Hughes Clues
by Daniel Radov on Jul 19, 2010 11:23 PM EDT
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PrintMuch ignored in the wake of the deaths of both Bob Sheppard and George Steinbrenner is the success of the Yankees' the pitching rotation. Of course, CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte have produced as always, but Phil Hughes (right) has emerged to infuse youth into the staff.
He grew up in California, just minutes away from Angels Stadium. Hughes, the son of a Vietnam War veteran, was instilled with the values of hard work from a young age. Heading into his sophomore season in high school, unfortunately, he rode the bench. Hughes was small, scrawny kid, and the consensus of coaches believed that his future was certainly not in baseball. All such opinions changed during that spring, however. Hughes grew six inches, and he would go on to lead his high school team for the next three seasons.
In 2004, Hughes entered the draft as a surefire first round pick, and the Angels had the 12th overall pick. With this in mind, Hughes’s dad had told Anaheim's front office that his son would sign immediately following his selection. The Angels, on the other hand, decided to draft star college pitcher Jered Weaver from Long Beach State. Needless to say, the entire Hughes family was crushed.
The 6 foot 5 inch pitcher dropped to the New York Yankees at number 23 in the first round. Although the family was noted Red Sox fans, Hughes signed with the club soon after.
To read about the journey of Phil Hughes from highly touted prospect to struggling start to All-Star, click on the following link: http://fieldofdreamz.blogspot.com/2010/07/now-uncovered-gem.html
-DE
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The Angels got a great pitcher in Jered Weaver, but I'm glad we have Phil
"We're only going to score 17 points?" - Tom Brady
"Well played, Mauer." - Guy from PS3 commercials
Jered Weaver was a much safer pick in the draft
A college arm projected to be an ace vs. a high school arm projected to be an ace, give me the college player every time.
Go New York Go!
I still think that Hughes would serve best
as the setup man in the playoffs. It really is a shame that the Mariners are the most pathetic org. in baseball and basically screwed us over. I would have loved to get rid of Montero as he continually proves that he is not the player that many thought of him to be.
I wish we didn’t have to wait the .5 yr to get Cliff Lee in pinstripes (where he has always wanted to be).
I think Hughes could serve as a good middle to end of the rotation starter but I don’t see him being an ace or #2 guy really ever. His wins have been really accredited to a massive amount of run support. I would like to see hmi get his velocity back up to 94-95 like it was at the start of the year so that he could set up his breaking ball. I also thnik that if he could develop another pitch (he rarely uses his changeup) it could be very beneficial for him.
Often times Hughes gets to an 0-2 or 1-2 count and he can’t finsh of the batter with something nasty. then his pitch count gets up there and he gets winded towards the middle innings. If he had an “out” pitch I think he could really turn the corner in his development.
I have never been a huge phil hughes guy but I do support his development as a middle to back end rotation guy.
as for the "out" pitch
I recall watching Clemons pitch (steroids yes i know) but he was good when he was young (obviously) and he had a nasty splitter.
I know that Pelfry absolutely sucks again but his splitter was really working will in the start of the year.
Why can’t hughes develop something nasty to strike guys out with? I don’t think a 1-2 Fast ball down the middle is really a great thing.
and Hughes has one of the highest strikeout rates in all of baseball
8.11/9IP. That records for 11th best in the AL, and #1 on the 27-time champion NY Yankees.
But he has nothing nasty whatsoever to strike hitters out??
I agree 100%!! Your opinion is now mine!
Go New York Go!
by FreeBradshaw on Jul 20, 2010 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
it takes him like 5 - 6 pitches to strike someone out
especially as it gets later in the season. then he gets tired
Hughes gets throu 7IP no problem.
every strikeout pitcher throws a lot of pitches. Its how you get “swings and misses”.
Go New York Go!
by FreeBradshaw on Jul 20, 2010 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions
20 year old players prove continually in their first year at AAA that they are not the player
many thought of him to be? For real? Excellent reasoning!
I agree 100%! Your opinion is now mine!
Go New York Go!
by FreeBradshaw on Jul 20, 2010 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions
if you don't "have it" at 20...
and your hitting 220 in AAA against straight fastballs and hanging curveballs why do you think Montero is going to start getting better?
I would give him up for Ted Lilly. He is going going to sink further and furrther. Isn’t this guy Romaine better than him?
1) Romine.. he is not Romaine salad.
2) Montero is batting .267 at AAA as a 20 year old… that’s not too shabby. Obviously, we want to see this come up a bit before he comes up. By the way… how many 21 year old position players are in the majors right now? Probably not so many… give him some time to develop… everyone needs it when they come up
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Jul 20, 2010 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Right now?
Prob not many. But how many “all-stars” were in the league when they were around 21?
Derek Jeter- first year was 21
A-Rod- first year was 18
Tex- first yea was 23
Those are just the Yankees…
Joe Mauer- 18
Evan Longoria- 22
Andrew Jones- 18
Pujols- 21
D. Wright- 21
If he was going to be an “all-star” I am pretty sure the Yankees wouldn’t have attempted to trade him for a .5 year player that they are 100% going to attempt to sign at season’s end. Montero is worth trading right now for a starter especially with all of our catching depth with Cervelli, Posada, Romine… I know catchers are valuable but we need a starter…
Joe Mauer was in the bigs at 21 years old too, not 18.
And it really doesn’t matter when they break in. Ryan Howard was like 26 when he broke in…not bad is he? Age doesn’t really matter. Its what you do.
Cuz you can break in at 19 years old, and be out of baseball by 22…so who cares?
Montero will be a future starter at catcher, if we’re lucky in NY the Yanks.
Go New York Go!
by FreeBradshaw on Jul 20, 2010 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions
but year its not "so many" thats true.
I am just impatient and I truly believe that if your going to be a special player… your going to be a stud at 18 years old. Not much more development needed other than putting on some weight, training properly etc. You cannot teach talent.
I kinda agree
Some players take a little longer, but I certainly don’t think he’s “superstar” material. Last year his trade value was at its peak and I think the Yankees should have traded him then. I still think they’ll eventually trade him but they have to hope he improves or he won’t be much of a bargaining chip.
I was kidding at that level
but trading montero before people realize hes really not going to be good is in our best interest.
so who would you trade him for?
theres really nobody else available that should have to cost Montero
I guess your right...
I hate the Mariners, that dude Smoak that they got is really awful, i don’t get it.
You really think there’s that much difference between AAA and MLB?
We’re not talking NY Penn League here, and the International League is a pitcher’s league. Have you ever been to the park in Scranton? It is huge- long in the alleys and a monstrous wall all the way around.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
honestly, i really have not got to see Montero play really ever
but I have youtubed some of his at-bats and he looks…
meh.
HAHAHAHA
You “youtubed” a few of his bats and he looks “meh”
Great analysis. You should work for the Yankees!
Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
by CasanovaWong on Jul 21, 2010 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions
LOL
+1
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Jul 22, 2010 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Struggling in the minors at 20
is common amongst all player levels, from the first ballot HOFers to the flameouts.
Worrying about him struggling at 20 is like worrying about a math test you took in the 1st grade affecting you getting into college.
Largely…a player in his first AAA year at year 20 is irrelevant. Its experience. If this is 2011, and he’s still not hitting well (tho….well, sorry to break it to you, but he is overcoming his early season struggle and is looking pretty good lately). then MAYBE it causes concern.
Right now, absolutely nothing to take away from the idea he’s one of the best hitters in the minors.
Go New York Go!
by FreeBradshaw on Jul 20, 2010 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Especially since all of his peripherals point to him hitting the ball just as hard as he did at AA (where he absolutely raked) and the fact that in the past ~3 weeks he has just been feasting on the ball.
I am not worried about Jesus’ AAA “struggles” in the least bit.
Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com
I can't even comment what I really want to say on this "piece"
It’s his first full season as a starter, he’s 24, he’s 11-2, he has a 3.1/1 K/BB ratio, 3.65 ERA…Yeah, we can already assume that he’s never going to amount to much.
Everything in this post. is bullshit.
Everything.
Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
by CasanovaWong on Jul 21, 2010 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions
We received that compensation pick from the Houston Astros when Pettitte signed with them
And what do you know.. we have Hughes AND Pettitte now! I disagree about what you said with the success being lost in the wake of two enormous losses. We had been raving just days before about how solid our starting pitchers are and how we had three 11-win pitchers and two other pitchers that are capable of going out and winning every time they take the mound. If the starting pitching wasn’t the main topic of discussion last week, it rightfully should not have been. I would think the passing of two giants is more important…
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Jul 20, 2010 12:08 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Common Story.
Hughes’ family being Red Sox fans kind of reminds me of Paul Piece. Grew up around LA, Lakers posers on his walls, and is the cornerstone of the Celts now. Funny how that happens, in any sport.
Good article.
Jeez
Because YouTube justifies one’s ability. It’s about batspeed, balance, and strength. Not Youtube at-bats. I guess every 20 year old at AAA hitting around league average is not superstar matierial. You people forget he is 20 (!) years old! He can’t even buy beer! The only people to break in at his age are Delmon Young and the Uptons recently.. I believe. The put up OPS’s in the .700’s. Listen to the scouts, most of the time they are right. His bat is special
Section 203 Row 15 Seat 1
those that are truly "special"
don’t slump in AAA, most of the superstars are up here at the earliest age possible because they are an asset to their them.
then again I am sure that Montero is better than Juan Miranda, i feel like we are throwing away an at bat everytime this guy comes up… he is awful.
Homerun today.
The Yankees have a top player at every position. Montero would have to really tear it up to break in the lineup, and there’s no reason to have him in MLB on the bench.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
Please just stop. He "slumped" for two months in the beginning of the year while being the 2nd youngest kid in the league.
Coming off a terrible May, Montero went .283/.324/.505 for the month of June and followed that up with a scorching .383/.500/.702 July so far. He’s proving he’s everything we thought he’d be; a really good hitter.
Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
by CasanovaWong on Jul 21, 2010 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rec’d
Questions or thoughts? Email me at duggan2423(at)gmail(dot)com
by Lord Duggan on Jul 21, 2010 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Quit while you're ahead brotha
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Jul 22, 2010 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Touche
I meant something along the lines of… quit before you sound like a bigger baffoon
"Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next." -George Michael Steinbrenner III
by Chris McKeown on Jul 22, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
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