Hughes: “Pretty soon you feel like you belong”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Podcast on Jun 19, 2010 
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Phil Hughes acknowledges that pitching out of the bullpen last season made him a better pitcher, but he doesn’t point to the development of his cutter or improvement of his fastball command.
“I was able to go down there and get some confidence,” he said. “I was kind of up and down my first few years, and I really didn’t have that confidence that I needed to be in this situation, in this role. Going down there and having success really helped. That’s really the only thing I take from last year.”
It’s more fun to romanticize Hughes’ season as a setup man. It’s a better to picture him learning in the shadow of Mariano Rivera, becoming bigger and stronger, learning how to put away big league hitters one eighth inning at a time. And some of that might have happened.
But Hughes flirted with a no-hitter in his second big league start when he was 20 years old. His stuff has been electric from the beginning. Sure, there was some growing up to do, and Hughes needed to find some consistency, but he also needed to realize that not every major league hitter is going to crush every major league fastball. He had to realize that he was good enough to face the best hitters in the world — in huge situations — and get those outs.
“He pitched in those tough games all last year for us,” Joe Girardi said. “Where there was never a lot of room for error, and he always seemed to find a way to get it done.”
Said Hughes: “You have those streaks of good outings and pretty soon you feel like you belong.”
Here’s the first half of Hughes rather lengthy postgame conversation.
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Associated Press photo
Hughes has projected to be a solid #2. He’ll be one of those life long Yankees – like Pettitte. I look forward to a long career.
MTU (aka GBURL) June 19th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Bret-
I can relate. Look at where I wound up. Hard core city guy in one of the most sparsely populated states in the US.
Go figure.
Some of us just are destined to take the road less travelled.
Makes it interesting. You’ll do fine Pilgrim.
************
MTU,
Where did you end up?
Road less travelled is definitely more fun even if I am a Barack Obama loving Yankee.
LGY June 19th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Bret,
I was just yanking your chain. Really cool you did that today.
*******
Oh yeah I know. No hard feelings. I’m aware of my man crush and admitting you have a problem is the first step.
BTW, thanks!
It was cool that I had the opportunity.
I feel lucky and can’t wait to do even more.
Bret-
In Utah.
“He’ll be one of those life long Yankees – like Pettitte.”
Maybe even more so than Pettitte.
Bret…Rusans has some of the best sushi I’ve ever had and I live on the West Coast…….Firecracker roll……I think all the Japanese in Charlotte go there to eat…….
Phil. I am gonna pay you one helluva tribute for # 10.
Just wait and see.
I won’t be here tomorrow but if I’m lucky you’ll see the result soon.
You Da Man ! Keep it up.
MTU (aka GBURL) June 19th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Bret-
In Utah.
**********
Look on the bright side. Aren’t you allowed to have like 9 girlfriends at the same time?
Beautiful country though.
I’ve driven through.
The sky is clear.
The sunrises are amazing.
You can hear the sound of silence tickling your ears at night.
Pat M.
Rusans. I’m there!
Japanese women.
Congrats to Hughes and the Yankees on a much needed “W”.
Good for Joba too. Especially as I look at the standings and see the White Sox on the cusp of their 5th consecutive win and being within 4.5 of the Twins. Might make one JJ Putz a little less available than he may have been a week ago.
Bret-
My 1 wife would not take kindly to that but you sure can.
And what you said is 1000% true. I have travelled a lot. been a lot of places but I have never found any place I love more.
The only way I am ever leaving here is feet first. It’s paradise.
“I think all the Japanese in Charlotte go there to eat……”
That’s true, I saw both of them there the last time I was in town.
That’s true, I saw both of them there the last time I was in town.
—————————-
Hahahahaha
MTU,
Sorry. Only reason why I’d live there is to set up my own harem. j/k
I’m glad you found your place!
I want to live in Asheville, NC.
I think that’s mine.
Getting closer…
Ah, Nick in SF…….Well there’s a TCP golf course that I’ve played in Pineville Matthew that had a significant amount of Japanese foursomes……Your next trip to Charlotte you really should check out Rusans
Bret-
That sounds like a great choice.
Blake probably knows that area pretty well.
One of my hiking buddies is from Gatlinsburg TN. which also nearby.
he has told me of it. beautiful country. Hope you make it and I hope your find your place eventually. I believe everyone has one.
Just got back from the Stadium – a beautiful day for a Yankee win.
There was the whole spectrum of emotion – from depression at the Reyes HRs (and Mets’ fans carrying on), to joy at the comeback due to Tex, Curtis, and Phil’s clutch pitching. Even Joba got into the spirit. I always love Mo coming in, relishing it each time, since we won’t have that forever. (I still marvel at him. Everyone does.)
And, everyone, even those poor Mets’ fans, were well behaved – even in the men’s room!
Let’s do it again tomorrow.
Phil Hughes is leaps and bounds ahead of Chamberlain and is a year younger. It goes to show what patience and dedication to training will do when applied.
Chamberlain is as good as he’ll ever get.
Philly has much respect for Phil and Andy. We laugh at CC being called an Ace, he needs to lose weight. His last outing was a roller coaster ride but somehow he beat Doc ride.
Phil and Andy are better, he should feel embarrassed that his #3 and #5 pitchers CARRY your team.Even Javier is easier to watch. AJ has attention deficit disorder !
Well Hamels made 7 innings, after a 38 pitch first inning, he ends with 117 still Philly 8-4
Never know with Joba.
He could have an epiphany.
We all have epiphanies.
Bret-
I’m with you. I’m not giving up on Joba until he is either assigned to the BP permanently, or gets traded.
Until then ………
Rick there was a time here when that thinking could get you run out of town……Trust me
Just joshing, Pat M… I played Piper Glen once too, I shot the low score in my foursome…unfortunately none of those scores were in double figures, ouch…my little brother began to apply himself a golf shortly after that round — if we were to play there again today he would probably flirt with 80 and I’d still be fighting and losing to break 100. Oh well.
I’ll keep Rusans in mind the next time I visit, as always.
Brett,
I was in Asheville just last weekend…great town…a bit on the artsy side…I can recommened lots of restaurants there or in the Boone/Blowing rock area if you’re ever interested…
Philly beating Min, means Det your other favorite team to lose to, will be first Yankees vs Verlander can’t wait!
Phil 9-4 boyz just grinding it out today.
Asheville,NC is a gorgeous part of this country.
Blake,
Yeah, it’s a hippy town but since I’m mostly inked up with tattoos I actually feel normal there, almost like a preppy. I’m more into the environmental awareness there and the outdoorsy culture. I’ve always sucked at art.
Some of my friends here went to Appalachian State. I’ve partied there but if I were to travel, I’d probably more likely end up in Asheville.
What was your favorite place to eat in Asheville?
Nick in SF…..I’ve played Piper, tough course……..Asheville is a great College town…..As for Hughes, even his rough outings this season is probably better than 60 % of the AL starts this season
Brett,
There are many..tupelo honey, Savoy’ the Lobster Trap, buffet at the grove park in, the moose cafe, steak and Wine to name a few.
Boone has some great restaurants as well. Place called the Gamekeeper in Blowing rock is my favorite place to eat anywhere
Pat M. June 19th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Rick there was a time here when that thinking could get you run out of town……Trust me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes Pat, I remember it well. One had a sense of earning his spot and the other thought he was a lock for it.
Bret-
See. I just knew Blake would hook you up.
Phitins,
Go away and play in traffic. You are a jackass and you’re not here for real baseball discussion.
If you were, you’d be welcomed here. But you only come here to be a jackass.
Go run away and drive off a cliff.
Dodgers pen is impressive….Mr. Franco, how are you ?????
Pat M,
Hughes is exceeding our wildest expectations no…and to think, he should actually get even better.
Blake,
Thanks man!
Since I’m a huge fan of steak and wine, I shall visit:
http://www.swsteakandwine.com/
GameKeeper Restaurant in Boone, NC
http://www.gamekeeper-nc.com/
Brett,
My pleasure
Bret The Hitman,
The worst player on the Yankees had two hits and scored twice today; know this upsets you because the Yankes might just keep him around a bit longer. Like you said, tomorrow will probably be the start of his major major failing.
I know it would take Gardner plus two or three others, but we can only dream about getting the “Melk Man” back.
I agree with you – it is very embarassing having Gardner on our major league roster.
You are right on the money with trying to get rid of Gardner any way we can.
Blake, and to think there was 2 games ( maybe 3 ) when he left with the lead only to have the pen to surrender the lead…….He’s the real deal
Pat M,
He hasn’t left a start behind all season has he ?…that’s incredible.
Props to David Cone for saying last season before Hughes was sent to the pen that it could help him to believe that he belonged in the ML.
Sadly, YES let him go and keeps the underwhelming Flaherty, who is the ultimate “YES” man.
Hughes left the Baltimore game with a 2-1 lead in the 6th, Robertson blew it
Hughes left the Sox game with a 7-5 lead and Park blew it in the 8th.
Only game this season he didn’t leave with the lead was the Mets game last month.
We Need Melky,
Gardner has outperformed expectations but he still doesn’t have a long-term track record of success like the rest of the roster. It’s not his fault. It’s just circumstance.
Mind changing your name to We Need Crawford?
The offense could easily be more full proof.
Jeter, Arod and Jorge are on the downswing IMHO.
G FRANCO-
Is real baseball discussion call people names?
Here’s something for you Bos and Dodgers 4-4 top of the 9th. They are still on the Yankees heels nipping. Papelbon is in he just served up a single pray he blows the save.
“Flaherty, who is the ultimate “YES” man.”
Which is why he is still there.
From Sherman -
Early in the season, with the Yankees struggling, Cone remarked on the air that if the Yankees did not start performing better than they could fall out of the race. The YES executive told the broadcasters that this remark aggravated Hank Steinbrenner and needed to be avoided in the future (so much for a firewall between the team and what is said on the air). Cone felt this was a true statement – and rather innocuous – and should not have been discussed.
Late in the season, Cone remarked that one of the important, behind-the-scenes workers involved in daily coverage of the Yankees was a free agent at the end of the year. This made the top YES executive flip out because the plan was not to retain this particular employee. Cone was confronted by the YES executive and there was a heated exchange during which Cone explained that he had made a lot of money playing (nearly $67 million) and took the YES job as a way to get back into baseball, but that he would not take such verbal abuse from anyone because he did not need the job.
At that point it became apparent that Cone would not be back in 2010. Instead, YES plans on bringing in Tino Martinez to do about 40 games.
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/.....ICicflEu4K
Thankfully, it looks like they didn’t follow through with their Tino plan. He is a brutal broadcaster.
If the Playoffs started today, who goes to the Pen? I think I may have to go AJ. It would have to be between Javy and AJ and I think Burnett’s stuff would play up better out of the bullpen…
Blake-
Wouldn’t AJ’s control issues and temperament be even more of a liability out of the pen ?
Giuseppe Franco says:
June 19, 2010 at 6:42 pm
_________________
if in fact he is a troll, you just made his day. Troll theory holds that trolls only want you to waste your bandwidth on their tangential issues. Please don’t feed the trolls.
Thanks, Scor.
YES’ programming is abysmal beyond the Yankee games themselves, which enables the morons that run it to appear to be smart, when in fact they are not.
Uh oh, MIN making a comeback come on LIDGE 9-7 hold on Phitins!!
MTS June 19th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Giuseppe Franco says:
June 19, 2010 at 6:42 pm
_________________
if in fact he is a troll, you just made his day. Troll theory holds that trolls only want you to waste your bandwidth on their tangential issues. Please don’t feed the trolls.
—
G Franco doesn’t have the common sense to understand that concept.
Pat M,
I’m doing great. Hope all is well on your end, including your other half and her health issues.
My condition is similar to MS, so I can relate.
Brett,
If the offense ends the season the way it is performing now, it might be offense that we need more of, rather than Lee
Just like in 2008, everyone rightfully talked about the pitching, but ignored the offensive futility. That is why Cash fought hard for Tex because he knew we needed one big bat to be complete.
Still a long way from determining that though
tying run last out Mauer at bat, 1 on base, my boyz might be in trouble.
“The YES executive told the broadcasters that this remark aggravated Hank Steinbrenner and needed to be avoided in the future”
lol I thought this guy was muzzled? Now his input got the network’s best broadcaster axed?
LOL!!! Philly blows a 5-run 9th inning lead.
Is real baseball discussion call people names?
———–
Yes, when you come here to simply act like a jackass you’re gonna get called on it.
If you don’t like it, you can leave.
G Franco doesn’t have the common sense to understand that concept.
==============================================
You gonna take that crap, Guiseppe?
Mauer goes yard – MIN/PHI tied at 9
Wow.
MTU,
Possibly. I don’t think that’s what the Yankees will do but I think it will be an interesting decision when the time comes…Hughes may seem to make the most sense because he has recently been a dominant reliever but would they really want to take him out of the rotation…I wouldn’t…it’ll probably be Javy if I had to guess.
# melladie June 19th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
—
G Franco doesn’t have the common sense to understand that concept.
————
Pertaining to my contributions to this blog for the last few years, I’ll put my reputation for common sense up against yours anytime you like.
I’m depressed Lidge blew a 5 run lead it’s 9-9. Hold on Phitins.
Blake-
Before todays game, the Yankees were averaging 7.92 runs per his starts.
awwww, Phitins, karma is a b—ch. LOL
I doubt you get a coherent response to that GF.
Haha – not what matter – your “boys” blew a big lead today – tied 9-9. Does not matter else happens – be worried. Braves and Mets better. Nationals have a better future – lose Werth this offseason (good luck going through 2-3 years of Dominic Brown adjusting the mlb baseball), then Rollins.
Your GM is a moron – should have held onto Cliff Lee.
Phitins,
You are a drama queen.
We should hook you up with CR9.
Philadelphia Freedom.
LA Fakers just got beat.
Pedroia with the walk off.
Pedroia hits a walkoff RBI
damnit
Boston walks off. Oh well.
It makes me jealous how the Sox just mow through these NL teams.
They are 9-2 against the NL this year. We are 6-5.
The Philly Phitins June 19th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
I’m depressed Lidge blew a 5 run lead it’s 9-9. Hold on Phitins.
—
It’s okay. We all feel for you. The Phillies will turn things around.
Just noticed that Boston made 4 errors today. Yikes.
Here comes the RS happy talk on Fox.
To the 10th thanks too LIDGE.
-Ace
We didn’t need Lee to beat your butts!
Philly’s about to lose … blew a 5 run lead and then a lead of homer. Yikes.
Sweet Jesus Minny scored a HR ALREADY IN THE 10TH, You ca not be serious.
miny10-9 it forces us to score 2 now.
I don’t know what’s funnier: the fact that Philly blew a 5-run, 9th inning lead, or that a guy hitting .175 just went yard in the 10th to give the Twinkies the lead.
Nome….Joba blew a game for Hughes as the club came back and won rendering Hughes with a no decision…………As for Mr. Franco and his contributions, he’s a gold glove winner here….He handles everything without effort and while he was away, his absence was felt heavily……..Knows baseball and is a solid Yankee fan, and not some bandwagon fan
No Lee, no playoffs for The Phillies
Pretty sure the “oh noooo the Sox are rolling over these NL teams” angst existed last year too.
LOL Phillies.
bret-
Queen?
I’m not a female unless you were really saying something else, if so I don’t swing that way either!
Pat M.
Can you believe that loser calling out Franco, what a tool.
Philly Phitin
Out of curiosity, how old are you?
Hughes has started 13 games. He has 11 decisions (10-1).
He has 2 no decisions. Robertson was charged with the loss in one of those games. Park was charged with the blown save in the other (the Boston game we came back to win).
The one loss he had was his responsibility. He was trailing 4-1 when he left.
Joba did not pitch in any of those games. Joba blew the save the next night (after the Thames HR game). That was CC’s win he blew.
“Philly Phitin
Out of curiosity, how old are you?”
The loser has been on this site since early this morning.
Anyone else hear Hughes might miss next start?
I appreciate the kind words, Pat. They are certainly reciprocated.
Always enjoy your insight and it’s always interesting to hear info from your sources. They tend to be dead on 99% of the time.
how ya feelin GF?
Phillies tie it up on a Ross Gload HR, this game is insane!
9 HRs have been hit in this Phillies/Twins ga,e
Going to the 11th
Haha – now your team is down 10-9. Maybe now you will go play on some other junior league message board – the Phillies’ boards.
And your GM and fans still regret not having Lee. Enjoy Blanton – while you secretly wish you had Lee (the only pitcher who can beat the Yankees in the postseason on your team!!!!!)
Haha – your team is still owned – regular season wins like this past mean nothing – your team still lost in the WS. Until that is rectified – bragging rights belong to the Yankees and their fans over the Phillies (just like w/ the Mets and 2000). Hahaha.
I don’t think anyone saw this from Hughes. Even his biggest booster, Pat M, had a more conservative guestimate.
The bad thing about that hot start is that he spoiled us. He gives up 3 runs, and it’s like, “wha?!”. But we would take that from Javy or AJ anyday!
But, taking a step back and looking at the big picture he’s really taken a step forward. Granderson had some really nice things to say about Hughes to Kim Jones. Talked about his maturity and ability to keep the team in the game.
Hughes’ season ERA is 3.17 and his career avg. continues to “regress” and is currently at 3.90.
Pat M
We’ll make the playoffs, as long as they’re cream puff teams like the Yankees. The real question is IF we win the WS.
Now do you see why we are the P H I G H T I N S we don’t rollover and quit, like the Bombers
PHIGHT PHIGHT, PHILLY, show’em how we get giggy with it!!!!
mick,
I feel great. Thanks for asking.
Not 100% yet, but the closer I inch to what I was before, the increments get a little smaller. That, of course, is normal for everybody who is recovering from an illness, condition, etc.
I can pretty much do whatever I did before so no complaints here.
Thanks again for asking.
good to hear of your progress GF, keep up the fight.
Now do you see why we are the P H I G H T I N S we don’t rollover and quit, like the Bombers
PHIGHT PHIGHT, PHILLY, show’em how we get giggy with it!!!!
=======================
I’m guessing this kids about 7.
Philly Phitins…….Right now you’re on the outside looking in at the playoffs…..As for the creampuff Yankees, they are the World Series Champions at your expense…….Untill that changes, you really should show some professional respect……..
His mother is working a double shift at Dominoes he’s been on this site constantly since early this morning.
Probably still in his shorts and bathrobe.
A big picture of Greg Luzinski over his bed.
Mom is bringing home a pizza for supper.
This is one crazy game, Minny got some Phight too I see 3 runs. They came alive in the 9th inning. Thank you Brad Lidge!!
Phightins gonna need to go Rocky on them Phight Phight!
Don’t see anyone impersonating this child.
oops again it looks like…
No more phight left it seems. Wow… lidge really imploeded…
new thread============>>>>
If the Yankees own Minn, and the Phughtins beat the Yankees, how do you not beat Minn
Well Minn got some Phight too, tomorrow will be the showdown.
TB in the way of your sole possession of 1st place is leading FLA 1-0
Oh Well I was rooting for the Mets today anyway,
Yankees don’t phreak out you won’t face Verlander, if Minny leads the division in postsason.
Got a date C’YA!! OH please BASH AWAY I CAN TAKE IT, Phightins are tough skinned.
I domt blame Cone for leaving. That is pure bs.