Bad inning does Hughes in

October 19, 2008 by Mike Axisa 46 Comments

AzFL Peoria (14-11 in over Scottsdale)
Austin Jackson: 1 for 5, 1 R, 3 K – 5 for his last 27
Juan Miranda: 2 for 4, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 K, 1 HBP – 9 of 14 hits have gone for extra bases … hitting .500-.548-.964 in his 7 games
Kevin Russo: 5 for 5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB – batting avg jumps from .143 to .308
Busty McZOMGheonlythrows91: 2.2 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HB, 4-3 GB/FB – 36 of 60 pitches were strikes … after retiring 6 of the first 7 batters he faced, the wheels fell off in the 3rd: single-single-HBP-sac fly-homer-single-single-walk-pop out-walk-single w/ 3 run error by LFer … threw 42 pitches in the inning, 24 for strikes (57.1%)
Humberto Sanchez: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0-3 GB/FB – 9 of 14 pitches were strikes (64.3%)

HWB Waikiki‘s game has just started. Austin Romine is behind the plate and batting sixth. These games end mad late because of the time difference, and I don’t feel like waiting around for it. Check out Gameday in the meantime.

Friday’s Games

AzFL Peoria (7-3 loss to Scottsdale)
Juan Miranda: 0 for 4, 3 K, 1 HBP – teh bust
Jeff Marquez: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 3-0 GB/FB – 19 of 32 pitches were strikes (59.4%) … teh bust

HWB Waikiki (8-1 win over Honolulu)
Jeremy Bleich: 6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 9-6 GB/FB – 48 of 78 pitches were strikes (61.5%) … not teh bust, at least for today

Mike R.

A couple of notes on Phil “Only 91″ Hughes.

1- I read in the forum section of Pinstripes Plus that Hughes appeared to be suffering from a blister or hang nail of some sort. That sheds some light on the situation.

2- I also read somewhere (Heyman I believe) that Hughes could be used as the center piece in a trade for a CF. The only CF I saw worth trading for that could be available is Ichiro. Any thoughts?
- pat
  
  im not mike but that has to be bullsh*t. the yanks wouldnt trade hughes for johan santana and now they’re gonna let him go to trade for the one position we actually have a solid prospect lined up for? All these writers are talking out of their asses because they have no idea what the yankees are gonna do.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    They need something to write about. The Yankees trading kid for declining superstars and/or signing big name free agents is an example of something the laziest writers write about.
  - Mike R.
    
    You don’t have to be Mike. It was a toss up for general opinions. I agree with your premise. The only way I think they do that is if it a young CF that can move to LF or you could move A-Jax to LF for, but I can’t find anyone that fits that bill that would be available.
    
    I mean who would say no to a Phil Hughes for Grady Sizemore trade? (Other than Mark Shapiro of course.)
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  1. Could be. Would explain a lot.
  
  2. Why Ichiro? They’ve been trading kids for overpriced, declining superstars for years and it hasn’t worked, why keep doing it? I prefer if they kept Hughes, but if they’re going to deal him, deal him for a young player with high upside, like him.
- Steve
  
  I cant imagine that Cash was against putting Hughes in package for Johan Santana, but would include him in one for Nate McLouth. I could see Hughes going for Peavey, but no other trade that I’m aware of.
- JeffG
  
  1. Always an excuse for Phil – awesome.
  
  2. Even as someone who thinks he should have been traded last winter to lock in a front line ace – I think the idea of an Ichiro deal is stupid. Ichiro’s contract is already looking expensive. Salary relief and a guy like Melky is all they should get for that. Mariners market around Ichiro so that’s where he stays.
  – If you want to use Phil to get a center-fielder it should be for someone like Curtis Granderson.
  - A.D.
    
    no one is arguing he pitched poorly, just that there could be a reason other than shit happens
Miles Roche

Mike,
Can’t quite figure it out, is his name pronounced Bleish, Bleik or Bleichhh?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  Bl-eye-shh.
  - Steve
    
    Actually, its pronounced
    
    “Oh-ver-draft”
Miles Roche

Mike,
I’m really starting to like the idea of platooning Miranda as a lefty for 1st base if the Yankees don’t acquire Tex. He flat out kills righties.
Any ideas on who the Yankees can plug in as a righty who kills lefty pitching from within the org. or out?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
  
  There’s no one from within (unless you count Ransom), and the only RHB FA that fit are Aurilia, Nomar or Millar. Pass, pass, and pass, please.
  
  Doug Mientkiewicz hits lefties better than he hits righties, and obviously he plays great D. He could be used against southpaws and for late game defense, plus he’ll be cheap. Makes sense, no?
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike A.
    
    Forgot about Shelley, but they’ve already tried platooning him against big league lefties…
    - Lanny
      
      Shelley had his shot.
      
      They need an actual good 1b. Especially with ground ball pitchers and the infielders they have.
      - Steve
        
        . . . and Miranda’s a statue out there. I dont see anything internally either.
        
        Maybe we can swing a trade for Adrian Gonzalez since it appears the Padres are rebuilding, or we wait until January and sign Tex. Boras usually goes to the last minute with his clients.
        
        Andy In Sunny Daytona
        
        I thought Chad Jennings said that Miranda was a lot better at first than people think. But then again, he probably hasn’t seen Miranda play as much as you have. So what does he know?
      - Emac2
        
        How many at bats constitute a shot?
        
        CLT_JR
        
        For some people here, a shot is 1 AB.
ohbwonhomie

Is anyone concern about Hughes mental makeup the way I am? Seems he cant stay away from big innings, not just this game but from what we’ve seen thus far. I think thats why I keep packaging him in a deal for Peavy, I was not for the Johan deal, I wanted the kid to get his chances here. I get a sense he’ll either need way more time to develop or he wont. I dont want him to lose all his value.
I dont know what you guys think???????????
- Steve
  
  I could see him going in a Peavey deal where you give up little else. But once you start talking Hughes AND A-Jax AND a reliever, then I think its way too much.
  
  At some point, the deal makes absolutely no sense. You have to give up prospects AND give him the 60 mil he’s owed AND (likely) pick up his option (22 mil) to get him to waive his no trade. All for a guy who has a career 3.80 road ERA that you should add 1/2 run to for the AL. For 80 mil I can sign Burnett, get the same production and give up nothing. Some of the packages being thrown around would be overpaying by a ton IMO.
  
  I would do one of 2 deals. Either Hughes/Melky/Robertson or IPK/Jackson/Bruney. One blue chipper per deal, and I try to sweeten the IPK deal with a better reliever. Anything more, I pass. I’d rather sign Burnett and keep my depth in the farm.
  
  That’s why I think we’ll wind up getting outbid by a NL team. He’s more valuable to one of them than he is to us.
- TomSwift
  
  I’ve got a question about mental make-up. Is IQ the sixth tool? It appears that Melky was not able to adjust to the adjustments that big league pitchers made to him. That may be why his numbers went down from year to year. Gardner, on the other hand, seems to adjust to better pitching after a few months. Is the difference intelligence? Two other guys that come to mind as reputedly smart guys are Reggie Jackson and Mike Mussina. Do the scouts evaluate smarts as well as athletic ability when they look at prospects? If so, what can they measure? I assume that SATs are meaningless — but is there some measure that is meaningful? I seem to recall that the NFL gives a mini-IQ test to new players — does baseball do something similar?
  - Andy In Sunny Daytona
    
    Would you think a good year for Gardner would be .280/.360/.390?
    - greg
      
      that would be a greattt year out of gardner.
- A.D.
  
  isnt big innings what almost always happens when pitchers with good stuff goes down, he had a shit start, it happens
dan

Bleich’s last two starts: 12.2 IP, 11 K’s, 0 BB, 7 hits, 0 ER.

Busty McBrienTaylorstein
- Steve
  
  OVERDRAFT!
- Reggie C.
  
  Looks like the TJ rumor was a rumor.
- CLT_JR
  
  Yah, he sucks… trade him now while his stock is high.
Hybrid Moments

The way you guys absolutely refuse to even let it creep into your mind that Hughes might not be what all the hype surrounding him said he would be is really infuriating. The posts about him are becoming so obnoxious. I know you love the kids but calm it down. There’s no reason to thumb your nose at people who are concerned about Hughes’ ability to stay healthy and his actual ability.

The Yankees should trade Hughes for a CFer and move forward. One out of three isn’t bad.
- Steve
  
  I’m a Hughes fan, and I was going to knock you for being overly sensitive. But I have to admit that this-
  
  “Busty McZOMGheonlythrows91″ . . . is a bit much.
  
  Its fair to say we haven’t seen the #1 pitching prospect in Baseball yet, except in flashes. I expect that at his age, but we all know some “can’t miss” prospects who’ve missed. However, the chances of that happening are relatively small when you get to his prospect status. Its overwhelmingly more likely that he will be at least a solid MLB pitcher.
  
  When people knock critics of Hughes, its because they have a myopic focus on his velocity. Thats only one element of pitching, the other 2 being ability to locate and movement on his pitches. His curve has tremendous break and his ability to locate is exceptional. 91 is plenty when you have the other 2 parts working for you.
  - http://inmymothersbasement.blogspot.com Tremont
    
    The biggest problem with Hughes’s fastball is not its average velocity. He also has below average movement and command of it.
    
    I’m not calling Hughes a bust by any means, but it’s silly to still believe he is a future ace.
- Reggie C.
  
  Hughes got annihilated by AA/AAA hitters. There’s always a freaking issue with this kid. Now its a hang nail rumour.
  
  I’m all for trading Hughes as long as the return is an established major leaguer who can fill a positional need, and i’m talking about somebody better than Dejesus. I understand rough starts, but 2 innings / 8 runs isn’t a rough start, its just a beat down.
  
  This start makes people want the Yanks to pursue TWO pitchers this offseason.
  - Ivan
    
    It’s one start dude. Just chill.
- Rafael
  
  I think the real issue with those wanting to trade Hughes already are that:
  
  1) We’d probably be trading pretty low
  2) We haven’t given him a legitimate chance to see whether he does have “actual ability” and “ability to stay healthy.” The Yankees have already tried the “trade prospects because we’re too impatient to see if they’re actually any good” route and it hasn’t worked.
  Yes, obviously, if something great comes along that is really worth it, then pull the trigger. But if it’s just a “well, we’re not sure how he’s going to turn out,” then what’s the point of trying to develop a farm system at all? After all, you never know how they’re going to turn out.
Reggie C.

I say save the money for pitching, bypass Teixiera, and trade for Adrian Gonzalez; built on a package centered around Hughes.
E-ROC

Has Miranda faced any lefties since being in the AzFL?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Joseph P.
  
  Yeah, Jennings noted that he doubled off a lefty last Friday.
  - E-ROC
    
    Forgot all about Chad’s blog. Thanx!
Mike Pop

Hughes isnt going anywhere gimme a break what did he do start 8 games this year ? If we trade him I’ll be pist. Kid is 22 let him get some more time. Why trade him when there is no need to trade him ?
Ivan

You guys gotta understand that you gotta give the kid some time. One bad start in AzFL really doesn’t make a huge difference.

Considering the age and the talent he has, can I at least see one season of healthy and go through a season unscave and see what he can do.

Put it this way, if he pitches terrifc in 09, would you be talking of gettin a CFer?
E-ROC

If the Yanks don’t trade for or sign a CFer, who would you rather have in CF in ’09: Brett Gardner, Justin Christian, or Melky Cabrera?
- Andy In Sunny Daytona
  
  Whoever earns it in spring training.
- Mike Pop
  
  Gardner
  - A.D.
    
    agreed
ohbwonhomie

Believe me, I truly feel Hughes when on, is a star in the making. Has good stuff, good command, but if things start to unravel, i.e., walks, homer, maybe an error to prolong an inning or something, its like absolute melt down. Some guys have that killer instinct, that finish off mentality, and I dont know if he has that right now or ever will. If we can get a young ace like Jake Peavy or something comperable we should pull the trigger. I doubt we can get A. Gonzalez in a deal due to they’re need of hitters. why get rid of your best hitter on the team.? Thats why I was trying to sweeten the Hughes deal w/Cano. or maybe they’ll accept a deal Of Cano and no need of trading Hughes.