Wanger Looking to Bounce Back Big

If it were up to Chien-Ming Wang, he would probably never run the bases again. The last time he did, June 15 of 2008, he suffered a season ended Lisfranc injury. At the time, he was well on his way to another winning season. But that's all behind him now.

"I felt very bad," Wang said of last season. "I wanted the rehab to go quicker and get back on the field."

Mark Feinsand of the Daily News reports that The Wanger hired a personal trainer in the off-season to get his foot and body in the best shape possible. Wang is feeling good, but the team is taking it easy on him in the early Spring Training drills.

"I'm not thinking about it," Wang said of the injury. "Everything is normal now."

Wang, who recorded back to back 19 win seasons in 2006 and 2007, is a key to the Yankees success. His manager, and a former opponent, now teammate, were quick to recognize that fact.

"His return is vital to our staff," (Joe) Girardi said. "We missed him a lot last year. We missed his innings, we missed his leadership on the mound, what he brought to the table."

What he brings to the table is a workhorse who won 19 games in both 2006 and '07, establishing himself as one of the most reliable pitchers in baseball. Wang was 8-2 with a 4.07 ERA in his abbreviated 2009.

"When you see Wang healthy, you automatically envision 18 or 19 wins," Burnett said. "He's established himself as that kind of horse. He probably likes the fact that me and CC are here, because he can just hang back in his locker every day and get his work done."

"When we missed him late in the season, I don't think anybody in our lineup had an issue with it," said catcher Kevin Cash, a non-roster invitee who spent last season with the Red Sox. "It was a benefit for us to know we weren't going to have to face him. It was the same as us losing (Josh) Beckett."

We're glad our boy is back!

photo courtesy of REUTERS/Steve Nesius (UNITED STATES)