美國時間星期三模擬賽 (II) - 棒球

3. Nationals Insider

Nats won't rush Wang back

Though Chien-Ming Wang has progressed quickly from a strained hamstring
and could be ready to return to a big-league mound by the end of the month,
the Nationals plan to take things slowly with the veteran right-hander, not
feeling the need to rush him back with the club's rotation already
performing at such a high level.

Wang is scheduled to pitch in a simulated game Wednesday at the
Nationals' extended spring training complex in Viera, Fla. Manager Davey
Johnson suggested the 32-year-old could start a minor-league game next
week, but general manager Mike Rizzo said the rehab process will take
longer than that, in part because there's no immediate need for another
starter in his rotation right now.

"I think [the current rotation depth] changes it," Rizzo said before
tonight's game against the Astros. "We have the luxury, if you will,
to really make sure that he's 100 percent healthy and stretched out and
that the hammy, we don't re-aggravate it."

Wang hurt himself March 15 trying to make a running play at first base.
Club officials initially feared the injury was severe, but Wang was back
playing catch within a week, leading the Nationals to believe he might
only miss three or four starts to open the season.

Because the injury was to his leg, not his arm, Wang has been able to
maintain a throwing program throughout the last month. But he still hasn't
pitched three full innings at any point since last season, and the
Nationals want him to build up more stamina before activating him off the
disabled list.

"I don't think we're starting from Ground Zero right now, but he needs to
build up his arm strength again, and his pitch count, and that type of
thing," Rizzo said. "Because you don't want to bring him up, and he can
only three or four innings. We'd like to ramp him up to where he's felt
comfortable throwing 100 pitches."

The plan, according to Rizzo, is for Wang to make pitch in at least two
simulated games in Viera, then perhaps begin a minor-league rehab assignment
that could last as many as 30 days.

The way he was pitching before suffering the hamstring injury, Wang
looked like a key piece to the back end of the Nationals' rotation. But
10 games into the season, they haven't missed his presence at all. Entering
play today, they lead all major-league rotations with a 1.75 ERA and rank
second with 57 strikeouts.

Posted by Mark Zuckerman at 5:59 PM

http://www.natsinsider.com/2012/04/nats-wont-rush-wang-back.html

4. MASN.com

Chien-Ming Wang to face hitters Wednesday
April 16, 2012 6:19 PM by Dan Kolko

The news on Chien-Ming Wang continues to be positive.

Wang, who is down at the Nationals' complex in Viera, Fl. rehabbing his
strained left hamstring, will throw a simulated game tomorrow. This will
be his first time throwing to hitters since suffering the hamstring injury
March 15 in a spring training start against the Yankees.

The Nationals will continue to take things very slow with the veteran
right-hander, but if all goes well in Wang's simulated game, he could be
ready to begin a rehab assignment with one of the Nats' minor league
affiliates sometime in the next couple weeks.

Because Wang is suffering from a lower-body injury, he's still been able
to build up strength in his arm while he's been sidelined over the last
month.

"I think his arm is obviously ahead, because he's been doing a lot of
throwing, and I liked where his arm was at (in spring)," manager Davey
Johnson said. "I thought two or three more starts (before the injury)
and he was going to be really good. I would expect him being pretty
dang good arm strength-wise. I'm more concerned about the number of
pitches."

The Nats have said all along that they plan to bring Wang along his
rehab at a very slow pace, but the way their starting pitchers have been
performing so far this season, the organization has even less reason
to rush Wang along.

Washington's starters have delivered a 1.75 ERA through the first 10 games
this season, which is the best mark in the majors.

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