11
2011
Mets Should Have Chien-Ming Wang On Their Radar
An article by 
With the news that the Mets have shutdown Johan Santana’s rehab for the rest of the year, all they can do now is hope and pray that when their $24 million dollar a year ace shows up in Port St. Lucie next Spring, he will be ready to get on a mound and resemble something close to what he was before his 2010 shoulder surgery.
Santana was supposed to come back some time in late June or early July, but his return kept being pushed back throughout the year until the Mets season finally ran out of weeks. Santana never made it back to the majors and it’s still far from certain that he will start the season on time. Now 14 months removed from surgery, Santana and the Mets agreed it was best to shutdown all activity and simply rest his surgically-repaired shoulder until Spring Training.
One pitcher who can relate to what the Mets ace is going through is Chien-Ming Wang who had the same procedure on his right shoulder and missed two full years until returning to the majors for the Nationals on July 29 to face the Mets. I bet plenty of Mets brass was watching Wang on that night.
To make a long story short, Wang’s return was better than many expected and the big right-hander actually posted numbers that were remarkably close to his career norms. I charted his career below.
A quick look at his 2011 season shows that Wang actually posted a better ERA and WHIP than his career marks and even bested his 2008 season. Small sample size, yes, but if Santana had pulled off these same results our tongues would be hanging out of our mouths.
The velocity on Wang’s signature sinker was no longer 95 mph, but he was throwing in the low-nineties with remarkable consistency and he kept getting stronger and better the more he pitched. In his first seven starts, Wang walked 13 batters and struck out just nine over the course of 38 2/3 innings, but in his last four starts he struck out 16 and walked none in 23 2/3 innings.
Nationals manager Davey Johnson loved what he saw and referred to Wang as a keeper.
“As far as I’m concerned, ever since he’s started throwing again, he’s a keeper. I’ve had that thinking all along. I was amazed at how he was throwing from Day One. I’ve seen improvement every step of the way. The main thing is that he’s starting to trust that he’s healthy. He’s throwing more quality pitches … and also in his demeanor. I think he’s getting more confidence that it’s going to hold up.”
Wang will be a free agent this offseason, and the former Yankee ace who once hurled back to back 19-win seasons in 2006-2007, will surely garner some attention this Winter.
Considering the still financially-strapped Mets are now reduced to sifting through reclamation projects and injury risks to fill their roster for yet another offseason, Wang would seem like a good fit.
Truth be told, I’d rather take my chances with Wang rather than re-signing Chris Young who is coming off shoulder surgery and has a long rehab ahead of him.
There’s murmurings of Young being re-signed even though he just had the same procedure as Santana and Wang before him.
I don’t think I can take another year of “he”ll be back in June”, “he’ll be back in July”, he’ll be back after the All Star Break”, or “he’ll be back in August”. Can you?
I’d rather take my chances with someone who actually came back from shoulder surgery and proved for two months that he could get major league hitters out.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 30 | .583 | - |
| Phillies | 35 | 37 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Nationals | 34 | 36 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 40 | .403 | 12.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 48 | .314 | 19.0 |
Last updated: 06/19/2013
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so, chie meng wang is what the mets are being reduced to?? joe, that is awful, more “low risk/high reward” guys on the mets?? i say no thanks, i rather give the kids a chance… get harvey or whomever, if we’re not going after CJ wilson, will not add reyes, might as well go with the “homegrown” talent we have, or whatever it is we have..
Wang could cost little but would have a higher reward if he doesn’t get injured again. Thats pretty much the Mets plan until the young guys are ready. The Mets need a starter and I would rather have Wang than anyone in the rotation other than Dickey. It will have been more than two seasons since his injury and that might be a good sign since he will have had a lot of time to heal. If he is fairly cheap he would be a good addition for a year or two. I wouldn’t give him any more than that.
what ifthe young guys are ready but they suck once they come to the majors?? wouldn’t you rather have establish major league pitchers???? if we go with the plan you’re suggesting and the kids don’t pan out as we hope for, then forget about 2014, we’d be looking at 2017 or 2020 to be a better team… no to guys like wang.. he’s another chris young situation, enough already, can our GM show the fan base he wants to win and go after someone like CJ wilson, make a trade for a pitcher, something!! jeez! why do many of you focus on the financial side of the business?? yes, bay,castillo and oliver were horrendous deals, but we’ve made some good trades and signs too you know..
Right,
I mean if it’s CJ Wilson than I prefer that. I just thought of Wang as a possible replacement for Pelfrey. And if management does the wright thing and trade Wright for MAJOR LEAGUE READY pitching (and not alleged suspects/prospects), sign Reyes, than we may be able to do BOTH or even get another pitcher as well!
fair enough, i’ve said many times, with reyes and good SP, we can be a very good team, as we’ve seen reyes makes others around him better… if we get CJ wilson and reyes, then get a good enough closer, trade wright + prospects for a good #2, we can have a very good solid rotation, and if that kid stinson doesas as good as he did, we can have a very good team w/o forcing payroll, which is what many are worry about here
That’s the way to go.
Give me that template, give me that goal for 2012. Then I go buy another flex pack because I KNOW my team is trying to win and trying to compete for the wild card,
Money begets money.
I’d rather have Wang instead of Pelfrey. Whats Pelfrey gonna get paid next season like $7 million??? No thanks! At least Wang can handle NY send Pelfrey to Kansas City.
kmaxxx, what’s the point how much pelfrey makes?? is not as if we’re gonna spend it on a good player. they will look to decrease the payroll even more. it shouldn’t matter
The point is why should we overpay a player millions if we dont have too? Regardless of payroll are you saying Pelfrey is worth 7 million? Youre good with that???
You sound like a kid complaining about not getting his birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. “If I can’t have what I want then I don’t want anything!”
Who cares how much Pelfrey makes? You win by spending! SPEND SPEND SPEND! Look at the top 10 payrolls in the league. Every one of them perennial World Series contenders. The 4 remaining teams are the 4 highest payrolls.
I can’t stand you new fans who keep talking about money. I remember the good old days of Comiskey and O’Malley and Charlie O when no one cared about the money.
AND GET OFF MY LAWN!
I think Donal was being sarcastic about the whole “Spend, spend, spend” thing. But, for those curious, here’s the 4 remaining Playoff teams:
Milwaukee – $85,497,333 (17th)
St. Louis – $105,433,572 (11th)
Texas – $92,299,264 (13th)
Detroit – $105,700,231 (10th)
Of the 9 teams who spent the most, only the Yankees (1st) and Phillies (2nd) made the Playoffs this year (to be fair, the Red Sox (3rd) missed by a game). The combined salaries of the Yankees and Phillies is just $13.2 million LESS than the combined salary of all 4 teams left in the Playoffs (in other words, another Jorge Posada).
Wang would make an interesting acquisition. I’m not 100% sold that he has fully recovered, but it can’t hurt to take a flier on him for a Capuano type deal.
I have been saying we should keep him in mind for a while now. Look at his Sept. numbers. He knows how to win and did it in NY. I also would rather have him than Pelfrey.
..and people laughed when people like Vinny B, Maniac, and myself all said that signing Wang was something worth looking into last season.
I know of a couple people here who kept mocking me all season because of that. He who laughs last….
If Wang is indeed back i’d take him over Pelf myself
People laugh at you and Maniac for so many reasons
And there is a slight difference between Wang now and Wang 365 days ago.
People laugh at you and Maniac for so many reasons”
LOL, bayonne, look, donal is also a comidian… LOL!!
And there is a slight difference between Wang now and Wang 365 days ago.
Yes the difference is that now fools like you can second guess.
None of you saberfools ever put yourselves on the line for fear of having to say you were wrong.
We dont operate like that, if we’re wrong we admit it. But we have no fear in speaking our minds and potentially being wrong never stops us from expressing our baseball opinions even when fools like you rail against those opinions.
second guessing, aggee and donal are becoming the masters at that!!!!
Exactly,
The flip side of his sarcastic remark is that we had the foresight back then to take a gamble on Wang and it would have worked out.
That’s what I’m talking about being smart and being brave and making decisions like that.
He’s too busy being a smart-ass and not smart. I’m saying what I would have done back then and I DID say it, whereas he’s admitting that well he didn’t know that Wang would wind up doing this well. Sounds like a person to me who is very comfortable being a second guesser
“The flip side of his sarcastic remark is that we had the foresight back then to take a gamble on Wang and it would have worked out.”
11 mediocre games. Not really sure what you think was so brilliant about it.
better than 4 starts and 24 innings and right now, at this point, Wang looks like an even better bet to come back and be successful than Chris Young.
now here comes the snarky, sarcastic, remark from a loon who has very little knowledge about baseball but big on sarcastic remarks i KNOW he would not do in real life.
“better than 4 starts and 24 innings and right now, at this point”
Ya, mildly better.
Not better than Capuano, though.
Like I said, I’ll take a flier on him with a Capuano/Young type of deal, but I have no idea why you’re so wet for him.
Clowns like you dont have records of being right or wrong because you never say anything on the record. All you can do is use stats of past events to point out who was right or wrong. God forbid you ever went out on a limb and simply made a gut call. That’s why saber gm’s suck, No instincts.
Because I think way bigger than you. And that’s why you and your buddies are so behind and so frustrated. You just can’t see the big picture.
You all just sit there, furrowing your brows in a vain attempt to understand and then lash out in anger when the cramping starts.
So, it is a virtue to make declarations without sufficient knowledge?
” if we’re wrong we admit it.”
Load. Of. Crap.
“{But we have no fear in speaking our minds and potentially being wrong never stops us from expressing our baseball opinions”
Not potentially. repeatedly.
Wang could be a good idea for next season now that we’ve seen him pitch. Last season would have been a disaster with his health, but he certainly would be a good gamble for a cheap deal now.
maniac, remember this:
alex86 says: krod has a career 88% saves record as a mets
donal says: that’s terrible!
Where did I say that?
LOL, it says donal doesn’t it…..????? i found a way to PROVED how much of a liar you are.. you f’ing loser!!!
You typed my name, that’s why it says it. What I am asking is when and where exactly did I say that?
Comment removed for violating guidelines.
No, I never said that. Stop lying.
I get it. You are frustrated that you’re not smart enough to keep up with the the conversation.
But lashing out and lying about people is not going to fix that. If you want to be a productive participant in the conversation, you need to just keep quiet and learn for a while.
Comment removed for violating guidelines.
Cerrone must have paid Joe a couple of months running fees just to make sure his site could never be accused of having the most inane comments section of any Met related site.
WE are ALL Mets fans, right.
i know, ever since the Mets hired a saber-oriented moneyball front office the comments section and the general intelligence of most of the new blog posts has gotten worse.
You are absolutely right.
I mean we now read posts by writers here how “The Mets Season Has Been a Success”, “The Econo-Mets” in which Sandy Alderson’s off season was described as “remarkable”. Oh by the way that comment was made before the season started too.
We now have more posts about how to win CHEAPLY then just trying to be smart and win with the budget you have. Which can be done by the way. We’re also worried more than ever about the payrolls of other teams than ever before more than who’s available within the Mets own financial constraints.
We now have posts about what players to get based on OBP and salary instead of just getting the best players we can with what we have – TO WIN!
More posts about saving money because when all the kids come up they’re ALL going to be good, Shangri -La has been achieved and we will have a never-ending Conga Line of minor leaguers from A to AAA who will each move up and perfectly fill the vacated spot left by the minor leaguer who has been promoted and ALL will be able to slide right in seamlessly and we’ll never have to go out of our way and risk spending on a guy who we think will help us win.
You’re right, it has gotten DUMBER around here.
Wow, I have never witnessed someone who so actively and enthusiastically misses the point.
Yup, with all your posts, it’s gotten dumber. Chill out. Lighten up. By the way, i normally don’t reply to you because it’s like talking to a brick wall. I have seldom met someone so negative with the ability to distort what is said.
Hey you been? How’s the man who once claimed the Mets are in “good hands” with Murphy & Emaus at 2B doing?
As soon as Ruben Tejada got hot you disappeared. You had followed the pattern before but this time I thought it was for good since Tejada is now a starting major leaguer FOR GOOD.
What did he hit? Almost .290?
Des says:
April 21, 2011 at 9:28 pm
Tag, We had Bayonne’s 2B guy, the no-hit, no-field Ruben Tejada.
Des says:
April 17, 2011 at 2:02 pm
“The very first thing I would do, right now, is trash this 2B experiment with Murphy and Eamus and restore some order to the infield and give Jose someone familiar to work with.”
Bayonne’s ‘someone familiar to work with’ is up in Buffalo. His name is Ruben Tejada and he is now 1 for 9 (AVG .111) in the his three games, after getting a quick start. After the first three games, Tejada has cooled, as reflected by his 5 for 23 (AVG .217). In total this season, Ruben hit a triple in his first game but hasn’t got any other extra base. He is an offensive deficit.
Des says:
April 18, 2011 at 11:49 pm
EMAUS and MURPHY (From Amazin’ Avenue)
http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/4/18/2118398/2011-uzr-numbers-are-posted-and-emaus-and-murphy-are-doing-well
With a minimum of 50 innings played, tied for 3rd best defensive second baseman in the Majors is Brad Emaus with a 21.0 UZR/150. Emaus is tied for fourth in UZR with 1.3.
Daniel Murphy hasn’t played enough innings to be ranked yet, but his initial numbers are an excellent 18.1 UZR/150 and 0.7 UZR. The small sample size should leave us cautious, but if looks like we’re in decent hands until (and if) Reese Havens gets healthy, and gets to the Majors”
Gotten over the trauma that Ruben Tejada is NOW the Mets starting second baseman? As predicted? Are we gonna now hear daily Reese Havens updates? Hey, I hope he does do well in AA next season.
So what are your excuses now? You ripped the poor kid for over a year and I tried to tell you but you wouldn’t listen. But then again you ripped Ike Davis too – and even started to knock Justin Turner.
So anyway welcome back I look forward to hear more of your false predictions, wrong assertions, and generally bad judgement. But i’m saying that very warmly and friendly.
And who can forget Des’ famous post where he quoted HIMSELF and tried to pass his quotes on as official references:
http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/04/mets-cut-brad-emaus-and-promote-justin-turner.html
Anyway so how’s Sacramento been? Did you say hi to Jerry Manuel and Pat Gillick for me? You know, Pat Gillick is the guy you said is the one REALLY calling the shots and not Ruben Amaro.
Welcome Back.
Actually he didn’t, but come on man… You yourself have left 419 comments since May 5th. It can’t be that bad.
We have passionate fans that are split along deep philosophical lines that both sides are willing to defend to the death.
Sure we can post about uniforms, blue walls, and Iggy’s translator potentially being out of a job, instead of hot button issues, but what’s the fun in that?
We are not a niche Mets site with a few hundred regular readers that all get along and sing Kumbaya. Obviously, 11,000 different unique users a day see some value in coming here every day, up 2,000 since March.
You can love or hate us, but you can never ignore us. That’s what’s best about this site. We represent an entire fan base, not just the portion you would agree with. It’s why we call ourselves a Mets Fansite and not a blog which typically takes on the personality and views of the owner. I disagree with half the posts on this site and probably 75% of the comments, but I would never change a thing about it. That’s Metsmerized…
Send all donations to GetMetsmerized@aol.com.
Joe,
“I disagree with half the posts on this site and probably 75% of the comments, but I would never change a thing about it.”
I don’t think I’ve ever seen you admit that lol. And you took a veiled shot at Metsblog lol. Nice.
well, the 25% continues to shrink.
so make it an even 420 and call it a day.
Wang seems pretty solid, good temperment which i think would be good for Mets. I hope they part ways w Pelf, maybe a different setting would be better for him, either wya he’s no longer cheap and it will be real hard to watch him next year, i think it would be a moving forward type move getting rid of him and i wish him the best i hope he can still have a nice career. Pelf to me is like OPerez and we cant count on him here for big starts anymore, someone like Wang would be better for this club, frsh face that competiive and dependable if healthy and doesnt get frazzeled imo..we;ll see who Sandy gets but i always liked Wang..
Wang and Dickey on the same staff?
The newspapers will have a field day. I can see it already…
Signing any free agent who has undergone this type of surgery is a mistake even if signed at a cheap rate. Right now we will be paying Chris Young to sit. Do we need another such problem. Waiting for Johann to return is one thing but to ad a Wang would be a foolish gamble especially if his presence on the roster impedes the development of any of our young pitchers. We are better off signing journeyman guys who are at least healthy like we did with Capuano. Mediocre is better than the D.L… but coming back possibly (when hell freezes over)
chris young… again, sandy was looking to spend as little as possible last season, so he went with the cheapest option he could’ve gotten in capuano and chris young, he knew he was gonna be given a pass, now, this year will be different, i don’t wanna see a guy like wang here because it shows he’s moneyballin the mets, i wanna have a competitive team on the field, that means the GM cares about winning, is not all about SAVING MONEY!!! jeez!!!
Well I will admit he is less of a risk than re-signing Young would be.
But really are those numbers actually much better than what we have?
I don’t think we need another 4+ ERA pitcher in the rotation when what we REALLY need is more under 4 ERA pitchers!
We are already going to replace one guy with a pitcher who has had the same surgery.
We are probably going to give an MiL contract to young who is in the same predicament.
Thats three possible SPs who could all blowup mid season if that surgery doesn’t really hold and or hurts their numbers.
I would rather they spent a little more and get a really good starter who is worth giving a three or four year deal at 6-8 mil per and will improve upon one of the current rotation spots from this year.
But then again perhaps we are taking enough risk in the rotation as is, Lets see what Santana can do, Maybe get Young who if he returns to career form will be better than Chien and cheaper until he proves himself and just coast until the Kids in the Minors are ready to bring up and improve that way!
Maybe put that money towards a closer instead in that scenario.
Your chart does show he seems to have come back to career norms, But those norms weren’t all that impressive to begin with if you ask me! LOL
as a nationals fan, I noticed a tremendous change on wang’s pitching since he returned from injury. he used more sliders, changeups, and some kind of curveball in his last 4 starts. he walked none in the 23 2/3 innings, with an era 3.88 and a so rate 6.2 per nine innings. this is better than most time he was with nyy. if he can improve his velocity on his sinkers to around 93 consistently and sharpen the other pitches in next season, i would not be surprised to see his era in the low 3s next season. as johnson pointed out wang was better and stronger each game he started, wang may not be only a keeper next season.
jay,
as a mets fan i will tell you this.. chris young in 2010 was similar or even better than wang was for you guys, then we sign him. he blew his arm up after 22 innings in 2011.. thanks but no thanks.. btw, congrats on your team finishing better than us and outdoing the geniouses we got in the front office
it might be a surprise, indeed it was, to see nationals finishing the season in front of mets, no offense but it can be a normal in the coming seasons especially without santana.