Postgame notes: The next step for Hughes
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Apr 27, 2011 
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Here’s Joe Girardi explaining the Phil Hughes situation.
“One of the tests they did with Phil showed — and we’re not saying he has it and we’re not saying he doesn’t — a real low-level risk of thoracic outlet syndrome, which is basically a circulatory problem… We’re sending him to a specialist in St. Louis to either rule it out or rule that he does have it.”
Hughes will see Dr. Robert William Thompson. Girardi wasn’t sure exactly when that exam will occur.
“I think any time you talk about circulation problems, there’s some concern,” Girardi said. “This is different than what Coney had (David Cone famously had an aneurysm). These are different type of things, but there’s always a concern.”
Hughes was still at the stadium after the game, but he didn’t meet with the media. No kidding, there’s a solid chance he was watching the Lightning game and didn’t want to walk away from a close playoff game. Frankly, he’s said enough about the subject in the past few days, and I doubt he could tell us much anyway unless he’s gotten his medical degree during this time on the disabled list.
The Mayo Clinic website specifically names “sports-related activities” as a possible cause of thoracic outlet syndrome and says it is often treated with rehab.
Treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome usually involves physical therapy and pain relief measures. Most people improve with these conservative approaches. In some cases, however, your doctor may recommend surgery.
Here’s Girardi.
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• The star of the night was obviously Bartolo Colon. He’s the guy filling in for Hughes, and he’s been terrific. “I feel really good that I’m helping the team because in spring training (Girardi) told me if anything happens, you’re going to be the man for a job in the rotation,” Colon said.
• Colon had not pitching eight innings since September 22, 2007 with the Angels. “I can’t remember seeing him like that since he was in Cleveland or with the Angles,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “His ball was moving great. But I feel proud of him, especially knowing all the arm issues that he has gone through. Buehrle was good tonight, but Colon was better.”
• According to Elias, more than half of Colon’s strikes have been called this season (14 of 26).
• Yankees starters have held opponents to one earned run or less in each of their last four games, good for a 0.95 ERA during that stretch. Each starter has pitched well the last time through the rotation.
• Mark Teixeira hurt his right shoulder making a diving play in the third inning yesterday. It didn’t really both him until he work up this morning, felt better at game time, and it started bothering him again after the top of the eighth. That’s why Eric Chavez pinch hit. Girardi said there are no tests scheduled. “He’s just sore,” Girardi said.
• Mariano Rivera bounced back from blown saves in his previous two outings to get his eighth save of the season. According to the Yankees it’s the fifth time in his career that he’s had eight saves before April 30 (he’s never had more than eight).
• Rivera has the save or win in each of the Yankees nine home wins.
• Robinson Cano has homered in back-to-back games and four of his last five at Yankee Stadium. He is 6-for-14 with two home runs in his career against Buehrle.
• Cano seemed to have fallen into a small rut before these past few days brought him out of it. “I was jumping instead of staying back and doing my regular swing,” he said. He and Kevin Long did their familiar net drill before today’s game.
• Francisco Cervelli was 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre tonight. He’s scheduled to catch again tomorrow.
• If you missed it in the game post, a Yankees ticket representative accidentally sent a mass email containing the name, address, email address, phone number and seat number of several thousand season ticket accounts. No birthdays, social security numbers or credit card information was sent. The employee essentially attached the wrong document to an email. The Yankees have sent a letter to ticket holders explaining the situation.
“A mistake was made and we’re being as transparent as we possibly can,” a spokesperson said. “We’ve already taken steps to assure this cannot and will not happen again.”
Associated Press photos
# Carlo April 27th, 2011 at 11:55 pm
Hughes for Halladay:
Yes. Anytime the Yankees can trade a prospect for an Ace, you do it. The money doesn’t matter.
The counter argument is would you have traded hughes for santana.
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No because Santana has battled injuries just like Hughes but he is far more expensive than Phil
I wish Cano would take a walk.
I figured Phil would be watching the Lightning game. I watched the last 5 minutes of the first half or whatever it is they have in Hockey. Didnt think they could hold onto a 1-0 lead but they managed to do it. Honestly never thought they would force a game 7 after being down 3-1 either.
“The counter argument is would you have traded hughes for santana.”
No, it may have prevented signing CC, and there were ample red flags with Santana.
I believe Carlo is saying that the counter argument to his point about always trading for an ace is Johan Santana.
http://www.theyankeeu.com/tag/roy-halladay
It’s based on a Heyman report so it’s probably false.
“I believe Carlo is saying that the counter argument to his point about always trading for an ace is Johan Santana.”
Oh, I skim too often, but anyway, I disagree with his argument.
Rich
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....r_roy.html
Thanks, LGY.
btw, the George of the ’80s would have fired that ticket representative faster than you could say Costanza.
Kevin Durant is amazing.
tyanksfan36 April 28th, 2011 at 12:05 am
I figured Phil would be watching the Lightning game. I watched the last 5 minutes of the first half or whatever it is they have in Hockey. Didnt think they could hold onto a 1-0 lead but they managed to do it. Honestly never thought they would force a game 7 after being down 3-1 either.
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IMO, there is just nothing that can match a game 7 in hockey. Love baseball and love the Yanks with a passion but there is just something different about playoff hockey. Awesome to see the Lightning and Eric Brewer win tonight.
tyanksfan36 April 28th, 2011 at 12:19 am
GB
I am thinking if he doesnt pick it up soon then he might get sent back down to Charleston. This is his first full year in the organization if im not mistaken
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Not sure why he was moved from Staten Island straight to Tampa last summer, unless it was because of college ball and age. He was just a 17th round pick.
Have the Yankees been in First Place from opening day? I believe they have. Is that right?
Tyler
I dont know one thing about Hockey except that you dont want to let the other team get the puck in your net. I was at a friends house and they had the game on so of course we watched some of it. I never imagined they would come back like they did 3-1 and then to win game seven 1-0 is just amazing.
GB
I would assume it was because of age and college. He has given up 5 home runs so far and I think only had one outing where he didnt allow a run.
also, click on my name to check out my latest blog entry, guest posted by a recently former lohudder.
Unknown, no.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/standings/_/date/20110403
gb,
any surprises in the minor leagues so far? any players who aren’t big name prospects worth watching?
thanks
Kevin Durant is amazing.
========
Bittersweet-fully (heavy on the bitter) true.
It seems odd that Phil has not reported any of the symptoms of TOS, no pain, no numbness.
What Aaron Boone did – that’s pretty much every game 7 OT goal in NHL playoffs. One and done.
Nothing better than a playoff walkoff, but NHL game 7 in OT is second best. Tampa didn’t need OT, but a great game/series nonetheless.
Yankees smell great with Colon on.
I’m gonna switch subjects here. What’s up with Swisher? It’s getting to be downright embarrassing. Can Chavez play right? And is Posada in his last season? I’m betting that if he
doesn’t hit 200 by June, he takes an early retirement.
Chad – Thanks for all the Cervelli info you posted today. I’m really looking forward to his return.
LGY/Rich in NJ – after re reading my post re trading for an ace, it simply wasn’t clear. What I was trying to say was I subscribe to the theory, as a yankee fan where payroll can handle mistakes, that you always trade a high end prospect for an ace. Johan Santana would have proven that theory to have been significantly flawed.
Morning, I don’t know if this link will work, but check out this catch by the ballgirl. WOW
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=210445612318133
WOW Gary that was awesome!
(the link works as long as you are logged into facebook)
Kate, I love the way she went after that ball and the LF just gave up on it.
An article on Hughes’ possible condition. Good read.
http://www.nj.com/yankees/inde.....um=twitter
thanks for the info GB…hopefully that isn’t what he has
GB , good article link from you. depressing,,, but interesting info..
GreenBeret7 April 28th, 2011 at 7:14 am
An article on Hughes’ possible condition. Good read.
http://www.nj.com/yankees/inde…..um=twitter
GB-
Thanks for the article.
Gary,
Thanks for the link of the ball girl catch. That was one of the best catches I have seen by anyone. The funniest thing was the player reactions.
Speaking of Durant, he used to come to Austin to practice with his ex-college teammates during the summers. He didn’t stay in a suite or rent a big house. He slept on the floor of his college friend’s apartment. He is very down tom earth level headed guy, and I am glad for his success.
“It seems odd that Phil has not reported any of the symptoms of TOS, no pain, no numbness.”
He might have a mild case of it which is why certain symptoms might not be present with him.
Durant became a favorite of mine when the told Sports Illustrated he would only agree to be their NBA Preview cover guy if a couple of lesser known teammates could be on the cover with him. He ended up gracing the cover with Thabo Sefolosha and Nenad Krstic.
If Hughes does have TOS, and it’s a mild case, then it’s possible that he would not need surgery.
Physical therapy might be enough.
We’re gonna find out soon.
Hoping for the best with Hughes.
Very happy the Yanks won last night, so I don’t have to continue to listen to cries of “we’re gonna sweep” from the WS fans in my office.
Good morning all. Thanks for the link GB @7:14 on thoracic outlet syndrome.
Attached is the link to Robert W. Thompson in St. Louis:
http://wuphysicians.wustl.edu/.....hysNum=948
I also find it unusual that all Hughes was complaining about was fatigue and not any numbness/tingling, pain or coldness of arm/fingers/hand.
If rehab is prescribed I wonder if Hughes will need to develop a different delivery-3/4? to allow for less impingement on the veins, arteries and nerves??
Gary, Kate, Austinmatic – Re the ballgairl catch:
I don’t have Facebook, but if it’s the video I’m thinking it is, it’s been around for quite a while and it’s faked. I checked it out, if I recall correctly, a couple of years ago. I believe that you can confirm that on Snopes.com.
YT-
That’s an interesting thought.
The Physical therapy approach would also be designed to do the same I would think.
As is the case with most conditions, not all persons show the same symptoms in every case.
We’ll have to wait and see, but I hope they caught this early with Phil.
Re: ballgirl catch
I believe I recall reading that this was a commercial that was to be part of a Gatorade ad campaign that was ultimately shelved. There was some trick digital photography involved.
YT-
TOS sounds a little like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which develops from repetitive motion.
In the case of CTS I believe the nerves are compressed which leads to numbness, etc.
If it is severe enough people opt for surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerve by widening the channel which the affected nerve(s) travel through.
Mell-You’re correct
Attached is video and article from snopes:
http://www.snopes.com/photos/a.....llgirl.asp
ah well it was fun to watch anyway
At first, thought it was strange that Hughes was seeing a doctor in St. Louis rather than NYC, but then I realized that Andrews isn’t in NYC either.
I wonder if this condition, assuming he actually has it, has impacted Hughes for a longer period, reducing his velo a mph or two.
MTU-
It is, but the danger with TOS is that compression of the vessels can lead to clots and emboli unlike carpal tunnel. I stayed at a Motel 6,not a Holiday Inn, however it wasn’t with GB!
YT-
Absolutely.
In fact, Aaron Cook did develop clots on his lung(s). Very dangerous in his case.
Fortunately, he made it back but that is a very scary and dangerous
potential side-effect.
It’s always good if they find things like this early.
New Post: All jokes aside, Colon’s back
I wonder if the Yankees will call up Millwood before his opt out May 1st, and send down Pendleton. I would imagine there might be other clubs that will sign him to a major league deal.
Good morning –
Like the man said, you can never have enough pitching. Boy, has Colon stepped up and delivered. I guess Tony Pena does know something about baseball, afterall.
About Phil – THIS IS A PURE GUESS, BASED ON ONLY WHAT I’VE HEARD JOE GIRARDI SAY AND WHAT CHAD HAS REPORTED THIS IS PURE BLOG-TYPE SPECULATION –
Sounds like this referral may be only to CYA for somebody, to say they consulted all the top wizards on the matter. If it were clear cut TCO, the docs in the city would have already told him and the Yanks what needs to be done. I wouldn’t be surprised if the final recommendation is for rest and rehab, which is almost always indicated.
Later.
SORIANO DOESN’T PITCH–YANKS WIN!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone else not buying this thorasic outlet syndrome stuff? There are plenty of pitchers who throw slower than Hughes and are successful. Greg Maddux routinely threw 88-90 mph and was wildly successful.