[外電] WANG TIME COMING
WANG TIME COMING -- by adding change-up, Yanks ace right on target
By George A. King III
March 2, 2008 -- CLEARWATER, Fla. - His turbo sinker pushes speed guns into
the mid-90s and is as hard to get in the air as a bowling ball. The second
bullet in the arsenal is a biting slider that isn't in Joba Chamberlain's
class but still effective.
Now, after consecutive 19-win seasons, Chien-Ming Wang is adding a seductive
change-up to the tool belt with the hope that hitters have to worry about a
third pitch.
"Winning 19 games is all well and good but you have to change," pitching
coach Dave Eiland said of Wang's willingness to make the change-up an out
pitch that can be used eight to 10 percent of the time.
Wang learned the circle change in the minor leagues but basically has been a
two-pitch hurler. And since his signature sinking fastball is so filthy, Wang
has been able to get by. Yet, good hitting teams like the Red Sox and Indians
have spanked Wang recently. Who can ever forget the paddling the Indians gave
Wang in two ALDS games last year when the YankeesNew York Yankees ' ace went
0-2 with a 19.06 ERA. In 52/3 innings he gave up 14 hits (three homers).
"He puts it in the hitters' mind that instead of two pitches, now they go up
there and think he might throw another one," said catcher Jose MolinaJose
Molina , who caught Wang's two-inning effort yesterday at Bright House
Networks Field, where the Yankees topped the Phillies, 9-3.
Wang says since his slider and fastball are hard, the change-up will help him
keep hitters off balance, even after it was that pitch that Seattle's Ben
Broussard broke up Wang's perfect-game bid in the eighth inning last May by
hitting a change-up for a homer.
"Today the change-up was good and the slider was working," said Wang, who
used the slider to strike out Pat Burrell looking. In two scoreless innings,
Wang allowed a hit and fanned one.
Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Chamberlain are media darlings for their arrival
together in The Bronx, outgoing personalities and because none of them was
swapped for Johan Santana. Andy Pettitte has been asked about the Mitchell
Report, HGH and Clemens more than his curveball. At 39, Mike Mussina answers
questions about being able to help the Yankees.
And Wang cruises through the "Groundhog Day"-like days of spring training
with a small smile for everyone. Even after losing an arbitration case in
which he filed for $4.6 million. Instead, he will make $4 million this year
to be Joe Girardi's ace.
"[AL East teams], you are going to see them four or five times so you have to
make adjustments because they will make adjustments on you," Girardi said.
While Girardi hasn't announced Wang as the Opening Day starter against the
Blue Jays, Wang will get the honor if he can avoid injury. He was in line
last year for that assignment until pulling a hamstring that shelved him for
the first three weeks of the season.
"You can continue to develop the change-up and continue to locate better,"
Girardi said. "There are a lot of different things you can do but he is
pretty polished."
Wang said he deleted the Cleveland nightmare (0-2; 19.06 ERA) and Girardi
hasn't recognized signs otherwise.
"I have not seen that; I don't think it did," Girardi said of Wang still
nursing a hangover. "He struggled a little bit; so did Cy Young last year,
C.C. Sabathia. It's going to happen."
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資料來源：
http://www.nypost.com/seven/03022008/sports/yankees/wang_time_coming_100137.htm
--
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