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Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
Drop That Hammer Young Man!
WARNING THIS POST IS ABOUT BASEBALL
Pitcher Phil Hughes made his first start of the year for the New York Yankees last night against a formidable Toronto Blue Jays lineup. As you may or may not be aware, going into the 2007 season, Hughes was one of the top-rated prospects in all of baseball and the top-rated pitching prospect by many. Hughes enjoyed a solid rookie campaign last year, although it was unfortunately shortened by a hamstring injury; an injury which he suffered while in the midst of pitching a no-hitter against the Rangers*. The injury kept him out for over two months and, after he returned, it took another few weeks to get his velocity back to where it normally is (sitting around 94mph). Yankee fans and baseball geeks everywhere have set relatively lofty-expectations for the 21 year old who the Yankees absolutely refused to trade for some guy named Johan in the offseason.
So far, its easy to see why the Yankees kept their young phenom. Hughes went 6 innings last night, surrendering 2 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 4 along the way (including future first-ballot HOFer Frank Thomas**). It was his first start of the year, so no one should read too much into the fact that his fastball was topping out around 91, typically sitting around 89-90. He’ll be back up to 93-94, touching 95, soon enough. Not that it matters all that much when a pitcher has the control, and more importantly the command, that Hughes possesses.*** Hughes’ impeccable command was on display during his relief appearance in game 3 against the Indians during the ACLS last year, an appearance I recall watching in mouth-agape awe with friends up at Cape Cod. Even our resident Indians fan, Hodge, was commenting on how Posada set his mitt in a location and never had to move it to catch Hughes’ pitches. While his command last night wasn’t quite as jaw-dropping, it was certainly evident to anyone who cared to pay attention. This isn’t even getting into the fantastic late movement Hughes’ manages to get on his 4-seamer. He stayed away from the 2-seamer last night, likely because the velocity would have only been around 86 given the speed of his 4-seamer.
All this is without even mentioned Hughes’ devastating hammer of a curve ball. His curve, which comes in about 71-72mph, has shocking drop and a fair amount of tilt. Righty Frank Thomas flinched in terror as Hughes’ curve seemed destined to clock him in the head, before it swooped back into the strike zone for a called strike. The difference in velocity between his curve and fastball made his 90mph fastball seem all the faster. He only used his change-up twice last night, both times very effectively. It ran about 82 and snaked back inside to right handers just as it should. Hughes claims to still be working on the pitch and there’s currently no need to over-use it, as its clear he can get by on his fastball and curve for now. Eventually, as the league catches up to him, the change-up will become an important and necessary part of his repertoire. Oh yeah, it should be might effective as well.
Hughes pitched against Dustin McGowan, a very promising young pitcher who throws a forceful heater with good movement and a nasty change-up. At one point, McGowan flat out made reigning MVP/best right-handed hitter I’ve ever seen, A-Rod, look foolish with a dirty, tumbling change-up. But this post isn’t about McGowan, its about Phillip Hughes and the blindingly bright future that lies in wait for the young man.
While we only have about 6 readers, 4 of which are the writers of this blog, I implore any of you who enjoy baseball to pay attention to not only Hughes but any pitcher while he throws. It’s the best way to truly appreciate a baseball game and just how fucking hard it is to locate a pitch from 60’6’’ away and how amazingly hard it is to hit a 95mph ball that’s moving all around. I simply marvel when I watch guys hurl gas towards the catcher’s mitt, watching the ball drop or tilt or simply blow right past a future HOFer.
In summation – go yanks.
Resident Phil Hughes Fan-boy - Dr. Danger, Esq.
*I should mention that I'm like 93% responsible for this injury. I'm the most superstitious person I know, yet for some as of yet unknown reason, I decided to call a fellow Yankee fan to make sure he was witnessing the Wunderkind pitching so brilliantly. Not 3 minutes after I made the call did Hughes pull up lame after tossing a curveball. I apologize from the bottom of my heart.
**The called third strike against Thomas was probably a ball. Hughes threw the same pitch three times during the AB to the same location. The first time it was a strike, the second time it was a ball, Umpire Bill Miller decided the third time would be another strike. Thomas was not pleased, fairly so as Miller’s strike zone was eradicate all night. I, on the other hand, was thrilled.
***Control is a pitcher’s ability to throw strikes, as opposed to balls. Command is a pitcher’s ability to locate strikes to specific spots within the strike zone. See Greg Maddux.
Pitcher Phil Hughes made his first start of the year for the New York Yankees last night against a formidable Toronto Blue Jays lineup. As you may or may not be aware, going into the 2007 season, Hughes was one of the top-rated prospects in all of baseball and the top-rated pitching prospect by many. Hughes enjoyed a solid rookie campaign last year, although it was unfortunately shortened by a hamstring injury; an injury which he suffered while in the midst of pitching a no-hitter against the Rangers*. The injury kept him out for over two months and, after he returned, it took another few weeks to get his velocity back to where it normally is (sitting around 94mph). Yankee fans and baseball geeks everywhere have set relatively lofty-expectations for the 21 year old who the Yankees absolutely refused to trade for some guy named Johan in the offseason.
So far, its easy to see why the Yankees kept their young phenom. Hughes went 6 innings last night, surrendering 2 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 4 along the way (including future first-ballot HOFer Frank Thomas**). It was his first start of the year, so no one should read too much into the fact that his fastball was topping out around 91, typically sitting around 89-90. He’ll be back up to 93-94, touching 95, soon enough. Not that it matters all that much when a pitcher has the control, and more importantly the command, that Hughes possesses.*** Hughes’ impeccable command was on display during his relief appearance in game 3 against the Indians during the ACLS last year, an appearance I recall watching in mouth-agape awe with friends up at Cape Cod. Even our resident Indians fan, Hodge, was commenting on how Posada set his mitt in a location and never had to move it to catch Hughes’ pitches. While his command last night wasn’t quite as jaw-dropping, it was certainly evident to anyone who cared to pay attention. This isn’t even getting into the fantastic late movement Hughes’ manages to get on his 4-seamer. He stayed away from the 2-seamer last night, likely because the velocity would have only been around 86 given the speed of his 4-seamer.
All this is without even mentioned Hughes’ devastating hammer of a curve ball. His curve, which comes in about 71-72mph, has shocking drop and a fair amount of tilt. Righty Frank Thomas flinched in terror as Hughes’ curve seemed destined to clock him in the head, before it swooped back into the strike zone for a called strike. The difference in velocity between his curve and fastball made his 90mph fastball seem all the faster. He only used his change-up twice last night, both times very effectively. It ran about 82 and snaked back inside to right handers just as it should. Hughes claims to still be working on the pitch and there’s currently no need to over-use it, as its clear he can get by on his fastball and curve for now. Eventually, as the league catches up to him, the change-up will become an important and necessary part of his repertoire. Oh yeah, it should be might effective as well.
Hughes pitched against Dustin McGowan, a very promising young pitcher who throws a forceful heater with good movement and a nasty change-up. At one point, McGowan flat out made reigning MVP/best right-handed hitter I’ve ever seen, A-Rod, look foolish with a dirty, tumbling change-up. But this post isn’t about McGowan, its about Phillip Hughes and the blindingly bright future that lies in wait for the young man.
While we only have about 6 readers, 4 of which are the writers of this blog, I implore any of you who enjoy baseball to pay attention to not only Hughes but any pitcher while he throws. It’s the best way to truly appreciate a baseball game and just how fucking hard it is to locate a pitch from 60’6’’ away and how amazingly hard it is to hit a 95mph ball that’s moving all around. I simply marvel when I watch guys hurl gas towards the catcher’s mitt, watching the ball drop or tilt or simply blow right past a future HOFer.
In summation – go yanks.
Resident Phil Hughes Fan-boy - Dr. Danger, Esq.
*I should mention that I'm like 93% responsible for this injury. I'm the most superstitious person I know, yet for some as of yet unknown reason, I decided to call a fellow Yankee fan to make sure he was witnessing the Wunderkind pitching so brilliantly. Not 3 minutes after I made the call did Hughes pull up lame after tossing a curveball. I apologize from the bottom of my heart.
**The called third strike against Thomas was probably a ball. Hughes threw the same pitch three times during the AB to the same location. The first time it was a strike, the second time it was a ball, Umpire Bill Miller decided the third time would be another strike. Thomas was not pleased, fairly so as Miller’s strike zone was eradicate all night. I, on the other hand, was thrilled.
***Control is a pitcher’s ability to throw strikes, as opposed to balls. Command is a pitcher’s ability to locate strikes to specific spots within the strike zone. See Greg Maddux.
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