Did you Know Pitchers are Unpredictable? Hughes, Joba and Kennedy

by Travis G on Apr 28, 2011 3:04 PM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

Who would have thought that Ian Kennedy, considered the lesser of the Yankees' three best pitching prospects just a couple years ago, would be better than the other two pitchers combined? WAR says he is over the last year and a month -

Kennedy: 3.4

Phil Hughes: 1.4

Joba Chamberlain: .1

Joba, having been relegated to a relief role, doesn't look like much more than an inconsistent reliever. Hughes was very good in 2010, but now looks like he may not pitch again this season. Meanwhile, Ian Kennedy is the ace of his staff and just pitched a complete game shutout against one of the NL's best teams, the Phillies.

Back in New York, re-tread Bartolo Colon pitched a gem last night and, combined with the other journeyman, Freddy Garcia, have combined for the following line: 39 ip, 2.08 ERA, 28 h, 10 bb, 35 k.

It really makes you wonder about the Killer B's, and if the Yankees are even capable of producing a top pitcher from the farm system anymore. It almost seems like every move they make regarding young pitchers is wrong.

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

It really makes you question how well this organization handles young starters.

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Apr 28, 2011 3:12 PM EDT reply actions

Yes and No

How well does any organization handle young starters?

Didn’t Liriano and Strasburg undergo TJ surgery?
Who remembers when Homer Bailey took the preseason best prospect in baseball honors from Phil Hughes? He’s out with a shoulder injury.
Remember when Joe Blanton, Rich Harden and Dan Haren were the A’s next big 3?
The Diamondbacks must have beat Brandon Webb with fungo bats, just like the Rays did to Scott Kazmir, Edwin Jackson, and Andy Sonnanstine.

Most pitchers fail. To develop a pitcher the caliber of Andy Pettitte is rare, rarer still is for him to figure it out within his first couple seasons.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
@jscape2000

by jscape2000 on Apr 28, 2011 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Regarding all of that

It really just makes me think that baseball players are getting more and more fragile.

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Apr 28, 2011 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Plus:

1.) Nobody has a crystal ball to figure any of this out ahead of time, and
2.) Everybody’s career is far from over, making it difficult to come to any final conclusions.

It’s easy to remember that Ian Kennedy was halfway to being a “bust” at this point last season, and would have only been 6th-7th on the Yankees starting rotation depth chart heading into 2011.

He was in no-mans land; better than Sergio Mitre, but not good enough to earn a rotation spot. I don’t mind leveraging his value in a trade for a solid position player.

by 3460kuri on Apr 28, 2011 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

The Yankees have been trading away promising young starters for as long as I can remember.

Doc Medich. Tippy Martinez. Doug Drabek. The list goes on and on. The problem in New York is the pressure to win, and win big right away. I’m amazed that Ivan Nova hasn’t already been traded.

by designatedquitter on Apr 28, 2011 3:49 PM EDT reply actions

It really makes you wonder about the Killer B’s, and if the Yankees are even capable of producing a top pitcher from the farm system anymore.

Of course they can. The question is, can they manage to do it for themselves, and not for another team?

by waw on Apr 28, 2011 3:51 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t think the Yankees have produced a legit ace from their own system since Ron Guidry. Hughes was said to have ace potential if he picked up a changeup, but he never did. There was a great article about whether Banuelos now is a better prospect than Hughes was, and the conclusion was that he very well might be. He is more polished and has a wider array of pitches than Hughes did. He could become the first ace we develop ourselves in a long time.

I saw a guy in the subway holding a pamphlet that said Jesus was coming on May 12, 2011. I don't think it will be that early, he would still qualify as a super two, so they need to wait until June to delay his arbitration clock.

by Wraithpk on Apr 28, 2011 4:05 PM EDT reply actions

Not to brag but ...

Several years ago I got blistered for suggesting that Kennedy — not Hughes was the better of the two pitchers. As a former pitcher, coach, I study pitching (perhaps too much), and even though Kennedy brought a pop-gun to the gunfight, his mechanics, release and movement all added up to success in my book.

I’ve never waivered from my position, and lamented when we jettisoned Kennedy from the pinstripes. In my opinion Kennedy looks like a young Ted Lilly only with more upside. Of course, the jury was still out on whether or not he could pitch in NYC.

I know there will be non-believers out there. So I’m hoping Jscape will have my back on this one.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Apr 28, 2011 4:16 PM EDT reply actions

I remember you saying it, and you may be proven right.
I’m not ready to give up on Hughes yet, though.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
@jscape2000

by jscape2000 on Apr 28, 2011 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Me neither ...

I just hope if it is a circulatory issue or something related they can fix it and get him back do becoming a great pitcher.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on May 2, 2011 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Hughes is still a great pitchier if he can get back a great number2 or 3 behind C.C

but yea Kennedy looks good now, and out of curiousity i remeber you guys have Coke where is he now?

by Jt Malley on Apr 28, 2011 4:23 PM EDT reply actions

Detroit

IIRC he was part of the trade which brought Curtis Granderson to New York

by pastor2b on Apr 28, 2011 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

awkk well he was a prospect but a weaker one and granderson turned out well(y)

by Jt Malley on Apr 28, 2011 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Kennedy?

Never going to sustain it. NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY.

Sometimes you can just hear the gears shredding apart in Ricky's head. (Bubbles from the Trailer Park Boys).

by cashman bashman on Apr 28, 2011 11:27 PM EDT reply actions

Joba or Phil would be just as good

In the National League, the American League East is a much different monster as we all know. If we would have traded Hughes or Joba to the Diamondbacks we would be talking about them instead of Kennedy. Kennedys numbers are good but nothing spectacular.Hughes was the right choice, he just happened to have extremely rare circulatory disease.Nothing you can do about that. Joba should be a starter, he just doesn’t have the mind set to be in the pen.

by bbuhl02 on Apr 29, 2011 8:02 AM EDT reply actions