Results tagged ‘ Phil Hughes ’
Game 128: Yankees vs. A’s
The start of today’s game is going to be delayed by rain, but Joe Girardi said that the Yankees expect there to be a window to get this one in.
Less promising, however, is the weekend forecast in Baltimore. The Yankees apparently discussed moving Saturday’s scheduled day-night doubleheader up to Friday, but the Orioles shot that idea down.
Thus, with a hurricane approaching the East Coast, the Yankees have five games scheduled for four days and no idea how many will actually get played. We’ll wait a while if necessary today; the A’s are taking the train to Boston and the Yankees will ride the rails to Baltimore.
Here are the lineups:
August 25, 2011 – Yankee Stadium — 1:05 p.m. ET (YES/MLB Network, WCBS 880 AM)
ATHLETICS (59-70)
Jemile Weeks 2B
Coco Crisp CF
Hideki Matsui DH
Josh Willingham LF
Brandon Allen 1B
David DeJesus RF
Cliff Pennington SS
Anthony Recker C
Scott Sizemore 3B
Pitching: Rich Harden RHP (4-2, 3.91)
YANKEES (77-50)
Derek Jeter DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Russell Martin C
Eduardo Nunez SS
Brett Gardner LF
Pitching: Phil Hughes RHP (4-4, 5.75)
Garcia’s cut finger clears up Yankees rotation drama
Freddy Garcia has been scratched from his scheduled start Sunday.
As such, Garcia has been scratched from Sunday’s scheduled start against the Rays. Burnett will go instead, manager Joe Girardi said. Girardi said that Garcia cut it four or five days ago in a kitchen accident and was unable to throw his split on flat ground today.
“I’m not sure when we’ll get Freddy back,” Girardi said. “It’s not real deep, but it’s where he throws his split. It rubs on his split on the side of his finger, so the decision was made.”
The Yankees’ pitching plans at Kansas City, thus, are as follows –
Monday: Ivan Nova
Tuesday: Bartolo Colon
Wednesday: CC Sabathia
So… what if Hughes pitched well today and Garcia had been completely healthy?
“I don’t have to answer that question. That’s the beauty of this,” Girardi said.
Game 109: Yankees vs. White Sox
CHICAGO — We’re a half-hour from game time, and it has already been quite the news-making day. Phil Hughes will be given at least one more start, CC Sabathia won American League Pitcher of the Month and Major League Baseball said it’ll take Alex Rodriguez‘s involvement in a high-stakes poker game “very seriously.”
Here are the lineups, as the Yankees look to make it six straight and 10 of their last 13. Paul Konerko (sore left calf/knee) remains out for the White Sox …
YANKEES (66-42)
Brett Gardner, LF
Derek Jeter, SS
Curtis Granderson, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Eric Chavez, 3B
Jorge Posada, DH
Russell Martin, C
Pitching: RH A.J. Burnett (8-9, 4.23 ERA)
WHITE SOX (52-56)
Juan Pierre, LF
Omar Vizquel, 2B
Carlos Quentin, DH
Adam Dunn, 1B
Alexei Ramirez, SS
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Alex Rios, CF
Alejandro De Aza, RF
Brent Morel, 3B
Pitching: RH Gavin Floyd (9-9, 3.96 ERA)
Some links from last night …
* Rain cuts into Hughes’ gem as Yanks roll
* Teixeira’s multi-homer game sets record
* Yankees Notebook, on Banuelos, Soriano and Jeter
– Alden
Hughes to stay in the rotation … for now
CHICAGO – Phil Hughes’ performance on Tuesday night was good enough to keep him in the rotation. For how much longer, and what that means for Ivan Nova, has yet to be determined.
But after hurling six breezy shutout innings against the White Sox before rain at U.S. Cellular Field eventually cancelled the game, Hughes is now in line to start on Tuesday against the Angels, when the Yankees come off an off day.
“I think our plans right now are to keep Phil on rotation on Tuesday,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “We want Nova to throw well, and if he continues to throw well, we’ll have to answer some questions as to exactly what we’re going to do. But Phil was real good last night.”
Nova will get the start in the series finale from Chicago on Thursday.
– Alden
Game 108: Yankees vs. White Sox
CHICAGO — I’m no weather man, but after listening to everyone talk heading into tonight’s game, I can tell you this: Expect rain. Nothing yet as of 6 p.m. CT, but there’s supposed to be some pretty serious storms in the area tonight, so hopefully the game can get in with little or no delays.
Phil Hughes certainly hopes so.
Manager Joe Girardi said he hasn’t articulated to Hughes that he needs to pitch well tonight, but with the Yankees deploying a six-man rotation in order to keep Ivan Nova in the mix, the pressure is on for Hughes to deliver against a rather desperate White Sox team. And the last thing he needs is for a little rain to get in the way.
When asked what he’s looking for out of Hughes, Girardi mentioned a better curveball — the new one that was so key to him getting his first win in Toronto three starts ago.
“I thought he made some progress his last start, but I think that his stuff can get better,” he said. “He can give us more distance. His curveball wasn’t as sharp his last start. As we talked about, [CC Sabathia's] slider wasn’t as sharp as it’s been [last night], but when it’s Phil, we have to get this guy on a roll, too. And he’s had his struggles this year, so there’s more red flags. His curveball wasn’t as sharp, and we have to get that going.”
Girardi was asked several times what could happen when he cuts his rotation from six to five again — whether Nova or Hughes will be in the bullpen, or whether one of them will go to the Minors to be stretched out for the Aug. 27 doubleheader — but the skipper kept his options open and would only speak in generalities.
“There’s a lot of things that we have to talk about,” Girardi said. “I mean, the best thing that could happen is that [Hughes] pitches really well, and then we have a tough decision to make in what we’re going to do. There’s some different scenarios. Nova hasn’t pitched out of the bullpen as much. I’ve also talked about, we’re going to need a starter, I think, Aug. 27 when we go to Baltimore, and you want someone built up. So there’s some things after today and tomorrow that we’re going to have to talk about.”
Derek Jeter is back in the lineup after missing Monday’s game with a sore right middle finger, and Brett Gardner is once again in the lineup — batting in the No. 9 spot — against a left-hander.
Here’s the full slate …
YANKEES (65-42)
Jeter, SS
Curtis Granderson, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Andruw Jones, DH
Russell Martin, C
Eduardo Nunez, 3B
Gardner, LF
Pitching: RH Phil Hughes (1-3, 8.24 ERA)
WHITE SOX (52-55)
Juan Pierre, LF
Omar Vizquel, 3B
Carlos Quentin, DH
Adam Dunn, 1B
Alexei Ramirez, SS
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Alex Rios, CF
Alejandro De Aza, RF
Gordon Beckham, 2B
Pitching: LH John Danks (4-8, 3.79 ERA)
Some links from last night …
* CC denies White Sox, earning 16th win
* Yankees Notebook on Jeter, A-Rod, Cervelli and the six-man rotation
* With no guarantees, Hughes faces White Sox
– Alden
Game 107: Yankees vs. White Sox
CHICAGO — Greetings from U.S. Cellular Field, the first of a whopping 21 road games this month, and the first of a week that will finish at Fenway Park.
Derek Jeter is out of the Yankees’ lineup after being hit by a pitch in his right middle finger on Sunday, and the competition between Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova is seemingly on. The Yankees announced they were going with a six-man rotation this week, with Nova — who gave up two runs in seven innings during his big league return on Saturday — starting Thursday, Bartolo Colon sliding back to Friday, CC Sabathia pitching on normal rest Saturday and Freddy Garcia getting the nod on six days’ rest Sunday.
More on that later, but just know this: Hughes’ Tuesday start is a big one. He knows it, and they know it.
In other news, Alex Rodriguez (knee surgery) is slated to be in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday and plans to resume workouts by Thursday. How long would it take for him to get back once he starts those workouts? Joe Girardi wouldn’t say, but mid-August is at least looking good.
Here are your lineups …
YANKEES (64-42)
Brett Gardner, LF
Curtis Granderson, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Eric Chavez, 3B
Jorge Posada, DH
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Francisco Cervelli, C
Pitching: LH Sabathia (15-5, 2.56 ERA)
WHITE SOX (52-54)
Juan Pierre, LF
Alexei Ramirez, SS
Carlos Quentin, DH
Adam Dunn, 1B
Alex Rios, CF
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Gordon Beckham, 2B
Brent Lillibridge, RF
Brent Morel, 3B
Pitching: RH Jake Peavy (4-4, 5.27 ERA)
– Alden
If Phil is right, do the Yankees need Ubaldo?
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — That’s the question I’m pondering from St. Pete, just a few hours before the start of a four-game series against the Rays and just a few hours removed from a very convincing start by Phil Hughes.
Hughes looked awfully close to that 18-game winner from 2010 against the Blue Jays on Sunday, when he notched his first win and first quality start, retired eight of his final nine hitters he faced and registered just 80 pitches through six innings. He could’ve gone longer, but Hughes (pictured left by The Associated Press) went deep enough to make a very important point — he looks like an effective starting pitcher again.
Over the All-Star break, the right-hander worked with pitching coach Larry Rothschild on better aligning his stride towards the plate and adjusting his curveball grip. That grip gave him a much sharper breaking ball he was able to use as a reliable No. 2 pitch to offset his four-seamer (one that consistently sat in the 92- to 93-mph range and got better as the game wore on).
Now, the question: If Hughes truly is back, and he’s the 2010 version again, do the Yankees need Ubaldo Jimenez?
Here’s the thing about Jimenez: Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd doesn’t really have to move him. It reminds me a lot of the situation with Padres closer Heath Bell in recent years. Jimenez is under club control for a while (signed through 2012 with two additional club options thereafter), he’s awfully affordable (making no more than $8 million through 2014) and his stock is rather low (Jimenez is 5-8 with a 4.08 ERA in 18 starts this year — though he does have a 2.56 ERA since the start of June).
Since the Rockies are 9 1/2 games out of first place and the starting-pitching market is weak, it’s not surprising they would shop him. But considering all the above-mentioned factors, it’s no wonder Colorado seeks the sun and the moon for the services of Ubaldo (pictured right by the AP).
MLB.com colleague Thomas Harding says the Rockies are at least listening to offers for Jimenez, but a deal remains unlikely. Peter Gammons, meanwhile, put the chances of a deal at 10 percent. We all know how quickly things can change as the non-waiver Trade Deadline draws closer, though.
With regards to the Yankees, the names that have surfaced as potential pieces to a deal are the likes of Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances, Ivan Nova and Jesus Montero (though SI.com is reporting today that Montero wouldn’t be the centerpiece of the potential trade, since the Rockies don’t view him as a catcher).
Now, if Hughes is right, then the Yankees would have an in-house rotation of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Hughes at the top, with the final spots going to any two between Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia and Nova.
Would they still need Jimenez to make a return trip to the playoffs? And would it be worth it to give up what the Rockies would want in return?
Curious to hear your thoughts.
Some links from the series finale in Toronto …
* Efficient Hughes looks strong in first win
* Yankees Notebook, on Gardner, Dickerson, Teixeira and A-Rod
* Yankees intend to push Rays down standings
– Alden
Game 92: Yankees vs. Blue Jays
TORONTO — This should be interesting.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi chose Sunday as the day he’d shake up his lineup and give a few more guys a break from the field surface here at Rogers Centre. So, what we have is quite the afternoon delight — Eduardo Nunez fielding grounders at shortstop, Jorge Posada catching his throws at first base, and an all-turf field surrounding them.
Derek Jeter has the day off, Mark Teixeira is in as the designated hitter and Ramiro Pena gets his fifth start of the season at third base. But all our eyes will be on Phil Hughes, who makes his second start since returning from the disabled list.
Pregame, the Yankees switched outfielders, with lefty hitter Chris Dickerson returning and right-handed hitter Greg Golson being sent down to the Minor Leagues with the Yankees facing more righties in the coming days.
Still no Jose Bautista (ankle) for the Jays.
Here are your lineups …
YANKEES (54-37)
Brett Gardner, LF
Curtis Granderson, CF
Teixeira, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Posada, 1B
Russell Martin, C
Nunez, SS
Pena, 3B
Pitching: RH Hughes (0-2, 10.57 ERA)
BLUE JAYS (47-48)
Rajai Davis, CF
Eric Thames, DH
Yunel Escobar, SS
Adam Lind, 1B
Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
Travis Snider, LF
Aaron Hill, 2B
J.P. Arencibia, C
Corey Patterson, RF
Pitching: RH Carlos Villanueva (5-1, 2.99 ERA)
From the Game Notes …
* The Yankees are 34-18 (a .654 winning percentage) since May 17, marking the second-best record in the Majors over that stretch. Only the Red Sox (35-16) have a better mark since then.
* New York is a Major League-best 27-5 in day games this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only team to win at least 27 of their first 32 day games in a season was the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955.
* Nunez has driven in 16 runs this season, eight of which have tied the game or given the Yankees the lead.
And here are some links from yesterday …
* CC stifles Blue Jays for 14th win
* Yankees Notebook, with stuff on Soriano, defense, Jeter and (of course) signs
* Hughes out to build on modest return
* Yankees reportedly one of many teams interested in Ubaldo
* Alfonso Soriano to the Yankees?
– Alden
Pregame notes: Mariano reports improvement
Mariano Rivera played catch in the outfield at Cleveland’s Progressive Field today and said that his sore right triceps feels better, but he still feels something in there. He’ll give manager Joe Girardi a full report after the session, but told reporters that it’d take an emergency for him to pitch tonight.
Earlier today, Rivera said the toughest person to convince is usually Gene Monahan, who’ll nod when a player says he feels OK and then tell the manager to give him another day off. You’ve seen it before, but Rivera might get a little extra leeway with Girardi because of who he is and what he’s been through.
“Basically, you know your body,” Rivera said. “Those things are going to happen. You always have some aching feelings and soreness. I’m not concerned because I haven’t done nothing wrong. I expect that it’s something that’s going to calm and go away, the same way it came.”
Other pre-game tidbits:
- Derek Jeter is in the lineup, batting leadoff and playing shortstop. Girardi said he checked with Jeter last night and today to make sure he’d be ready to go. They wouldn’t commit to a start on Wednesday here in Cleveland.
- Luis Ayala is available tonight. Cory Wade has pitched in three of four, so he’s out. Eduardo Nunez is available off the bench, Girardi said.
- Just a day off for Russell Martin after catching four straight, and a half-day for Mark Teixeira, who’s DHing while the Yanks play this stretch of 13 in a row. Girardi said that it’s to the point now where he doesn’t think twice about having Jorge Posada play first base.
- They’re expecting 100 pitches out of Phil Hughes tomorrow.
- Another setback for Eric Chavez, who felt something in his abdominal and has been sent back to New York for tests. Meanwhile, Rafael Soriano is set to throw a bullpen in Tampa tomorrow. Best case for Soriano is the first game after the All-Star break, but a little cushion room is more likely.
Yanks have a rotation decision: Burnett No. 2 starter
A.J. Burnett will be the Yankees’ No. 2 starter and Phil Hughes is the No. 3 starter, Joe Girardi confirmed today.
- The Yankees have sent Andrew Brackman and Dellin Betances to Minor League camp. Brackman will start the year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre; Betances will begin at Double-A Trenton.
- Russell Martin was in New York’s original lineup today but Girardi decided to rest him after he took a beating catching Burnett’s four innings yesterday against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, starting Austin Romine instead. Martin is fine physically and will catch Sabathia tomorrow against the Phillies in Clearwater.
- Ivan Nova will pitch a simulated game tomorrow at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
- In case you’re looking ahead, Manny Banuelos will pitch on Monday against the Rays in Port Charlotte behind Bartolo Colon.
- As I sit here in the press box writing this blog post, Dante Girardi is taking batting practice off his dad. He belted one homer into the right-field party deck (OK, so he’s hitting with a metal bat from shallow right field. Still, that’s not bad for 8 years old!).
Bryan Hoch
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