Go Phil Hughes! I hope he does so well, he never gets sent down again!

: )

Nitpick on Barra: It was Berroa at third base, not Ransom.

I've been jockin' Phil for a solid 3 years now...don't let me down kid.

[3] Yeah! What you said!

Need a lift tonight from Boy Wonder, I predict a no-no and 4 home runs from Tex!

I'm actually excited/nervous for this start.

1 2 3 , getting used to that.

I'm not expecting anything from the Yanks offense, but I have high hopes for Mr. Hughes

[7] sigh.. Jackson no-no and 4 dinges from Cabrera?

that curve not a strike??

Nice start Phil!

phil showing 94 on the DET gun

I really hope 92 isn't his ceiling....

I'm liking this...

[13] So what if it is? I've never seen so much obsession over a player's velocity. LOTS of very good pitchers throw a FB that sits 92-93.

Phil brought his Uncle Charlie to the park tonite!

DET announcer, "locked up his bowels on that one!"

phil seems to have his cruve early tonight

Hey look, a #b who can field!

nice play pena - no way berroa gets that

I love great D!

Franchise, baby

I am way too emotionally invested in Phil and Marty Brodeur tonight

Wow! Welcome back Phil! You go wit yo nasty Yacker!

: )

when did Edwin Jackson become J.R. Richard?? hit this guy already!

Is frigging Edwin Jackson now just too good to hit too?

Cabrera is only 25.. amazing

Hey, Team! What a pleasant surprise to hear everyone so, shall we say, optimistic!

liking that cutter Phil's been throwing

I love that cutter. So pretty.

Hughes aint getting much

Seems like a tight strike zone, eh?

that curve fool you too, blue?

And yet he makes due

With Joyce behind the plate, Hughes might be on a no-hit pace.

Phranchise

[34] Wait, what?

This program runs so much more smoothly without Michael Kay.

That cutter REALLY helps his FB, which is actually popping quite nicely today. When he shows that control of the FB to both sides, flashes the cutter, and then drops in the honker, he looks like the real deal...

[36] Last night's umpire had such a wide strike zone, that Hughes might be able to throw a no-hitter with the stuff he has shown so far.

There is some real a-clown behind HP or near the booth, huh?

[36] Joyce had a huge strikezone last night

Yay!

[39] Ok, gotcha. Didn't realize that was referring to last night! Was gonna say, today's ump has a TIGHT zone...

That AB is why Melky should play over Gardner...Melky can hit a fastball down the middle. It might seem like a pedestrian skill for a major leaguer, but Gardner can not do it.

[37] Agreed, Cone and Singleton are good. Why does Kay always skip Detroit?

Not sure why Molina isn't bunting there...that's an example of Girardi sitting on his hands and not trying to make the best of his team's weakness.

[45]

Perhaps there is an outstanding arrest warrant for him in Detroit Rock City, from his wild days being a KISS groupie?

God I wish I could get my hands on that jerk yelling "Swing" every at bat...

[45] Well, I wouldn't got to Detroit if I didn't have to either.

That being said, I wish he would avoid more cities. This game would be insufferable if we had to repeatedly hear that Michael Kay, his own complicated formula, determined that it was impossible for the Yankees to lose five games in a row.

ummm Seton Hall Prep is not "around Morristown" Coney, my alma mater is in the Newark archdiocese and damn proud of it.

Having Phil and Joba throw good back to back to starts would do wonders for all psyches. C'mon O! Pull your weight.

The San Diego Chicken once brought an eye-chart out to the umpire?? Love those stories..

Not to harp on the point, but it would have been nice to see Girardi be proactive and move Melky up to 2B. Now, the Yankees need two hits to score.

[47] That's certainly the closest Michael Kay would ever get to something so named, Diane!

Kiss, I mean...

[53] I just get worried that he's going to do something asinine when he decides to be proactive. I'd rather he sit on his hands than send Wilson Betemit in to pinch run for the trail runner (and then not put on a play) or send Brett Gardner in to pinch hit.

Serious question .... just how bad are the seats in section 405 (the last section of grandstand in RF).

My job is offering seats there for $13.50 rather than $22 or whatever.

[55] Bunting with Molina against a RH pitcher though is a very high percentage move. Little things can mean a lot, especially when a team is struggling. The Yankees need this game badly and I'd like to think Girardi would be a little more involved.

Wow, how was that not a strike?

christ blue!

on the black at the knees.

Punch 'em out blue. You blind ass.

[56] sat there for the exhibition....they aren't bad at all. It's def. far from the field, but you do see most of it.

Woah, that was an evil evil curveball

[56] I'm sitting in Section 405 for a Mets game in the beginning of June, Diane. No idea on the quality though

Wow, that curveball might have been off for location, but it had some DROP

YAKKER!

damn, i heart this hughes!

[57] I'd be afraid he'd put the hit and run on.

Red Sox are beating up on Cleveland...the Yanks had two great chances to derail the train, but blew them both. The Red Sox can be streaky, so the Yankees may have lost an opportunity to stop them cold. Those two losses could really haunt this team for a while.

Any news any Phil's skull and crossbone glasses. : ) Maybe contacts? Or Lasik?

God this ump is killing me!

don't let this rattle you phil

Cleveland doing us no favors, down to Boston 5-1 middle 2nd

The strike zone is the size of a postage stamp.

Granderson caused Sabathia to lose concentration last night...I hope Hughes doesnt make the same mistake.

Hughes just needs to accept that the zone is tiny and continue to work the corners, dont give in

Attaboy Phil! Lotta pitches, but hopefully he can have a quick inning and get through 6

Phew.

got a little sloppy there.

but that cutter is really going to be a weapon for him.

[68] The thing I'll always remember about Phil Hughes' glasses is he got crossed up like six times with that Chris Stewart, and it was determined that Hughes was blind.

They took Hughes out of the game. and Stewart got crossed up like four more times that game.

Glad to have Maggs leading off now!

Whew!

Is there a reason the Yankees can't hit Edwin Jackson?

FUCK you blue.

Jackson gets the high curve?!?!?

[79] They suck?

[77] Yeesh. Thanks for the reminder. That was some mickey-mouse bull. Let's hope Chris is not handling any fragile materials any time soon.

he'll always be "Dodgers Superprospect Edwin Jackson" to me

[79] he's maturing into the pitcher the Dodger's thought they had?

He's got great stuff and he's pitching well tonite.

meanwhile, robbie's hanging tough ...

[81] I temporarily forgot.

I feel like Jackson ALWAYS does this to the Yanks in April...

[84] These people always seem to mature against the Yankees.

[80] Maybe Hughes dumped Derryl Cousins' daughter or something...

: /

I don't think I've ever seen that before.

My patience is starting to wear with Teixeira. It started tonight.

***

The thing about Melky is that though he looks terrible at times, he also can look competent, even ... good. Gardner on the other hand looks like he got lucky even when he does get a hit.

well, there's something you don't see everyday ...

Not being able to stand up should an error. Seriously.

great, great AB by Cano though. 12 pitches

[90] He isn't getting any pitches though. Other than Cano, there is no one else in this lineup that pitchers probably fear close to as much.

[89] Daniel Murphy-esque

Swisher. If he doesn't walk, he aint getting on base.

Hooray for the OBP!

2 outs. Man on second. Hmmm.........

[96] Or his 19 hits, third on the team....

[96] Walk's as good as a hit! GoodEyeGoodEye! Great Fundamentals Kid! Always protect the family jewels! (I remember all my Little League aphorisms from coach Jimmy Myers..)

"Tale of Two Strike Zones" tonite

no way Phil gets that strike 2 call.

Wouldn't it be poetic if the Yankees finally start hitting with men on base when A-Rod shows up?

Melky always manages to remind you of why he is Melky

This game feels as if the Yankees are slowly moving their way toward a loss...almost like they are walking the plank.

[100] I disagree. Sometimes a walk is as good as a hit, sometimes it's not. For instance if there's a man on third.

***

Melky isn't much of a hitter with two strikes. He'll swing at anything.

The only surprise with that at bat was that he didn't slide into first base.

Is that a two-seam fastball from Hughes? Looks pretty nice!

[106] Spit up my mueslix with that one, excellent! http://www.rimshot,com

[107] cutter

[107] Yep....with movement.

Hughes hitting batters is not a bad thing...it indicates both his movement and his willingness to throw inside...two things that were lacking last year.

[105] I'd say that a walk is actually almost never as good as a hit.

[109] But it's riding in on right handers, like the one that got Mags to pop-up. Wouldn't a cutter break the other direction?

[102] How I pray A Rod is the "comes through pretty often actually" A Rod of 2007. I'm not saying he needs to produce at quite that level, but I don't look forward to him coming to the plate with runners on, getting down two strikes before he's in the box, then swing and miss at a pitch low and outside.

I really wish Cone was in the booth for every game, completely enjoyable

[112] talking about the 1st pitch to Cabrera, which were you refering to?

gah!

nice hitter by guillen.

Cone is a good listen but he growls a lot and if you didn't notice and now you do I apologize. Cause it will bug ya.

Now we see how Hughes handles some adversity...hopefully it's better than the team as a whole has done of late.

[115] The pitch that jammed Ordonez on the foul pop. The 1-1 pitch to Laird was also similar. I'm mainly confused because Cone keeps calling it a 4-seam fastball, which I always understood was the straight one, while the one with a left-to-right movement (from a righty) was a 2-seamer.

pitch count rising here..will he make it past the 5th?

Too many pitches. Blasts. Keep 'em off the board.

c'mon phil!

Hooray!

nice job there

Hughes has a lot to contend with here, he doesn't need the ump squeezing him too.

That'll do.

BOO-Yah!! Thattaboy Hughes!

Very good (and smart) job of pitching by Hughes.

That's 71 pitches through four innings. Was anything said about a pitch count? Otherwise, I think he can go 6 if he's allowed to get to 100/110 pitches or so.

eek.

71 pitches through 4.

3rd inning and Vinnie Chulk is pitching to Dusty McBarney..the Indians are awful.

[130] At least 30 of those were due to several shitty non-calls...

[119] The 4-seamer is more straight, while the 2-seamer either moves left-right or down. It def. looks like Hughes is throwing a 2-seamer.

[132] don't need to tell me, just check out the trail of my bitching throughout the thread!

=)

Will this team ever win another game?

[134] Just following your lead, Cult...

:P

I am looking forward to seeing about 60 + career games from the opposing pitchers this year. .

terrible play by Cabrera there..let's make them pay for that? just ONCE take advantage of an extra out, please??

Come on OFFENSE. You have a rookie basically pitching a shutout. Back him up.

Did the calendar turn this year, or are we just continuing 2008?

this is irritating

when did that dude from Y Tu Mama Tambien start playing 1st for the Tigers?

Ahhh, these Yankees are such a joy to watch!

[139] On the bright side, the Tigers fans are saying the same thing....

That hook is a thing of beauty!

my bad, it's LORD CHARLES in the house tonite.

If Hughes pitches very well and Wang returns healthy, do you move Joba back to the bullpen or send Hughes back down?

Shades of Rivera with that cutter.

[147] You joking? how do you send Hughes back down now??

That cutter is really moving...I mean almost Mo-like movement. If he commands that to go along with his fastball and nasty hook Hughes could become what we were hoping.

That was a SICK pitch..

[149] I was asking a serious question...if both of my premises are accepted, it becomes Joba vs. Phil for the 5th slot.

[148] What you said!

That's 81 pitches through five innings. Now would be a good time to score some runs, so Girardi doesn't get tempted to go to the B-team bullpen guys in a tie on the road. Not that I'm very sure who the A-team bullpen guys might be.

[147]

make Phil and Joba co-starters in the 5th spot?

they split 5/4 and 4/5?

i dunno, i fear if Joba goes to the bullpen, he'll never come back and i don't want that

meanwhile ... NICE efficient inning by Phil there

[152] Why not put Wang in the pen till he recovers? And/Or until Joba shows he can't be a full-time starter..still a possibility. Hughes has to stay up, nothing left for him to prove in AAA

[147] You make Pettitte the long man...

[152] Well, I'm not sure about one of the premises, that Wang will definitely return to prominence. My guess is that they'll bring him off the DL sometime in May and he'll have another couple bad starts, while Hughes goes back to AAA. Then Wang is DFA'd while Hughes come up for good?

[155]

that was supposed to be may never come back

The offense is quite offensive.

How many times is Teixeira gonna run the count full then fly out? A billion zillion?

[156] I don't think Wang is the shutdown reliever you want in the 8th inning.

I think the sorry humor of the baseball gods will have someone tweak something before the Wanger gets back so........there goes the Hughes-Chamberlain battle royal. Just sayin'.

Yeah the offense now looks like all the negators were saying before it looked like it does now.

that ball coulda killed somebody

[157] Pettitte has pitched well. He has also never relieved. What's more, you signed him to an incentive laden deal based on being a starter. Moving him to the pen for anything other than poor performance would be incredibly unfair.

PATRIOTS AND BROWNS TIED AT 7 IN THE 3RD QUARTER

that's also Matsui's last MLB triple ... calling it *right* now.

got to hand it to matsui - even though his knees are shot he ran pretty hard

[158] You really think Wang his done? Wow...that's a very extreme opinion. I can't imagine him being so bad the Yankees would simply release him.

ain't no way I'd pitch to the RIPPER right now ...

If Hughes can pitch like this, put Joba in the pen. They desperately need him and I don't think he'll be any better than Hughes anyway. If.

Joba's mojo is noticeably weaker as a starter. It'd be sweet if that changes, but I'm not counting on it.

[161] He has been taking those picthes and walking...now, it seems like he is trying to do too much, which is never a good thing. Someone on this offense needs to step up.

[170] I'm probably just bitter about the way Wang has shaped the Yankees' season, by overtaxing the bullpen, costing quite a few games. I was just trying to come up with a scenario in which Joba and Hughes get to both be in the rotation.

Ice Cold Pandemic! Get your PANdemic. 2 out PanDEMIC. 200 mil. Pandemic.

Oh, that is BS

Wait...the third base umpire over ruled the home plate umpire on a foul tip? How is that possible?

damnit - cano was really fihting off a lot of pitches - i thought he would win the battle - that's rare for the 3b ump to make that call

[166] Pettitte's contract is based on innings, not starts, right? It's the perfect role for him. Also, @ only $5M base, you don't have a BP arm making $10M or $16M as he wanted. Additionally, he doesn't get 200 innings out of the BP, making him fresher down the stretch. Lastly, Hughes became the odd man out with the Pettitte signing. If Hughes continues with this stuff, clearly he's that much better than Pettitte, and I wager nobody steals home on Hughes...

I think it's way too early to worry about moving Joba or Wang or Pettitte to the pen. Hughes pitched a gem before - that bid for a no-hitter that ended in injury. Can't read too much into one game.

And for all we know, someone else will be on the DL by the time Wang's ready to return. Too many good starting pitchers is a problem I'd love to have.

[175]

don't you mean the HAMdemic, my friend?

don't FUCK with the Aporkalypse!

[179] I can't see Pettitte coming close to his innings targets as a long man. If the Yankees demoted him while he was pitching well it would be very bad form.

PHILTHY!

Oh man, I love watching Hughes right now.

[180] Agreed...but the alternative to that discussion is talking about how bad the offense is. I don't have the energy for that right now.

When you miss your spot by a whole plate and still get a big miss that's nice.

wow, Phil's career high in Ks is only 6?

figured he would have had more

Phil is getting those calls now (ie the curve on 1-0 to MCab)

As this game progresses, I keep thinking back to Melky's lead off hit and Girardi's decision not to bunt with Molina. Sometimes, little moves like that can be the difference in a game. Girardi doesn't seem interested in making those kinds of moves.

[175] Avon Barksdale??

Miguel Cabrera is really, really, really slow.

Miguel Cabrera busting it down the line...

[188] there's your 2 seamer.

4, 2 and a cutter is a nice, nice arsenal of fastballs ...

It's really interesting, with all the new movement on Hughes' cutter and 2-seamer, there's less of an emphasis on his velocity. Everyone was concerned about it last year, but he's having a lot of success not throwing much harder than 91, 92.

DANGER PITCH

[194] He has hit 93 on a few pitches as well. If he can pitch 91-93, that's way more than enough for what else he features.

[181] [190] Don't really mean to compare the Yanks' O to a drug epidemic, but yeah,The Wire was on mind.

He absolutely beat Guillen with that fastball. Damn, I hope the Yankees can score so I can feel good about this outing.

That it for Phranchise? Another no decision?

[194] well, except for the 94 he's been hitting on his 4 seamer ...

[Standing Ovation]

Hell yeah, Hughes!

Best start of the year for the Yankees!

I went to school with a Ryan Perry

Lil G? Steal? Anyone?

According to Gameday, Hughes had six pitches at 94 mph, all of them in the first inning. Since then his high has been 93.

There's no way you return Joba to the pen. Hughes goes back down and is on call for when Burnett or Pettitte go down. Joba needs to get out there and build innings and work through it (assuming he isn't hurt of course).

Meanwhile, I tell Hughes good job and bring in the pen, no?

[201] And by a wide margin too! 2 hits, both singles...

[201] I dunno, CC in KC and AJ in Tampa were pretty ridonkulous.

That works, too. Even Melky couldn't screw that up.

Let's take a strike before bunting.

[205] nobody mentioned as warming, though ...

[207] Andy against the A's was pretty good too.

[210] Hmm, Hughes at about 100 pitches in a scoreless game in the 7th? I let him end on a positive, ESPECIALLY if the Yanks score here

2nd and 3rd..one out. inevitable pop-up and K now?

[207] True. By Bill James' "Game Score," those two are the tops for Yankees starters this year. CC's game had the 7.2 innings and six strikeouts, also six hits. AJ had 9 strikeouts in 8 innings, but gave up two runs. I would have to do the math but I think Hughes would top the list if he finished the 7th with no more baserunners.

Don't strikeout. Don't strikeout. Don't strikeout.

Oh God, now we're going to have to see Berrora at 3rd in a close game. Couldn't we do a suicide squeeze with pena instead?

THIS is the move i'd make.

no complaints with Joey Joe Joe here.

Posada has to get at least one run in here...

Jorge was trying to hit Lake Erie with that swing.

[217] Yep.

ugh

NICE I eat my words :)

WOOHOO!

whoa! I didn't think we were allowed to catch breaks. I'll take it.

Thank you Anderson...the best clutch hitter on the Yankees.

thank god - runs scored - i was ready to kick po

There is a god (baseball).

Quite the fortunate happenstance! Yea, verily!

Wow, how'd that drop in?

OK, now i definitely get the BP warming

Posada actually screwed the pooch on that one. I don't know what the fuck he was swinging at on those first two pitches. Luckily our friend in LF helped out.

Is Angel Berroa faster than Posada?

Stroke of luck! We'll take it!!
Posada needs to get that hamstring better though, he can barely move..

[229] Error on the outfielder...he waited back on the low liner and then came in, but completely whiffed.

[232] At the very least he has two hamstrings we can afford to lose.

[232] One has 2 good hamstrings.

[182] "If the Yankees demoted him while he was pitching well it would be very bad form."

Almost as bad as the "form" he showed at The Fens, perhaps?

The Yankees do not owe Andy Pettitte anything towards his 200 innings threshold for him to "earn" the extra $5M. Given his "productivity" during the last half of '08 after he "hit the wall," I'd rather he be the long man to conserve his use for down the stretch, should the Yankees be "burdened" with six starters upon Wang's return, than be 2-9 again. Arguably, that cost them their trip to the playoffs.

I mean, we're talking about a guy who bailed on the team after '03, to be with "his buddy" Clemens, remember? Such loyalty as you suggest, while it may be appropriate, doesn't exist for Andy Pettitte (see also Bernie Williams' "dismissal" in which they "remembered" him using Boston to jack up his price years ago).

[235] Good point.

I think Berroa needs to be cut if for no other reason than his personal safety. The longer he stays on this team, the better the chance Matsui locks him in a closet and claims his rightful Rookie of the Year award.

i'll just close my eyes and imagine it was a ringing double off the wall ...

meanwhile, WTF Cap'n, how about you DRILL that 2-0 pitch?!?!?

Detroit "blinks" first!

Another two times on base for Jeter?

Anyone else feel like Leyland would be terrifying if you were in that kids shoes?

[237] Pettite has pitched very well this year...giving up four runs to the Red Sox isn't bad form...in fact, it made him one of the most effective pitchers all weekend.

If Pettitte pitches well and you move him to the pen, it would not only be a bad baseball decision, but a bad business decision as well.

[243] haha - i was thinking this kid has got to find the furthest spot from leyland he can

[243] Leyland scares me from 8000 miles away..hard to believe he is only in his 60s. He looked 60 when managing the Pirates..wonder if he still smokes behind the dugout?

[237] Not an Andy fan eh?

Berroa with the nice slide!

Clutch!!

this is the first game i have watched that the 3b coach was even mentioned - far cry from last year

Does Tex have his first tack-on Yankee homer, yet? : )

ITS AN OFFENSIVE OUTBURST

JD!

There are managers that scare me more than Leyland. He seems more rational than Lou

ack.

Tex no bueno.

[251] Tack-on? Have you been watching Yankee baseball of late?

[244] I'm just sayin' if Hughes continues in this fashion, and they are fortunate enough to have six viable starters upon Wang's return, the odd man out should be the superfluous lefty starter, with the innings incentives.

I'm willing to agree to disagree...

Yankees leading

Rangers eliminated

Devils need to complete my trifecta here....

Hughes to Melancon, I like the sound of that!

nice hit matsui

i hope the asshat who has been yelling all game will go home now

Matsui is back!
Someone mentioned earlier..that idiot behind home plate who shouts on each pitch, VERY annoying..

GOJIRRA!

[256] lol. That's why I asked. I wondered if any of his 3 homers were important back when they had 9 wins. Seems like forever ago. Not that I want to put the cart before the horse.

[260] Precisely Ms October! He reminds me of "The Heckler" from The Trop...

[260] Jinx!

God that guy is annoying. WIth the long inning and the cold temp, please take Hughes out and bring on Melancon!

[260]

nope, he's still there ...

Dope.

CA-NO?

CA-YES!!!!!!

There's nothing quite like taking a new job, sitting down at your desk on your first day, turning on your computer, and finding that you pretty much can go nowhere on the Internet - including here. Sigh. A job's a good thing, though.

/off topic

Son of a gun, Hughes was dealing, huh? Guess he and the Yanks' O are both back just in time!

Amazing what a strong starting performance and some timely hits can do to make a game enjoyable, eh?

Where in the hell have these guys been?

OK I think the bullpen should start now, no sense having Hughes over 100 pitches when the game's not close.

[270] Congratulations on the new job?

[273] Hughes is out for sure. Let's see Melancon!

according to Petey, Melancon is now warming ...

Hughes to Melancon is literally something I've dreamed of.

Well, I suppose I should say that its something of which I have dreamt...

[275] Not watching or listening?

Celts - Bulls playing another great game

Random off-topic note:

Minor league baseball is weird. i'm taking some friends to a Durham Bulls game, tomorrow morning at 11:05 AM. I wonder if they will serve beer in the morning?

[279] yeah - just flipped to it - may have another ot game

God we needed this

Bizarro World!

[274] Thanks! It really is a good job, and a great opportunity career-wise - but I am really, really missing the Banter (among other things). The first afternoon game is going to be tough to get through, without being able to follow along with everyone here.

Wow, now there is something you don't see everyday!

Lets please save some runs for tomorrow!

[281] I can never understand the philosophy that has the team with the ball wit until there is only enough time to take an off balance shot.

Clearly Hughes came up huge here. I'm impressed with what he's evolved into with his arsenal in such a short time. Not only does he still have a plus curve, and the ability to spot the FB, his new cutter is awesome, too. Just "axe" Granderson...

: )

Missed the granny! by Molina?!?!

[284] Just cozy up to someone in IT and all will be well.

Remember when this was a 0-0 game, oh, this inning ago?

[280] Why wouldn't they serve beer? I think the 12:00 rule only happens on Sunday.

Hey all.
I guess getting Jackson out of the game was important, huh?
Probably somebody already said that.

I've been waiting to go for a run until after Melancon pitches since I haven't seen him yet for what seems like eternity!

wow, molina?!?!

yanks needed this inning/game badly.

[286] definitely not wise - i was alwyas taught to drive to the basket with about 8-10 seconds left; not sure why someone with bad hamstrings wants to take a fall away jumper there

[290] Thank God the Yanks are on the correct end this time, Zack!

: O

[292] You can thank Cano for that...he probably saw about 30 pitches all by himself.

[286] That was on Gordon, he could've taken it to the basket try and draw a foul

Ok, over/under on # of pitches for Melancon this inning? I say 10...

Holy cats. Even Berroa got a hit.

[291] Yeah the blue light law is only for Sundays, but it will still be kind of weird to be drinking a beer at 11:05 AM on a Wednesday.