The "is Wang an ace" debate is over? I don't think so

Mark Feinsand and Tyler Kepner both wrote on their blogs today that Wang has answered all the questions about being an ace; well I don't think he has - at least not yet.

Wang is usually criticized for not striking out enough batters and not being a good road pitcher. His K's are not a major concern of mine, last year his K/9 rate improved last year to 4.70, a career high, and I think it will get even better this season. On the other hand, his road numbers do concern me, and I feel that is the question he still needs to answer: Can he be the same pitcher on the road as he is at home?

Here are his home and road splits:

Career: Home - 2.97 ERA/Road - 4.49 ERA

2007: Home - 2.75 ERA/Road - 4.91 ERA
2006: Home - 3.03 ERA/Road - 4.35 ERA
2005: Home - 3.55 ERA/Road - 4.65 ERA

At Yankee Stadium Wang has pitched brilliantly and has definitely been an ace, but on the road he's just an average pitcher, and to me true aces aren't only aces half of the time.

Here are some pitchers who I think most would agree are aces, with their home and road splits:

Johan Santana:
Home - 3.15
Away - 3.24

Pedro Martinez:
Home - 2.70
Road - 2.92

Randy Johnson:
Home - 3.01
Road - 3.47

Brandon Webb:
Home - 3.19
Road - 3.21

Roger Clemens:
Home - 3.11
Road - 3.14

John Smoltz:
Home - 3.25
Road - 3.26

Tom Glavine:
Home - 3.40
Road - 3.59

Greg Maddux:
Home - 2.96
Road - 3.28

Josh Beckett:
Home - 3.65
Away - 3.85

C.C. Sabathia:
Home - 3.94
Away - 3.87

Jake Peavy:
Home -2.88
Road - 3.73
But in the past three seasons Peavy's numbers have evened out; 3.01 at home, and 3.33 on the road.

These guys, as well as most of the better pitchers in the history of the game, are pretty much the same pitcher on the road as they are at home, and this is what Wang needs to do to become a true Ace. Who knows, maybe he has already made the adjustments needed to do so, he has been great so far this year, but three starts don't make or break a career.

I don't know why Wang is not the same pitcher on the road as he is at home, maybe it's mental, I don't think it has to do with his stuff, but with his added pitches, and his performance yesterday that might give him an ego boost, maybe this year we will see Wang be an ace not only in Yankee Stadium, but on the road as well.