KND Report: Wang likely DL-bound with strained shoulder

July 4, 11:32 PMAsian-American Sports ExaminerMichael Street

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Chien-Ming Wang's comeback season hit another snag today. 
(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Just as it seemed that New York Yankee Chien-Ming Wang was rounding into form, the Taiwanese pitcher hit another roadblock.

Wang left the game against Toronto today in the sixth inning after catcher Jorge Posada saw something wrong with his delivery.

Wang had just given up a two-run homer to Adam Lind and threw one pitch to Scott Rolen when Posada noticed his velocity was way down.

He called for manager Joe Girardi, who quickly brought in a reliever for Wang, who has already been on the DL once this year with hip problems.

Wang left immediately for an MRI, which showed that he had a strain as well as bursitis, both of which should keep him out for a month or so.

In the meantime, New York will look towards Phil Hughes or Alfredo Aceves in the bullpen, or Sergio Mitre, currently pitching in AAA Wilkes-Barre.

Wang's 2008 season was cut short after rupturing a tendon in his foot, which led to his DL stint this year.

His poor performance this year was apparently due to a weakness in his hip caused by improper rehab from his foot problem.

Given how much he's been working on his sinker, it's not unlikely that this shoulder problem is a cascading effect of all those injuries.

Pitchers who are hurt will often tinker with their mechanics, and some excellent analysis from Matthew Sisson at Baseball Daily Digest shows that his release points had changed from last year.

Kattobase Nihonjin Dairiigaa!

The effects of his foot injury last year went beyond just Wang. Losing Wang last year was the last straw for the struggling Yanks, who would also lose Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui.

Yankee fans as well as Asian-American sports fans hope that isn't the case in 2009. New York is just one game out of first in the AL East.

As for Wang, he's hoping to return in a month or so, but admits to being "very concerned" about his shoulder.

Brandon Webb of the Arizona Diamondbacks has been on the DL nearly all of this season with shoulder bursiits, which doesn't bode well for a speedy return for Wang.