****Official 2010 New York Yankees Thread***

Poor hughes, he really pitched well today. I hate it when this team that is soo talented offensively goes into a funk! I did not love the granderson trade and i really dont like him. He doesnt fit well on this team, i hope they trade him in the offseason. He had one good year, he is not a professional hitter and honestly Brett Gardner plays a better center field. Hopefully the offseason brings carl crawford and that would move gardy back to center.

 

Giving up on Granderson now would be to the Yankees detriment, unless a trade brings back another arm. As bad as Granderson has been this year, his OPS is .724 to Gardners .759. Not a very big difference, and Granderson has the potential to have a much better year due to his power, where as, Gardner is a finished product and isn't likely to improve much more.

Grandersons '06 through '08 are all much better than anything Gardner has done, and his '09 is about on par with Gardner '10. Personally, I feel the Yankees should go into 2011 with the same starting outfield and try to find a solid RHB in CF to spell Curtis against LHP. The difference between Crawford and Granderson isn't big enough to shell out an extra $10-$12 million. That's money that could go toward a few bullpen arms or full-time DH.

 

yeah without their hottest hitters......crap!!!!

Mark Teixeira did not accompany the Yankees to Texas on Monday because his pregnant wife is due to give birth Tuesday.

The Yanks can't be sure yet how long Teixeira will be out, but it's possible that he could miss this upcoming Tuesday and Wednesday two-game series against the Rangers. The first baseman has five home runs and 11 RBI over 34 at-bats in the month of August and will try to pick up where he left off once his child is delivered and healthy. Lance Berkman will probably fill in at first.

 

Haha!!!!!

 

Marcus Thames is raking when he gets the opportunities...play him more...DH him over Posada who is awful this year...

 

I wanna see Monterio when the rosters get expanded....it is time to start to thinking about post-Posada after next year....Would love to see him get his feet wet this year....

the kid is batting .287 14HRs, and 53 RBI's in 103 games in AAA as a 20 year old....that is pretty awesome...

 

Montero is a very very good hitter but there's little to no chance that he ever stays at the catching position. He's most likely a full time DH or a very poor corner OFer.

 

yeah thats what they are saying...Sanchez and Romine are much better defensively.....but Monterio is the most ready, and Posada has to be gone after next year....

 

and in other news, the Yankees have no clutch hitting and drop a game to the lowly Royals....when the Sox, and Rays both lose...

kudos to Mosley, he is keeping the team in these games at least..

 

A-Rod it would be nice if the power started to come along like last night....

 

I was at the game tonight, Vazquez does not look good at all. He topped out at 89 mph. I'd actually be pretty worried if I were a Yankee fan right now because this rotation outside of Sabathia is a big ? mark right now. They need Pettitte back in the worst way.

 

Hughes isnt really a question mark....he has been pretty consistant all year....the only question mark is his age....but I agree overall the pitching staff certainly needs Andy....

I am more worried about their hitting, and the fact that they cant hit when they need too....something that will bounce them from the playoffs this year...

 

I worry about Hughes because the fact that he hasn't been good in the past 2 months and that his total innings is starting to pile up. The most he's ever thrown in a single season is 146 which was back in 2006. He's at 134 right now and his past 3 seasons his innings have been 111, 80, 105 (granted he was mostly a RP in 2009). You could see him hit another wall soon, plus he has an injury past of little nagging injuries. It will be interesting to see how he can handle that increase of work load, especially if the Yankees need him to start in October.

I know they haven't really hit well as a team all year but they're getting career years out of Swisher, Cano and Gardner and they still have Jeter, Teixeira and Arod, even though they haven't had very good years. They're still a top offensive team and all you need to do is get hot for 3 weeks in October.

I'd be more worried about pitching, pitching always wins, especially in October. The hits will come.

 

I agree finyank. Hughes is fine. We should get Petitte back soon. A starting rotation of Sabbathia, Petitte and Hughes is more than adequate for the playoffs. Throw in Vazquez or Burnett for the 4th spot and our starting pitching is fine. The problem we're going to have is our bats which just arent coming around. Cano, Texiara, Swisher, Gardner are fine but Jeter, Arod, Posada and Granderson need to step up. We 'll see. I'm never worried. Unlike other teams that have a one year window, ours is a century window. If we dont win it this year, we'll have 99 more chances in the next hundred years

 

These are his stats over the last 2 months, to say he hasnt been good is false...he hasnt been AS good since the start of the season granted, but he hasnt been bad either....July 9th, 25, and 30th were all good, I consider pitching 6 innings and giving up 3 runs pretty good...then in August 4, 9, and 14th have all been pretty good as well...many managers would sign up for that anyday of the week...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/gamelog?playerId=28638

If you are right that the hits will come and it is the pitching that is to be worried about, than I am not worried one bit...fact is in the playoff it is all pitching, however you need timely clutch hitting. All of playoff pitching is good for the most part, certainly in the ALCS, and WS anyway.....The Yankees cannot hit good pitching this year, they simply are not clutch hitters, last year they did, mainly because of Damon, and Matsui...this year there is too many swing and miss hitters.....

I'm sorry you cant be 14-5 with a sub 4 in the AL East and not be considered good; even if you tank in the second half, or arent good, how do u still maintain a 14-5 sub 4 era?? ehh it doesnt even matter, they are pulling him anways after 165 innings, just in time for Andy to come back and throwing him in the pen...this convo is moot...hahaha

 

Win/loss record is completely irrevelant as is you cherry picking certain starts. I'm looking more at his underlying numbers like his walk, hit and home run rate going up and his K rating dropping. I'm just looking at the numbers quickly without any real research but it does look like he was pitching over his head the first two months and the league finally catching up to him in the past two and a half (although I'm sure he's been a little unlucky in those months as well). I'm not saying Hughes is bad because he's not, he's having a good year but he's not a lock to be the pitcher he was in April and May and his innings is something Yankee fans should be aware of moving forward. They're all legit concerns, I really don't think I'm being unfair here.

 

I dont I look at the bottom line, wins, loss, era....he is fine, he has a innings limits, and always has had one this year, when he reaches it, he will be pulled and sent to the pen, he isnt as sharp as he was in the beginning of the season, but he has played the whole year, without any breaks or DL stints, so it is understandable that he is getting a little tired, lucky that is what the inning count is for...

I cherry picked those games RF, only because you said that he hasnt be good in 2 months...those cherry picked games clearly indicate he has been consistant, , he hasnt tanked or done bad, and if you look he actually hasnt had one bad start in this month.....take your K's WHIP, BB, HR rates, I'll keep my innings and wins....

now if the Yankees can just get some hitting...funny how Jackson homered for Det, and Granderson for the Yanks last night..

 

You do realize that judging a pitcher based strictly on wins, losses and ERA is not the best measure of how well/poorly the pitcher is right? And that the underlying numbers/stats that you push aside tell more about the pitcher's performance than the ones you feel as most important. W/L are more important to the team.

When I said he hasn't been good in 2 months, I meant June and July since he only had 3 starts in August, so the sample size was smaller. Anyway I think you're a bit lost in this conversation since you're main focus is on W/L and ERA. Hughes pitches for the Yankees, the best team in baseball, he should have a lot of wins (hence why his ERA was over 5 in June but he still went 4-1). But the bottom line is that his K rate has been decreasing while his hits, walks and HR rates have been raising which is a more important tool to measure a pitchers ability since especially walks and HRs a pitcher can control, while W/L and ERA to a certain at extent he cannot. So by him putting more guys on base and the batters making more contact with his pitches it increases the risk of guys scoring and the team losing.

And another big point you're missing with Hughes reaching his innings limit is that he's probably been their 3rd best pitcher this year after Sabathia and Pettitte. If the Yankees stick him in the pen it weakens their team, especially in the playoffs because they have to rely on Burnett and/or Vazquez.

And Hughes has had breaks, he's been skipped over a few times this year and he started the year late as well since the Yankees didn't need a 5th starter until the 2nd week in April.

 

Yes of course I realize that, however I also realize that such stats are misleading as well, okay so he doesnt have as many stikeouts big deal, he is still winning some games without that, so what does that mean, outs are coming more efficiently out than stikeout, maybe 2-3 pitch groundouts...

August has seen 3 starts however he is over halfway through with the month that usually sees 5 starts a month and he is pitching well (tomorrow is he next), and they all have been good take the last start Aug 14th, he gave up 9 hits, and had 0 K's....bad from your POV, from mine yes that isnt great but he went 6IP, and only gave up 3 runs, I will take that anyday of the week while giving up 9 hits and 0 K's, if anything he battled through innings in that game and gained some confidence obviously....

another example, your over 5 ERA you stated for the month of June, lets take a deeper look....2 starts he bombed giving up 6 runs in 5.2 in one, and 5 in 5.2 in another....however he had 3 good ones giving up 3 runs in 2 games each going 7, and 6 innings, and the 3rd start he gave up 1 run in 7 innings....so again while he had a 5+ ERA, that because of the games he did poorly in, he did really poorly and it skewed his ERA for that month, it isnt indicitive of the whole month however...I will take 3 very good starts from him every month resulting in 3 wins...if it is CC, or Andy we are talking about I am more concerned but it is Hughes...

Listen RF, I get your philosophy, it is generally the correct philosophy, however baseball isnt as cut and dry as football, there are so many wildcards (ha!) in a game that can go wrong or right......one pitcher could come out and pitch a gem 8IP, 1R, 4H, 9K, 1BB and lose, then he could come out in 5 days, and pitch 5IP, 6R, 9H, 1K, 4BB and win.....baseball is an unpredictable animal like that...

Hughes being their 3rd best pitcher is a moot point RF, they are going to have to find it from somebody else, the plan all along was to stick Hughes to an innings limits and he would get sent to booster the pen for the playoff run after that.....that isnt news.....so Burnett is going to have to step up in the playoffs...cuz it sure as sheet isnt going to be Vaz....

Again I am not worried about the pitching, I worried about the hitting...

 

I liked this post so I'm going to take it one argument at a time, simply because I like debating with you.

You're right about August being half way over but even so 3 starts is a small sample. But you're right that Hughes has pitched well in August.

I don't like picking apart one game but I will so while on paper the August 14th start of 6 innings pitched only giving up 3 runs on 9 hits (don't forget that 1 walk) and 0 Ks looks ok on paper, the problem is is that it was not only against a weak hitting team in the Royals but he also put 10 guys on base in 6 innings, 1 run by home run. He was fortunate that only 3 guys scored but he was essentially putting just under 2 guys on base each inning. When you put that many guys on base, while not striking anyone out you need to rely on your defense around you. So while in this particular game he got by with only giving up 3 runs, he very easily could have given up 6 or more runs. Putting guys on base while not getting swings and misses is not a good thing.

If I saw that stat line in the box score I'd think that the pitcher was more lucky than game in that game, which is fine because the team won but I'd be a little concern about the pitcher, especially since he didn't pitch particularly well the start before against the Red Sox either.

Thanks you proved my point that wins, losses and ERA are misleading stats for pitchers with this paragraph. That's why I don't even bother to look at them.

I agree that's why I don't look at single games or small sample sizes. I try to gather over information.

 

But the point is RF, he didnt break, he bent...where does it say that in order to be doing good, you have to pitch to the standard everytime all year?? Getting into and out of trouble is very benefical to ones career too, and even getting your teets light up too is useful....I see what your saying, all I'm saying is ehh if it continues for his career than yeah, he isnt that good of a pitcher, but as of this year, Hughes regardless of what happens has been a very nice surprise, and has shown himself to be a good MLB pitcher with a very bright future...much like Buchloz....those 2 guys answered alot of questions this year....

You also probably have some biased against Hughes too because the Sox have light him up everytime except once in his career...much like us Yanks fans with Beckett, or Bard....

he did well last time out against the Sox no?? I forgot the stats but I remember him doing well agaisnt them once this year..

 

I'm not arguing that Hughes isn't a good pitcher, because he is and I actually like him, so there's no bias here. My whole original point was that I'd be worried about the Yankee rotation between right now and come playoff time. The discussion then led to Hughes in particular.

 

True my friend, okay lets talk about the rotation then....ALDS

CC, Andy, and Burnett?? I am not worried....can we agree??

Although I read somewhere that Andy is having another MRI done, because when he goes 100% he still feels it...I say shut him down!!

If Andy cant go in the ALDS, then its

CC, Burnett, and Vaz...at which point I am hiding hahahah

 

Honestly I'm not sure what the Yankees inning limits are with Hughes but I'd try to find a way (whether it's skipping a start of his every 2 weeks until the end of the season or something) to get him a start in the ALCS and take it from there. ALDS, assuming Pettitte is healthy I wouldn't have a problem going Sabathia, Pettitte, Burnett. For the ALCS and WS I'd try to make Hughes my 4th starter, then pitch him out of the pen when he's able to go. But I wouldn't pitch Vazquez at all unless it was on the road against a weaker hitter NL team.

 

165 innings.....I agree I would play him in the ALCS.....

 

i agree

 

Kerry Woods just cam on in the 7th with a man on 1st and 2nd and had a real nice fastball working. Made one bad pitch when he threw a curveball that hung with two strikes and it was hit for a single but that simply loaded the bases. Then he bore down and struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning. Very nice performance

 

Woods has been a nice find for them....Berkman ugh!!!!

Prez I am going to watch Hughes hopefully pitch a good game today ...Leaving RI now, meet me down there say like 1030...we can grab some beers!!!

 

we should definitely do tht someday

 

good game....Hughes was great....they hit....too bad A-Rod didnt play in the one game I went to this year.....

 

you guys see where the Yankees are 12-0 without A-Rod this year?? Runs Scored are though the roof, and Cano is unconscience in the 4 hole.....crazy

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/5143/early-game-roundup

 

That's an interesting yet flukey stat although I'd guess any and every Yankee fan would rather have Arod in the line up instead of Ramiro Pena. If the Yankees win a few more in a row it will be funny to hear the fans on WFAN talk about how they don't need Arod anymore.

This does however bring up a bigger question, is Arod starting to break down? Posada clearly is (which is understandable) and maybe Jeter is as well. This Yankee team might get age pretty quickly and is definitely something the FO will have to seriously address this winter.

 

A-Rod and Jeet are slowing, but they still have some good years left....Posada is done, I mean he is an experienced bat to come off the bench alla Ruebin Sierra, but for him to play 140 he cant anymore...his defense sucks, and he throws like V-Mart...

in the offseason I would go after Lee, and Crawford, try to deal Granderson for a number 4 or bully help, and resign Wood....

and let the kids play........if they had just given Jackson a start here and there, they would have seen that he would have been fine in CF, and there was no need to get Granderson...I want Melky back too...love that guy

 

I'm pretty surprised at how poor Jeter has been this year. He just looks old and beaten down. He's lost all the range he gained back last year. I don't think he's done either at the plate and will just chalk this up to a bad year but he would concern me defensively. Posada will probably end up splitting time between catching and DHing, I bet he catches 85 games next year. I wonder if the Yankees will try to sign another catcher on a 1 year deal or something since Cervelli has been badly exposed now at the plate and wait until one of their catching prospects (not named Montero) is ready.

I was never a Melky fan, I thought he was overrated because he played for the Yankees and that ball park certainly helped him last year. He hasn't done much this year with the Braves either, plus who knows if Cano would put up these numbers with Melky there. The FO were not big fans of their friendship and that was one of the main reasons they dumped Melky. The Yankees soured on Jackson a lot since his power never developed and he has a lot of holes in his swing (and he likes to hack up at the plate). I don't think losing him was a big loss.

I do think the Yankees are going to end up with Lee and either Crawford or Werth on the team next year unfortunately.

 

yeah this is the part of the season where we usually pull away. I'll give credit to tampa and boston in that they are staying with us but once we get petitte back i gotta think that's going to close the door on their chances. I'm glad we brought up Nova. I think he throws 97mph. Vazquez was given a chance and just failed to produce. Put him in the pen and let him work on his game