Phil Hughes has never hung around a big league camp this long, but those who know his career path would recognize this as the point when the spring results always get a little wobbly.
"For the most part, I seem to get roughed up every Spring Training," said Hughes, who surrendered three home runs in his first two innings. "Even when I'd go down to the Minor League side, it seemed like I'd always get hit hard. I guess it's pretty normal.Hughes also said he was overthrowing a bit:
"I'd like it not to be that way, but it seems like it's just something that happens. It's not dumb luck or anything. It's because I'm leaving some balls over the plate."
"I got frustrated, and a couple of those balls left the yard," Hughes said. "I was trying to put a little extra on and got in more trouble."
If Hughes' history tells anything at all, it's that he's usually more ready when the bell rings and March becomes April.I wouldn't worry too much about Hughes' last couple rough outings. Spring Training stats usually don't mean anything, just look at these from last year:
"I feel like I'm close," Hughes said. "My velocity is right where I need it to be, and my breaking ball has been good. It's just cleaning up a couple of little things and making sure I really finish my fastball to get it where I want it. I felt pretty good out there."
Fausto Carmona: 4.80 ERA
Chris Young: 5.14 ERA
Cole Hamels: 5.17 ERA
John Lackey: 5.51 ERA
Dan Haren: 6.16 ERA
Matt Cain: 6.29 ERA
Scott Kazmir: 7.25 ERA
Justin Verlander: 8.31 ERA
Mark Buehrle: 9.00 ERA
Brad Penny: 10.64 ERA
Each of these players finished in the MLB top 20 for ERA in 2007, all finishing with ERAs less than 3.65.
And also take a look at these stats:
Kei Igawa: 2.65 ERA
Carl Pavano: 18.1 IP
See, Spring Training stats mean nothing.
3 Comments:
Hughes is not in a good spot. A lot is riding on these young arms and I can't say it enough, a slow start and we are in trouble. The AL is just too strong these days to be giving away games.
It could be a lot worse. Remember a little more than a year ago Carl Pavano (yes, Carl Pavano)was the Yankees Opening Day Starter.
Even if a lot is riding on guys like Phil Hughes, I feel more comfortable with them than I would starting a season with Chien-Ming Wang on the DL and Carl Pavano as the opening day starter.
anonymous,
With Joba in the pen, Kennedy and Hughes have a lot less riding on them. Mike Mussina, on the other hand, now has a lot more on his shoulders, which could be a bad thing.
A slow start would be a major problem, but I don't think the Yanks will get off to a slow start because of one pitcher's early struggles, unless that one pitcher is Mariano Rivera. This Yankee team should be good enough to survive a few bad outings from Phil Hughes.
Last year it took slumps from the entire left-handed side of the batting order + injuries to half the pitching staff to cause that slow start they had.
Plus, I think Phil Hughes will be fine, that's the point of this post - these spring training games don't mean anything.
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Mark,
It definitely could be worse, half the Yankees starting staff, along with several hitters already had hamstring issues at this point last year. I'm not going to start worrying till there is actually something to worry about.
People make too big a deal out of these spring training games.
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