Yankees' Chien-Ming Wang wants to forget about 2008 setback

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Yankees' Chien-Ming Wang wants to forget about 2008 setback BY Mark Feinsand DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Sunday, February 15th 2009, 8:40 PM TAMPA - Chien-Ming Wang often goes unnoticed on the Yankees' star-studded roster, but when the Bombers lost their ace to a foot injury last June, the rest of the American League East certainly took notice. The two-time 19-game winner had his season abruptly ended by a foot injury on June 15, spraining the Lisfranc ligament and tearing a tendon while running the bases in Houston. Wang's absence was one of the primary reasons the Yankees failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1993, as the team was unable to find a suitable replacement to make up for the innings - and victories - that he provided on a regular basis. "When we missed him late in the season, I don't think anybody in our lineup had an issue with it," said catcher Kevin Cash, a non-roster invitee who spent last season with the Red Sox. "It was a benefit for us to know we weren't going to have to face him. It was the same as us losing (Josh) Beckett." In fact, losing Wang was much worse for the Yankees than losing Beckett was for the Red Sox, since New York's rotation had also taken a huge hit with Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy not panning out. Wang says he's more excited about this season than he has been for any other, itching to get back on the mound after helplessly watching his team struggle through the second half. "I felt very bad," Wang said of last season. "I wanted the rehab to go quicker and get back on the field." Wang hired a personal trainer in Taiwan this offseason, working hard to strengthen his foot in preparation for the upcoming season. He felt some tightness during his initial workouts at the Yankees' minor-league complex late last month, but as of three days ago, he no longer feels anything amiss in his foot. The Yankees are limiting his conditioning work, restricting him from running outside for at least a few more weeks. He is taking part in all of the pitchers' fielding drills, though he wouldn't be running the bases any time soon. "I'm not thinking about it," Wang said of the injury. "Everything is normal now." CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett are getting most of the attention, allowing Wang to fly under the radar as he returns from his injury. That's fine with Joe Girardi, who believes that Wang's comeback is as important for the Yankees as the arrival of their two new stars. "His return is vital to our staff," Girardi said. "We missed him a lot last year. We missed his innings, we missed his leadership on the mound, what he brought to the table." What he brings to the table is a workhorse who won 19 games in both 2006 and '07, establishing himself as one of the most reliable pitchers in baseball. Wang was 8-2 with a 4.07 ERA in his abbreviated 2009. "When you see Wang healthy, you automatically envision 18 or 19 wins," Burnett said. "He's established himself as that kind of horse. He probably likes the fact that me and CC are here, because he can just hang back in his locker every day and get his work done." With his trademark sinker doing most of his work, Wang will never post the strikeout numbers of Sabathia, Burnett or Joba Chamberlain, but his consistency makes him just as valuable as any of them. "Strikeouts are like home runs - they're sexy," pitching coach Dave Eiland said. "He won 19 games two years in a row, which tells you all you need to know about him. If he stays healthy and has the year he was having, along with the year Moose (Mike Mussina) had last year, maybe that's the difference of us getting to the postseason." Although Sabathia and Burnett have been labeled as the Yankees' 1-2 punch, one Yankees official said the club looks at Wang as its No. 2 ahead of Burnett. Eiland squirms when asked about that topic, choosing not to place any labels on his starters at all. "I don't think anybody in the organization is overlooking the fact that we're getting Wang back," Eiland said. "The other two may be getting the publicity because they're new and they have the big contracts, but we wouldn't have the expectations we have if it wasn't for him." http://tinyurl.com/bqovhv -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 140.109.23.104