New York Yankees Gameday Thread

[yankees228]

I agree, over the objection of some one here. The thing most people arent realizing is that this is Hughes' first full yr as a starter in the bigs, even though he's had those prior runs as a part time starter and reliever. He's had to expand his arsenal again after shortening it for a season last yr. He came out lights out, then the league adjusted. The biggest step a rookie can make is the second adjustment and he's starting to show signs of that. He's becoming less reliant on the cutter, he's throwing more 4 seamers on the edge of the zone and he's starting to locate his breaking pitches.

 

Perhaps the best start I saw from him came in the Boston game. His curve sucked and his FB was right around 90-91, but he made it work by hitting his spots and really changing speeds. He even mixed in a bunch of changeups and held a pretty tough offense to 2 runs through 6 innings with no stuff at all. That tells me that this kid is ready to take the next step. I dont expect that this season as fatigue is going to set in for a starter who hasnt started this late into the season. But he's gonna make for one hell of a starter and next season, he should be a top 10 starter in the AL.

 

Judging by the first sentence of this post, I'm forced to believe that you're misinterpreting my criticisms of Phil Hughes. I agree, he's very talented, and has the potential to be an ace for the Yankees (or any other team) down the line.

 

I'll reiterate what I've maintained all along about Phil Hughes, and you pick out what you disagree with.

 

He has a good fastball, which probably has good late life and movement. However, at this point, he has average control. Even if he's not missing outside of the strike zone, he's often wild in the strike zone, primarily in the upper regions of it. Hughes commanding his fastball better, down the road, is key to him reaching his potential.

 

He has good break on his curveball, although his command of the pitch is inconsistent. Once again, being able to throw this pitch for strikes, and bounce it when necessary, will help him down the road.

 

His cutter is average at best, as he has poor control with it, and it often gets hit hard.

 

His change is subpar, and the further development of this pitch may very well make or break Hughes' future as an ace.

 

Additionally, Hughes lacks a consistent put away pitch, which has really hurt him at times this year. Not only is it the reason for failures within individual at-bats, but it's also one of the primary reasons for his high pitch counts, making him a six inning pitcher.

 

This is exactly how I feel about Phil Hughes, and I've never strayed from these views. I've only voiced these criticisms because the above flaws have hurt the Yankees at times this year, and they're pertinent to the discussion about Hughes' future. Someone saying something negative about Phil Hughes doesn't mean they don't think he's any good. My feelings on Phil Hughes are exactly what I've voiced in this post, and numerous times throughout this thread.

[Yaz Sideburn]

i said earlier that people should give hughes a break because at the same age last year, buchholz was struggling even more than hughes had this year. and as much as hughes has struggled, his overall stat line isn't that bad. but the major difference between buchholz does two things that hughes does not. he throws a variation on his fastball (sinker) effectively and he throws a plus change. i think hughes is going to have to improve his arsenal behind being a fastball/curveball pitcher with below average secondary pitches if he wants to be a consistent major league starter

[jacksonianmarch]

Bad AJ is back

[ORS]

You say that like he ever left.

[jacksonianmarch]

4 of his last 5 starts had been excellent

[ORS]

Three of them were excellent, and they were against the Royals (2) and Guardians. I recall another stretch this year where he faced drek and you said he'd turned a corner. You still aren't getting that square peg into that round hole, no matter how many times you try.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Three of them were excellent' date=' and they were against the [b']Royals[/b] (2) and Indians. I recall another stretch this year where he faced drek and you said he'd turned a corner. You still aren't getting that square peg into that round hole, no matter how many times you try.

 

Hahahahahaha!

[jacksonianmarch]

Three of them were excellent' date=' and they were against the Royals (2) and Guardians. I recall another stretch this year where he faced drek and you said he'd turned a corner. You still aren't getting that square peg into that round hole, no matter how many times you try.[/quote']

 

He's facing drek right now

[Keeper]

Bad AJ is back

 

You say that like he ever left.

[ORS]

He's facing drek right now

Right, and the "good" AJ was really only 60% good, and only against drek, which he isn't always "good" against (see tonight), which brings us back to the concept that the "bad" never left in the first place. See how that works?

[yankees228]

Not looking forward to AJ potentially starting a playoff game...

[yrtb]

Honestly, I don't think AJ should start in the playoffs

 

I'm looking at a 1-2-3 of CC, Pettitte, Hughes

 

Ouch, I'm starting to feel like we should've gotten Lee, or at least Oswalt

[yankees228]

Honestly, I don't think AJ should start in the playoffs

 

I'm looking at a 1-2-3 of CC, Pettitte, Hughes

 

Ouch, I'm starting to feel like we should've gotten Lee, or at least Oswalt

 

Couple major question marks there. The first is Pettitte's health. The second is Hughes' innings' limit, and even if they allow Hughes to succeed, what kind of pitcher will he be once he reaches uncharted innings' territories?

 

Additionally, that's only three starters. I don't think you can reasonably expect them to go with a three man rotation this year.

[yankees228]

Burnett on his outing...

 

“I gave up two hard-hit balls,” he said. “If those balls don’t leave the park it’s a 2-0 game. Those are the only two pitches I’m worried about.”

[jacksonianmarch]

Aj is gonna be the #4

[yankees228]

This rotation sucks.

[yankees228]

Every pitch from Javy should be a curveball today. His fastball is batting practice.

[a700hitter]

Every pitch from Javy should be a curveball today. His fastball is batting practice.

Home Run Derby Vasquez.

[yankees228]

Here are the ERA+'s of their current starting pitchers (not including today's start so far)...

 

128, 103, 85, 83, 82

[yankees228]

Wow, Posada did something. It really is pretty incredible. The Yankees just cannot hit pitchers the first time around, but if they see them again, they almost always hit.

[a700hitter]

4-2 Yanks after 1 inning.

[Yaz Sideburn]

Here are the ERA+'s of their current starting pitchers (not including today's start so far)...

 

128, 103, 85, 83, 82

 

they're making the worst offensive team in the majors look... good

[yankees228]

After terrible outfield defense, that was a great play by Teixeira.

[yankees228]

He's afraid to even be aggressive against Josh Wilson. Speaks volumes about Javy's fastball.

[Yaz Sideburn]

He's afraid to even be aggressive against Josh Wilson. Speaks volumes about Javy's fastball.

 

yeah, not sure why wilson was swinging there. vazquez threw him 3 straight balls

[a700hitter]

Vasquez is like BP today.

[yankees228]

This staff is a joke. I really don't know how this team can be expected to win a World Series when you consider the pitchers they're running out there. I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't see it.

[a700hitter]

Dangerous pitch. He almost coughed up a Grand Salami there.

[a700hitter]

Vasquez pulled after 3 innings and 4 runs. Tito would wait till the game was a decided blowout by waiting for 7 runs. He's try to get vasquez a W in a game like this. It's so annoying.

[Yaz Sideburn]

Vasquez pulled after 3 innings and 4 runs. Tito would wait till the game was a decided blowout by waiting for 7 runs. He's try to get vasquez a W in a game like this. It's so annoying.

 

i was just thinking that i wish tito would take out a starter after 3 innings if they had already allowed 8 baserunners and 4 runs and then lead off the 4th with a single to the #9 hitter. but he would wait until they've given up 7+ runs