May
15

Game 35: Searching for our Phil of redemption

By Benjamin Kabak

In his last outing, Phil Hughes was nothing short of terrible. In 1.2 innings against the Orioles, the Yanks’ 22-year-old right-hander gave up 8 earned runs on 8 hits and 2 walks. He didn’t record a strike out and, in fact, induced just one swinging strike and five called strikes. It was an awful outing all around.

Today, Hughes is pitching with a purpose. With Chien-Ming Wang making rehab starts, Hughes could be destined for Scranton some time next week, and I’m sure Phil wants to go out with a strong start. When Joba Chamberlain reaches his innings limit or if some other pitcher gets injured, the Yanks will need an effective Phil Hughes to step in.

Facing Hughes with be Francisco Liriano and the 18-17 Twins. Since missing the entire 2007 season with surgery, Liriano hasn’t quite been the same pitcher he was in 2006. In 7 starts this year, he is 2-4 with a 5.75 ERA. He has struck out 33 in 40.2 innings while walking 16.

Tonight also marks the return of Alex Rodriguez to the Bronx. Will he be booed or cheered? Stay tuned for that and other stories as we join “As the A-Rod Turns” already in progress. Game time is at 7:05, and this one is on YES tonight.

Derek Sanderson Jeter SS
Johnny David Damon LF
Mark Charles Teixeira 1B
Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez 3B
Hideki Matsui DH
Nicolas Thompson Swisher RF
Robinson Jose Cano 2B
Melky Cabrera CF
Kevin Forrest Cash C

Philip J. Hughes P

Posted on Friday, May 15th, 2009 at 6:45 pm in Game Threads.

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316 Comments

Huuuuuuuuuughes!!!

GG says:

I heard thats how Paris Hilton says it too

 
 
Austin says:

love those empty seats

 
Bryan V says:

Computer okay now, Mike?

Yes, my system completely crashed. Had to rebuild from scratch, I’ll be working on it all weekend. Oh, and plug your liveblog.

Bryan V says:

Sorry to hear that. Good luck. And thanks.

Plus there’s close to 800 unread items in my Google Reader.

Bryan V says:

That’s a lot to catch-up on LOL

 
 
 
 
 
nathan says:

There goes the perfect game :-)

 

Nice inning by Hughes. Dinky little single, K, DP.

nathan says:

Now lets give the kid a 2-3 run lead

 
RichYF says:

Mike, I’ve got a question for you:

When I watch Hughes and he’s pitching well, I notice that his fastball looks like it starts at his shoulder and just stays on a line to the plate, but it’s ridiculously low. Unhittably so.

Is this just the camera angle, or is that really what I’m seeing? Most fastballs have the downward motion, but his just looks like it goes straight.

Anyone else see this?

I see it, and I’ve never seen it before. I have to think it’s got to do with the camera at the New Stadium.

RichYF says:

In Texas when he pulled his hammy, this is EXACTLY what I remember seeing. And he was unhittable. It was amazing to watch. If he gets that going tonight…we’re in for a treat. Granted, it could be the camera, but I’m just going to hope it’s a gem instead…

 
 
 
 
nathan says:

I still cant stand the deal that Minny took for Santana.. 50 c on the dollar…

 
J says:

94 on the corners… let’s hope he can keep this up

 
Sweet Dick Willie says:

Can’t Cervelli catch a night game after a night game?

The dude’s 23 fer crissakes.

 
GG says:

I’d be shocked to see a worse strike call the rest of the night, that was ridiculous

Yeah, that didn’t even come close to the plate. I can understand maybe if the pitch was moving towards the plate, but that was a slider and it was only moving further away.

GG says:

I dunno how Morneau didnt get rung up just there, that pitch was much closer

 
 
thrylos98 says:

that was like strike 3 to Tolbert. Both pitchers are getting the slightly outside strike tonight

 
 
Bryan V says:

Is it cool if I mention my “thing” here, Mike?

 
 

How the hell did Morneau hit that out?

RichYF says:

I had to see the replay to confirm what my eyes saw.

That pitch was on his shins. Quality hitting right there.

 
V says:

Good hitter – reminded me of a Manny HR I saw last year.

 
 
cjc says:

that didn’t take long

LOVE THIS BALLPARK

 
cjc says:

where was that pitch awesome Damon must have just thrown up

 
J says:

the ump just missed 2 strike calls.

cjc says:

yeah too bad the first one ended up in the bullpen

 
 
cjc says:
 
V says:

Teixeira = gold glover?

 

IT’S A DOUBLE PLOH NO!!!

 
Bryan V says:

I’m running a liveblog for Yankees games, and tonight’s my first one. If you guys would like another place to chat about the game, and whatever, come on over and join me.

Just click my name to go to my blog, and you’ll see the liveblog there. It’s the same software used by RAB.

Thanks

Alex S says:

zOMG! you teh traitior!!!!!!11

Bryan V says:

I cleared it with Mike days ago, and made sure he was still okay with it.

Trust me, I don’t like spam.

Yeah, I didn’t get a chance to plug it in the actual game thread post because of my crappy computer.

 
 
 
 
mustang says:

man it’s hard watching these kids learn.

 
nathan says:

Watch out for the Dbl steal…

 
pc69 says:

that was a fine looking curve… But Hughes, got to do better

 
JGS says:

That right there shows why the rule that it isn’t an error because you can’t assume a double play is ridiculous. The ball was there and beat the runner to the bag, but it bounced off Tex’s glove. How is that not an error??

thrylos98 says:

by rule you cannot have errors in missed double plays if a batter is out

JGS says:

I know, but that’s silly, and this play is a perfect example of why.

They got the out at second. Unrelated to that, Cano threw the ball with plenty of time to get the out, but Tex couldn’t come up with it, which I think should be an error

GG says:

I’m with you on this one, it makes little sense

 
 
 
 
MattG says:

Why don’t right-handed first baseman straddle the bag on pick-off throws?

Manimal says:

Its too far to go back to a defensive position.

MattG says:

You’re joking? The right foot would be exactly as far away, just one foot further back. That’d be closer to the defensive position, actually.

 
 
 
Manimal says:

This ump is so freaking inconsistent.

GG says:

it’s terrible, it should be a 0-0 game

Chris says:

The ump didn’t hit that ball out…

 
 
 

Nice job getting out of that one Hughesy.

 
V says:

After xx/yy/2009, Teixeira will bat .300+ through the end of the season.

Predict xx and yy.

Go!

Manimal says:

06/01, June is going to be a huge month. Arod and Tex are going to go apeshit

 

05/15. I’m optimistic.

 
cjc says:
 
pc69 says:
 
 
pc69 says:

Some times it is as though Hughes is channeling Veras, not sure where the pitch is going. Although in his defense, he is NOTHING like Veras and his ball has a great deal of movement.

 
cjc says:

nice job keeping that snowball from running down hill now hopefully the team is feeling a bit hitterish tonight

 

All cheers for A-Rod.

Manimal says:

Good to hear, wouldn’t be suprised if Arod drove this one 450 ft.

cjc says:

I guess Liriano felt the same thing

 
 
 
Manimal says:

Arod is looking good running the bases.

 
Charlie says:

i would probably have swish and melky switched in lineup tonite

 
Accent Shallow says:

Are we sure that Hughes is out of options after this year? I was under the impression that he was not assigned to the minors in 2007 after being added to the 40-man roster.

He’s got an option left. He didn’t use one in 2007 because he was down in the minors for fewer than 20 days. Everything else was on a rehab assignment.

GG says:

Where on the net would I go if I wanted to learn the technicalities of this issue?

 
 
whozat says:

it might’ve been all DL and rehab, yeah.

 
 
Accent Shallow says:

Just got in, Hughes’ line is pretty mediocre, how’s he looked so far?

Manimal says:

Bad, the ump is very very pitcher friendly. Poor command on everything(first inning looked decent though)

V says:

Eh, I never fault a pitcher for painting when an umpire is giving it.

 
 
V says:

Solid, except for the 2 walks. The Morneau homerun was a decent pitch – he golfed it out.

whozat says:

It’s amazing how the same thing can seem so different to different observers…

“Bad, the ump is very very pitcher friendly. Poor command on everything”

“Solid, except for the 2 walks.”

Same evidence, wildly different conclusions.

Manimal says:

Well he’s not hitting the glove, but he was getting outs. So yes he was “solid” and he got outs. But he wasn’t pitching well.

 
 
 
RichYF says:

Couple K’s looking, but the ump has been inconsistent. Homer was on a pitch near Morneau’s ankles. Worked out of a jam afterward.

First inning was pretty easy, got a K and a gidp.

I’d say this inning will tell us a lot about the rest of this game…

 
 
Alex S says:
 
cjc says:

eventually these hard hit balls will fall and than look out

 
pc69 says:

why is it the Yankees can’t move runners when they play at home. 2 walks and nothing. Should have tied the game.

Accent Shallow says:

Can’t blame Cano . . . if that’s in the gap, it’s 2-1.

RichYF says:

Yeah Canoe hit that ball on a line. I start clapping and yelling “Yeah Canoe!” before I realized it was right at Span.

Melky’s at-bat ended when he decided to swing at the first pitch in my opinion

 
 
 
V says:
 
Bryan V says:

Ugh. Come on Hughes.

 
Alex S says:

they named the hudson after kate…..hudson

Manimal says:

Ohh Michael Kay.

 
 
Gary says:

Fellow fans… which would you be ok with

A) Yanks Lose…. But, Hughes 7 IP 5Ks 5 BBs 1ER

B) Yanks Win… Hughes 3IP 6ERs

Manimal says:

Are you joking…

Gary says:

Many Yankee fans… want Phil to do well.. i just wanted to know, whether at the cost of a loss are they ok with him doing well.. just a wild thought

 
 
cjc says:

you always take the win

 
V says:

C) Yanks win, Hughes 9 IP, 20 Ks, 3 BBs, 1 ER.

Accent Shallow says:

At this rate, that’d take him 220 pitches.

 
Gary says:

Gotme thinking… does Phil have any complete games in his career.. even in MilB

 
 
Sweet Dick Willie says:

I’ll take a win over anyone’s personal performance every single time.

 
RichYF says:

I’d be okay with either, but I’d prefer A). If we lose 1-0 that’s fine by me. Greinke got his first “loss” on a CG (8IP) 1ER game. Not that it’s comparable, but quality pitching is always the goal regardless of the outcome.

A loss with Phil pitching well is a good thing.

Gary says:

Hopefully we get a win and a good game from Phil… he needs it

 
Sweet Dick Willie says:

but quality pitching is always the goal regardless of the outcome

With all due respect, what planet are you living on? The goal in every professional game is to win, personal statistics be damned.

Chris says:

The goal is to win the World Series. Phil Hughes pitching well gives us a better chance to do that, even if he gets unlucky tonight.

 
RichYF says:

So if the Yanks “slug their way” to victory and have terrible starting pitching, but win 95-100 games and make the playoffs, you consider that a good thing? I don’t.

We have watched about 6 of those seasons this decade. Phil pitching well (7IP, 1ER) might not win TONIGHT, but if he does it consistently, he’s an ace. If he’s an ace, the Yanks have an excellent chance to win the World Series.

It’s not about ONE win, it’s about the entire season. Great pitching will always lead to wins. It might not happen 100% of the time, but 4IP of 6ER ball yields a victory a lot less often than 7IP of 1ER ball.

If CC pitched last night the way he did and we lose (Mo blows it in the 9th), does that mean he had a bad game?

 
 
 
 
cjc says:

strikes throw strikes no excuse especially with this ump and his big zone

 
V says:

Phil.

Strikes.

 
Bryan V says:

I guess the plate suddenly got narrower.

 
V says:

And that inning’s like the first two. Walks a guy for no apparent reason, starts another guy 2-0, then two groundouts and a weak flyout.

 
Chris says:

That was the first flyout against Hughes.

 
Accent Shallow says:

Definitely liking all these ground balls. (I say after Morneau flies out)

 
J says:

omg tino martinez sounds like a cartoon character

 
cjc says:
 
YankeeScribe says:

Liriano sucks this year but somehow I think the Yanks will make him look good…

cjc says:

no he’s some what established its the career minor leaguers we like to make cy young’s

 
 
Alex S says:

Joe Mauer…….Yankee after 2010?

Manimal says:

Unfortunately, he will be a red sox. But We have Jesus Montero in 2010.

Alex S says:

sox have lars anderson but they still went after Tex….

 
GG says:

how can you say he will be on the sox? that team seems extremely frugal to me, maybe for the better, maybe the worse, but my feeling is that if we want to get mauer we will, they might be willing to go more yrs maybe????

 
 
Gary says:

Shouldnt Montero be ready or pretty close by then

 
Accent Shallow says:

I think the Twins do whatever they can to keep him. He’s a local product, it’s really ridiculous what a big deal that is.

 
cjc says:

local kid I think he’s a twin for life and will work with them to do that if they don’t do everything to resign him they may as well fold the franchise

 
 
Accent Shallow says:

When someone like Cash gets a leadoff double, you have to take advantage of that.

 
Bryan V says:

Phew. Thought for sure that leadoff walk was going to hurt.

 
Manimal says:

Kevin Cash’s only hit of the year.

 
Tom Zig says:

maybe it was just gameday, but those first two pitches to jeter came from wildly different release points

 
Manimal says:

Would you bunt with damon?

cjc says:

umm 10 game extra base hitting streak I think no

Bryan V says:

This early, and a home game. No way I’d bunt Johnny.

 
 
 
Accent Shallow says:

As a baseball fan, I miss Liriano’s ludicrous stuff. As a Yankee fan, I definitely do not.

 

lets go damon!!!!!!

 
Manimal says:

Oh man, what an epic booth right now.

 
 
Reggie C. says:

JD had to actually show the ump ….

 
Yankee1010 says:

What a horrific call.

 
Manimal says:

This ump is a fucking asshole. There goes that streak.

 

I can’t remember ever seeing Johnny Damon get rung up.

Accent Shallow says:

Well, with those calls, can you blame him?

I’m with you, though. I hardly remember Johnny jawing.

 
 
cjc says:
 
Bryan V says:

So Gardner is going to bat 2nd the rest of the game? Great!

cjc says:

gritty and gutty

 
 
Joey H. says:

Bad call but your team needs you. That’s boneheaded of Damon who is generally a composed guy.

Manimal says:

Eh, Bring on Brett Gardner.

Joey H. says:

Eh nothing. He’s the hottest hitter in this line up right now. You can’t go getting tossed in the third damn inning.

Zack says:

If it forces the ump to change his strike zone for the rest of the team it does help

 
 
 
 
cjc says:

that is the only time I can remember seeing Damon so steamed

 
RichYF says:

Well, at least Johnny’s point got across…seems like the plate has tightened up a bit.

Johnny did get screwed twice. He’s seeing the ball really well right now too so it’s obvious that he knows where the ball is, no doubt about it.

A-Rod is going deep here for JD.

 
Joey H. says:

If I was a manager I’d get thrown out plenty of times. Too short tempered.

cjc says:
 
 
ARX says:

Alex, if you hit a GS I will build a statue of you in my backyard

 
K.B.D. says:

I swear to God, the same pitch he called Damon out on he called a ball to Teixera. This is ridiculous.

Joey H. says:

Maybe because Damon straightened his shit out.

K.B.D. says:

Not worth it, getting kicked out of the game. Let Girardi get kicked for arguing balls and strikes.

Joey H. says:

Absolutely agree. You missed my point. This dick head behind the plate needed a wake up call and that was it.

Lanny says:

Terrible move by Damon. You let your manager get ejected. Not you.

Zack says:

Managers cant argue balls and strikes, once Girardi leaves the dugout he’s going to get tossed and the ump isnt going to pay attention

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Yankee1010 says:

How is it that umpires are allowed to be so bad? Ever since Sandy Alderson left, it’s as if they’re better off with chimps making calls.

 
Manimal says:

I don’t remember the YES guns being this off last year. They are always drastically wrong.

 
mustang says:

A_ROD come on !!!

 
cjc says:

shit he’s jumping out of his shoes

 
Joey H. says:

Okay Alex We’ll take a single. Stop swinging for the fences. You’re on your way to your first boo birds at home of the season.

Joey H. says:

My point exactly. You dig holes for your self you become so vulnerable it isn’t funny. I know it’s common sense but watch the difference in Melky’s at bats. When he is taking pitches he looks like an MLB player. When he hacks early in the count he looks like an A baller.

 
 
Accent Shallow says:

Those were two bad swings.

 
cjc says:
 
Manimal says:

BUT ITS TEH ODD YEAR!

 
mustang says:

A fly ball really is that to much to ask

 
mustang says:
mustang says:
 
 
cjc says:

awful awful inning

 
ARX says:

………….
:sigh:

 
J says:

can matsui run any faster? wtf?

Actually, no. I don’t think he could.

 
Joey H. says:

No but I would love to watch you sprint over here:
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/

 
 
Manimal says:

This game makes me want electronic umpires

 
Accent Shallow says:
 
Yankee1010 says:

Sure, why would they score runs there?

 
Brazilian Yankee says:

The Yankees do suck with RISP.

 
Joey H. says:

Classic. Berroa’s reaction as if anyone gives a shit.

Manimal says:

Thats the reaction I had when I found out he was still on the team.

RichYF says:
 
 
 
RichYF says:

How could Matsui have so much wheels?!

 
thrylos98 says:

A-Roid is a bit shaky lately…

mustang says:

Actually last night he had a good at bat in the same situation he was just a bit off. But at bat like that one is what makes me so angry he looked like Cody.

 
 
John K. says:

That is a very, very painful inning.

 
AFRAUD says:

don’t boo me!

DP says:
AFRAUD says:

game over.

player of the game: ME!

Joey H. says:

I’m pretty sure you’re violating the site’s rules. So…

AFRAUD says:

shut up. i can say what i want.

Joey H. says:

I’m fine. You won’t be around much longer…

AFRAUD says:

what I do?

(Comments wont nest below this level)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Another piece of cake trivia question.

 
Accent Shallow says:

YES gun is hilarious. Hughes has a 92 mph curve?

Lanny says:

And a 125mph changeup

 
 

MLB has to do something about the umpiring. Its getting ridiculous. I could understand if the pitch is slightly off the plate, but BOTH those pitches to Damon were on the line of chalk. Unaccpetable.

Joey H. says:

It’s with the Yankees. They expect them to be superhuman because of the payroll and I’ll put money on that.

 
Zack says:

MLB is the only league that doesnt correct the umpires. NFL comes out on Tuesday and admit their ref’s missed a call, NBA goes back and turns fragrant 1 into fragrant 2 or say a ref missed a call. MLB? Nothing

Charlie says:
 
 
 
Tony says:

The umpiring has seemed worse all over MLB this year

 
Manimal says:

Out of all sports, by far MLB has the worst Officiating staff.

Joey H. says:

I beg to differ. Look at the LA and Houston game last night. Total joke. Kobe got a tech for the most unbelievable non technical foul. Oh yeah and does Tim Donaghy ring a bell?

Lanny says:

The NBA is a joke.

They had a ref on the take! I dont know how you get worse than that.

Yankee1010 says:

I wouldn’t put it past some of the MLB umpires the way they ump. The only difference is that Donaghy got caught.

Lanny says:

I wouldn’t either. If you’re a gambler nowadays the players are untouchable. They make too much $. The ones you can deal with are the officials.

 
 
 
 
 
K.B.D. says:
 
Accent Shallow says:

Could have sworn Gomez was a lefty or at least a switch hitter.

Joey H. says:

Me too. Maybe the switched him because he couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat.

Lanny says:

If he could get on base at an average clip he’d steal 140 bases.

 
Manimal says:

Its amazing what the Mets gave up for Santana.

Joey H. says:

And they wanted an arm and a leg from us. Heh. Bastards.

 
Lanny says:

Look back. Hughes, Melky and Kennedy would have been robbery too.

The only deals where they would have got value would have been Boston with Lester.

Except no one ever said the Twins would have accepted that. No one. The fans think they would have, but it was never reported as a package Minnesota wanted.

 
 
K.B.D. says:

Its amazing what how little the Mets gave up for Santana.

 
 
 
 

That’s a stupid poll question. Anyone who says that Nathan is more of a potent weapon than Morneau or Mauer should get their baseball fan card revoked.

K.B.D. says:

I know. He doesn’t even pitch the 8th.

 
Joey H. says:

Well that’s because you totally have no respect for closers ;)

 
 
Reggie C. says:

Hughes can’t generate a strikeout to save his life. He’s messed up right now.

 
Accent Shallow says:

Walking Gomez is borderline inexcusable.

 
cjc says:

well phil its been fun say hi to Michael, Dwight, Jim and the crew in scranton for us

 
Joey H. says:

I can’t help but to believe that they have really rushed Hughes too much. No reason he should have started in the rotation last year. But then again that is said having in mind what he did. And that of course was stunk it up.

got a booboo says:

is hughes = homer bailey?

Accent Shallow says:

I think Bailey has his own issues; Bailey’s calling card was Joba-like velocity, and then last year, his fastball was more like Ian Kennedy’s.

 
Zack says:

bailey is messed up to the point he has a 4.81 era in AAA this year after 7 starts

 
 
 
Lanny says:

Hughes is so inconsistent. I know he’s young but how long will they wait for him to turn it on. I wonder how patient they’ll be with him. Maybe he needs a full year in AAA.

K.B.D. says:

Cue TSJC burrito reply.

 
Accent Shallow says:

It’s an interesting point that he’s 22, 23 in June. Are the Yankees patient enough as an organization to let him develop fully?

Suppose it depends on how he can pitch over the course of a year; a 4.50 ERA is probably acceptable, a 5.50, not so much.

 
RichYF says:

I wanted to see Aceves before Hughes. Not that I think Aceves is good, but I just think Hughes could use some more time at AAA. I recall a few statements by Chad Jennings(maybe?) regarding his pitch development. He didn’t have strong command of all of his pitches but he was still dominating inferior players.

Such is life.

 
 
Yankee1010 says:

Hughes has completely lost his curveball tonight.

 
Joey H. says:

Ha. That ball was a home run the first home stand.

 
Accent Shallow says:

In terms of baserunners, he’s like a right-handed Andy Pettitte tonight.

 
Jack The Flipper says:

The more I see Hughes pitch the more I think Cashman made a mistake by not trading him for Johan.

Lanny says:

The more I see Johan pitch, the more I know he made a mistake.

 
Yankee1010 says:

It wasn’t a 1 for 1 deal. And he’s 22 – a little patience would help.

 
Joey H. says:

Eh. CC goes deeper into ball games. And it only cost us money. Not prospects too.

Manimal says:

You call Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra, and Kevin Mulvey prospects? I bet only Mulvey and Gomez become decent MLB players.

Joey H. says:

No but I call Hughes, Kennedy and at the time Melky(eh) prospects. What they commanded from the Yankees can’t compare to the Mets deal. The Mutts got a steal.

 
 
mustang says:

the things is you could of had both maybe minus Tex or AJ , but you could had both.

 
 
mustang says:

Wow… i wish you good luck with this.
LOL

 
Accent Shallow says:

I think the only person who expected 2008 Phil Hughes to be better than Johan was Phil’s mom. Clearly, that’s a trade that’s about the future rather than the present.

We won’t know if it was a mistake until 2011, and possibly later.

mustang says:

until then take the L’s and wait.

Accent Shallow says:

Unfortunately, that’s all you can do. Most young pitchers aren’t going to be Joba. Maybe Hughes never amounts to anything, and winds up the answer to a trivia question. Maybe he becomes a perennial Cy Young candidate. All you can do is let him pitch.

mustang says:

Well put agree.
What’s done is done.

 
 
 
 

CC + Hughes >>>>>>>>> Johan

mustang says:

CC + Johan >>>>>> then anyone else in Yankland.

Accent Shallow says:

Wouldn’t CC + Johan mean no Teixeira?

Would they go get Sabathia if they had Santana?

It’s a murky question.

mustang says:

I love the Tex signing, but for Johan I will drive him to Boston myself.

 
 
K.B.D. says:

You think after they hand a mega-deal to Johan (which they would’ve had to do to retain him and was part of his conditions to being traded) they would’ve turned around and given one to CC? Get real.

mustang says:

Yes the same way Cashman said that there was no way the Yankees would sign the top three free agents this winter.
You get real.

 
 
 
 
 
Joey H. says:

Hey does anyone know much about what was expected of Andrew Bailey of the A’s? Good, Bad? I know what he’s done this year but what is he projected to be?

 
cjc says:

what next goddamn

 
Brazilian Yankee says:

swisher had to be walking down the line to get thrown out there

 
Yankee1010 says:

Was Swisher running with cement shoes?

 
Manimal says:

MLB needs to seriously expand the extent of Video reviews.

Brazilian Yankee says:

Why?! So they can get calls right? It’s better to keep the traditions!!

 
MattG says:

They seriously DON’T need to review that play at second base. The ball beat him. Move on.

Yankee1010 says:

Did the tag? No.

 

That’s a load of shit, Matt. The ball might have beaten him but if the tag didn’t, then he’s safe. That’s how baseball works.

Joey H. says:

Unless of course you’re umpiring. The Ump’s are winning this game.

 
 
 
Joey H. says:

Why? So the game can be a full day event? Unless they find an efficient way of doing it then they better not.

Manimal says:

How long does it take, 5 minutes? Give each team 3 challenges per game.

Joey H. says:

I think the last time I saw the HR review it took around 8-10 minutes on the Jorgey HR. That’s way too long.

 
 
Yankee1010 says:

Well one way would not be to debate whether to review the play for 5 minutes before they actually review it like with the Posada HR. Why can’t there be a replay official who makes the call so that the umps don’t have to really leave the field?

 
 
Yankee1010 says:

But isn’t human error a part of the game? I love when people say crap like that. Yeah, that’s something to be proud of.

 
 
Tom Zig says:

Is gameday really off today? That pitch was over Cano’s head…(im not watching the game)

 
V says:

Have I ever said how much I hate MLB umpires?

 
Joey H. says:

PH pitch count so far?

 
 
Accent Shallow says:

Liriano hasn’t looked stellar, so this is pretty frustrating.

 
Reggie C. says:

Be tough Hughes. At least get through 5 innings.

 
Joey H. says:

I’ve got an idea. Manimal mentioned extending the use of Instant Replay. Why not add another Ump that sits with the camera crews or in a booth in front of a screen and his sole responsibility is to handle instant replays. Not on balls and strikes but on stolen base calls and plays at the plate and whatever else that the logical fan can consider logical. If it’s not efficient then don’t do it but if they can do it that way, I’m all for modernizing the game.

John says:

kinda like in Cricket? There’s this red/green light that goes on telling whether the play stands or not after it is challenged.

 
Zack says:

If you start to do replays of bases and stuff then that means a SS/2B actually has to touch 2B on a DP right?

 
Manimal says:

Ump just uses an onfield phone, calls the ump infront of a screen and gets the right call. I like it.

Joey H. says:

Not even. I was thinking more along the lines of an ear piece. But the red light/green light thing sounded good too.

 
 
 
RichYF says:

Okay THAT one was a no doubter.

 

That was a meatball.

 
Accent Shallow says:

Oy vey.

Where’s the change?

 
cjc says:

so that one had nothing to do with the ballpark dang

 
Manimal says:

Phil hughes and melky cabrera for Santana

V says:

Wrong. That was never the deal, no matter how many idiots repeat it.

Reggie C. says:

he forgot to add Kennedy, and maybe Hilligoss.

too much then. too much now………………..

 
thrylos98 says:

it was more like Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera and Austin Jackson for Santana

B.George says:
 
 
Manimal says:

I know i was just joking, so many people advocated for that it became a joke.

 
 
 
V says:

Just walk Morneau.

 
got a booboo says:

hughes desperately needs to work on his change up…

Accent Shallow says:

I really hate to agree with this, especially since it seemed like he had a workable change in 2007, but it really seems like that is the case. Lefties have just killed him in the majors. The cutter should help that as he gains consistency with it, but I’m not sure that it’ll be enough.

Of course, IANAPC.

 
 
RichYF says:

Has Michael Kay ever publicly stated his dislike for A-Rod?

 

Is there anything more overblown than the “A-Rod struggles with popups” meme? He dropped what, two in the span of three games two years ago?

It’s time to move on.

Joey H. says:

Nothing beats the Hudson River is named after Kate Hudson or whoever it was.

 
RichYF says:

Haha, that’s why I just made the post above.

I don’t have any facts, but I’m pretty sure Michael Kay hates A-Rod. I swear I hear him say something about pop-ups every time one goes near Alex. I almost believe he’s bad with them because I’ve heard it 30 times..

 
Manimal says:

And they it was at the beginning of the year to, maybe like the first play of the game.

Manimal says:
 
 
 
John says:

LETS GO OFFENSE!

please….

 
Joey H. says:

Well Phil, the AAA bus is outside. And it’s not even in park. The driver has his foot on the brake. I say Aceves gets the call for his next turn.

Zack says:

Is Aceves stretched out?

Joey H. says:

Well I’m sure hes good for 5 or 6. He pitched what 4 innings against the Sox?

Zack says:

that was 11 days ago

 
 
 
 
Manimal says:

Uh oh, crede injured.

 
V says:

Eh, if you told me Hughes would give up 5 innings and 3 runs, I’d take it. He hasn’t been very good, but 5 innings and 3 runs from your 22 year old 5th starter is acceptable.

Zack says:

On a good night it’s not acceptable, but considering he doesnt have great stuff tonight, crappy ump, he’s still battling and keeping the team in the position to win the game.

 
 
cjc says:

sure that one stays in the park

 
Accent Shallow says:

Figures, someone finally flies out to the track and it’s a Yankee.

 
pc69 says:

Phil needs to stay in AAA until he can pitch. Right now he just throws.

On the other hand the putrid hitting Yankees have resurfaced at home. Liriano is average tonight and the lifeless Yanks have more walks than hits or runs.

Two innings ago $100 million comes to bat and not one fucking run. Sad.

This team cannot handle playing in its own park. WTF

Joey H. says:

Was he not dominating in AAA?

pc69 says:

Define dominating? Do the hitters in AAA hit mistakes as well as in the majors?

 
 
V says:

1) The ‘he doesn’t pitch, he just throws’ is the most tired, ridiculous, stupid baseball truism anyone can repeat. You make yourself look stupid by saying it.

2) Liriano is a good pitcher. Stop pretending EVERY pitcher the Yankees face is Kei Igawa.

 
Zack says:

More walks then hits or runs = effectively wild?

 
Yankee1010 says:

Hughes isn’t going to learn anything in AAA. He has done nothing but dominate in AAA.

Some people think that 22 year old pitchers are just going to come up and dominate major leaguers without any learning experiences. It’s frustrating listening to everyone jump the gun.

 
 
cjc says:
 
Joey H. says:

Umpires:3 Yankees: 1

 
Alex S says:

love how Jete hits the HR but the camera cuts to A-Rod

 
RichYF says:

As much as I have absolutely pissed on Jeets this year, he has really come through when we needed him to. Can’t stop eating crow if it helps him keep it up…

 
ShawnT says:

HaHa Jeter now has 5x the amount of homers ortiz has

Zack says:
RichYF says:

Wait, does that mean Jeter has to give all of those homers back?

 
 
 
Alex S says:
 
 
Joey H. says:

C’mon Brett. That HR in Toronto would be an upper decker here!

 
B.George says:

People need to remember that he still hasnt pitched a full season in terms of starts. This was only his 25th. Just be patient not many pitchers have done well there first 30 starts in the majors.

 
Manimal says:

Can you make a spillover thread after this inning please?

 
Joey H. says:

Way to earn your paycheck..

 
cjc says:

you can’t be serious wtf was that

 
Manimal says:

Tex is really pissing me off. Not to the point of booing, but he is pissing me off.

 

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