About Hughes

[dougj1]

The fact that he hasn't won a game is not necessarily a great worry. What is a major problem is the fact that he hasn't improved in his last 4 starts or so. He cannot pitch more than a few innings each start and his control is poor...This guy may turn out to be a great pitcher or the worst decision ever made By Cashman, who has made some terrible player selections in the past.

[Yankeefan90]

I think Hughes will be a great pitcher, just not like this. He needs to be sent down to regain his command, his velocity and his lightening. He's shown good signs this year but the bad has overshadowed the good. I think sending him down will give him some confidence again to get guys out. I hear he is pretty mature so him being sent down should make him more competitive to get back up to the majors and do well again. I don't think sending him down until he regains his stuff would be a bad thing. I say send up Rasner an see what he has until Hughes gets back to pitching effective.

The only problem is Kennedy still. Kennedy though I think is close to pitching effective again. We'll see, maybe the warmer weather since they're California boys will do them some good and loosen them up a bit.

[Mattingly]

We could likely call up Rasner and Igawa to take their places. I figure that if we can at least win 1/2 of their games, we have much more going for us, since if they at least eat 6-7 innings apiece, our bullpen won't suffer, and we won't lose any place in the standings if Hughes and Kennedy struggling in the farm.

Looking back, I'm convinced that both should've started the season in the farm, though who would've thought of this earlier on?

[Pinstripes]

I think both Kennedy and Hughes are just spinning their wheels right now, hoping to get some traction.

If it's not one thing it's another with these two... First there was Kennedy's "delayed" start in KC with the rain. Then Hughes pitched two solid innings against the White Sox and bam, an hour plus rain delay and he can't go back out. Top it off with a rigorous road trip the likes of which neither player has ever seen, trying to adjust to the idea that they are now relied upon as opposed to just going out there and showing what they're capable of.

The cold and rain is seemingly unending for this team. I'd wait until we start playing in warmer weather, with a more consistant schedule, and a few more off days here and there to rest them some more until we start to panic and wish they hadn't started the season with them.

I say it's better to give them a taste of what it's like to struggle now rather than after some big league success. When they finally dig themselves out, they'll be so much stronger for the experience. Being a big leaguer (and especially a Yankee) is learning to deal with adversity. Yes, they may be a bit young, but they'll learn and adjust.

It's unfortunate that it has to hurt the team a bit in the process, but fortunately it hasn't hurt so much that we're in trouble.

The true test will be when they're in "midseason form." If they're still struggling to pitch (either here or at AAA if either gets sent down) during July/August, then we've got some issues.

I don't think Hughes is suffering a lack of confidence so much as it is he just can't locate. He'll throw some great pitches one at bat, then barely be able to throw a strike the next. And it doesn't look like it's fear of them hitting the ball, it's almost like he just physically can't throw the ball where he wants. When we saw him at his best (a few great starts last season both before and after the injury), he was commanding his pitches with ease, hitting spots inside and outside, etc. Right now, his location is downright dreadful at times. I think there might be some mental issues underlying the problem (trying to be too fine with your control will make you miss even worse sometimes), but there might also be some mechanical/delivery/timing issues that are causing his location woes.

He'll get it straightened out eventually, lets just hope it's sooner rather than later. We all know he's going to at least be a GOOD major league pitcher, if not a great one, as long as he's healthy. The talent is there, he just needs to put it together.

If both Kennedy and Hughes were hitting their spots, throwing the ball as best they were capable of and STILL getting hit, then I'd be seriously scared. But they're not. Their command is clearly not where we've seen it before (including at the major league level), so I think it's too early to panic about them.

[TonyStarks]

Note....

While Hughes hasn't exactly pitched as we all know he can. We should note that not once this season has Hughes been able to build a repoire with his catcher...since Molina, Posada, Steward, Moeller have all caught Hughes.

Hughes has never had the same catcher on back to back starts. That could also be a reason for the problems.

[Yankeefan90]

Read in the paper today Hughes can't see very well at night. He's been getting night blurryness. This could be the problem with his command because he might be missing the call for a pitch and he might be throwing the wrong pitch crossing up the catcher. We'll see, I think the Yankees want to pitch him 1 more time, because he did pitch well in his first start of the season.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

Read in the paper today Hughes can't see very well at night. He's been getting night blurryness. This could be the problem with his command because he might be missing the call for a pitch and he might be throwing the wrong pitch crossing up the catcher. We'll see, I think the Yankees want to pitch him 1 more time, because he did pitch well in his first start of the season.

I believe you, but that is not something that comes all of a sudden. Then he must have been bothered by that last year as well. And last year, he pitched some solid games.

[Pinstripes]

I believe you, but that is not something that comes all of a sudden. Then he must have been bothered by that last year as well. And last year, he pitched some solid games.

Obviously the more important issue with Hughes is the cracked rib, now that we know, but the eyesight thing really shouldn't come into play that much unless it's really bad. The worst part of it is not being able to see the catcher's signs, which ended up costing him as he crossed up the catcher at least 2 or 3 times in critical moments in his last start. Even if it's blurry, you should still be able to see the catcher's target, which is the most important thing.

When he comes back, having the glasses should certainly help, even if it's just to prevent cross-ups like the ones we saw.

[stejay]

I am not worrying, yet. He has to improve quick. I have very high hopes for Hughes, and only hope he repays those hopes with solid performances.

[Chasing74]

I still don't know what to think about Hughes. Not sure if the whole vision and ribs issue are a reason as to why he has struggled or if he is simply over-rated at this point.

I've made it known from the start that I wanted to get the best pitcher in the game and still can't believe the Yankees didn't pull the trigger. It is what it is, and now we have no choice but to deal with these 'growing pains'. :noidea