Five is enough

by Travis G on Jun 8, 2009 10:46 PM EDT in Game Recap Comment 5 comments

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

The Yankees scored five runs tonight, all on homeruns. Three were solo shorts and one was a Nick Swisher two-run blast. The other round-trippers came from (in order) Teixeira, Damon and Jeter.

Pettitte was actually better than his numbers would indicate. He had one bad inning (in part due to an A-Rod error), where he came within inches of striking out Gabe Kapler, only to see him homer on the very next pitch. He struck out a season-high seven, and lowered his ERA to 4.22.

We finally saw Phil Hughes pitch in relief, and he was great, pitching a perfect seventh inning; his fastball was consistently 94-95 MPH. It was surprising he only went one, so perhaps Girardi wants to use him again tomorrow.

Phil Coke stranded the tying run on second in the eighth, and Mo pitched a perfect ninth. It was a nice, easy recipe for a win - and it lasted just two hours and 34 minutes.

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please God

don’t let the Yankees waste Hughes talent in the bullpen
If Wang succeeds next start put him back in AAA so that he may continue to develop as a starter
thanks

by Brian5517209 on Jun 9, 2009 12:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

after thinking about it, I disagree

Hughes situation is EXACTLY like Joba’s a few years ago. We all know Hughes is a starter. Only the morons who wanted Joba in the pen long term will not start asking for the same with Hughes if he looks like he did yesterday every time out.

But the reality is that like 2007, the Yanks have holes in the pen (well really there isn’t one right now at all).

Hughes to AAA makes sense to maintain his starter stuff, but he really was only FB, Cutter Curve anyway, and he showed all that last night.

I say why the hell not. Its better than shipping off more prospects for a reliever who is no where close to Hughes’ talent.

by FreeBradshaw on Jun 9, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt that its wasting his talent

In fact you can kind see that Joba’s experience in the pen game him some fortitude for the pressure that comes with starting.

Hughes big problem is not finding a way to get through pressure situations. Maybe this will be a good thing? Maybe this will be the thing that when Hughes does return to the rotation that puts him over the top and he starts dominating?

by FreeBradshaw on Jun 9, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

but when we transfered Joba to the rotation last year after having him in the bullpen

he hurt his shoulder
i don’t want Hughes to become injured and he needs to make sure he can throw over 100 pitches every fifth day

by Brian5517209 on Jun 9, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know

I really doubt that Joba hurt his arm cuz of being in the pen.IMO that was a coincidence and really could have happened if he was a starter the whole time anyway.

Joba had arm troubles in his past remember too, it really was just a matter of time.

I know that if Hughes ever comes down with an injury that his bullpen time will be blamed. But I just don’t see it.

I think he could end up fine. Many Many Many pitchers have started off in the pen then started, then had long careers.

Im saying, AAA is really just a waste of time. You want the guy on the big league team. There really is no spot in the rotation right now and you really can’t force him back in there. This was the opening day rotation, so you roll with it.

Hughes deserves to be in there, but so do the other 5 guys. Hughes will help this team DRASTICALLY right now if he stays in the pen.

I know idiots will say move Joba in there, but this season Joba has been better in the rotation. Keep Hughes in the pen for now. I just don’t see how it could hurt, but I know its gonna help.

by FreeBradshaw on Jun 9, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs