Should Chien-Ming Wang have been pulled?

Question

I'm a lifelong Yankees fan, and love Torre, but sometimes he makes such baffling decisions.

For those who weren't following the game tonight, Chien-Ming Wang pitched brilliantly, including achieving a career-high 10 K's. He let up a run in the 9th inning to make it 8-2 Yankees, but then got a double-play to clear the bases. So it's the 9th inning, 2 outs, and nobody on. He just needs one out for a complete game, and yet Torre someone yanks him. Wang threw 113 pitches, so if it was the matter of pitch count, he probably would have been taken out before that point, besideswhich, what's 3-10 more pitches?

I just don't understand the decision. He deserved the complete game. Does someone care to rationalize the decision?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

I agreed with you. Torre should have let Wang finish this game if he's already pitched 8 2/3 inning (that's almost the entire game!). What can a few more pitches do to hurt a good pitcher like Wang? If Torre think Wang was too tired to finish the 9th, he should have pulled him after the 8th inning. Why bother to let Wang pitch 2 more outs at the top of 9th?? That way, Wang would have more rest and the fans will just think it's all right to let the reliver to close the game.

Perhaps Torre doesn't like to see Wang, again, pitched another Complete Game??

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Yeah, I dunno. It was an odd decision for that situation. I didn't tune in to the post-game to see if Torre rationalized it (or if reporters even brought it up), but owell.

Thanks to all those that responded :)

Answer 2

Yes

Answer 3

I would have kept him in there for a little longer. It was his game to lose and he was doing so good the whole game. He was struggling at the end but i think he should have been able to try for the CG. I guess the coach just thought it would be better to be safe than sorry and have the Mets ring him up for more runs.

Answer 4

i was Mad to but Wang pitched a amazing game 10 ks and pitched to his ability and he got a great ovation form the fans so i was happy i wanted to get a CG but the win was good enough good for Wang but Joe did what he taugth was rigth but they won that's Wat counts

Answer 5

I wouldn't have taken him out, but I think that maybe Torre and Guidry saw something they didn't like on his last few pitches and were worried that he would let the Mets rally or get hurt. I was watching the game on ESPN, because unfortunately, we don't get the YES network where I live now and Jon Miller said that prior to this game, Carlos Delgado was 3 for 13 against Mike Myers in his career with several strikeouts. Obviously, that was part of Torre's decision, too.

I just wonder if they were concerned about how Wang looked at the end or if it was all about the Delgado-Myers matchup.

Answer 6

I think he should of been pulled. I have pitched before...not in the Majors or anything but 10 more pitches is a lot after you have thrown over 100 pitches. I thought it was a good idea.

Answer 7

I didn't see the game tonight but with 8-2 lead in the 9th, regardless of the pitch count, Torre should have give Wang a chance to record a complete game...pitching a complete game these days are starting to become rare.

Answer 8

I agree that Wang was masterful tonight and deserved to get the complete game. The only reason I can even think of why Torre would pull him is so that Wang could get an ovation as he left the field.

Answer 9

he should have been yanked...he is havin a rough time as off late pitching

Answer 10

I think Wang had enough in the tank to finish his masterpiece against my team. He was baffling the Mets all night long. Joe felt that Wang was tired, he did have over 100 pitches and Castro and Beltran did hit him pretty hard to start the inning.

Answer 11

I agree with you completely. He shouldv'e let Wang finish the game. Made no sense at all.

Answer 12

Because your owner (with some help, I'll admit) has driven up the cost of players so ridiculously high that they have to be babied. You don't take chances with a guy that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars a week. If Wang got hurt on the 114th pitch with a 6-run lead in the ninth, Torre would have been called on the carpet for letting him even start the ninth. Unless they're working on a no-hitter or have a chance to break the strikeout record, complete games by regular starters are pretty much history now. Get used to it--you have the closer strategy and $teinbrenner to thank.

Answer 13

I agree that Torre should have left Wang in for a few more pitches for a complete game. There aren't that many these days. And that was not a "save" situation anyway.
But, that's why Torre makes the big bucks and I'm here at midnight typing this damn response.

Source(s):

50-year baseball fan and arm-chair manager.

Answer 14

That's what makes Torre a great manager. In all seriousness who cares if he pitches a complete game. The yanks are still 8 1/2 back. They need everyone healthy if they are going to make this run at the Redsox.
The only way Torre lets him finish that game is if it was shut-out or a no hitter.