If Wang is one of the top 14 pitchers in the AL doesn’t that, by definition, make him a no. 1 starter?  I suppose what people mean is that he may not be an “ace” like Roy Halladay or Johan Santana. As a Yankee, he gives the team a tremendous boost since his low pitch counts often allow him to reach the 8th inning of games - which is invaluable given how thin their bullpen has been over the past two years.  Scouts may rave about a guy like Scott Kazmir, but he often comes out of a game in the 5th or 6th inning because his gaudy strikeout numbers cause him to have thrown 110 pitches by then.  On the other hand, Wang is somewhat of a liability on turf.

I remember his horrible outings in the ALDS last year, but he was also the only Yankees pitcher who got a win in the ALDS a year before, yes?

It may be misplaced nationalism, but as a half-Taiwanese lady I want to see Wang succeed and am a pretty big fan.

...Also, I know of crazy Taiwanese people who fly all the way to NYC just to see Wang pitch.  I’m glad I live in Queens.

I sort of want Pettite to pitch the home opener.

But Pettitte used HGH.  Think of the children!

Wang’s age, ability, and tendency to eat up innings make him the most sensible candidate to start the most games for the Yankees this year, thus the most sensible opening-day pitcher.

But should the Yankees start a pitcher named “Wang” on opening day?  While preferable to Johnson or Putz that’s still a long way from wholesome.  As SG said, “Think of the children!”

I don’t know if anyone has ever studied the correlation between HRs per fly ball and ground ball rate, but it may be an interesting study

I seem to remember reading such a study, or at least its summary.  Hardballtimes maybe?  No promises, but I’ll see if I can find it.

here it is.

Wang’s age, ability, and tendency to eat up innings make him the most sensible candidate to start the most games for the Yankees this year, thus the most sensible opening-day pitcher.

Sure, I just hope that within the limits of reasonable schedule juggling, Pettite is the first pitcher to don pintripes at Yankee Stadium.

wtf is up with YES not showing Joba’s start tonight?

You’ve got to switch to DirecTV.  It’s on the Cincinnati channel.

I just hope that within the limits of reasonable schedule juggling, Pettite is the first pitcher to don pintripes at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees open the season at home.  The season opener and the home opener are the same game.  I’m not sure what kind of juggling could alter that fact.

Now, if it really means that much to you, I’m sure that something could be arranged to allow Pettitte to dress an hour earlier than the rest of the pitching staff.

Now, if it really means that much to you, I’m sure that something could be arranged to allow Pettitte to dress an hour earlier than the rest of the pitching staff.

Awesome.  I had a similar initial reaction.

The Yankees open the season at home.  The season opener and the home opener are the same game.  I’m not sure what kind of juggling could alter that fact.

Wow. please ignore all my comments from today.
Except, I did think it was illegal for the Yankees to open a season without a mediocre trip to the west coast. I’m pysched to watch real baseball as soon as possible.

You’ve got to switch to DirecTV.  It’s on the Cincinnati channel.

MLB EI showed up on my bill this month but I don’t get this channel ... should I?

IE. Uhh re #6. Nice to see you didn’t leave your splitter in Havana.

in retrospect the Yankees were insanely lucky in 05/06 that they had these 2 B prospect came up and immediately hit their max potential and then some. that’s pretty rare. and if it weren’t for those 2 the Yanks probably had sunk outta the playoffs 2 outta the last 3 season.

over the last 2 season, here is the complete list of AL SPs that out VORPed Wang.

Johan Santana
Roy Halladay
CC Sabathia
John Lackey

that’s it. and that’s some mighty fine company to be in.

To dismiss Wang and Cano as “B prospects” is a bit too simplistic given the inherent difficulty of predicting young players.  After all Eric Duncan was at one time considered an A prospect and listed among Baseball America’s Top 100 and is still mired in the minors.  Craig Hanson, the supposed jewel of the 2006 draft, was supposed to be major league ready immediately after being drafted but spent all of last year in the minors.  On the other hand, Wang was a highly regarded pitcher who induced a bidding war for his services coming out of Taiwan.  Before Joba and Hughes came along, he was the only Yankee starter who could consistently hit the mid 90s with his fastball.  Let´s not pretend Wang is some sort of soft-tossing weenie right-hander who came out of nowhere to confound everyone’s expectations.  Did scouts peg him as a no. 1 starter?  No.  But that doesn’t make him Matt DeSalvo.

exactly IE. but you still have to give some estimated projections on prospects. and given Wang’s age and inconsistent track record he was a B prospect and given Cano’s also inconsitent and rarely great track record he also was a B prospect. it’s obviously impossible to predict things like Wang suddenly learning a plus plus sinker or Cano is simply a guy that strives in tougher competition though. but at that point in time it was very unrealistic to say 1 is gonna be a top 5 AL SP and the other one is looking like a potential hall of fame career.

I have to agree with RollingWave.  There were some who looked on Wang/Cano as LESS than B prospects, but it’s hard to say they were greater.  I think that one of the things with Wang and Cano was they had A potential, but there were questions as to whether they could fulfill it, which knocked them down to B’s.  Obviously, they have fulfilled (and possibly more) their potential.

I remember seeing Cano in Scranton the year before he came up (he was with the visiting Clippers then), and thought he would be good.  He hit a HR to left-center off of a left-handed pitcher (only Ed Yarnell, but still).  But I never thought he would be this good.