Live video chat tomorrow at 11 a.m.
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Aug 04, 2009 
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Our next live video chat will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. We’ll preview the upcoming Red Sox series and everything else going on with the Yankees.
Here is how it works: At 11, or shortly before, go to our ProTalkLive page and submit your questions. I’ll answer as many as I can for 45 minutes or so.
General question for all – I hope to catch a game at the NEW Yankee Stadium. Is the concourse around the stadium accessible regardless of where your seat is located? Bleacher/upper deck, etc? Does it cirlce the entire stadium? Thanks.
Yes, you can walk around the whole stadium from any location.
Hey, buddy, sit down and watch the game.
Sorry, 86 – we’ll just have to part ways. IMO, leaving Phil in the pen would be beyond foolish…I’ll leave it at that.
Heyman on with Adam the Bull on WFAN – saying that the Sox have more pitching problems than the Yankees, that they’ve been winning but haven’t been great. It’s nice to hear someone in the media acknowledging what we’ve been noticing. That doesn’t necessarily make me feel great as I’d rather the Yankees not have so many issues of their own, but it helps.
From the previous thread, Joe – I don’t think Joba is ready to be an ultra-reliable, rock-solid 3rd starter yet…..and Phil will definitely be a #5, not a # 4. He’ll have innings limits…..additionally, his development has been stunted while he’s in the pen. We can talk about the confidence he’s gained all we want to, but his curve has been a bit erratic lately and he’s not had the chance to work on his change. Also, Phil will have to get used to pitching a whole different way, as he’ll have to face lineups multiple times. Obviously he’s done that his whole career, but still….he’s going to have major growing pains next year. I just wonder if fans and the media will be patient……or even if the Yankees will be patient.
I had a dream last night that I was @NYS for the World Series this year.
I woke up and realized that dream was fundamentally flawed: the Yanks were playing the Angels.
Also, Phil will have to get used to pitching a whole different way, as he’ll have to face lineups multiple times. Obviously he’s done that his whole career, but still….he’s going to have major growing pains next year. I just wonder if fans and the media will be patient……or even if the Yankees will be patient.
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He was already doing that this season, as long as he limits his implosions he should be able to hold opponents to around 3 or 4 ER per start. Obviously the biggest issue is going to be his change up and he has never had a great feel for it (I contend his best game for the change was his no-no bid) , but thats something he can work out in the bullpen. I mean side sessions, not coming into games.
I think Hughes going back to the rotation will be a pleasant surprise for all involved. Its obvious by his last few outings that he is not invincible as a reliever which will hopefully subdue some of the media backlash when he eventually starts again.
Betsy, Count me in the patient group regarding PH! He’s a SP and I understand the team’s need for him in the pen now. But 2010 he should be back in the rotation. It was around Memorial Day in Texas when Phil and Joba had back to back good starts(Phil pitched the 8 shutout innings). That was a glimpse of things to come. I’m looking forward to both of them anchoring the rotation for years to come. The team is lucky to have 2 such good youg SP!
CB, from the previous thread:
That was a very interesting discussion about mechanics last night. We were talking about Tom Seaver ….and you’d mentioned that his own mechanics might not work in todays game. However, he always emphasized how important a strong lower body is to a power pitcher. Last night, MG mentioned that Al Leiter talked about how important the use of the legs is for power pitchers….how it relieves stress on the arm.
In terms of Phil Hughes, his mechanics have been under scrutiny for what seems like eons. There are tons of video analyses of him out on the internet, probably because people were wondering why he was struggling so much. I suppose his mechanics were altered after his leg injuries (understandably so), as Phil was left to regain his confidence in his legs. Afterwards, many people on different boards insisted that the Yankees changed his mechanics from 3/4 slot to more over the top. This “expert”, Carlos Gomez, said the mechanics caused Phil to lose velocity and command. From what I can tell on other boards, Phil is now back to his old, 2006 mechanics…..I have no clue about this stuff, but as Phil’s stuff is clearly back to what it was when he was the top pitching prospect, there must be something to it. On the other hand, perhaps it was all just as simple as Phil getting healthy. I wonder if this is all paralysis by analysis……
“It’s nice to hear someone in the media acknowledging what we’ve been noticing”
Betsy, you think the people here are the only ones noticing?
Jerkface, Phil could be suffering the effects from being in the pen (or, in other words, fatigue) as his body is not used to the completely different workload. I don’t think it means he won’t be dominant again (and we are just talking about a few outings here, – not that he’s really gotten tattooed), but I don’t know if he needs more rest or if he just has to pitch through it.
Oh, definitely he showed some flashes of brilliance as a starter this year which I always knew he had – I’ve never doubted Phil for one moment. I expect he will go to winter ball this off-season to get more innings and to work on his change. He really just needs to stay healthy…..I also didn’t mean to imply that he would get racked around next year. It’s just that I can see how Yankee fans’ minds work – they will trash him next year when he struggles and the whole Phil to the pen argument will start all over. As long as the Yankees have patience, it won’t matter, but it’s a shame that fans claim they want to see young players and then kill those players for having growing pains.
Bill, totally agree about Joba and Phil. I haven’t forgotten Phil’s start in Texas and that’s just a preview, I think, of what’s to come. The Yanks have two gems on their hands……I’m crossing my fingers that they work out.
Tell me if I’m crazy, but is the Wild Card not ridiculous and unfair?
A team out in the West can face mediocre teams all season and come out with a game better than an AL East team and make the playoffs?
The division structure is quite unfair to the teams in the AL East. They’ve got to be much better to get into the playoffs than any other teams have to be.
Oh well. If we make it, we know we’re in good shape.
Big hitter the Lama … long
Betsy; Here’s a story of my Phil fandom. I had heard of him before 2007 but knowing how the NYY are (or hopefully were!) with their prospects I didn’t get too attached because I figured he’d get traded away. In 2007 I tuned into the Texas game and like everyone else was really impressed because the NYY never have young pitchers who could throw like that. They always went out and spent millions on old guys. Even in 2008 when Hughes struggled and most fans and M.Kay questioned not trading him I preached patience because I thought he had a chance to be really good. Now this year, even with Phil’s success I still have to stick up for him even in my own house! My wife and son are NYY fans, she likes Jeter (big surprise!) and my son is the consumate bandwagon boy! He roots for whomever is the latest big money player. I root for the underdog, yes I am still a Nick Johnson fan! They give me a hard time about Phil and I also get nasty text messages from another NYY fan every time Phil pitches. So every game I prominently display my Phil Hughes rookie card, put on my Hughes 65 shirt and cheer like mad for him. What fun!
I think Joba and Phil could eventually be a 2/3 in the rotation. Key word is eventually.
“On the other hand, perhaps it was all just as simple as Phil getting healthy. I wonder if this is all paralysis by analysis……”
Yes. To both the him getting healthy and the paralysis by analysis.
The Carlos Gomez piece which kicked this all off was awful. Drawing conclusions from that “analysis” was ridiculous. But that never stopped the blogosphere before so…
Phil Hughes “change” in mechanics and the hand-wringing over this subject by yankee fans has been absurd.
He was hurt. That’s pretty much it.
Heh, my arm is actually sore today.
Funny, that.
Brother In Arms
August 4th, 2009 at 11:28 am
I had a dream last night that I was @NYS for the World Series this year.
I woke up and realized that dream was fundamentally flawed: the Yanks were playing the Angels.
======================================================
Los Angeles (as in the Dodgers) means “The Angels”… maybe you were dreaming in spanish….
“Los Angeles (as in the Dodgers) means “The Angels”… maybe you were dreaming in spanish….”
Ha! I once had a dream with subtitles.
Rebecca, you need to do some leg work!
This is crazy!!!
http://seattletimes.nwsource.c.....e-way.html
I have been out of town (Boston) for the last few days so have not heard that much talk about this trade proposal.
Why would Seattle not want to raid the Boston system. The five best Boston prospects for one player – a pitcher who can get injured at any time. Interesting rumor.
Buster had something in his chat yesterday about this too – I didn’t post it – figured someone would have already posted it by now
Can’t Phil pitch in the fall league again to get his innings count up for this year?
Not counting one game playoffs and end of season win-and-your-in games, this may be the Yankees-Red Sox series I most want to win. If we don’t at least split I’ll be forced to change my name.
Looks like Friedrich pulled sponsorship.
What did you do, Pete?
Hova August 4th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
This is crazy!!!
http://seattletimes.nwsource.c…..e-way.html
==================
Wow
I’m glad that deal didn’t go through.
Next year the Yanks will continue to get younger and more athletic (finally!!!). Last year, oldies like Giambi, Mussina, Abreu, etc. came off the books. After this year, we continue the trend of getting younger and more athletic by:
Cervelli (23 years old) becomes the backup catcher as Molina (34 years old) comes off the books
Dump Ransom (33 years old) and bring up Ramiro Pena (24 years old)
Bring up AJAX (20 years old)
Damon and Matsui come off the books (both 35 years old)
I’m loving these new Yankees – infusion of youth (Joba, Hughes, Melky, Gardner, Aceves, Coke, etc.) and veterans (Jeter, Mo, Posada, Tex, etc.)
Anthony, I know!
I did work on it late last night, like 2.30 AM type late. Figured out how to get my plant foot pointed towards home, at least.
But, truth be told, I still, uh, throw like a girl =P
yes, the Yanks have done a nice job blending veterans and develeping players
the Yanks’ average age should shrink with those players (Damon, Matsui, etc.) coming off the books after this year.
Don’t worry Rebecca.
I can’t throw. Or hit. Or catch.
I can run though.
My guess is that we sign Matt Holliday. Although I’d really love Carl Crawford.
Hey guys, Two of the three analysts ob Baseball Tonight (including Dave Winfield) picked the Yankees over the Red Sox for the WS!
Stop the presses.
While a lot of us think that Seattle would be nuts to turn down any 5 top Boston prospects for Felix, I see it a much different way.
If they retain Felix and he walks as a free agent, they still get 2 1st round picks for him in compensation so you’re really trading him for 3 of the 5 picks.
They also have the opportunity to try to win with him next season and decide at the trade deadline if they are buyers or sellers and still get the benefit of the player and the benefit of a trade for prospects.
Would you take Clay Buchholtz, Daniel Bard and Justin Masterson for Felix? I wouldn’t.
Buchholtz still hasn’t proven he can handle this level and is not a sure 1-2 like the media loves to tell us.
Bard is a relief pitcher w/closer potential. Still, relief pitchers are volatile from year to year. You can’t bet on them unless they are names Mariano Rivera.
Masterson is a back end/long relief type.
I don’t think you trade one of the best starters in baseball for that package + 2 others regardless of who the 2 others are since they prospects and all you can do is project their future.
I actually think J.P. was right to turn down lowball offers for Halladay.
The only reason you trade the player low ball for prospects if if you cannot afford to keep the player.
Clearly, Seattle can afford to keep Felix and Toronto deemed Halladay’s cost ok for the rest of the season.
I think in JP’s case if he’s going to take a lowball offer for his Ace he’ll wait till the off season to do it when there is no deadline clock to deal with. At some point during the trade (I think when Philly got Lee) it became apparent he lost his leverage.
He could regain leverage in the off season when teams shed high payroll guys and have more money available.
As for Felix, I expect the Red Sox to make the same offer in the off season. Unless Seattle wants to tell it’s fanbase in the off season we quit and we’re rebuilding while still trying to sell and retain season tickets, I don’t expect Felix to go anywhere until the trade deadline.
“Why would Seattle not want to raid the Boston system. The five best Boston prospects for one player – a pitcher who can get injured at any time. Interesting rumor.”
It wasn’t seattle who pushed the trade. It was boston.
I don’t think this trade would have been seattle “raiding” boston.
Phil Hughes’s problem for about two years was that he was never healthy enough to get his armstrength built back up to where it had been when he was hitting 96 and 97 frequently down the stretch in `06.
“It wasn’t seattle who pushed the trade. It was boston.”
My impression, as well. Also don’t think it was only Boston who inquired.
Might be different next year. Hernandez will be right where Halladay is this year (read: 15 months from free agency), only 7 years younger. Seattle should be able to score very big with a deadline deal in 7/2010.
Keep: Melky, Gardner, Swisher and either Hinske or Hairston.
Bring up AJAX
Let Damon, Matsui & Nady walk. I would rather see them go out and get another starter or reliever with the $$ coming off the books, rather than investing in another Outfielder.
“Keep: Melky, Gardner, Swisher and either Hinske or Hairston. Bring up AJAX”
Better get a LOT of production from your infield if this is your outfield.
The Yanks do get a lot of production from their infield.
“If they retain Felix and he walks as a free agent, they still get 2 1st round picks for him in compensation so you’re really trading him for 3 of the 5 picks.”
Thing about those picks is that they are deep into the hit or miss zone. We’re presumedly talking about one pick around #25 and another somewhere in the mid 30′s to 40 in the sandwich round.
Infield: Tex, A-Rod, Jeter, Cano. That is the power part of the lineup. We’re doing the right thing by having speedy, young, athletic outfielders. It’s called having a good balance!
You just can’t figure baseball. How do you like that? You take C.C. and Buehrle’s stats and do you know what? You can throw them right out the window!
LOWE’S….let’s build something TO)-GETH-AHH!
John Sterling
August 4th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
You just can’t figure baseball. How do you like that? You take C.C. and Buehrle’s stats and do you know what? You can throw them right out the window!
LOWE’S….let’s build something TO)-GETH-AHH!
You can’t predict baseball if you think you can you’re nuts.
and betting on baseball you should have your head examined!
I agree Buchholz doesn’t look like he is doing very well in the majors, despite his no-hitter. With the pitching problems that the Red Sox had so far this year, Penny/Smoltz/Dicey-K they seemed very reluctant to bring up Buchholz. Why? I find it hard to believe that the starts in the minors were crucial to his development.
So far, he had one decent start, then not so much.
Masterson also has made spot starts, but he doesn’t stick. Granted he be gone now, but he was serviceable, but not in the rotation and more to eat innings.
The others being out there like that make me wonder if the Red Sox, having seen them for a while now, have some doubts about them really developing.
I am also confused by the Red Sox, after it being said that the one they really wanted was Adrian Gonzalez, over Victor Martinez. If that is the case, then why didn’t they get AG? Yet they would work out a trade to send AG to the M’s?
Something just seems fishy with that whole thing.
“…and betting on baseball you should have your head examined!”
Yeah, just ask Pete Rose!
Pete Rose DID go to a psychiatrist I believe, or at least a counselor. So he did, in essence, have his head examined.