Game Eight: Streakin’

April 14, 2012 by Mike Axisa 471 Comments

Yankees players line first base during pre-game ceremony before MLB baseball game against Angels in New York — (REUTERS/Mike Segar)

The Yankees are on a bit of a roll now, winning four straight thanks in part to Hiroki Kuroda‘s gem on Friday afternoon. Phil Hughes will try to keep the streak alive against C.J. Wilson today, hopefully showing some more efficiency against a predominantly right-handed lineup. The bullpen is well-rested, the offense has started to click, and it’s Joe’s birthday. That alone is deserving of a win. Here’s the starting nine…

SS Derek Jeter
RF Nick Swisher
2B Robinson Cano
DH Alex Rodriguez
1B Mark Teixeira
CF Curtis Granderson
LF Andruw Jones
C Russell Martin
3B Eduardo Nunez

RHP Phil Hughes

Today’s game starts a little after 1pm ET and can be seen on FOX. Enjoy.

Brett Gardner News: Gardner was sick with flu-like symptoms last night and his availability off the bench this afternoon is uncertain.

Greg

Oh crap Buck McCarver. Yet Buck did a great job in the World Series.
Havok9120

I’m actually glad ARod is DH’ing today. I had a dream last night in which he wound up getting hurt. It was rather depressing.
William Bonney

Phil needs to pitch well. Andy and Pineda are on their way and Phil will be replaced along with Freddy if he continues to struggle. Kuroda and Nova gave us great starts. There’s no reason why he can’t.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  CC to the Bullpen!! His stuff will play up there!!
  - jjyank
    
    He’s being groomed as the heir to Mo!
    - Chen Meng Wang
      
      Nah, we need him in the 6th, we have sori for the 7th, D-rob for his 8th, and Joba is the heir apparent.
  - William Bonney
    
    Yes, let’s compare CC Sabathia to a guy who has had one half season of good starting pitching. Face it, Hughes is going to the pen or will be traded if he continues to struggle. Andy didn’t come back to pitch in the bullpen.
    - Chen Meng Wang
      
      I was being completely facetious, I actually agree with you 100%
    - handtius
      
      do you know what sarcasm is?
      - Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)
        
        No one who posts here does.
Havok9120

Aaaaaaaand my FOX affiliate wants to show Cubs/St. Louis. Sigh.

At least its raining, means they’ve sent me to NY for now.
- jjyank
  
  + 1 for rain!
jjyank

Ugh Fox…where’s that mute button…
- SevenAces
  
  6 right handed hitters and 3 switch hitters for the LAA, I don’t remember the last time I saw so many “Rs” in a lineup.
  - SevenAces
    
    How did my comment end up here? Reply fail.
- Havok9120
  
  I don’t mind Buck. McCarver tho….
jjyank

Come on Hughes, let’s make that rotation decision a tough one.
Cy Pettitte

Phull Count Phil
- Greg
  
  Difference was that he didnt get up 0-2 to begin.
jjyank

Hahaha I cracked up when I saw the face Granderson was making running down that ball.
AaronGuielWithASmile

Is it reallywindy out there or something? That looked like a pop-up, and it nearly took Grandy to the track…
Mike HC

I still get excited to see Hughes pitch.
- AaronGuielWithASmile
  
  He looks pretty sharp in the early going. Tight strike zone though.
- Havok9120
  
  I did in ST, just to see where his velocity is. But now that he looks like he’s in 2010 form, I’m not. He’ll either be exceedingly frustrating or excellent, and the frustrating happens more often.
AaronGuielWithASmile

Why is Pujols getting booed? What did he ever do to us?
- Mike HC
  
  Maybe his comments about not giving a crap about playing in Yankee Stadium? I don’t know. Or maybe just because he is their best player and giving him the treatment?
- Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)
  
  Yankees fans boo their own playters. They are classless.
Total Dominication

Why the hell is Pujos getting booed?
- jjyank
  
  Dumb Yankee fans wanted Cash to sign him to be our DH? I dunno.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Because he’s an excellent player who isn’t on the Yankees. A-Rod got booed his entire career until he came to play for us…
  - Total Dominication
    
    That’s cause A-rod is generally disliked, not so for Prince Albert.
    - Chen Meng Wang
      
      There is also that for the most part Yankee fans are kind of douchey. Not most of the people on here, or most fans I’m friends with, but just like with people in general, Yankee fans in general suck.
- Havok9120
  
  Well, he did disrespect Flanny….er, I mean the Stadium.
  - j6takish
    
    I didn’t really take his statements as disrespecting the stadium, it seemed like the media was trying to play up him having anxiety about playing in Yankee stadium on opening day with all the tradition and yadda yadda and he pretty much said Im a professional and a 10 year veteran, I really don’t care, it’s just another game to me
    - Havok9120
      
      I know. Sarcasm fail on my part. I was hoping the Flanny reference would get that across.
- Kiko Jones
  
  I don’t boo anyone but if I did Pujols would be high on my list for being an arrogant, self-righteous, humorless dude. (He and LaRussa can go fuck themselves.) Also, I do not believe you can be “the best player in baseball” if you’re not a 5-tooler. So, I’d boo him for that, too.
Chen Meng Wang

Hughes really needs a “put out pitch” until he finds one, he’s not going to be able to get deep into games like we want/need him to.

Hi I’m captain obvious.
Greg

That time he got up 0-2 and hung a curve for a hit
- Havok9120
  
  Still broke a ton though. Thats a good sign. It just started so high the after the break it was still above the belt.
Havok9120

That curveball is breaking a ton early on. I like it.
Dela G

good lord andruw
- Greg
  
  Kendrick’s decision to go made Andruw rush and promptly bobble
Greg

Another hanging pitch
Mike HC

Keep blowing on those glasses Andruw
Cy Pettitte

do we have to hear the Morales celebration story EVERY time we play the Angels?
- Havok9120
  
  Its the first time FOX has had them this season I think. We’ll hear it tomorrow too because it’ll be a different broadcast. After that we should be safe for awhile.
- Total Dominication
  
  Dude, he only got back just now.
Chen Meng Wang

21 pitches to get two outs…He really needs to get better at this.
Mike HC

I like the 94 mph heat and seemingly gets faster as it reaches the plate. I like it.
jjyank

Big K there. His velocity looks good.
Greg

Hughes’s fastball looks lively. Its the secondary pitches that have gotten him into trouble
Cy Pettitte

that’s more like it Hughes!
Dela G

Thank the lord

Great job huuuuuuuuuuuughes
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Philbert.
Total Dominication

Nice! Anyone got a pitch count?
- 28 this year
  
  25
Mike HC

His fastball is definitely going to be a plus, plus pitch for him this year. Looking good.
AaronGuielWithASmile

Attaboy Hughes!
Yank in Beantown

Great bounce back Phil!
jjyank

Phil looks good. Not terribly efficient, but his fastball has some zip and his curveball looks sharp.
- Havok9120
  
  Considering he had two baserunners he was pretty efficient. He usually throws that many pitches to the regular 3 batters.
Chen Meng Wang

completely off topic, but I got a memory foam mattress and it was delivered yesterday, getting out of bed this morning was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my entire life.
- Havok9120
  
  That good? I hear great things about MF mattress pads from my fellow Tulane-ians but I don’t know anyone with a full mattress.
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    Dude, your body sinks into it to the perfect level of comfort, and then it becomes firm under you. It’s like a plush and firm regular mattress all in one. It’s terrible that you guys don’t have Bob’s Discount Furniture out there…they make the best generic Tempurpedic, the only draw back to the store brand is the longevity isn’t the same, but it still lasts a long time.
jjyank

I have an irrational dislike for CJ Wilson, and I don’t really know why. What I do know, is I will be extra happy if the Yanks rock him.
- Cy Pettitte
  
  same. I don’t really know why, I just don’t like him.
AaronGuielWithASmile

I love the Yankees lineup with Swish in the 2 hole
- jjyank
  
  Me too. Great to have that OBP in front of the heart of the order.
- Foghorn Leghorn
  
  that sounds dirty.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  I miss Grandy at that spot.
Dela G

i’ll take it, captain!
Yank in Beantown

McCarver is such a d-bag, how has Fox not replaced him yet, is there anyone on the planet that appreciates him?

Nice Jete.
Mike HC

Tough start to the year for Pujols. Now these other teams are getting to know how it feels to watch a 200 million dollar player under perform.
Total Dominication

Didn’t know i they’d pick it up? Seriously?
28 this year

I can’t stop laughing at the amazing Red Sox outfield with the injury to Ellsbury along with the already injured Crawford. So much for best team eva
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Their lack of depth is alarming. If an OF gets hurt, the Yankees can call up Dickerson or Wise. The Red Sox called up a guy with a sub-.300 SLG in his Triple-A career. No level of defense makes up for that.
  - Dela G
    
    sub .300 slugging in triple A???? holy shit
    - Cy Pettitte
      
      “Che-Hsuan Lin has been called up to fill Ellsbury’s spot, but he owns a .230/.322/.296 batting line in 402 plate appearances at the Triple-A level.”
      
      lol.
      - Foghorn Leghorn
        
        i guarantee he pulls a Nava and hits a grand slam on the first pitch he sees. He’ll go 4-4 today with 3 HRS…and then never get another hit in 200 ABs…but, b/c of his great 1st day, the Red Sox fans will always want him to start in palce of ellsbury.
        
        Cy Pettitte
        
        Linsanity Boston
        
        Foghorn Leghorn
        
        i’m amazed that sox fans still yearn for either Nava or MacDonald to start.
    - Foghorn Leghorn
      
      a/k/a “The Iglesias Line”
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    That’s just laughably bad. Freddy Garcia could knock the bat out of that type of players hand.
- Cy Pettitte
  
  I don’t root for a player to get injured but I am enjoying their predicament.
  - Havok9120
    
    I’m enjoying the country seeing the lack of depth after Boston has been so hyped these last two years. Its the same team as last year in terms of position player depth and this is what happens when they lose a guy.
    - Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)
      
      I haven’t seen any hype for this year. Just last year.
      - Havok9120
        
        No one was calling them “the greatest team ever” this year, but they were certainly treating the pitching staff like 3 starters and Andrew Bailey is all you need.
        
        If we fielded a team that thin, we’d get massacred by the national press. Think mid-to-late aughts. I term that hype, though I know that isn’t quite the proper word.
AaronGuielWithASmile

Time for Robbie to break through
William Bonney

Now let’s hit better with RISP. With the heart of the order up we should be able to score.
Chen Meng Wang

Sterling said Swish has an option, does he just mean that he has options on were he can play, or that he actually has a player option for next year in his contract?
- handtius
  
  this is his option year, isn’t it? could be wrong.
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    If it is, I would say you have to pick up the option.
    - handtius
      
      no, they picked up his option for this year, over the winter. next winter, he’s a free agent.
- Tom
  
  This year was a club option for the Yankees (the Yankees could have chose to decline the option and let him go)
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  No option in his contract now.
- Total Dominication
  
  His option was for this season. He’s an FA after this year.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Ok, Sterling just wasn’t every clear about it…thanks :)
Will (the other one)

Get ’em, Nick!
Dela G

damn, cano just missed that pitch
jjyank

Damn. That was a great pitch though.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

There’s the obligatory Bob Gibson reference.
Foghorn Leghorn

about $500MM at 1B right now…i bet they are talking about investments.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Man…if I had ten percent of that money I’d invest it so well that my grand children will be buying their kids cars for 17th birthdays.
  - Foghorn Leghorn
    
    If I had a million $ I’d have two chicks at the same time…
    - Chen Meng Wang
      
      What would you do?
      You mean besides to chicks at the same time?
      - Kiko Jones
        
        Lawrence: Well, yeah.
        Peter: Nothing.
        Lawrence: Nothing, huh?
        Peter: I would relax… I would sit on my ass all day… I would do nothing.
        Lawrence: Well, you don’t need a million dollars to do nothing, man. Take a look at my cousin: he’s broke, don’t do shit.
handtius

i have to admit. that was pretty fun, half a billion dollars just ran into each other.
- jjyank
  
  It was funny, but my heart also stopped for a second when I realized it was A-Rod and he can be rather brittle.
  - handtius
    
    pooooholes has been injured to. that would be one hell of a accident if they both got hurt.
- Havok9120
  
  My heart skipped a beat. We’ve seen too many freak injuries with baserunning for me to treat that lightly with a player with health concerns.
  - AaronGuielWithASmile
    
    Ever since Gary Sheffield I freak out every time I see contact at first
    - Havok9120
      
      And ever since Wang I get scared whenever anything happens as the runner steps on the bag.
Cy Pettitte

Yankees key to the game is to win the game
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Keep shaking hands!
  - Kiko Jones
    
    +1
AaronGuielWithASmile

Of course everyone will rip on Tex, but that was a great 2 strike pitch.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Good at-bat too. It happens.
- Greg
  
  No he fought pretty well in that at bat
Will (the other one)

That Chevy commercial with Prince Fielder cracks me up every time.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Haha, I like the Verlander one better, but both make me smile everytime.
Tom

SO the Fox key to the game is to “just keep shaking hands” (what they do after a win)?

So the key to winning the game is winning? Fox analysis!
handtius

at least they got CJ up to 20+ pitches
- Havok9120
  
  He pitched really well out of that. That was impressive. He didn’t give either of them much to hit except that one that Cano missed.
Kostas

I wonder if we will ever see a first baseman who can hit and play defense. Even though Tex is far better on defense than Giambi was, his AB’s are nearly laughable.
- Total Dominication
  
  Not sure if joking.
Total Dominication

What was Wilson’s pitch count?
JobaWockeeZ

Terrible call.
- Havok9120
  
  Its like you want to root for things to go wrong so you can complain, but can’t quite bring yourself to do it. Its interesting to watch.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    I like correct calls on both sides but apparently if you say anything that comes close to a negative you have to show up and say shit like “please be a joke” like it deeply affects your life. I intentionally said it to see if I get responses like that and you didn’t disappointing. It’s interesting to watch.
    - Havok9120
      
      Ohhhhhhhh. So you’re baiting people with negativity for a response? There’s a term for that as I recall.
      - JobaWockeeZ
        
        It would be trolling if the original statement was insulting to someone or if it wasn’t true. But it was a terrible strike so no it’s not trolling.
        
        Don’t even play the ‘you’re a troll’ game when you use comments like “d0000mmm1ed: every day.
        
        Oh look Granderson got out, fuck what a troll.
        
        Havok9120
        
        Scully’s sick? Didn’t know that. :(
Tut

Tex in a funk
- Kostas
  
  Not really. It is the hitter he has become.
  - Havok9120
    
    Its like you’re ignoring every statistic save his batting average.
    
    No, he’s not as advertised in terms of approach. He’s still highly productive anyway.
    - handtius
      
      he’s a troll. leave him be.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Changeup!
Havok9120

Niiiiice fastball. That thing was moving.
Total Dominication

Philthy!
Mykey

There you go Phil. Way to fight back on that at bat.
Chen Meng Wang

:( damn.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

The Stadium giveth, and the Stadium taketh.
Total Dominication

What?
AaronGuielWithASmile

The short porch giveth, the short porch taketh away
JobaWockeeZ

Oh short porch.
Cy Pettitte

worst HR ever
jjyank

Damn it, did not think that would carry.
Dela G

wow that guy is super strong to be able to do that
rfwarrior

It sure looks like he’s tossing them right down the middle on a lot of guys.
- handtius
  
  camera angle. plus, he’s got a good enough fastball to throw one down the middle, up to get a batter out.
rfwarrior

The last three guys got one stomach-high down the middle.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  from what I understand that homer went about 314.5 feet.
jjyank

Take off the bow tie!!
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Aybar is such a pain in the ass.
Will (the other one)

I know the location has been a little spotty, but Hughes’ curve looks awfully good to me so far.
- jjyank
  
  Yeah, it looks real sharp and he’s keeping it down. Me like.
- Havok9120
  
  Its certainly breaking a lot. It just seems like he’s releasing half of them so high that they’re belt high after the break.
rfwarrior

Luckily he’s got some good movement today.
Andy

Serious question: why do people hate Joe Buck? He can be somewhat entertaining.
- handtius
  
  he hates the yankees and he drones on. have you heard his call when the yankees won the world series?
  - Andy
    
    He hates the Yankees? I’ve never gotten that. Yankees fans are way too sensitive. I watched most innings of the 2009 post season and if anything it sounded like he was rooting for the Yankees. He couldn’t stop fawning over Alex (for good reason).
    - Greg
      
      He knows that if the Yankees succeed the ratings go up.
      
      That being said, he’s a Cardinals fan.
    - handtius
      
      i’m not going to get into a back and forth, but i don’t care whether or not he likes the yanks, but from my perspective, i see him as a bore with an annoying voice, void of any excitement and i see him as a yankee hater.
- Havok9120
  
  He talks a lot for an announcer, and if you don’t like that, or his particular brand of humor/commentary, you’ll hate him.
  
  That said, I like him.
- Pat D
  
  He doesn’t seem to know when something really amazing happens and so his commentary is flat when it should have some feeling behind it.
  
  Biggest example of this:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27XeNefwABw
  
  The Aaron Boone HR is another good example, especially when you compare it to Charley Steiner’s call.
  - Pat D
    
    Oh, also, a couple of years ago he said he preferred watching Dancing With the Stars than baseball.
    
    So……why the fuck are you announcing baseball games when you don’t even bother to watch them? I blame FOX.
  - Andy
    
    He’s the play by play guy. I like that he doesn’t go over the top with his calls. Half the audience is going to appreciate when a national announcer goes nuts over something and the other half is going to hate it. Seems like he does a good job of staying balanced.
- John
  
  My main issue with him is his complete lack of enthusiasm. He never gets excited. Game-tying homer in the bottom of the ninth and he keeps the same tone. A great call adds so much to the epicness of a play. He sounds like he wants to be somewhere else. Particularly his baseball broadcasts. He looks to enjoy football more.
  
  His worst call in my opinion is Tyree’s catch. He made it sound like it was any other catch, nothing special.
Kosmo

At the rate Hughes is going he´ll be toast by the 5th inning. He´s so inefficient.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  I’m guessing he goes 5 and a third.
leo

cheap hr, 4 k’s and good stuff but 46 pitches in 2 innings is not good, im really wondering if hughes will ever be able to overcome that
Total Dominication

No doubt he was getting, fucking beast.
jjyank

Damn, any other CF doesn’t get to that.
- handtius
  
  gardner does.
  - jjyank
    
    Fair enough, but since Gardner doesn’t actually play CF and even if he did, he wouldn’t be running down his teammates’ fly balls, I wasn’t counting him.
    - D-Rob da man
      
      Upton,ellsbury,jones,just to name a few.
      - jjyank
        
        I was under the impression that Bourjos was probably the best defensive CF in the game. I could be wrong, but that is what I based my statement on.
        
        Havok9120
        
        Oh, he is. But that didn’t seem like as tough a play as they made it out to be. I don’t think Granderson gets it because of his problem with jumps, but unless Bourjos had to turn on the jets a lot more than he looked like he did, that ball wasn’t that tough (relatively speaking) to get to.
  - D-Rob da man
    
    Jackson,span,victorino,pagan,kemp
Cy Pettitte

Andruw was robbed :(
Havok9120

Darn you Bourjos.
Tom

46+ pitches through 2 innings…. looking like another 5 inning start for Phil

This is what Phil Hughes is, he’ll probably have a few 6 or 7 inning starts but if he faces more than 3 batters in an inning he’s probably throwing 20+pitches
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Which makes me sad, I’d love to see him succeed, but I’d rather see the team succeed than wait for him. Which is why I don’t mind him loosing his rotation spot.
  - jjyank
    
    I hope if he does go to the pen, he can be an Aceves/Mendoza type. Hughes could be an interesting bullpen weapon that can go 4-5 innings if need be if he fails to go the distance as a starter.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  …if he faces more than 3 batters in an inning he’s probably throwing 20+pitches
  
  That’s true for basically every pitcher, at least in the AL.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Nice job, Russ.
handtius

we need to at least get cj’s pitch up. h’es at 34.
- handtius
  
  that didn’t help.
Kostas

Kind of and kind of not. Tex is beyond frustrating at the plate.
Greg

Another high breaking pitch
- handtius
  
  think that was a fastball
  - Havok9120
    
    It was.
Chen Meng Wang

What happened to Howy Kendrick? He used to be talked about with Cano and Pedroia as one of the best 2nd baseman in the AL. I feel like he’s fallen off the map a little bit.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  He’s pretty good, but not that batting title guy everyone thought he’d be.
- handtius
  
  injuries.
http://twitter.com/nomchompsky Nom Chompsky

They’re not booing, they’re saying POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
- j6takish
  
  Were you saying Poo, or Poo Urns?
Greg

Another high pitch
Cy Pettitte

not the best 0-2 pitch
- Greg
  
  Eh. Looking at it again, it was a good 0-2 pitch considering the pitches prior. That was all Pujols
  - Tom
    
    But it’s not a good pitch.
    
    Pujols hits high pitches well… even if he doesn’t put it in play, it’s probably fouled off.
    
    Hughes is almost as predictable as the Joba 0-2, 1-2 curve/slider in the dirt (for him it is the high fastball)… it will work for a while but even if it does, it is inefficient as hell.
D-Rob da man

Is hughes going to keep us in the game?
- handtius
  
  watch and find out! it’s like a reality tv show, but not stupid as shit.
William Bonney

Ok, time to start warming Phelps. We need to stay in this ballgame. Pineda and Andy are hopefully close to the Bronx. We’ve got 3 good starters at least.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  You can’t warm up a reliever every time the starter gives up a run. That’s how you end up with a Joe Torre bullpen.
  - handtius
    
    and we know where that leads…scott proctor’ed.
Hall and Nokes

When life has me down in the count 0-2, I sure hope Phil Hughes is on the mound.
Tyrone Sharpton

hughes is falling apart now…damn when andy and pineda return, hughes looks cooked no matter what
Greg

Looking at his start, I think Hughes does belong in the pen. His fastball is good, but his secondary pitches are on and off. A profile for a bullpen man
- Havok9120
  
  This is where I’d pile on for SSS….but it isn’t. This is how he’s looked every time he’s been a starter save for a few months of 2010. Its still too early into the season to pull the plug (probably by a month or two), but he’s certainly not capitalizing on the chances so far.
rfwarrior

I feel like he doesn’t have the control, so they just lay off waiting for him to hit the zone. HHe’s getting a few “caught-looking” because of it..but it explains his pitch count. If he can’t fix that, it scares me if he has to face a patient lineup like the Red Sox or a fastball-crushing team like the Rangers.
jimmy

Are you guys being serious or just joking? I can never tell…
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  About what?
- handtius
  
  i think 3 runs is the limit, then people start coming out of their holes and bitching and moaning about everything under the sun. look at the past games…people were seriously questioning CC and they forget that Tex starts every year slow. Not everyone comes out of spring at full speed and we know both CC and Tex are at least 2 of them.
  
  but bridge jumpers never pay attention to that.
  - Havok9120
    
    Yeah, it seems to happen at 3 for all but the most determined pessimists.
    
    That said, I find it hard to get on people for freaking out over Hughes, even early in the season. He doesn’t look “off”…he looks just like he does most of the time.
    
    That said, no need to take him out unless they see something wrong over on the bench.
rfwarrior

Anyone think Wells is going to have a good year…following his on/off pattern of seasons?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  I wouldn’t count on it.
D-Rob da man

Hughes to soriano to drob to mo yeah 6 th innning on is covered
Cy Pettitte

wow Phelpsie up already

Hughes and Freddy look like the odd men out right now
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  To me they where the entire time.
- Tom
  
  And unless Freddy puts up another game like his first one, I wonder if Hughes is moved out first (and maybe bounce one of the LOOGY’s out of the pen)
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    I think it should be Phelps, just so he can go start in AAA
Kostas

Time for Hughes to go to the pen.
jjyank

Swish has looked good at the plate lately. That was a pretty hard hit out.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Maybe Robinson Cano can’t handle batting third. Isn’t that something people would say?
- jjyank
  
  Unfortunately it is.
- Havok9120
  
  Sounds about right for LoHud. Generally don’t see that particular brand of silliness here, even in the Game Threads.
William Bonney

He gets guys 0-2 and then loses him. He hasn’t gotten any better. Bring Phelps in before this gets out of hand.
Chris

the old “front door intentional slider”
Tom

Hughes is starting to remind me of Scott Kazmir…. get ahead 0-2, 1-2… waste a bunch of pitches/bunch of foul balls and the count goes 2-2, 3-2.

And Kazmir was often gone after 100pitches and 5 innings, even if he hadn’t given up a lot runs.
Kostas

This is one of those games.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  One of those games were we get beat like the red headed step child of a rented mule?
  - Kostas
    
    Kind of…but meant one of those games where bounces and hits don’t go the Yankees way. Tex made a great play but did not get the reward.
Chen Meng Wang

FUCK!
jjyank

Sigh.
Tom from GA

hughes sucks
Havok9120

Well then. So much for that.
D-Rob da man

Bullpen!!!!
Kostas

That’ll just about do it.
William Bonney

Send this piece of garbage to the bullpen, before Freddy.
- Kostas
  
  Should have traded him when they had the chance.
  - AndrewYF
    
    Just like they should have traded Rivera, Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, Cano, Gardner, Robertson, Swisher…well, you know, everyone who was good at one time when it was uncertain if they would continue to be good into the future.
    - Jimmy McNulty
      
      Huge difference. Hughes is 25, was good once, but terrible now. He’s a free agent next year anyways so yes, they should have traded him while he still had trade value. It’s his sixth year in the bigs and he’s failed to establish himself as a solid big leaguer. And your comp doesn’t work, probably because you’re just a stupid homer that can’t think things through:
      
      Rivera was an awesome set up man his second year to Wetteland, he had an injury issue early but was awesome his second year on. Jeter won RoY, and Cano was a RoY contender. Swisher was the man all throughout his Yankee tenure, October notwithstanding. Robertson also was a high-K reliever throughout his Yankee career. Gardner turned into something quickly, he was always a useful player, that we thought the bottom would fall out quickly on but turned into a good player. Posada actually had trade rumors around him since he was just a back up catcher, but he proved his usefulness quickly. Pettitte was an all-star caliber pitcher his rookie year, and a CYA contender his second year…awesome ever since.
      
      Hughes always had the same fucking problems after the hamstring injury, couldn’t finish hitters and used his fastball too much. Hughes had six fucking years to prove his worth, and he hasn’t established anything yet. Yeah yeah, he had a good first half in 2010 and a good year in relief in 2009, big fucking deal he can’t stay healthy and when he pitches he has no third pitch and can’t finish pitchers. He should have been traded when he still had trade value.
  - Bo Knows
    
    Captain Hindsight I didn’t know you were real!!! You have anything else to tell us about what we should have done in the past with knowledge of the present
    - Havok9120
      
      You should look lower. There’s the guy claiming both Hughes and Joba should have stayed in the pen to develop “closer stuff.”
    - Jimmy McNulty
      
      Yeah but it was a real chance of trading him, and there were legitimate trade offers on the table…the only way that these trade offers wouldn’t be realistic is if Hughes developed into an Ace. Basically the equivalent now would be like someone offering Felix Hernandez for Banuelos and Betances…it’s only a dumb trade if both develop into aces.
handtius

bah
AndrewYF

Well, at least we have our answer of who gets replaced in the rotation.

Hughes needs to be sent down to A-ball to reinvent himself, Halladay-style.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  If it was that easy they would have done it already.
TJ

Hughes to pen, he’s awful
CBean

i’m never allowed to bench anyone on my fantasy team.
teddy

hughes just ruined the inning kuroda gave.

hughes better off in the pen in acevas type role.

at best he a 4/5 starter
Tom I

Okay, that’s enough. Let Phelps get the next start.
Jon

Phil ph-ucking sucks
Gil L

Hughes is clearly winding down his Yankees career.
A free agent soon, it is time to say goodbye.
http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

Oy vey

I blame nationally televised games
Havok9120

Phillip, Phillip, Phillip. Sigh.

Only the 4th inning, so the game is hardly out of reach. We need to stop the bleeding though.

The brightside? If the offense does stink it up, we can see a lot of Phelps.
William Bonney

And all this time I was saying put in Phelps before it gets out of hand. Rothschild new last inning Phil was done but Girardi waited too long again and now it’s probably out reach with CJ on the mound. Phil has done nothing to earn a longer leash.
- Havok9120
  
  Its not on Girardi. You don’t pull your starter in the 3rd if he isn’t hurt or getting shelled. He wasn’t either of those things.
  
  And you’re pulling the Rothschild knew and Girardi ignored him thing out of your ear. Its not like Rothschild had Phelps warming up on his own initiative. Sure, maybe he “knew” something and Girardi overruled him, but there’s no way for you to know that.
John

Hughesless
TJ

I’m calling a comeback here. This is one of those games when they get down early and claw back. Only the 4th, still 6 at bats for yanks. Tying run will come tot he plate.
- Tom I
  
  Giddy up!!
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  That’s my shtick.
  - TJ
    
    Sarcasm……….this one’s over
James A

To my very untrained eye, it seems like stuff isn’t Hughes’ problem, rather that he seems to be way too predictable and he doesn’t have the command to get away with it. If he’s going to work out as a starter, he has to develop a changeup that he can throw consistently and for strikes, or he seems like a bullpen guy to me (not that that’s necessarily the worst thing ever)
- Nathan
  
  Basically. That’s why he gets into trouble after the first time through the order.
  
  He was a lot better when he had the good curve.
Cy Pettitte

Cy Young frontrunner David Phelps in
- Pinstripes in Cali
  
  Based in his performance s far, I’d say he’ll strike out 75% of hitters, while maintaining a 0.00 ERA during his first-ballot HoF career.
Nathan

So far the rotation has NOT looked good outside of Kuroda’s gem yesterday.

CC, below his standards
Kuroda, good.
Hughes, crap.
Nova, OK.
Garcia, crap.

Thank goodness Andy is coming back and Pineda can’t get any worse. I’m hoping Pineda gets healthy and then he and Andy replace Phil and Sweaty.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  It’s been 1.6 turns through the rotation.
- jjyank
  
  It’s early. CC will be fine, and Garcia only pitched once. And I thought Nova looked pretty good.
- Havok9120
  
  Pineda can’t get any worse? I can’t tell if you’re thinking he’s so good that his performance, good as it is, as bad as it’ll get or if you’re equating “low-velocity” with “ineffective.”
TJ

Makes me wonder how much of that dead arm last year was mental.
http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

I wanted (and still do) Hughes to succeed as a starter but he just can’t stay away from long counts. He doesn’t have a hit-me-one-pitch-one-out pitch
Pinstripes in Cali

Damn… I was so impressed by the new Hughes in ST and his first outing that I added him to my fantasy team last night.
Tyrone Sharpton

I really love Hughes and think he can still be a star pitcher, but man outings like this are gunna kill him if he wants to stay
Chen Meng Wang

Question, worst case scenario, Pettitte get’s to AA and is getting bombed, Pineda never regains velocity so he’s shut down, and Hughes keeps up what he’s been doing. What are our chances of making the playoffs?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Still excellent.
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    Thank you for putting my mind at ease a little Mr. Axisa. PS, you should be doing another chat if you’re around!!
  - Reggie C.
    
    Especially after Cashman trades for Greinke!
    
    /banuelosoverrated
- jjyank
  
  Still pretty good. The offense will score enough runs, and we still have Phelps, Warren, and Mitchell to replace Hughes if he can’t get it together.
- Pinstripes in Cali
  
  With CC, an uneven Nova, Hiroki, and a bunch of kids? Gotta be minimal…
  - Havok9120
    
    You think very highly of the rest of the AL and very lowly of our offense apparently.
- TomH
  
  Poor to Nil
Kostas

can’t quite figure out where Hughes and Joba went wrong. Were they overhyped, underdeveloped, misused, etc.?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  The Yankees just made shit up as they went along. No plan in place.
  - Pinstripes in Cali
    
    Do you have any idea of the reason for this baffling behavior by the Yanks? Accuse them of many things, but not a lack of organizational acumen.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      I wish I knew. They seem to have done better with Nova, specifically just by sending him to the minors to keep pitching rather than stick him in the bullpen last year.
  - AaronGuielWithASmile
    
    Pretty much. All the injuries haven’t helped either guy, too.
  - Kostas
    
    That might be the biggest issue. Panic driven decisions never work out, except burning out arms.
    - Havok9120
      
      In the case of Joba, it wasn’t always panic either. They saw his effectiveness in the bullpen and had that in the back of their minds from then on. Silly, but not totally unreasonable.
      
      That said, they are at fault in oh, so many ways that the aggregate of their decisions certainly was unreasonable.
- TJ
  
  Too much emphasis on the pitch count. Both got hurt anyway, maybe BECAUSE of the stupid pitch count.
Reggie C.

I don’t want to pull the plug on Hughes’s starting career, but he’s got to go 5 innings his next start out. Another disaster outing could open the door for Phelps. Hughes just doesn’t have a long leash to hang himself.

Right guys?
- Havok9120
  
  I think that they’ll give him a longer leash than three turns through. I really think they’ve learned their lesson there.
  
  I mean, we can’t criticize their jerking guys around because of a lack of patience and then call for them to jerk a guy around due to a lack of patience.
blee

batters just seem to see his pitches really well out of his hand… phelps’ 92mph fastball gets in on batters a lot faster than hughes’ 92…

also, that cutter/slider of his isnt different enough from his fb to create swings and misses.. just speeds up bats for harder contact… where’s that changeup?.. batters just look for fb or slow curve…
TJ

Comeback begins………
jjyank

I wonder if they could flip Phelps and Hughes. I know its SSS, but Phelps has looked good and Hughes might be better of as an Aceves type.
- TJ
  
  Should have left Hughes where he was as the 8th inning guy and saved the money we blew on Soriano. Then maybe he could have developed closer stuff at some point. He simply does not have enough pitches to be a starter. Same as Joba.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
    
    Joba absolutely has the stuff to start. That’s nonsense.
    - Havok9120
      
      Well, so does Joba, but he was speaking of Hughes.
      - Havok9120
        
        Oh wow, he DID say Joba at the end.
        
        What the heck??
        
        TJ
        
        Yes meaning that Hughes and Joba both lack the pitch variety to be starters. You need at least 3-4 reliable pitches. Neither developed the variety.
        
        Havok9120
        
        There’s a host of starters with 2 very good pitches and 1 side offering that beg to differ.
        
        Even then, Joba had 3 very good pitches and one decent one, so your argument loses steam to begin with.
        
        Havok9120
        
        Heck, even Hughes has had a good fastball, a good cutter, and a great (at times) curveball, plus an illusive changeup.
        
        TJ
        
        Yeah, great. That’s why he’s headed to the pen.
        
        Havok9120
        
        But you’re arguing they shouldn’t have given either of them a chance. That’s madness. You go to the pen after you fail as a starter at some (generally multiple) level. You don’t start guys with 3 usable pitches there on the theory that they’ll be good enough to justify that.
    - TJ
      
      Fastball and slider, come on……
      - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
        
        curveball and change. Used the first three last year too.
      - Havok9120
        
        Guy had (has?) 3 very good and one decent pitch. What are you talking about?
        
        TJ
        
        So all those pitches are just fine, that’s why he’s a consistent “fail” as a starter but untouchable in the pen (before they messed with him). He had a way above average fastball and wicked slider out of the pen and occasionally used the others. As a starter you have to be able to throw a variety of pitches ANYTIME, not just blow fastballs and sliders with occasional use of the others. He could not do that.
        
        Havok9120
        
        0_o
        
        I’m not even going to bother. Its not worth it. You’re wrong, at least with Joba and almost certainly with Hughes. That is all.
        
        TJ
        
        Well, neither will be starting shortly so I suppose it’s moot as to why. The Yanks did a very poor job of developing both, either that or their ceiling was the pen to begin with. They both flamed out just the same.
        
        handtius
        
        the yankees are limiting joba to the pen. doesn’t mean he can’t start. when his contract ends, i’m willing to bet, some signs him and makes him a starter and he dominates. just hope it’s not in the al east, especially the sox.
        
        TJ
        
        Dominates is a stretch, but then again I thought that about IPK too.
        
        handtius
        
        + awesome
    - handtius
      
      x 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 + 1
  - Havok9120
    
    ……
    
    How soon people have forgotten.
TJ

RALLY…….
Pat D

Didn’t get to see any of this game, nor will I from here, but when you lose Chris Iannetta when you had him 0-2, and give up a long home run to Howie Kendrick…….sigh. Really starting to wonder if he’ll ever get it together.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Kill them all Andruw.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  or that…
Tut

The first thing Phil needs to do is shitcan that cutter/slider. The only person it’s fooling is Sterling.
DM

Hughes had enough stuff today, a coupla bad breaks — but no command and he doesn’t push through adversity. Instead of executing the big pitch and grinding through, he wilts instead. He gives up the jack where Nova would get the big double play. Hughes has some AJ Burnett in him. He runs out in front well but cant climb back into a game from behind. No Plan B — and his body language is awful when things don’t go well.
Tom I

RISP is not a forte.
- Tom I
  
  Hitting with RISP is not a forte.*
Chen Meng Wang

Random question, is Brice Harper playing RF for Washington, or is he still in the minors?
- jjyank
  
  Minors I believe.
pistol pete

And to think the the Yankee brass penciled in Hughes as their No 3 starter ahead of Nova based on 19 spring training innings, please. Hughes can’t get the last strike, has no out pitch and will kill the bullpen if he’s left in as a starter. Hughes will be the odd man out when Andy returns and should be in the pen.
- Pinstripes in Cali
  
  He’s still had some pretty good stuff…. Just can’t put ’em away.
Jimmy McNulty

I really hate Phil Hughes, I specifically slept an hour past starting time because I had a feeling he’d do this.
TJ

Phelps continues to look good.

Man, could we have IPK back?
TJ

Never mind….
AaronGuielWithASmile

Well there goes the Cy Young campaign…
Cy Pettitte

wow Vernon Wells wtf
- handtius
  
  he did hit 25 homers last year.
aRX

I think I’ll just keep this on as background noise and go do something else. There is zero entertainment value in watching this…
Tom I

Vernon Wells is a Yankee-destroyer.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q8RFNa3jDuU1oiw_aTiNs7N9SjwYgFJ-U_UPaUrlpA8/edit Johnny

I’ve just started watching now. So what was wrong with Phil? Location? Speed? General “meh” pitching?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  The homer to Kendrick was a total hanger, terrible pitch. Iannetta’s homer was a NYS special, moreso than Granderson’s yesterday.
  - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q8RFNa3jDuU1oiw_aTiNs7N9SjwYgFJ-U_UPaUrlpA8/edit Johnny
    
    Thanks Mike
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Good game for them to get 80+ pitches out of Phelps to keep his arm stretched out. No more of this two inning nonsense.
- TJ
  
  agree, use him, the protection nonsense does not work.
- Jimmy McNulty
  
  Silver linings!!!! Yeah, I had a feeling he’d be getting starts this year…may as well have him ready to start for Hughes or Garcia soon. He’s looked like he’s the man, lets give him a few shots.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
    
    I think a lot would have to go wrong for him to get starts with Pineda and Pettitte due back soon enough.
    - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q8RFNa3jDuU1oiw_aTiNs7N9SjwYgFJ-U_UPaUrlpA8/edit Johnny
      
      Do you think they’ll make space to keep him in the bullpen? I don’t see how that would work, but I wonder if they’d try to trade Garcia or Hughes or something.
    - Jimmy McNulty
      
      ETA for Pettitte’s around June or so? Were still not sure he can be the Pettitte we know and love, right? I mean I wouldn’t be surprised if Pettitte doesn’t have it anymore, the guy’s old and had a year off from baseball…usually those two things don’t spell “awesome pitcher.” Pineda I’m pretty fucking worried about, I think it was you that said “predicting that young pitcher will get injured” is usually the safest prediction in baseball. I think Hughes will fall out of favor soon enough and Garcia’s junkballing days will be over soon enough too. That’s okay though, Phelps and Warren will be there to provide the depth that the Yankees need.
      - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q8RFNa3jDuU1oiw_aTiNs7N9SjwYgFJ-U_UPaUrlpA8/edit Johnny
        
        Stick to the narrative in the media. Pettitte will come back and save the Yankees from their rocky start. That’s the narrative, it must be true.
  - Havok9120
    
    One of the two would have to get hurt. They aren’t pulling the plug on Hughes after 2 starts. They won’t pull the plug on Garcia at all until the reinforcements show up, not after last year.
    - Jimmy McNulty
      
      Hughes will pull the plug on himself, I have zero faith in him.
      - Havok9120
        
        I get that, I’m just saying he’ll get a few more turns through the rotation. Unless Pineda or Pettitte are delayed significantly or he just totally implodes I think he’ll stick until they’re ready.
    - Tom I
      
      According to one of the Yankee blogs (maybe RAB), Jim Palmer said all the wild pitches from Garcia were from the humidity making the ball slick. I hope he is right.
      - Havok9120
        
        With that, something was obviously off with the weather or….something. You don’t throw an outlier like that without intervening factors.
AaronGuielWithASmile

Hitting coaches tell hitters to guess where the pitch is going. Brilliant!
StanfordBen

Garbage time loud foul ball for Swisher.
- Havok9120
  
  Good thing too. The schmuck almost killed the rally with that foul ball.
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

A-Rod vs. LHP

:(
TJ

Good time for a longball to make this a game.
Will

#shouldvesignedcj #shouldvekeptmontero #tradehughes #freephelps
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q8RFNa3jDuU1oiw_aTiNs7N9SjwYgFJ-U_UPaUrlpA8/edit Johnny
  
  Mark Teixeira. Picking on the first pitch. :(
AaronGuielWithASmile

If we lose this game but get Cano going, that’s a tradeoff I’d take.
- http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso
  
  That weak single wasn’t enough to consider him “going”
  - AaronGuielWithASmile
    
    Nope, but it certainly wouldn’t be the first time that a weak hit snapped a good batter out of a funk.
AaronGuielWithASmile

Well, damnit.
Tom I

Wow. Teix. He looks incredibly uncomfortable.
Havok9120

He’s hitting right into the D, shift or no. It like the definition of unlucky. Sigh.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  That sounded like a broken bat. He probably put a sawcut in the handle to pissed everyone off though.
Kostas

Well that inning died quickly. Huge blown chances.
TJ

Good Darvsh is getting lit up
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q8RFNa3jDuU1oiw_aTiNs7N9SjwYgFJ-U_UPaUrlpA8/edit Johnny

Where did they pitch Alex yesterday, when he went 3-4 (or something) with the home run? I wasn’t paying attention, but we began hearing things a day or two ago about how he still can’t catch up to the inside pitch, the same problem he had last year. Wilson’s first pitch was right inside on him, and that reminded me of yesterday’s sudden resurgence. Were any of the pitches that he hit coming in inside?
http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

Eventually these guys will hit; the concern is how easily and often that it occurs that the entire middle of the lineup collectively (at the same time) doesn’t
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Cano will get going soon enough. A-Rod is just bad vs. LHP, that’s not going to fix itself after 2+ years now.
  - handtius
    
    how does an amazing right handed batter lose it against lefties? just don’t get it.
- OldYanksFan
  
  Cano::: .229 .289 .314 .603 OPS
  ARod::: .226 .351 .387 .738 OPS
  Teix:::: .188 .297 .250 .547 OPS
  Grandy: 188 .297 .469 .766 OPS
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q8RFNa3jDuU1oiw_aTiNs7N9SjwYgFJ-U_UPaUrlpA8/edit Johnny

David Phelps, Motorin’. (What’s your price for flight?)
Tom I

Is anyone else seeing this Poe movie? Isn’t this just Sherlock Holmes with a less charismatic Robert Downey, Jr. as the lead?
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Throw in some Saw style torture porn and yeah, that’s basically it.
handtius

prediction: phelps gets the cy-young and mvp this year. take that to vegas.
Reggie C.

Phelps may have gotten lucky with that Pujols at bat, but that’s just part of the game. This unheralded prospect is having a solid appearance. Phelps should be kept fresh whenever Hughes starts, which might not last beyond mid May.
Chen Meng Wang

I’m confident that if any team in baseball can come back from 6 down in the 6th it’s the Yankees. We have to start putting runs on the board soon though.
TJ

Is jeter going to be the rally killer?
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  Way to think positive…
  - TJ
    
    Never heard of him doing such a thing……..that’s why I ask.
Kostas

Bad ab by Jeter. Strike out coming.
Will

After passing up on CJ Wilson I really hope we’re able to sign Hamels. Not having a second lefty behind CC sucks. And with Banuelos struggling who knows when he’ll be up.
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q8RFNa3jDuU1oiw_aTiNs7N9SjwYgFJ-U_UPaUrlpA8/edit Johnny
  
  That second lefty’s name is Andrew Eugene Pettitte.
- Havok9120
  
  I still think we’re staying out of the FA class this year unless CC or Pineda implode. Signing another 20M+ per year pitcher sticking to the budget requires a total realignment of the rest of the team and I don’t see it.
Kostas

You could just see that coming.
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q8RFNa3jDuU1oiw_aTiNs7N9SjwYgFJ-U_UPaUrlpA8/edit Johnny
  
  You said a strikeout was coming!
  - Kostas
    
    Yes I did. Failed on that but the result was the same.
D-Rob da man

Looks like girardi is stretching phelps back out to swap with hughes. Untill pettitte is ready.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  I highly doubt it.
  - D-Rob da man
    
    When it happens be sure to give me props.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      Sure thing. Be sure to give me props when Hughes starts in five days.
      - D-Rob da man
        
        It maybe his last start :)
        
        mustang
        
        When he is replaced by Andy.
        
        Havok9120
        
        He’s in until he really implodes across many starts or until we have an effective Proven Starter ™ to replace him.
- mustang
  
  Not going to happen.
  
  Hughes is digging his own grave and making the decision easier for Girardi when Andy and Pineda are ready.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q8RFNa3jDuU1oiw_aTiNs7N9SjwYgFJ-U_UPaUrlpA8/edit Johnny

Dave appears to have lost the strike zone.
TJ

I blame spring training for bad games like these. No comebacks for the most part early in the year. Teams are not used to playing full games yet. Pitchers still have a big advantage.
- Havok9120
  
  Its not just that (and that is part of it; hitters are especially streaky early on) but we were down 7 by the time the bleeding stopped. Now we have a great offense, but 7 runs is a lot to ask in 5 turns from any team.
D-Rob da man

Our bullpen by aug should be exciting
Mo drob sori hughes ardsma logan wade
- TJ
  
  Joba
  - D-Rob da man
    
    We will see ardsma before joba
TJ

Great ESPN game tomorrow, get ready to dust off the mute button
- http://twitter.com/Above1BDugout Carl
  
  Unless you have the option to go to that game, which is much better.
Kostas

WeLl that is it for today. Ugly game for a team that looked like they were righting things.
Cy Pettitte

Phelps is awesome.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q8RFNa3jDuU1oiw_aTiNs7N9SjwYgFJ-U_UPaUrlpA8/edit Johnny

I like that Girardi is leaving Phelps in here. I assume Wade will come in for the ninth; in any case, this has been yet another fine outing for the Phelps.
D-Rob da man

Phelps needs to have the staduim play mission impossible music when he strikes out someone.
Tyrone Sharpton

How about putting sabathia in the bullpen every day he’s not pitching, to pitch innings 3-8
Tom

Random question: in a 6 run game, why have 2 pitchers warming?

I understanding potentially pulling Phelps depending on how many pitches he throws, but does Girardi really need to have both a left and right option in a 6 run game?

I guess one of them could be getting some side work in, but it seems odd.
- handtius
  
  i think joe wants the left for morales and wade in case he fails.
  - handtius
    
    forgot he was a switch hitter…
  - Tom
    
    Again down 6 in the 9th why would you do this? Is he really playing the matchup game now?
    
    Just pick one and go with it down 6….
    - handtius
      
      getting a lefty a little work. who cares?
mustang

Let Phelps finish!!!
Needed Pitching

why?
stuart a

yanks under 200 with RISp. Texiera is continuing his bad trend. arod some days looks 45 years old. lucky fat steinny bid against himself to give that loser a 10 year deal.

on the Hughes front, things need to get better soon. he is no londer 21 years old. did not see the Ianetta cheapy but did see the gopher ball to Kendrick. Hughes has been a huge disappointment and they may want to look to trade him to the NL for some young offensive help. Hughes time is running out unless he gets things together soon.
- Bunt Gardner
  
  Thank you, Dr. No, for the sporting news. Next is Debbie Downer with our weekend weather forecast.
  - Havok9120
    
    He only does his recap when we lose a game. That should tell you something right there.
- handtius
  
  how many games have the yankees played? oh yeah, 8. come down.
Chen Meng Wang

I had the greatest dream last night. Cashman convinced the Orioles GM that Romine was going to be the next Johnny Bench and David Phelps was going to win multiple Cy Youngs and traded them for Matt Wieters.
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q8RFNa3jDuU1oiw_aTiNs7N9SjwYgFJ-U_UPaUrlpA8/edit Johnny
  
  I now love David Phelps; I’ll not be allowing a trade, even for that Wieters character.
D-Rob da man

I wonder if there is a bs injury coming up for hughes this week?
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Wouldn’t count on it. The Yankees don’t make decisions based on seven innings.
  - Tom
    
    Is he really any different than the end of last year? (maybe a slightly better curveball?)
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      Hitters are actually swinging and missing at his fastball.
      - Greg
        
        That is true. But his secondary pitches are less than to be desired. This is why I think he is perfect for the pen. That fastball can be a great weapon coming from the pen
      - Tom
        
        But that’s only because he’s throwing high fastball after high fastball… at some point they are going to miss one (but foul off 2-3X more).
        
        Just looking at the game charts from Brooks, he rarely throws an inside 4 seamer and when he does it’s usually off the plate and a show me pitch… compared to Wilson or even Phelps who are trying to get outs with pitching inside as opposed to looking for a caught looking (backup cutter) or setting up something else (way inside 4 seamer)
        
        He threw two 4 seamers inside to lefties, one way off the play. He threw a total of 5 to righties (2 way off the plate that I think were simply setup pitches). I think he got a caught looking on one that he actually put on the the insider corner.
        
        It just seems like the only thing he knows to do with his fastball is to try and get outs up in the zone or waste it to set something else up (curve or backup cutter). At 94-95 in 2010 he could do that efficiently, at an average velocity of 92 (that’s where he was today on his 4 seamer), isn’t this what you get (a 5 inning/100pitch type pace)?
        
        I guess I’m wondering why it seems like people expect better results out of him, he seems like a fringe 4/5 rotation guy at best.
- mustang
  
  No more like reality.
- DM
  
  You never know with Hughes. They might say he caught Gardner’s flu — and then his watery eyes blinded him to Martin’s signs or something. But considering they got Phelps up so quickly, I think Phil’s previously extra-long leash of patience is now much shorter. No more excuses.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q8RFNa3jDuU1oiw_aTiNs7N9SjwYgFJ-U_UPaUrlpA8/edit Johnny

Derek Jeter to hit a home run, demand it counts for 6
Greg

Well if you look at it, this was the matchup in the Angels’ favor, for sure.
Zack

HUghes failed and we couldn’t hit with RISP..could be a lonnng year.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  They’ve got 154 games left, of course it’s going to be a long season.
- mustang
  
  But…. Oh! why even bother.
Bunt Gardner

At least Swisher didn’t homer in garbage time.
mustang

Few more starts like this and Hughes is going to make the Andy/Pineda decision a no brainer.
Howard Cosell

It appears that Hughes is officially a head case – We need him to have 3 good starts if that is even possible and then trade him. I’m convinced this guy cannot handle the pressure of NY as a starter.

I think he over thinks everything. Can he be a reliever here? I definitely think so and it makes sense he does well. He doesn’t have to over think – reach back and fire 94 -95 mph fastballs and mix in the curve/slider. No thinking. But we are loaded with relievers up and down the organization. Forget about him being a closer – he wont be able to handle that. We have plenty of setup guys.

Wow what a disappointment the big 3 were – Joba, Hughes and Kennedy.

On another team – not in a big city – a non playoff team – he’ll be a perfect 15-18 game winner….

HC
- Greg
  
  Kennedy was not a disappointment. NL West or not, he has turned into a successful pitcher.
  - Howard Cosell
    
    agreed he has been fantastic. My point was regardless who’s fault it was – the trio didnt work out for the Yankees. While I have this moment – I think the Yankees create an atmosphere that is tough to work under – some surpass it – Nova and maybe Phelps. But in reality they dont give the pitchers confidence behind the scenes – they are always looking for better- and that is tough with pitchers…. they only pitch every 5 days,
Greg

This is the one qualm I have had with the Yankees over and over again. It is their ability to develop quality starting pitching. Nova could be one, but I want to see more. Wang was great, but then he got injured.

We just don’t have that Lincecum, Hamels, Lester, Cain, Holland, Verlander from our system. Now, part of the reason is that these homegrown aces are all drafted higher than the Yankees draft. Lincecum, Cain, Hamels and Verlander were all higher draft picks. But you find Lester (2nd round), Holland (25th round), Josh Johnson (4th round), Mat Latos (11th round) and you see that aces can be developed. And the Yankees have been crap at it. It turns out that the best pitcher we developed was the one we traded away (NL West effects included).
- mustang
  
  “We just don’t have that Lincecum, Hamels, Lester, Cain, Holland, and Verlander from our system.”
  
  Neither does most of the league!
  
  IPK for Granderson I would it again right now
  .
- Havok9120
  
  You’re effectively asking us to be one of the best 3 or 4 player development franchises in the League. It would be nice, but it isn’t reasonable to expect. Teams don’t regularly grow aces.
  - Greg
    
    I’m not asking for regularly. I’m asking for ONE! Maybe two at most. Andy Pettitte was the last real ace that this organization has developed.
    - Havok9120
      
      IPK counts then, even if he was traded. And if Nova turns out good as well, then we’re going pretty darn good.
      
      If you’re after a bona fide ace, you’re right, we don’t really produce them. Our best shot was probably Joba and we screwed him up. But we’ve only really had a true farm system since, what, 2006? And then during the suspension? Give it time. We’ll see what the remaining B’s can do.
Zack

It’s hard to develop aces these days..and more to the point,harder to get them too unless they go for free agency.
- Greg
  
  Which makes it even more imperative to start really developing them. Teams are beginning to lock down their young aces leaving pitching markets like the last two years. Barren
Greg

The only teams that I can think of that haven’t developed quality starting pitching over the last 10-15 years are:

-Pirates
-Yankees
-Orioles (I’m not counting Wang so in fairness, I won’t count Bedard either)
-Mets
-D-backs (for now)

All other teams have developed a good quality pitcher.

Royals- Grienke
Indians- Sabathia and Lee
Tigers- Verlander
Astros- Oswalt
Marlins- Josh Johnson
Phillies- Hamels
Nationals- Strasburg or Zimmerman
A’s- Haren and Hudson
Angels- Weaver
Mariners- Hernandez
Rockies- Jimenez
Red Sox- Lester
Padres- Latos or Peavy
Giants- Cain and Lincecum
Reds- Cueto
Braves- Hanson, (not to mention the big three of earlier years)
Cardinals- Wainwright
Cubs- Zambrano
Rays- Price, Shields among others
Blue Jays – Romero and Halladay

Let me know if I have forgotten anyone
- Greg
  
  Rangers- Wilson
  - The Guns of Navarone
    
    Holland needs consideration too. He may be in the “wait and see” category but I’d be shocked it he didn’t develop nicely.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  You need to count Wang. They developed him. He was great. You can’t predict injury.
  
  Ivan Nova just began his second year in the rotation. Ian Kennedy was an All-Star, albeit for another team. This all counts.
  
  You spend all your time on this list, yet disrespect the team you’re supposedly so much a fan of that here you are.
  - Greg
    
    1. Ian Kennedy did not spend enough successful time with the Yankees, who drafted him, to qualify for this list. Everyone on this list spent quality time with their original teams.
    
    2. I said in my original post that Nova could be one, but I’m waiting to see more.
    
    3. When it comes to Wang, even though he was great for two years, he never really was the “guy”. All of these other pitchers, except for Tommy Hanson, was pinned as the “guy” or the “ace” of a rotation.
    - Havok9120
      
      1. Is BS. We developed him; he is what he is because our system made it so. We traded him, got good value for him too, but that doesn’t mean we get no credit.
      
      2. Fair enough.
      
      3. That’s purely subjective. I mean…seriously? He was a fantastic pitcher, home grown, who was the guy we could most expect to go out there and win us a game as opposed to just “keeping us in it.”
      
      You can’t just ignore guys because they don’t fit your preconceived opinion, and that’s exactly what you’re doing here. If your point is that the organization cannot develop quality starters, that has nothing to do with whether they got injured or pitched for the MLB club; the organization still developed them.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  If you’re giving the A’s credit for Haren, you have to give the Yankees credit for IPK. Same deal with Smoltz for the Braves. Maddux is another matter entirely, that’s like giving the Yankees credit for CC.
  - Greg
    
    Didn’t know that Haren was a STL prospect. My bad. Cross him off.
    Still have Zito and Mulder
    
    I’m also going to put the Nationals in the Not yet section along with the D-Backs. Might do the same with the Braves with Hanson, Minor, and Beachy, although I am not sure because Glavine was drafted by the Braves
    
    So that makes it 7-8 teams.
    - Greg
      
      sorry 6-7 teams
      
      Yankees
      Mets
      Pirates
      Orioles
      Nationals
      D-backs
      (Braves)
      - Greg
        
        Hang on. Forgot Brandon Webb with the D-backs so they go off the list. Makes it 5-6
    - The Guns of Navarone
      
      Brandon Webb was a stud for the Dbacks.
- mustang
  
  I guess I can see your point, but in the end Yankees have manage to be very successful in those 10 to 15 years even with their lack of a home grown ace.
  - mustang
    
    Out of the teams you listed above I only see one maybe 2 that can even mirror the Yankees success over the past 10 to 15 years.
  - Havok9120
    
    I don’t. IPK and Wang count. We drafted and developed them whether they had long careers in pinstripes or not. I had much more respect for his argument before he started arbitrarily crossing Yankees (and only Yankees) off the list to make his point.
DM

I wonder if they’ll send Phelps down for 10 days and have him continue starting at AAA and mirroring Hughes at the big league level. They could call up a fresh arm since Phelps is now unusable for 4 days. They’re down a long man with no more off days until the 26th.
- Havok9120
  
  It would definitely be the smarter move to send him down and call up someone. One of Warren/Mitchell should be about to make another start so they should be ready to go.
Robinson Tilapia

Things have a habit of working themselves out, indeed. Hughes is going to be pitching for his life in five days.

There is indeed a part of me that wants them to swap Hughes and Phelps in five days, but I can completely understand why they wouldn’t. Keeping the guy they can send down in the pen continues to give the team flexibility.

Everyone knows I’m a Hughes supporter, but he continues to shoot himself in the foot by throwing too many pitches and making too many mistakes. Even I can admit time is running out, and quickly.
- mustang
  
  Agree 100%
- Havok9120
  
  This in every way. I’ve been a Hughes guy all spring because we needed to see what we had. After two or three more turns through, we’ll more or less know. His only shot at being only marginally effective and remaining in the rotation is if Pineda/Pettitte are ready in mid-May and they ride him out until then just so he’s been given every chance.
Tim

When will Girardi and Cashman wake the fu%k up and put Hughes back in the bullpen where he thrives? He is NOT a quality starter. He IS a great reliever. PUT HIM BACK IN THE PEN!!!!
- Havok9120
  
  Sigh.
  
  And then people get so pissed when they make snap judgements about prospects. I agree he’s near the end, but lets not go overboard and act as if he should never have gotten a chance. Its this kind of thinking that ensured Joba was stuck in the pen during his entire remaining tenure.
Tomm

Phil Hughes simply hasn’t learned how to pitch. And Yankees fans, many of them, haven’t learned to accept the fact that this handsome tall impressive first round draft pick is a bust.
- Havok9120
  
  This is getting silly.