Video Game Chiang (G-Moneyball)
Getting Chiang as well in the trade is a steal, IMO. It would be like somebody trading Choo along with As-Cab, and nobody would do... that...
Doc was talking about topspin hitters, and how Trayvon isn't one. Well, Chiang is. Look at his GB% (always around 50%) and his LD % (20, 16, 20 the last 3 years).
Once the Sox got him some dietary help he just exploded onto the scene.
“Call him Video Game Chiang,” Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks said of Portland teammate Chih-Hsieh Chiang at the All-Star Futures Game, where both players represented the Sox. “He hits the ball with video game pop. He hits the ball harder than anyone I’ve seen. He squares balls up. If he squares a ball up, and a guy is throwing hard, he’ll hit a ball 500 feet, no problem.”
“He’s always had that pop but he’s more consistent with it now. He hits line drives, I flinch because I think they’re going to kill somebody. … This guy hits the ball so hard, and it’s to all fields. He hit a ball, actually it was in spring training, he hit a ball to left-center, a lot of righties couldn’t pull it that far. It’s just unreal how hard he hits the ball.”
Now, he tends to go oppo, IIRC, which will NOT help him in the Safe. He's not a strict lefty pull-hitter. But now that his diet is fixed... we'll see if he can hit like that forevermore. Glad he wanted to come around on managing his diabetes.
But the issue went beyond just available foods for Chiang. Until this year, he seemed at times to struggle with the dedication needed to properly regulate his blood sugar.
“It was hard, especially if you’re a professional athlete in the first couple of years,” acknowledged Chiang. “I needed to make an adjustment.”
Chiang showed a desire to increase the vigilance with which he maintains his condition. The Sox were happy to help.
“This year we got him with a Chinese-speaking nutritionist at MGH. We’ve seen his energy level and his play increase a ton. He’s changed his diet,” said Hazen. “He’s definitely been more focused on it this season. It’s paid off on the field.”
Better diet, better preparation defensively, better swings at the plate... and better results. We might have bought low on this kid, and I'd love for that to be the case.
I'd take Raul Ibanez with a rocket arm again, thank you very much.
~G