Two out of three ain’t bad
-
-
- April
- 3
-
Two out of three against Halladay, Burnett and McGowan is a good way to start the season. Worry not about the offense. They’ve been playing in what were essentially winter-like temperatures for the last two nights.
Speaking as somebody who was against the idea of trading Phil Hughes, it was nice to see him pitch well in his first game.
He’s 21 and starting the third game of the season for the Yankees. This is a pitcher who could be very good for a decade or more. As great as Johan Santana is, Hughes is a player you build around.
Now come those kings of March, the mighty Rays.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 at 10:22 pm by Peter Abraham.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Definitely not first.
oh yeeeehhh
BLOOD AND GUTS BASEBALL IS NEXT
Pete did they get their rings yet?
continued from last thread:
does Toronto have the best 1-3 combo of starting pitchers?
I think they probably have the top 4 (when Joba goes into the rotation we can reevaluate).
nice to take 2/3 here
from NJ.com
Taskmaster Girardi
by Ed Price Thursday April 03, 2008, 4:59 PM
In the minor leagues, teams often have extra work sessions to go over fundamentals. But it’s rare in the majors; even daily infield practice has become archaic.
So some Yankees pitchers were privately grousing today about having pitchers’ fielding practice at 4:15 p.m. in 45-degree weather.
Manager Joe Girardi said extra practice could happen “probably once a week or so” — not necessarily pitchers every time.
Yesterday’s extra work wasn’t because Mike Mussina was late covering first in Tuesday’s first inning; it had already been planned.
“It’s to stay fresh, little reminders,” Girardi said. “These guys know what to do, but I think it’s good to move around. Blood flow’s a good thing.”
So what’s the story with Igawa?
Pete,
with all due respect, Santana is also a player you build around. that doesnt take away from Hughes and the potential he brings. so far, so good.
Total number of walks by Yankee relievers so far this season:
1
and that’s by Joba.
Mitt,
screw Igawa
what’s the story with Melancon?
The difference between Hughes and Santana is the contract. I fully believe that Hughes could be as good as Santana as early as this or next season.
anyone here traber just then? wow.
V,
sure.
I dont agree with that but would be happy as a clam if I’m wrong. If Hughes is even in the same league as Santana in the next 2 seasons, the Yanks, and Hughes, will be in very good shape.
Just checked it out:
Igawa, Ramirez, and Veras combined for 8 perfect innings with 10 strikeouts. Only blemishes in the game were a walk and a hit from Patterson.
That’s heartening for all three of them.
“Santana is also a player you build around”
really he is not, any other team would be cap strapped, expenses in case he falls would be detrimental to a team. Hughes if something were to happen he’s not really expensive at all.
I know Igawa had a nice night but hopefully Allan Horne will get the pitching chance he so richly deserves. It would be a monumental shame to have a roster spot given up for the 46 million dollar wonder.
ramirez is good trade piece
Watching Phil make starts like the one he made tonight for the Twins for the next 6 years would have been very hard to stomach.
Only player younger than him in the majors is Justin Upton. Hard to get over the second youngest player in the majors throwing a game like that.
He’s going to be very special. Once he develops enough of a feel to throw that change up consistently and in big spots – that’s it. He’ll be a true elite level arms. As it is right now he is able to excel on two plus pitches and plus plus command.
You put Joba in this rotation – it’s got the making of a great rotation – not just good.
Joba, Phil, Wang, Pettite and Kennedy – that’s a rotation that can win a world series. Not saying it’ll happen but that could be a devastating rotation.
I still don’t believe in Igawa even after 6 no hit IP
Billy Traber is like totally cool..
Sure Santana will perform and do a great job in the junior varsity, but to have a 21 year old starter with such an unlimited ceiling is quite a joy to behold. Against the Jays, in brutal weather, he held his own quite nicely. I silently raise the mug of bigalow green tea in Hughe’s honor.
Except you get 8 more years out of Hughes than Santana
“As great as Johan Santana is, Hughes is a player you build around.”
I’m also glad they didn’t trade Hughes. But how exactly is Santana NOT someone that you can build a team around? I assume you’re just talking about his large salary being an impediment to building a team around him? If so, I don’t agree with that.
what the hell ? nobody knows he’s 21 ?
The only team that should have regrets re the trade is the Twins who should have taken the Hughes-Melky plus offer when they had the chance. Their GM did his franchise a major disservice by shopping the offer to the Red Sox who had little interest in actually trading for Johan.
His reaction was hysterical. For those who don’t have yes, go and watch it when they load it.
“Bartolo Colon faced just one batter over the minimum in five scoreless innings Thursday for Triple-A Pawtucket.
Colon hit 95 and 96 mph on the guy in the game against Indianapolis”
-rotoworld
I think Johnny thought he was legal. Than when Kim said he is the youngest in the majors Johnny almost had a heart attack.
Girardi is overworking them too much, how the hell don’t they know he’s 21 yrs. old
Boston Dave-
I knew I was displeased with their signing of him for a reason. If he ends up pitching well this year, we might have missed out on a great backup for Mussina for just over $1m
Lets not forget where he is pitching.
Mitt,
It was an outstanding signing for the Sox. I thought the Mets might want him.
Not because I think he’ll be very good, but because it’s virtually no risk. I will reserve judgement on him until I see him face MLB hitters and I dont always trust the radar gun.
Still, he could help bail out a think Boston starting staff.
thin*
Jennifer – I saw that, thought it was hysterical…
Bartello the clown come on Kei Igawa was purrfect thru 6 in AAA. take it for what its worth
i meant to say thin pitching staff
though, Colon and thin shouldnt be in the same sentence…
Boston Dave,
On your question about the top 3 in baseball – yeah, I’d have to say it’s toronto at this point. Once you get past that second pitcher staffs thin quickly.
Another 1-2 I think we forgot before was Webb and Harden.
K-rod’s celebration is funny. He just fell to the ground and started screaming after the save.
longtime,
for sure.
but if he really hit 95/96 with regularity, its a good sign for Colon. he has never had good secondary pitches so most of his success has come strictly on having that fastball.
Boston would only need him to be an acceptable #5 starter to provide value.
but yes, i am not worried yet.
Webb and Haren Boston Dave
Boston Dave
Bring on Colon—please, bring him on against the Yankees. The Sox owe us one after he pitched for us last year.
CB,
I mentioned Webb and Haren and Micah Owings could step up this year. Throw in anything from Randy Johnson and they have a formidable staff.
now they just need to make Tony Pena the closer and trade for one more bullpen arm.
YES isn’t used to short Yankee games. They don’t know what to talk about in the post-game show to get them to 11pm.
CB,
If they have the top 3, then they have the best pitching staff in baseball. I liked what I saw of Marcum last season. I believe he struggled towards the end of the season just as McGowan did but both have a pretty good repertoire.
their bullpen isn’t too shabby either – we’ll see about Ryan. if they didnt lose Janssen…. wow.
Pittsburgh Yankee Fan,
I dont think Colon will be great.. but consider that the Sox would only need him to give what Mussina gives to the Yanks.
Innings.
their staff is thin and has some question marks right now.
Does anyone know who’s pitching Saturday? (i don’t think it’s Pettitte after we just placed him on the DL).
Bartolo Colon, think Sidney Ponson….Colon would have been better served with the Mets rather than Boston….He’ll be waived by Memorial Day if not sooner…..
If the Jays stay healthy then they have the best pitching in baseball by a sizable margin.
Once you start looking at the 4th/5th starter their pitching actually looks comparatively even better.
Marcum is very good for a #4 and Litsch for a #5. They will be far above the average 4/5.
They you throw in their depth in the pen if Ryan can come back which moves Accardo back to set up man.
Those 5 starters and those 2 guys in the pen is a wealth of talent. If Janssen hadn’t gotten hurt they would really have been deep and talented in the pen.
But the question with them is health. I really don’t like the way they’ve handled their young pitching.
They’ve had abrupt and large increases in their innings pitched – especially McGowan. They’ve put him at risk for blowing out his arm.
Any news on Melancon? Anything?
Jeff NJ….good point…..the Twins GM really messed up not taking Hughes and Melky for Santana…I am still slightly on the fence regarding the trade b/c I just feel that Santana on the Yankees would have given us a legitimate ace for the first time in a while…..someone to go in game 1 of the playoffs..but if Hughes continues to develop and Cabrera is awesome in CF like he has been so far, then we’ll all be glad that the Twins GM didn’t take the trade…..no GM really wants to make a big trade with the Yankees b/c they don’t want to help us, (probably a Selig rule or something)…unless we overpay which Cashman wisely won’t do…I mean we can’t even make a trade with the Pirates for lefty reliever Marte b/c they probably want Kennedy or something ridiculous…we’ll develop the players on our own now…here’s to Hughes becoming power arm, strikeout, game #1 playoff starter ace!!!!
any word on Melancon?
I haven’t heared or seen anything on Melancon. Maybe nothing happened. Considering he didn’t even throw a pitch. I don’t know how you get hurt with out throwing a pitch.
Maybe the manager just changed his mind on who he wanted in the game.
I just realized that the way the rotation is lined up now, Hughes is slated to start on Sunday, April 13th against the Sux in Fenway on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. It would be absolutely awesome to showcase him nationally while he strikes out Puppy & Manny back-to-back… But with tomorrow’s game probably rained out, anybody have any idea what the Yanks plan on doing with the rotation? Do they plan on skipping Andy or pushing & give him extra time to recover from his injury or push everybody
I just realized that the way the rotation is lined up now, Hughes is slated to start on Sunday, April 13th against the Sux in Fenway on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. It would be absolutely awesome to showcase him nationally while he strikes out Puppy & Nanny back-to-back… But with tomorrow’s game probably rained out, anybody have any idea what the Yanks plan on doing with the rotation? Do they plan on skipping Andy or pushing & give him extra time to recover from his injury or push everybody
Up one day? The last guy I wanna see making that start on national TV is Mike Mussina! I know it’s still a little far away, but anybody got any idea what the Yanks plan on doing with the rotation?
“Do they plan on skipping Andy or pushing & give him extra time to recover from his injury or push everybody”
Andy needs to pitch and isn’t scheduled until Saturday. I figure they’d either skip Ian, push everyone back, or use this chance to shuffle the pitchers around.
Given that tomorrow’s game has yet to be canceled, I’m sure they haven’t hashed out what they might do with the rotation just yet.
The clock is ticking on Mussina…..He won’t around ( STARTING ROTATION ) by the time the Yanks play the Mets…
Ooops… Sorry for the double post y’all, i’m posting from my cell phone here, & I thought i’ll be funny by changing Manny to Nanny but I didn’t realize that i’d posted it once already…
went to the game tonight. So cold. Biting winds not great conditions
Please stop by the blog for some insight into the maddness in the uppers tonight
I was in favor of trading Hughes if that was would it took to get Santana. But I understand why the Yankees didn’t and maybe it is time to grow your own. Not that Santana bombed out in his first start and it will take years to finally decide this issue.