming Wang, that moment came on June 15, 2008 in the top of the sixth inning in a game against the Houston Astros.
For five innings Wang was cruising along, giving up no runs and six hits. Then Wang had to run the bases in the top of the sixth, and all heck broke loose.
Wang, trying to score on a Derek Jeter single to right field, pulled up lame as he crossed home plate. He was ultimately diagnosed with a torn Lisfranc ligament of the right foot and a partial tear of the peroneus longus of the right foot.
Since then, Wang has never been the same.
Wang was arguably the worst pitcher in baseball last year. In 12 games, he was 1-6 with a 9.64 ERA and gave up a ridiculous 66 hits in 42 innings.
His mechanics were out of whack, his confidence was worse than Byung-Hyun Kim’s after Game Five of the 2001 World Series, and he was eventually shut down by the New York Yankees.
Wang’s poor mechanics led to shoulder issues and eventually shoulder surgery in July. He is now, like so many pitchers, trying to come back from an injury to his pitching arm.
If Wang is to make a comeback, it will be with the Washington Nationals. According to various sources, he agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with the Nationals, and the deal will be officially announced Friday during a press conference.
I am a little surprised, to be honest. I had him signing with either the Los Angeles Dodgers or returning to the Yankees.
But Wang is a low-risk, high-reward signing by the Nationals that can’t hurt the team in any way. The 30-year-old is expected to return to the mound around the May time frame, and if he is able to pitch well, then he is good trade bait; if not, then it’s only a one-year deal and $2 million.
Washington is a good destination for Wang, as there will be zero pressure on him to perform. The Nationals are expected to once again be a last place team in 2010.
In other Nationals news, they have signed left-handed pitcher Ron Villone to a minor league contract. Villone, 40, went 5-6 with seven holds, one save, and a 4.25 ERA for Washington in 2009. He also led the team with 63 appearances.
Villone is one of the few former UMass baseball players in the major leagues, so I feel obligated to give him a shout-out.
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