Wang sharp throwing live BP - 棒球

Wang sharp throwing live BP
VIERA, Fla. --

Though everyone on the pitching staff throws live batting practice, for
most guys, it's merely another mundane part of spring training. For some,
though, it carries more weight.

Such is the case for Chien-Ming Wang. Though he's now 2 1/2 years removed
from major shoulder surgery and appears by all indications to be 100
percent healthy, each of his throwing sessions draws more than a typical
amount of attention.

When Wang took the mound today to face hitters, nearly every important
member of the Nationals' coaching staff and front office paused to watch.
At various points, manager Davey Johnson was there, as were pitching coach
Steve McCatty, general manager Mike Rizzo and head trainer Lee Kuntz.

The consensus opinion: Wang was sharp, maybe sharper than he's been in
a long time.

"He looks good," McCatty said to a few fellow onlookers as he walked away
to watch another pitcher on an adjacent field.

In particular, Wang appeared to be getting a lot of late movement on his
trademark sinker. He induced a string of foul balls that rattled off the
batting cage, leaving the batters reaching for pitches that started out
in the strike zone only to dart down and to the right at the last instant.

"His delivery is free and easy," Johnson said. "As he went along, he got
stronger. His velocity was better."

Wang hasn't been blowing anyone away with his stuff so far this spring,
and he's been taking extra days off between throwing sessions to make sure
his shoulder remains strong and he doesn't experience any setbacks. But
the Nationals like what they see so far, and -- for now -- they expect him
to be a part of the Opening Day rotation.

"He's a veteran pitcher," Johnson said. "He knows what he has to do to
peak at the right time."

Posted by Mark Zuckerman at 6:27 PM

http://www.natsinsider.com/2012/02/wang-sharp-throwing-live-bp.html

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