Wang

As you've probably heard by now, Wang is having season-ending surgery this week to repair his ailing shoulder. Many are speculating that this could be the end of his tenure with the NY Yankees because the team has the option of not renewing his contract next year. When the year is done, they are no longer under any further obligation to him.

Whether or not the Yankees keep him will depend on how he recovers from the surgery. If his arm comes back just as strong as in the past, the Yankees may elect to keep him, as he has been a dependable #1 starter in the past, and can still contribute to an organization that suddenly finds itself without a go-to starting 5 rotation. But most suspect that he'll be traded or simply allowed to go into free agency.

It'll be a sad day for me if Wang leaves NY. I'd always wanted to bring my Taiwanese girlfriend to see him pitch at Yankee Stadium. And my love for the Yankees and Taiwan's love for Mr. Wang is one of the things that I feel truly brings us together.

For Taiwan, Wang has been a superstar, the first Taiwanese-born player to reach the big leagues. And he didn't only play. For two years he became the ace of the NY Yankees, a rock solid starter and 19 game winner two seasons in a row. He stopped losing streaks and at times carried the team when they were slumping, all when he must have felt enormous pressure to represent his country (as the only high-profile Taiwanese baseball player in MLB). His poise under that kind of pressure was truly awe-inspiring.

Taiwanese should be proud. It was a great honor for him to be given a Yankee uniform. But it was also a great honor for the Yankees to be blessed with such a talented, courageous pitcher who led the pitching staff for two years. I think CC Sabathia said it best yesterday:

"We really need him. He's a great pitcher."

That said, let's hope he makes his return stronger than ever...and in pinstripes.