This Is Beyond Stupid

In the academic world there are only a few simple rules to follow when writing some form of thesis. Do not, under any circumstance plagiarise. If your institution is of any quality you will likely find that if you do, then you will be swiftly shoved out the door before the ink of the "F" on your paper is dry. The next rule is that if you intend to make a point you must justify it with either proof or at the very least some rationale to back up your assertions.

Unfortunately the second rule of the academic world does not extend to journalism. If it did then I wouldn't have spent yesterday pulling my hair out over the depressing obituaries that the New York press, fans and sports media community are dishing out to Chien-Ming Wang. Simply put...if you think he is finished as a major league pitcher you are an idiot.

You may flip that argument on me and point out his statistics that are some of the worst any pitcher has put up in two starts that you or I have ever seen. I am not suggesting that he hasn't been awful. He surely has and he is the primary reason this team is at .500 rather than possibly 2 games over. However if you are to believe that he is finished or that the league has figured him out then you are doing so at the wrong time.

I believe that the issue with CMW is part mental, part mechanical. He has in the past run into mechanical issues that were in the end resolved and I believe that they will be resolved again. If I am to believe Posada, they were resolved up until he stepped on the mound in the first inning against Tampa. For whatever reason, potentially mental he can't get it all together just now. Is that cause for concern, yes! Is it cause to state his ultimate demise as a major league pitcher, no!

I believe that he will eventually get it together again because statistics and history tell me that for the most pat this guy has been a very good pitcher. More statistics and history back up that belief than the current hypothesis/tripe being perpetuated by the media, but even more embarrassingly by fans (some 44% say via a YES pole that he is done, loving the loyallty there!). When he gets it back together, then you will find out if this 3 year ride he has been on is coming to an end.

The fact that Tampa and Baltimore are crushing bad pitches as a function of bad mechanics tells me only that they can do what every team should to bad pitching. It tells me very little about Wang other than when he pitches bad he will get hit hard, which is true of any pitcher. If Tampa and Baltimore (or any other team) were getting to Wang when he has his good sinker and when his mechanics are in line to provide an effective slider and change, then I will be worried because that will tell me that when he is at his best he can't get it done anymore. You may say that you don't think he can get back to having his effective stuff but all information available suggests that is not the case based on what is going on in between starts.

If you are worried I urge you to be patient. What is going on with Wang bugs me just as much as the next person because he's been my favorite guy the last few years. Based on that don't take this article as a sign of bias. I am simply suggesting that any suggestion that he is done, on a downward spiral or regressing is far too early and lacking in strong evidence or rationale to carry any real weight.