Wang is a proven winner, going 54 and 23 in his career with the Yankees, winning 19 games twice in a short career that has, in the last two seasons, been marred with injuries. But Wang is only 29, and if he can stay healthy, he is one of the top-tier starters in the game.
Joe Girardi announced on Wednesday that Chien-Ming Wang will start Thursday against Texas. According to the manager, he feels like Wang has his stuff back stating, "We weren't just going to move him to move him. We had to feel that his stuff was back and watching him these last two times has made us feel that his stuff is back."
So now Phil Hughes will make the switch to the bullpen, apparently serving as the long relief man unless Wang should falter. And after the latter's horrific start, it will be interesting to see how short the leash will be. One bad start by Wang and the rotation could once again find itself in limbo, a scenario of confusion that can be highly detrimental to a team competing in a tight pennant race.
So is Girardi's decision the right one? While there are obviously those who feel that Hughes should remain in the rotation over Wang, there is also a large contingent that feel Joba Chamberlain could be so valuable out of the bullpen that Hughes and Wang should populate the rotation and Joba should
make the move to the pen. Having already examined Joba's obvious value as a starter, it is prudent to closely examine Hughes' own success as a starter this season.
Phil Hughes is a pitcher Yankees fans "want" to succeed. Blessed with dynamic stuff, Hughes is a homegrown talent that seems constantly on the verge of becoming dominate. In his first start of 2009, Hughes shut down the now-first place Detroit Tigers, throwing six shutout innings in which he gave up two hits and struck out six. Later in the season he befuddled the first place Texas Rangers, throwing eight shutout innings and striking out six while allowing only three hits.
But these examples are the exceptions to a season that has been far less impressive. Hughes has given up more hits (37) than innings pitched (34.2) which is never a good sign and his 5.45 ERA is by far the worst in the starting rotation, having allowed 21 earned runs in those 37 innings pitched. Potential aside, Hughes' stats are this bad despite those two standout starts; a relatively damning condemnation of his consistency and viability as a starter.
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