Hughes having mixed results at big league level

[jacksonianmarch]

So, I figured I'd talk about Phil Hughes today, since I am sick of studying and cannot hit the hay yet. So, Phil has had 6 starts thus far. 2 stellar starts. One average start, one below average start (that certainly could have been an average one if Torre hadnt sent him out for the 7th 2 nights ago) and 2 awful starts. Nothing out of the ordinary for a good rookie coming up. Couple things.

 

His fastball command is as advertised. I know, he has walked 14 in 32 innings, but he isnt missing by much. He is right around the plate, but a rookie isnt going to get the borderline calls consistently, and this has killed Hughes. But he isnt missing in the zone with that fastball, and if he misses with it at all, it is out of the zone where players cannot do damage. So, I like that about him.

 

His velocity was overstated. I had seen SR's of him sitting in the mid 90s. I know he is coming back from injury and I know we shouldnt make value judgements on 6 games, but this kid sits 91-92 with a fastball that gets up to 94/95 every now and then.

 

His curveball is dirty. That curve is 68-70mph and drops off the table. I think it will be one hell of a pitch for him as he gets some more experience.

 

But, his curveball command was well overstated. This could be due to jitters, injury or whatever, but that curveball has not been located well thus far and has been the source of a lot of his issues. It has hung a good amount which has led to him getting hit and then other times he cannot locate it where he wants it to be for it to be a consistent out pitch. He has shown the flashes of it and I have no doubts that he can harness it, it is only that he hasnt thus far.

 

His change is better than advertised, but he doesnt use it enough. In his most dominant start, Texas, when he got hurt, his primary off speed pitch was the changeup and he went to the curve for the K. He seems to locate the changeup better than he does his curve and it has a nice bite to it. Once again, once he gets on in the league, he may see that he has another weapon that he could use more than he is currently using it.

 

Now my final assessment of him is both a complement and a knock. Most people will look at the 14BB in 32IP and think he is wild. Quite the contrary. The kid doesnt give in. On 3-0, he will still be trying to hit the corner. He just cannot and will not lay it in there. Hence, he has the mentality of a battler, but combined with being a rookie and not having perfected his arsenal, this approach is leading to increased walk totals and high pitch counts.

 

Overall, I think this kid has a very bright future. He has still shown dominance (30K in 32IP) while still not having shaken off all the rust from his long layoff. One thing I will caution people on, is that Buchholz and Hughes are really similar. And not just in age or arsenal, but in their mentality. Buchholz was the exact same way in his attack of the plate. He'd rather miss than lay one over the plate, and this led to his higher than normal walk totals. Once they both get on in this league and start getting some borderline calls, they should be strike throwing machines. Either way, we may be having "who's better" conversations on here for yrs to come between Buchholz and Hughes. The future is bright.

[ORS]

Iph this were a paper, I'd give it an "Ph".

[schillingouttheks]

:lol:

[TheKilo]

Iph this were a paper' date=' I'd give it an "Ph".[/quote']

 

^^Phantastic.

[example1]

Buchholz and Hughes are different pitchers. I appreciate your honest appraisal, but they are definitely different.

 

Hughes has a Clemens-type body. I'm not sure what Buchholz has, but he is very tall ane lean (not taller than Hughes, but tall-and-leaner). As he grows into his body I think he will continue to improve his stamina. I still think very highly of Hughes.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

I still think Hughes is gonna be a great pitcher. I'm throwing this year out. He got injured and hes only had what 5 starts? Look at Homer Bailey and his 7 ERA and I don't think anything less of him.