Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang has once again shot himself in the foot.I of course mean this figuratively, and am in no way insinuating another Plaxico Burress nightmare.
According to reports produced by the New York Daily News, it appears that Chien-Ming Wang’s struggles were indeed magnified by a recurring foot injury.
The damage dates back to last season, when Wang was injured while rounding third base in an Interleague game.
“Organizational pitching coach Billy Connors remarked that Wang was unable to push off his back foot, which is where pitchers gather their power from. Wang pitched four innings in an extended spring training game Saturday and is slated to do so two more times before rejoining the Yankees.”
Wang’s account of the early season disaster is that “stiffness in my right foot threw off my mechanics.”
As a result, the Yankees feel that his hip took on the brunt of the stresses. He was getting over onto his front foot too quickly, using hip rotation to compensate for an insufficient push off of his back leg.
Billy Connors and the Yankees organization seem to have targeted exactly what needs to be repaired in order to salvage Wang’s season. Actually succeeding in doing so is the next and more difficult step.
Phil Hughes, Wang’s current replacement, will pitch today against the Angels. His performances will ultimately determine the urgency of Wang’s restoration.
The Yankees have decided to implement a rehab process including a strength and conditioning program.
It wouldn’t hurt to also send him to a few sessions with a first-rate therapist, would it?
Baseball
Posts
Glad they got to the root of Wang's problems and can fix them. But now Marte's on the DL and has been hurt for weeks?
ReplyDeleteHe better have been Jane...because if he performed that poorly while healthy, it would be time to cut ties. I hope that Wang, Nady, A-Rod, Marte, Bruney, etc. can come back healthy and finally push this team near the top of the American League.
ReplyDelete