How Chien-Ming Wang improved his golf game

(Wang greets the media at a news conference in Taipei. Reuters photo by Pichi Chuang.)

Chien-Ming Wang has apparently returned to home to Taiwan for the offseason. Wang held a press conference with reporters in Taipei on Friday to discuss, among other things: the state of his shoulder, his contract status with the Nationals, and his golf game.

In this article from the Focus Taiwan News Channel's website, Wang's shoulder is said to be "80%" recovered, may or may not be ready to pitch in the spring:

"As you all know, I have only pitched in two games in the instructional league. I will have to wait until next April or May to see whether I'm ready to pitch."
(Chien-Ming Wang, via Focus Taiwan News Channel dot com, 11/12/2010)

But in another article from Radio Taiwan International website, Wang is quoted as saying his shoulder is "fine now":

"Recovering for an entire year was really tiring. I had to do the same rehab every day. I was put in the instructional league in October and I am happy about that. The hard work paid off. My shoulder is fine now."
(Chien-Ming Wang, via Radio Taiwan International dot com, 11/12/2010)

Wang didn't say definitively if he'd be back with the Nationals next season ("too early to tell" ?), but even if he doesn't come back,[Corrected!] Wang is arbitration eligible in 2011, meaning that he is under team control for the upcoming season, but he didn't elaborate on his contract status in the two stories linked above (he said it is "too early to tell"). Regardless of what happens, at least the Nationals can rest a little easier knowing that their $2 million investment helped improve Wang's golf game:

"That kind of life can be very boring, " said Wang, who took up golf as a diversion and now has about an 18 handicap.
(via Focus Taiwan News Channel dot com)

Mike Rizzo, of course, is interested in making a similar investment in Brandon Webb this offseason, in hopes of helping Webb become a scratch golfer.

Befriend the Nationals Enquirer on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.

Comments

[Steve M.]

LMAO. Great research on this. $2 million to learn golf! WTG Rizzo!

[Termell Sledgehammer]

What a d*ck, I mean, Wang. Thanks for your efforts in 2010.