Phil Hughes pitched well last night. Here’s Chad Jennings with more:
Hughes threw a slider when he was younger, including his early years in the Yankees minor league system, but he eventually dumped the pitch and picked up the cutter. When the cutter disappointed him again last week, Hughes had Larry Rothschild work with him on finding a new cutter/slider grip. He tried a few slight modifications, found one he liked and used the pitched 25 to 30 times tonight. He threw it more than either his curveball or changeup.
“It’s bigger so I assume it has to lose a little velocity to get that,” he said. “I don’t think it’s something that’s slow enough that they recognize it… I have to give it my fastball arm speed and not get lazy with it. If I do that, I don’t think it will fall in the same mode I was when I was 16 years old throwing my slider, because I didn’t really know what I was doing (back then).”
Man, it sure would be nice to see Hughes improve on his 2010 performance. I don’t think it’s asking too much, though he had a decent year, and won a bunch of games.
Think he’ll do it?
Yes. I predict he'll have a better year.
This is not a sophisticated prediction. It's based on two facts: (1) most pitchers his age improve, and (2) he didn't have an especially good year last year.
Charles Shultz drew a plethora of baseball frames that would more appropriately illustrate this issue of the Banter. I once traveled to Cooperstown to view a show of his work, only to find I had mistakenly entered the opening date in my calendar. It is not football season and reminding me of Lucy's unkind treatment of Charley has dampened my day, though not my ardor for Charley.
On a more somberly reasonable note, and you know I love the Banter, but respect must be paid to Charley and his crew. Charley started off as a catcher, before taking the mound. Perhaps a frame where he goes over the signals with his catcher would have been more appropriate. He also hit occaisonally, though I cannot without Retrosheet state his average.
He also served as a player manager, a rarity even in the 50's when his career began. Unlike the featured frame which highlights his willingness to trust Lucy, a commitment that says much about his character and little about hers, he doesn't always fail as a ballplayer. His team may have lost 123 games one season and he may have threatened to quit more than once, but they showed up and won a few games.
A reference to Joe Schlabotnik could earn some thoughts, too. Charley revered Joe, a player unworthy of his awe. He avidly sought Joe's card, suffering when Lucy, who couldnta cared obtained one.
Joe missed signals and enhanced his achievements. He charged an exhorbitant fee to attend a dinner honoring Charley, a fee later reduced. Our hero, consistent with his humility, cancelled out of the dinner, thinking himself unworthy of praise. I love you Charley Brown.
Charley scheduled a game in his calendar to attend so he could see Joe. It turned out he had the wrong date and Joe did not appear.
Play ball.
enjoy!
http://www.wezen-ball.com/2010-articles/august/the-sabr-qpeanuts-baseballq-presentation.html
2) Yeah, I was offline last night and couldn't access any images so I pulled this from the Banter files. Send me some links to good Peanuts baseball stuff, I'd love to use 'em.