Comments on: Today in The Journal News

By: Betsy

Betsy — Fri, 02 May 2008 18:34:34 +0000

I just turned Fatso and Froot Loops off – when I hear Russo say that Hughes can’t carry Lincecum’s jock, then I figure that the rest of the radio show is going to go downhill (if that’s possible). I don’t want to get on a tangent about the Giants’ stud pitcher (he’s pretty unbelievable), but just the fact that already Phil is being judged like that makes me sick. I don’t care what Lincecum does – I just know how good Phil is (or shall I say, can be. If he can’t stay healthy, then it’s all moot anyway. I admit that I AM concerned about him being inury prone).

This injury really sets Phil back in terms of innings pitched – he’s going to have another cap next year – but although I really don’t think the injury affected him (I think it’s his mechanics that are out of whack) to the tune of a 9.00 ERA, I do think getting to pitch regularly (once he starts his rehab) in the minors will help him. Is Rafael Chaves the pitching coach in Scranton? I just hope, in any case, that the Yankees take this time to review Phil’s mechanics and realize that he has to go back to his natural delivery. Either that, or Phil needs to decide that for himself as it’s his career on the line.

By: rover

rover — Fri, 02 May 2008 18:12:03 +0000

Even professionals when taking the mound with the understanding, that offensive and defensive help cannot be counted on have a tendency to press, nibble, and avoid a challenge. You cannot pitch well if the back of your mind says, boy you cannot make a mistake, you won’t get it back. With this in mind throwing hittable baseballs is far less likely to happen, results are way to many hitters counts and having to throw hittable baseballs, resulting in high pitch counts and early exists, resulting in overused pens. Not a good thing!

By: hughman

hughman — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:16:16 +0000

This was an interesting take from John Sickel’s minorleagueball.com blog on Hughes. This was before the most recent awful outing and before the injury news hit. In this thread, Sickel’s essentially predicted Hughes had a hidden injury even he may have been unaware of, thus perhaps altering mechanics and making it worse. Then, some picthing coach responds later about his mechanics. Just from a rookie ball card. Nevertheless, he suggests the same thing. Mind you, this is pre-injury, and had more to do with his trunk and shoulder rotation than his arm.

Pretty accurate, if perhaps just a coincidence.

BTW, that is a great blog about prospects in general (this was in afollow-up called not a prospect, as he tends to follow up and see where his predictions go).

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/4/25/460628/not-a-rookie-phil-hughes

By: Yanksgal07

Yanksgal07 — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:15:12 +0000

Gee…some of these comments go from simple head scratching to totally rediculous. I love all the GM’s and managers on here especially the ones who want to get something for nothing. Doesn’t work like that in the real world (well..except for the Mets in the Santana trade…lol).

Thank Goodness for the sane posters such as SJ44, Doreen, Murphy, Rebecca etc. Let’s see…last year the end of May almost everyone and their mother said the Yankees had NO chance for the playoffs and we all know how that turned out …don’t we? Unfortunately we didn’t make it very far but the point is we did make the playoffs (and almost won the division)even though we were written off as dead and buried before June. Have a little faith folks …I always tell my detractors ..speak to me in October…:o).

As for the low class fans that boo their own players …especially kids like Hughes and Kennedy…their actions speak for just what type of person they are…frustration is no excuse for booing these young players. It’s probably the same people who were cheering right along with them last year and swore they would have patience this year with the kids..that is until the kids struggled in their first year as starters and didn’t live up to the very heavy expectations placed on them.

I’m a fan through good times and bad….I’ve lived through BAD (the late 60’s, early 70’s and the 80’s). True fans are there forever not just when a team wins…AND…just because it’s the Yankees it doesn’t mean we are owed the World Series every year ..just ask the other 29 teams who want to win too.

I still think we will be there in the end …I’m an Optimist like Rebecca …

Go Yankees 2008 !!!!

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:34:57 +0000

SJ44 is right about the offense. It doesn’t matter who pitches if the team keeps batting .241/.338/.388 with RISP.

Freddy Garcia completely broke down last year. Francis, the point I’m trying to make is that an unstable rotation needs a sure thing, and a sure thing won’t sign a cheap one-year deal. If there were an effective veteran innings-eater out there, he would have been signed well before the season started. Again, that’s why Silva got so much money and so many years, not because he’s particularly good, but because the market was thin. You’re looking for an easy solution that doesn’t exist.

By: jason

jason — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:27:16 +0000

Brandon – That is great news. Thanks for the info.
Man, can you imagine talking about Brackman this time next year. Good that he is throwing.
There are seemingly so many injuries this year already. Strains, pulls etc. Look at Tulowitzky down.
A little bit more from Gammons is that in the minor leagues they have been testing for 9 years and in the majors for 3 (or maybe 4) and this has weeded out lots. The aphetamine issue probably also has a significant impact on the older players who needed a little assistance to get up for the games.
To me all of the above, injuries, older players breaking down, taking longer to come back, pitching velocities for mid-tier guys down shows how pervasive these issues were/are.

By: Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 7)

Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 7) — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:21:01 +0000

Billy Wagner rips Oli Perez

By: Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 7)

Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 7) — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:17:53 +0000

Jennifer, and it was on the Micheal Kay Show , I was cracking up listening to it…I was like Billy be quiet ..he kept ripping Oli Perez in that interview. Wagner and the Mets are going to have issues.

By: Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 7)

Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 7) — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:14:20 +0000

Christian Garcia was from PP Jason, but Gammons has that part right alot of veteran SP have loss velocity, not one peep…and there has been alot of injuries around the league.

By: Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 7)

Brandon (supporting "Alex being Alex") (J.Santana HR allowed count: 7) — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:11:32 +0000

jason, Lisa Kennelly broke it on April the 16th

Two other injured pitchers took steps forward yesterday. Humberto Sanchez, who had Tommy John surgery last year, threw off a full mound for the first time while last year’s first-round draft pick Andrew Brackman, also recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery, threw off a half mound.