The news that Chien-Ming Wang has a mid-foot sprained Lisfranc tendon and a torn peroneal longus tendon in his right foot could have been worse.
However, it was far from good. The Yankees’ ace likely won’t be available to pitch again before Sept. 1 at the earliest.
The diagnosis was made by Yankees physician Dr. Stuart Hershon and foot and ankle specialist Dr. Justin Greisberg after Wang underwent a MRI exam today at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Wang, who is 8-2 and appeared to be out of a deep funk from his prior two starts, suffered the injury running the bases Sunday in Houston when he scored on Derek Jeter’s single to right field.
Wang’s foot has been placed in a walking boot for a minimum of six weeks. If the sprain heals, he then likely will need 4-6 weeks of bullpen sessions, throwing batting practice and minor league rehab games before being ready to return to the big leagues. And remember, after Sept. 1 rehab games would be limited to minor league postseason games. Even if Wang can return in September, the news is crippling for the Yankees.
“Nothing against (Alex Rodriguez) and (Jorge) Posada but when you lose a front-line starter, that’s a big deal,” Mussina said Sunday. “There are seven other guys in the lineup. When you lose your No. 1 starter, that’s very hard. He is the ace.”
Andy Pettitte said, “Obviously, it would be a huge loss. He is our ace and unreplaceable for what he does.”
Brian Bruney understands what’s ahead for Wang.
“I had a sprain and a slight fracture or deep bruise,” the reliever said yesterday from Tampa, Fla. Bruney suffered a Lisfranc sprain and fracture in late April and will throw his first bullpen session Tuesday in Tampa. “From what I have heard it’s pretty similar to what I had. From what I understand they run from severe to mild. Mine, I guess, was medium.”
Short-term, the Yankees are likely to give journeyman Dan Giese a start Saturday against the Reds at Yankee Stadium. That would have been Wang’s next outing.
Long-term, it will be interesting to see what develops. The Indians aren’t dangling C.C. Sabathia yet and the Yankees don’t have the major league arms the Indians will be looking for when/if they do put the Cy Young lefty on the trading block.
Daniel McCutchen, Jeffrey Marquez, Alan Horne, Jeff Karstens and Kei Igawa are options at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A).
Ian Kennedy also will be available when he returns from the disabled list.
There is always a four- or five-starter available from another team (think a Shawn Chacon type), but with Wang out, those clubs will try to hold up the Yankees.
Wang’s injury comes at a time when the Yankees mounted a hot streak, winning nine of 12, thanks to improved starting pitching from Pettitte, Mussina, Joba Chamberlain and Wang. They are four games over .500 (37-33) for the first time this season.
Now the rotation houses Darrell Rasner, who has lost four straight after winning his first three games, and likely Giese, whose ticket to the major leagues was as Chamberlain’s caddy when Chamberlain was limited to short pitch counts in his first two starts. Giese is a 31-year-old righty with eight major league games before making three relief appearances this year.