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Paul’s Note: The following article was posted on 8/31. For the original article in Traditional Chinese, click HERE.

“Didn’t you ask me what was wrong with Wanger? What did I say? Didn’t I say he was fine?”

“Why are we wasting my my time for interviews? For what? Wanger? Come on, he had a terrible game, so many walks…”

Take a guess, who were those 2 quotes above from?

That’s right, they were from the same one who often makes fun of Wang, but actually a great person — Ron Guidry.

Chien-Ming Wang had a great game, so naturally the Taiwanese media requested to speak with Guidry after the game. By now the Taiwanese media has learned their ways, less likely to misbehave, and ask for Guidry through the media relations; Kim Jones of YES saw Guidry showed up, hurried and came over to talk to him, and the Taiwanese media politely waited for the YES, did a good job too.

Everyone saw the conversation with Guidry, so we don’t have to address it too much, basically a few points regarding the pitch count. Basically even if it was going to be a no hitter, they wouldn’t have kept Wang in the game; plus, other than the blowout in Toronto and the game in Boston back in 6/1, Wang has lasted at least 6 innings in other games, even the one in Boston he lasted 5.2 innings. He really has a high workload. Thus Gator stressed that “Wang’s health is absolutely more important than the no hitter.”

Also Gator praised Wang’s attitude, saying that he had a good time hanging out with him, and even though he is successful, Wang still stayed humble, working hard to correct his flaws and listen to the coaches.\

Another thing Gator mentioned during his interview was Wang’s sinker. It is a weapon for him, but at the same time the biggest enemy because the huge movement. Sometimes Wang can’t even control it himself.

This reminded me an interesting comparison — for media, Guidry is a good friend, but also an enemy. To be exact: he is a good friend for writers, but possibly an enemy for the TV media.

It’s because he gives very long and complete explanations, going on and on. Often a simple question can lead to a full blown speech, and it is great for us writers because all the quotes and information; yet as for Kim Jones, one question can lead to many more, so Jones is not sure whether to stay or to go.

For TV, they need something simple and precise. Usually they will shoot a segment, take out the tape and have someone deliver to the editing room so Kim Jones can move on to the next person; since Gator gives every details, Jones can’t exactly move the mic away from him, standing along side with a smile on. Meanwhile I take notes next to them and be amused.

When it ends, I wanted to step outside and see some reaction of the Taiwanese fans, and noticed Wang was about to leave as well. He usually leaves on his own so I walked towards him wanting to at least say bye, instead I saw Gator walking with him tonight, still talking to him. When they walked upstairs, they even stopped to talk. So I avoided them, deciding to wait near the exit. After awhile, Gator left, and Wang met up with his wife outside the exit and left together.

I guess Gator is possibly the one person that talks to Wang the most in that whole team.

J-Train writes for the Word Journal, one of the bigger Mandarin news paper in North America, in NYC. He spends most of his time covering Asian athletes, with focus on Chien-Ming Wang and the New York Yankees. He recently became the first Taiwanese baseball writer to join the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). For more of his articles, you may go to The J-Train Blog (it’s in Traditional Chinese), or click HERE for my translated ones. For those English speaking fans, HAKANIN.com will continue to provide the translated version of his articles, so stay tuned!

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Filed under: Chien-Ming Wang, Joseph Liao, MLB, New York Yankees, Sports, Taiwan, The J-Train Blog