The Growing Disagreement on Wei-Chung Wang

Wei-Chung Wang is one of the biggest storylines of the Milwaukee Brewers season thus far. We already know about why he is an intriguing player, and the consequences that come with him being off the team. Wang had another terrible outing giving up five runs in one inning making his ERA around 17.61.  This is unfair to Wang. He really should be in Single or Double A working on his craft but instead he gets trotted out once every two weeks to get hit around by MLB talent. Milwaukee is in a tough place with a General Manager whom wants him there and a Manager that doesn't. We don't know the latter part of that statement, but it sure feels like it.

Doug Melvin made all sorts of comments about how the Brewers are committed to Wang, long-term. We talked on the blog before about how it feels like Wang is first-round draft pick to replace them losing a pick to have Kyle Lohse. Melvin believes he will be a great pitcher, and he is terrified to let go of young pitching. It comes from him giving up on Jorge De La Rosa and Dana Eveland whom didn't become All-Stars post-Brewers life, but they did end up having solid years here and there. Further, Melvin waited until he absolutely last moment to let go of Manny Parra because he believed there still was a chance of him being successful.

No one likes to be wrong, and it seems like Melvin might top the list. For a long time, he brought in former Texas players, he had either drafted or traded for at some point, almost like he wanted to be proven right. Additionally, it doesn't help things that Hector Rondon, a Rule 5 guy like Wang, has become the closer of the Chicago Cubs after spending a year on the Chicago roster. Melvin looks to that and probably knows he cannot let go to Wang especially to rival Pittsburgh. But the difference between the Cubs and Brewers is Chicago spent a majority of the season below .500 while Milwaukee is in a pennant race. Having a liability in the bullpen like Wang is making things difficult on Ron Roenicke and it's starting to show through.

Last night, the Brewers trailed Atlanta by one run in the eighth inning coming off a half inning featuring a Ryan Braun home run. Will Smith, Milwaukee's usual set-up man, hadn't pitched since Friday, but Roenicke went with Wang. It became an entire dumpster fire with a six-run inning in the eighth leading to Milwaukee's third straight loss. Many people including me perceived as Roenicke waving the white flag because they were likely hopeless against Craig Kimbrel, one of the best closers in the game. But now that I had a chance to stew a little bit on this topic, Roenicke did this as a big giant FU to Melvin.

Why would Roenicke have Wang face Ryan Doumit, Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Freddie Freeman? Wang wasn't going through the bottom of the order here. Further, he wasn't facing a low-tier team rather a likely playoff contender. Roenicke wanted to show Melvin how not ready this pitcher is and wants to have Jimmy Nelson or Mike Fiers in the big leagues, two guys completely dominating Triple A right now. Roenicke didn't mind losing the game to prove a point. Is that spiteful?  Yes. Will Roenicke get his point across to Melvin?  No probably not, but Roenicke wanted to make it clear Wang doesn't belong here. It's not really fair to Wei-Chung truthfully, but there is a clear division between the Manager and General Manager. Although Roenicke has seemingly lost his marbles trying to figure out what works with this baseball team so who knows it could be the manager doing something different.

What happens from here?  Who really knows. Wang is known liability. Does he go on the Jeff Suppan Disabled List with a 'shoulder' or 'elbow' injury that causes him to miss a month or so?  I don't think Melvin makes the move to give him back to Pittsburgh honestly, at least not yet. But Milwaukee is heading to an iceberg they cannot avoid especially if other pitchers struggle in the coming weeks. If Marco Estrada hits the skids and clearly does not look like a starting pitcher, what does Milwaukee do?  It becomes damn near impossible with Wang in the bullpen if Estrada starts showing signs of struggling as a starter.

Maybe there isn't a growing disagreement with Manager and Front Office, but it sure as hell is starting to feel like it a bit. Wang hasn't pitched in two weeks, but still, it seemed calculated. Almost like a moon door for Wang's career in Milwaukee.

Charlie.