Wang to Nationals

[thedude]

NEW YORK -- Pitcher Chien-Ming Wang and the Washington Nationals have reached an agreement on a one-year contract, a baseball source told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.

Wang's deal is worth $2 million and includes the chance to earn $3 million in performance bonuses, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4918836

[Grounded Polo]

Obviously a good signing, have to like high upside starters signed for peanuts.

I doubt it pans out though.

[DaSh 1s]

Obviously a good signing, have to like high upside starters signed for peanuts.

I doubt it pans out though.

Why do you doubt it?

[thedude]

Obviously a good signing, have to like high upside starters signed for peanuts.

I doubt it pans out though.

Why do you doubt it?

Since WW2 pitchers who have had Wang's obscenely low strike out rates have tended not to have prolonged success. Np matter how much a ground ball pitcher they were, it doesn't happen.

[bigh0rt]

Would have loved to see him sign with the Mets for this. I feel like I keep saying this...

[AussieDodger]

Would have loved to see him sign with the Mets for this. I feel like I keep saying this...

You'll get 'em next time slugger

http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=399951

[Sultan of Swing]

Its a good signing for the nats. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they should be able to keep him next year under abitration next year if he works out for them.

As far as fantasy baseball goes though, i dont really see much if any value for him next year. Without the wins, he has little value, and having an extremem ground ball pitcher with Adam Dunn pretending to be a first basemen won't help him. Outside of the deepest of NL only leagues, you can ignore him.

[KCollins1304]

Its a good signing for the nats. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they should be able to keep him next year under abitration next year if he works out for them.

As far as fantasy baseball goes though, i dont really see much if any value for him next year. Without the wins, he has little value, and having an extremem ground ball pitcher with Adam Dunn pretending to be a first basemen won't help him. Outside of the deepest of NL only leagues, you can ignore him.

Yes, he'll have one more year of arbitration after this season.

[DaSh 1s]

Since WW2 pitchers who have had Wang's obscenely low strike out rates have tended not to have prolonged success. Np matter how much a ground ball pitcher they were, it doesn't happen.

He will be thirty next year. I agree Sinkerballs tend to not have prolonged success, but it wasn't longevity that caused Wang's struggles if was injuries and faulty mechanics.

He originally suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot. Since he recovered from that injury, subconscious or consciously, he changed his mechanics to baby that landing foot. He was not pushing off it or landing on it correctly. We can just see how his mechanics changed, from his release points alone:



The sinker is the most fickle pitch in baseball. If that ball is up, it gets pelted. He wasn't driving/landing on that foot correctly causing his sinkers to float up. The surplus of injuries to follow came from using his upper body to over compensate. The extra stress cause to the Hips, Biceps, and the shoulder injury (and ultimately shoulder surgery).

Lets be real, Wang is only 29...if he heals correctly from his surgery, and rediscovers his mechanics (mainly the push off/landing off his right foot) there is with about a doubt in my mind he could find success again. Sure he won't be perennial 18 game winner pitcher, but more than serviceable. The Nats for sure got their work cut out for them, but if he never becomes effective again, it won't be because of the longevity of his career throwing sinkers.