Getty Images Poor Chien-Ming Wang.
After missing most of the past two seasons following shoulder surgery the 31-year-old right-hander was finally healthy and actually drawing positive reviews for his velocity and stuff early in Nationals camp.
And then he fell while trying to make a play defensively in the third inning of today’s start. Initially reports sounded pretty bad, but the Nationals announced that he’s been diagnosed with a strained hamstring.
That could keep Wang from being ready for Opening Day, but at least it’s not another major setback for a guy who hasn’t been healthy and effective since 2007. He’s slated to be the Nationals’ fifth starter after re-signing for $4 million and the injury could further convince general manager Mike Rizzo to hang onto John Lannan.
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- Graves - Mar 15, 2012 at 2:56 PM
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This is why pitchers shouldn’t play defense.
It’s unnatural.
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- phukyouk - Mar 15, 2012 at 3:03 PM
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this guy cannot catch a fucking break. I feel for him, i really really do. he was one of my favorite pitchers to watch while on the Yanks. I hope he gets better fast!
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- WhenMattStairsIsKing - Mar 15, 2012 at 3:46 PM
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I think we can formally add him to the Nick Johnson Hall of Health.
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- phukyouk - Mar 15, 2012 at 4:00 PM
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sad but true…but when healthy i think hes a lot more valuable than Nick “I come out to Miley Cyrus music” Johnson
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- randygnyc - Mar 15, 2012 at 4:26 PM
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I watched (still watching) the game live on MLB. The fall looked liked he was incredibly uncoordinated. Really struck me as odd that a professional athlete could be so “out of control”
Hope he’s ok. Had the sinker working until then.
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- natstowngreg - Mar 15, 2012 at 5:58 PM
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Pitchers = athletes? *chuckles*
But seriously, this is unfortunate. At the end of last season, it seemed that while Wang wasn’t back to his level with the Yankees, he could be a useful bottom-of-the-rotation starter.
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- jimbo1949 - Mar 15, 2012 at 4:29 PM
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I was watching this game. Russell Nathan Jeanson Coltrane Martin, Jr had to dive over him when Wang went flying over the bag. Could’ve been a lot worse.
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- surefooted1 - Mar 15, 2012 at 5:07 PM
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I was watching this game and felt so bad for him. I thought, “damn, again…”
Hope he recovers quickly.
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- protius - Mar 16, 2012 at 12:11 PM
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Please keep him far, far away from gum.
