2011 Yankee Gamethread

[yankees228]

Looks like Hughes pitched well today but his velocity still hasn't improved much.

 

It's not quite up to where it was last year, but it's still a significant improvement over his early season velocity.

 

2010 average FB velocity: 92.5 MPH

2011 early season average FB velocity: 89.2 MPH

7/6/11 vs CLE average FB velocity: 91.5 MPH

7/17/11 vs TOR average FB velocity: 91.2 MPH

 

I'd say it's getting there. I'm also looking forward to seeing if his CB continues to progress. Despite numerous scouting reports from his days in the minors that said his CB was a plus pitch, it just hasn't been that way in the majors. I'm pleased that the Yankees recognized this, and had him change his grip and the way he threw it. The results on his CB were decent yesterday, and hopefully that trend continues.

[jacksonianmarch]

I agree. His curve when he came up had a lot of loop to it, but had a ton of movement. He got hurt in his debut and never showed the same curve again. I liked his FB yesterday, seemed like he could get it up to 93 if he needed it, especially when he elevated it. He left a few out over the plate, but he got in on a few batters which I liked. A few of the balls off the bat that I thought were gone, were actually good pitches that jammed the hitters, hence why the balls stayed in the yard

[AtWork]

From the charts available to the public it looks like Hughes averaged 1 mph more on his fastball in his last start that he has on the season as a whole.

[yankees228]

From the charts available to the public it looks like Hughes averaged 1 mph more on his fastball in his last start that he has on the season as a whole.

 

Well I don't know where you're looking, but here's what I have.

 

Numbers from his three starts prior to his DL stint:

http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/461833/?batters=A&count=AA&pitches=AA&from=4%2F1%2F2011&to=5%2F31%2F2011

 

Numbers from his two starts since coming off the DL:

http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/461833/

 

A 2.2 MPH uptick in velocity is notable, at least in my opinion. He's not quite where they want him (which is probably 1 MPH more), but he's improving.

[AtWork]

Fangraphs has his average fastball velocity this year at 90.2 and Gameday has it at 90.1. Both have him averaging around 91 mph in his last start. Fangraphs has his velocity down in this start compared to his last one. If you click on his name in the Boxscore in Gameday and then click on velocity, it will tell you that he's averaged 90.1 on his 4-seamer this year and his fastball averaged 91.9 in the first inning, 91.6 in the second inning, 90.9 in the third inning, 90.3 in the fourth inning, 90.9 in the fifth inning and 90.7 in the sixth inning of his start last night. So while he may have made progress from when he was throwing an 88-89 mph fastball, he's still not at his normal velocity nor is has his velocity improved since he came off the DL.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfxo.aspx?playerid=7450&position=P&pitch=FA

 

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_07_17_nyamlb_tormlb_1&mode=box&c_id=nyy

[yankees228]

Fangraphs has his average fastball velocity this year at 90.2 and Gameday has it at 90.1. Both have him averaging around 91 mph in his last start. Fangraphs has his velocity down in this start compared to his last one. If you click on his name in the Boxscore in Gameday and then click on velocity, it will tell you that he's averaged 90.1 on his 4-seamer this year and his fastball averaged 91.9 in the first inning, 91.6 in the second inning, 90.9 in the third inning, 90.3 in the fourth inning, 90.9 in the fifth inning and 90.7 in the sixth inning of his start last night. So while he may have made progress from when he was throwing an 88-89 mph fastball, he's still not at his normal velocity nor is has his velocity improved since he came off the DL.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfxo.aspx?playerid=7450&position=P&pitch=FA

 

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_07_17_nyamlb_tormlb_1&mode=box&c_id=nyy

 

There's no disagreement here. His velocity is up about 2 MPH from his early season starts. It's 1 MPH below his normal velocity. Improvement has been made over what he did early in the season, but there is still work to be done. All of that is fact, and none of it is disputable.

[AtWork]

That said, as a starter Hughes has never been a guy who would blow major league hitters away. He relies more on his control and his secondary pitches. I would be more concerned with him tiring and missing locations which seemed to be his issue last year than I would be by the fact that he's throwing 91 mph as opposed to 93. Most major league hitters would probably say there isn't much of a noticable difference between those two speeds.

[yankees228]

That said' date=' as a starter Hughes has never been a guy who would blow major league hitters away. He relies more on his control and his secondary pitches. I would be more concerned with him tiring and missing locations which seemed to be his issue last year than I would be by the fact that he's throwing 91 mph as opposed to 93. Most major league hitters would probably say there isn't much of a noticable difference between those two speeds.[/quote']

 

And that's why, right now, even if he's completely healthy, Hughes just isn't all that great. His secondary stuff isn't very good (although I'm intrigued by his recent adjustments to his curve) and he routinely struggles with FB command. Until those two things improve, he's a back of the rotation pitcher.

[jacksonianmarch]

Pena out 4-6 weeks due to an appendectomy. Not bad news IMO at all. Brandon Laird gets the call. Lots of pop, not much patience. Should be interesting to see. Hopefully he starts out hot

[boston22407]

Let the Rays and Yanks Beat up on each other !

[AtWork]

Hard to miss a guy hitting .080.

[Meh]

Hard to miss a guy hitting .080.

 

Guy cost the Yankees at least two games this season. I'm not a fan.

[yankees228]

Guy cost the Yankees at least two games this season. I'm not a fan.

 

If Mo gets the job done, Pena never makes those errors against the Mets. That doesn't excuse his mistakes, but it's a stretch to place all the blame on him. And what other game?

[jacksonianmarch]

And now Bad AJ has shown up. 4 batters, a walk, 2 singles, a double and 2 runs with 2 runners on. He better find something that works and quick

[AtWork]

The Rays didn't score a single run in 16 innings against the Red Sox last night and they've already scored 2 in less than an inning against the Yankees.

[AtWork]

Nice play AJ! Terrible attempt at a scoop by Teixeira as well, that was not thrown hard.

[yankees228]

Nice play AJ! Terrible attempt at a scoop by Teixeira as well' date=' that was not thrown hard.[/quote']

 

An in-between hop on a throw that came from so close is an extremely difficult play. That's entirely on AJ.

[AtWork]

The Trop is such a dump. Last night a light broke and shattered glass all over the infield and the crowd, tonight the power went out.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

It's a f***ing circus that's what it is. Stupid ass cowbells.

[boston22407]

Weather had to do with it

[boston22407]

Go Rays!!!!

[AtWork]

I'm the Rays #1 fan!

[boston22407]

Rays pitcher just hand this game to the yanks

[Divinity]

Yanks win!!!!

[yankees228]

I don't understand Red Sox fans rooting for the Rays in this series, just like I didn't understand Yankees fans rooting for the Rays last series. Yes, winning the division is nice, but if you have to choose between your team lengthening their division lead or playoff berth lead, I don't see how the playoff berth isn't the top priority.

 

And yes, I'm sure there are the Red Sox fans who will say 'I'll never root for the Yankees' (and plenty of Yankees fans will say the same thing about the Red Sox) ... but what's more important, something happening to benefit your favorite team or something happening to hurt a team you dislike?

[boston22407]

Simple Yanks are Closer to us then the rays

[yankees228]

Simple Yanks are Closer to us then the rays

 

I guess you didn't read my post lol.

[BornToRun]

On our end, rooting for the Yanks is tantamount to rooting for George Bush to drink kitten's blood. Why would we want George Bush to drink kitten's blood?

[jacksonianmarch]

y228, I think it's too early to be rooting for the playoff berth and forsaking the division. Both teams could use the home field, as the sox are the best home team in the AL and the Yanks are the 4th best, behind Boston, Texas, and Cleveland, who are all in playoff position.

[boston22407]

I guess you didn't read my post lol.

 

i did ??