Maybe it's a cruel fact for Chien-Ming Wang that he has the misfortune of struggling in one of the best rotations in the major leagues. Maybe it's by contrast that Wang, the most veteran of the staff and its second-highest-paid member, has his issues magnified because of the four who come before him.
A sinker, when thrown with the velocity and weight that Chien-Ming Wang can throw it, is a devastating pitch. Hitters compare it to a bowling ball, they find it impossible to lift and they pound their bats into the ground on the way back to the dugout almost as hard as the balls they roll over hit the infield.
Carlos Gonzalez hit three home runs in his last three at-bats, Michael Cuddyer had a grand slam and Dexter Fowler also homered, leading the Colorado Rockies past the Houston Astros 13-5 on Wednesday night for their third win in a row.
Giancarlo Stanton hit his 12th home run in May to tie the franchise record for a single month and the Miami Marlins earned their 20th comeback victory Wednesday night, completing a three-game sweep of the first-place Washington Nationals with a 5-3 win.
It won't be until Tuesday or Wednesday, but at some point this week, Ross Detwiler will take the walk from the Washington Nationals' dugout to their bullpen. After nine starts, six exceptional and three mediocre, Detwiler's current stay in the starting rotation is over.
Davey Johnson's gait Friday night was a bit slower than usual, the Washington Nationals manager dealing with a lingering toe injury. For Ross Detwiler, it just meant he had longer to stare at the man who came to end his night.
The Washington Nationals have figured out, at least for now, the place for Chien-Ming Wang. When the right-hander is ready to come off the disabled list and return to the active roster on or before May 27, the Nationals will pitch him out of the bullpen, allowing their major league-best rotation to remain intact.
Ross Detwiler just stood on the back of the mound and stared. His mouth slightly agape, his jaw askew, he seethed. For almost the entirety of Nick Markakis' home run trot, Detwiler glared at the right center field seats.
Chien-Ming Wang stood on the bullpen mound at Nationals Park on Wednesday afternoon, going through his methodical motion under the supervision of Washington Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty.
