Results tagged ‘ Phil Hughes ’
Yankees pitchers and catchers, reporting for duty
Reporting day for pitchers and catchers is one of those things we all like to circle on the calendar when there’s two feet of snow on the ground and you think the winter is never going to end, but the dirty little secret of it all is that it’s actually pretty anti-climactic once it arrives.
For a date that is so synonymous with baseball — who amongst us hasn’t said something like, “Only 44 days until pitchers and catchers!” — there’s actually very little baseball going on. But you know that the end of winter is just hours away, and we can get back to doing what we’re supposed to.
For the Yankees, the technical definition of the P&C report date is that the players simply need to be within the city limits of Tampa and announce their arrival to the team, so they don’t necessarily even need to come to the stadium. A 30-second cell phone conversation of, “Hey, I’m here, see you tomorrow,” is just fine.
That said, a few guys wandered over to drop bags and check out their locker assignments before departing for one of their remaining days of freedom.
CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain all threw bullpen sessions at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Javier Vazquez said he was excited to be back, and Jorge Posada checked out some fresh shin guards that are destined to be destroyed by blocking drills and bouncing sliders all too soon.
Posada knows better than most that the demand of a World Series repeat will be an uphill charge.
“It’s probably the toughest thing to try to do it again,” Posada said. “Everybody plays you a little different when we come to town. You have to be ready, because they’re trying to get you. You’re the world champions and they’re trying to play a little better. It’s very challenging.”
The offseason was definitely quicker than it usually is, thanks to that little November Fall Classic, and in a strange way it almost felt like we’d never left this little perch overlooking the Dale Mabry Highway.
For the first time, Joe Girardi put on equipment that was marked with No. 28, as sure a sign as any that the new season is upon us.
“That’s basically just a message that we are not complacent,” Girardi said during a 30-plus minute chat with reporters. “We do want to move forward and try to win No. 28 for this organization and the great city of New York. We have a wonderful group here and wonderful fans, and it’s a reminder every day of why we’re out there.”
Hughes: Ready for the rotation
Phil Hughes checked in with The Associated Press down in the shadows of George M. Steinbrenner Field today, saying that he’s ready to battle Joba Chamberlain and others to be the Yankees’ fifth starter come Opening Day.
“I know I’m coming into the spring fighting for a job,” Hughes told the AP after a pre-spring training workout on Thursday. “I’m out of the
reliever mindset for right now. Anytime nothing is going to be handed
to you, you strive to be a little bit better.”
Hughes started throwing in mid-December and has thrown fastballs off a mound a couple of times this month. He said that last year’s success in a bullpen assignment helped his confidence.
“I definitely feel at a point where I’ve never been, having the
experience of consistently getting big league guys out,” Hughes said.
“It helps, and obviously winning the World Series also helps.”
Hughes guesses that his innings count could be between 175 and 180 if he makes the rotation.
- We launched a story on MLB.com looking ahead to the fifth starter battle today with a little more detail, and I jumped on with Noah Coslov and Pete McCarthy to talk about the negotiations – or lack thereof – with Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera right now.
- The AP also notes that Jesus Montero is working out at first base. It seems like a good idea for him to get acclimated there if possible, but with Mark Teixeira and Nick Johnson there for 2010 (plus Nick Swisher in an emergency), don’t look for that to be his calling card to the Bronx. Either way, Montero’s big bat will be what punches his ticket to the big leagues, maybe as soon as this year.
- How many miles do you figure the World Series trophy has traveled this winter? Here’s a couple of more appearances on the agenda to pass on from the Yankees… the trophy will be on display at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow (Friday, 2/12) at the Connecticut Sports Foundation Dinner at Mohegan Sun.
On Saturday (2/13), it will be on display and available for the public to take pictures with just outside of the Box Office in The Shops at Mohegan Sun from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. General public looking for additional information should call 1.888.226.7711.
Jays asking for Yankees’ best
The Blue Jays’ asking price for Roy Halladay is too rich for the
Yankees to stomach at this moment, and as was widely believed, Toronto
is asking for the cream of New York’s young talent.
ESPN.com
reported confirmation on Friday that the Blue Jays’ request of the
Yankees for Halladay is that New York should structure a deal around
either Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes, plus catcher Jesus Montero and
others.
MLB.com has reported that the Blue Jays are enamored
especially by Montero, a power-hitting prospect whose bat is close to
Major League ready at this time. There is some question if Montero will
physically be able to catch at the big league level, and could become a
first baseman somewhere down the line.
Yankees general
manager Brian Cashman said that he is aware of the request for talent
on the pitching front and called it “pricey.” Cashman is still smarting
somewhat from dealing three young players for Curtis Granderson, but
said he would be willing to dip into the farm again if needed.
“I’m
hesitant to move certain young players because of what they can do for
us in the future,” Cashman said. “At the same time, for the right
player, I’ll move anybody.”
Rumor Mill: A Jeter deal for Damon?
Scott Boras made the rounds in Chicago yesterday, giving the writers something to chew on with Johnny Damon. Whether you read it frokm Joel Sherman in the New York Post, Mark Feinsand in the Daily News or David Waldstein in the New York Times, here’s the bottom line — Boras is drawing comparisons between his client, Damon, and what the Yankees have done and will do with Derek Jeter.
Boras’ argument, according to Sherman, is that Damon and Jeter worked so well atop the lineup in 2009, they should be viewed as a tandem. He also notes that that Damon has historic durability and that past three seasons equate well for both Damon and Jeter, and so they should be paid similarly. And Boras, of course, does not want Damon to take a pay cut from his $13 million annual salary (no one pays Boras’ commission to take a pay cut).
Here’s the problem, as I see it. The Yankees are going to overpay Derek Jeter. There’s no question about it, they’re going to give him one of those sweetheart deals where they pay him a lot for the future as a thank you for being the captain and leader of past teams, because they don’t want to see him getting his 3,000th hit in another uniform.
That’s fine, we all accept it, and if there’s one guy you’re going to do that to, it’s Jeter. OK, maybe they did it a little to not see Mariano Rivera — and especially Jorge Posada — in other uniforms too.
Point is, Damon doesn’t have that same cache with the Yankees. He was a very good player, a very productive player, over those four years. But he’s no franchise talent. A one or two-year deal is probably all that the Yankees are going to bring to the table with Damon. If Boras is intent on getting more, Damon is likely to be playing elsewhere in 2010 and beyond.
– Sherman also notes the Yankees intend to either pick up Sergio Mitre’s $1.25 million option by next week’s deadline or offer him arbitration, keeping him around as rotation depth. As expected, the Yankees also plan on non-tendering Chien-Ming Wang and then considering offering him a smaller money deal to return.
– Cashman on Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, via Feinsand: “I look at them as starters that can relieve. We haven’t had our meetings, but I would anticipate going to spring training with as much starting depth as possible.”
Cashman also told reporters that he’s not actively shopping Ian Kennedy, but teams have called with interest.
Hughes fighting playoff struggles
Remember when Phil Hughes was the lockdown bridge to Mariano Rivera? Lately … not so much.
Last night’s two walk appearance in the eighth inning marked a continuation of postseason struggles for Hughes. After recording a 3.04 ERA during the regular season, he has a 9.64 playoff ERA and has retired just 14 of the 27 batters he’s faced in the postseason.
“It’s on me. I didn’t execute my pitches,” Hughes said. “Walks are killers and we really can’t afford to have those, especially when we’re trying to keep the game at 2-0 like it was. We’ve done a great job of coming back here and to let those four runs come across hurt us.”
Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland said that some of Hughes’ earlier troubles had been related to a mechanical flaw, rushing his delivery and costing crispness. Not so on Wednesday, as both Eiland and Hughes thought that he was trying to be too fine with the Philadelphia hitters.
“Sometimes I try to go with scouting reports instead of just being aggressive like I have been all year,” Hughes said. “The biggest thing for me is to attack the zone and not really worry about the hitters’ weaknesses, but my strengths. That’s just something I need to get back to, and I have no doubt I’ll be able to do that going forward.”
Phil ‘em up
Phil Hughes continues to knock them down in his newfound relief role, pitching another scoreless eighth inning in the Yankees’ 2-1 victory over the Tigers on Sunday.
Before the game, Hughes received some encouraging words of support from no lesser authority than Goose Gossage, who gave Hughes a figurative slap on the back in telling him, “Good job and keep doing what you’re doing.”
Hughes has now compiled a 0.84 ERA in 15 relief appearances, allowing 11 hits and two earned runs in 21 1/3 innings, walking five and striking out 27. He has not allowed a run in his last 13 outings since June 14 and has a 19-inning scoreless stretch — the longest since Mariano Rivera strung together 23 scoreless innings in 2005, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Melancon called up
Mark Melancon has been summoned to join the Yankees bullpen for tonight’s game against the Angels, according to the Scranton Times-Tribune.
After yesterday’s game, Joe Girardi told reporters that adding an arm to the bullpen would be “something we’re going to have to talk about,” after five relievers backed up an ineffective Alfredo Aceves and helped the Bombers post an 8-6 victory over the Twins, completing a three-game sweep at the Metrodome and running New York’s road winning streak to eight games.
A roster move will be announced before tonight’s game. Dave Robertson walked in two runs yesterday and did, in his words, “a terrible job,” so he could be the leading candidate to be sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Jonathan Albaladejo picked up the win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, Phil Coke recorded two outs and Phil Hughes added four more to get the ball to Mariano Rivera.
The right-handed Melancon, 24, was 4-0 with three saves and a 2.50 ERA in 25 appearances at Triple-A. In 39 2/3 innings, Melancon allowed 25 hits and 14 runs (11 earned), walking nine and striking out 42 while holding opponents to a .175 batting average.
He made four appearances with the Yankees from in late April and early May, allowing two runs in 3 1/3 innings (5.40 ERA).
Sherman: Yanks won’t trade for Halladay
This is a couple of days old, but doing some housekeeping here — Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported via his Twitter that the Yankees will not pursue ace Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays, saying that officials told him there is “zero chance” while citing the main reasons their chase of Johan Santana never reached fruition.
You’ll remember then that the price in terms of prospects and a contract extension were considered much too high. Phil Hughes would be one constant in both the potential Santana and Halladay swaps, and at other points Ian Kennedy (out after having an aneurysm in his pitching arm) and Melky Cabrera were involved in the Twins talks.
In the Post this morning, George King writes his Yankees-Twins gamer around Halladay, noting that he was asked by a player: “Are we in the Halladay thing? What will it take?”
King’s response: “The answer to the first question is always, ‘Yes.’ The answer to the second one is ‘a lot.’”
Hat tip to MLBTradeRumors.com.
Hughes makes a triumphant return
Phil Hughes was dealing against the Tigers at Comerica Park, showcasing his best stuff in limiting them to two hits over six innings. He would have stayed in the game longer if not for that pesky little 10-run seventh inning, which rendered the rest of the night a laugher.
It was the shot in the arm the Yankees needed to snap their four-game slide and, now, it begs the question – can he stay the entire season? Obviously he will make his next turn on Sunday vs. the Angels and, with Chien-Ming Wang banished to Billy Connors’ care in Tampa, there’s no timetable when the Yankees would even have to consider a move.
But at some point, the Yankees could have six starters to fit into five slots. Hughes loves the adventures of Michael Scott, Dwight Schrute and the gang as much as anyone in the Yankees organization (go ahead, try to quiz him on Office trivia), but he also wouldn’t mind saying goodbye to Scranton for the rest of the 2009 season.
“If I pitch as well as I can, I think I have a good shot,” Hughes said. “Obviously, Wang has been a big part of this rotation for the last few years. When he gets straightened out, he’s going to be back to where he was. I guess it’s a good problem, to have six guys that are throwing the ball well. We’ll see what happens.”
Quotes from Fort Myers
PHIL HUGHES—
“I felt good about my fastball command today, and I felt good about my changeup. My curve wasn’t great, but was usable. I did throw some good cutters.”
“Overall, I feel good. I feel strong. I’m ready to go.”
ROBINSON CANO—
Played five innings in the field and went 1-for-3.
“I felt good. There was no pain. Everything was perfect.”
Bryan Hoch
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