Hughes to DL

[DoubleX]

Apparently, Hughes has now landed on the DL with an oblique strain. That might explain why his velocity has been down. Would be a huge disappointment if Rasner doesn't get the call, though I wouldn't be surprised if it's Igawa given the investment and that it wouldn't take a 40 man roster move (though that problem could be easily remedied by putting Bruney on the 60 day DL).

[monkey333]

This is for the best really. It'll give him some time to chill out and work on some things without being demoted.

[Old Sweater]

Makes you wonder if Hughes is injured or the Yankees are using the DL as a sly move.

[Evangelion]

Makes you wonder if Hughes is injured or the Yankees are using the DL as a sly move.

You always wonder when a player who doesn't appear hurt and struggling end up on the DL.

Still, I believe this is a legit injury. Hughes' velocity has been down as DoubleX mention. It could be a reason why he's been so bad, which would be good news in certain way. Hughes can take a breather and the team can bring up Igawa or Rasner for a couple of starts. At the very least, their chance of being in the game is higher with these two than Hughes at the moment. We'll see who gets called up and how well they perform.

[DoubleX]

I wondered to about the extent of the injury and whether this was just an excuse to get him out of there. I think there probably is something bothering him, but it's probably something he could fight through and the team is using it as an excuse to get him some time off given his struggles. Given his age, his struggles, and innings cap, makes sense to spin a slight injury into some time off. He'll probably be weened back on AAA starts as well, allowing him to boost his confidence, and it won't look like a demotion as it will be spun as a rehab stint.

In the meantime, here's hoping the team does the right thing and gives Rasner the ball next time out and not Igawa.

[Tinyballer]

This is the right move no matter how you look at it injured or not. His velocity down maybe bad mechanics or it may be an injury, who knows. All I know is you guys better not be insulting Wang come October if he struggles because his wins now are probably the reason we get there.

[dougj1]

You all seem to have short memories. Hughes has been injured EVERY YEAR he has been a professional player...In adition to all his other problems, he is and has been a brittle player.

[DoubleX]

Turns out Hughes actually has a stress fracture in his rib. So I guess he's really injured and it's not just the team trying to get him out of there without a clear demotion. In a way, this is actually reassuring news, in that it gives hope that there was a reason Hughes was struggling and his velocity was down.

[monkey333]

You all seem to have short memories. Hughes has been injured EVERY YEAR he has been a professional player...In adition to all his other problems, he is and has been a brittle player.

Umm, 2006?

[Tinyballer]

I am so relieved to hear that it is an actual injury. Having a cracked rib could definitely result in struggles as he would not finish his pitches, causing location and velocity problems.

[dougj1]

Monkey- You are corect. Hughes has ONLY been injured in 2004 season, the 2005 season, the 2007 season and the 2008 season. It's only 4 of 5 years. Does that make you feel differently about this guy who is as brittle as a potato chip?....Cashman must be jumping for joy with all the injuries and sub par performances of the non injured players....He will roll those sad eyed lost puppy eyes and no doubt get another 3 year extension at years end.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

You all seem to have short memories. Hughes has been injured EVERY YEAR he has been a professional player...In adition to all his other problems, he is and has been a brittle player.

So? Otherwise we would have a veteran player that would be injured. I prefer a younger one, eventhough a bit often on the DL.

[Imgran]

See this is what I hate about the Yankees. You always have your disasters early, so that you can recover from them. When the Red Sox fall apart it's always in August or September.

[Pinstripes]

Hughes' injuries have been somewhat flukey. Yes, he seems to have had quite a few injuries early in his career but they're not elbow, shoulder, or arm injuries. Those are the injuries you really worry about with a pitcher.

First he pulls his hammy trying to throw a curve (let's face it, that's just weird and flukey), then he rolls his ankle fielding a bunt or some garbage while he's rehabbing. Now he fractures a rib.

Those are fairly flukey things, and none of them are arm related. He's only 21. Once he gains more experience, begins to become more and more comfortable with his delivery and builds better muscle memory, I expect he'll be fine. These things happen.

Let's not forget that Josh Beckett didn't pitch a 200 inning season or start 30 games in a season until 2006 at the age of 26. Hughes is 21 with several years to go before you really expect him to establish his full potential.

Beckett's 2005 injuries (age 25):
Oct 4, 2005: Missed the last 17 games of the regular season.
Oct 2, 2005: Missed 8 games to the end of the regular season (shoulder injury).
Sep 28, 2005: Shoulder injury, day-to-day.
Sep 15, 2005: Achilles tendon, day-to-day.
Jul 30, 2005: Missed 14 games (lower back strain).
Jul 23, 2005: Missed 13 games (oblique injury).
Jul 15, 2005: Lower back strain, 15-day DL.
Jul 8, 2005: Oblique injury, 15-day DL.
Jul 5, 2005: Oblique injury, day-to-day.
Jun 30, 2005: Missed 13 games (blister).
Jun 17, 2005: Blister, 15-day DL (retroactive to Jun 15).
Jun 15, 2005: Blister, day-to-day.

So were those flukey or was he injury prone? Shoulder, achilles tendon, back strain, oblique injury, blisters. All in 2005.

[Pinstripes]

Does that make you feel differently about this guy who is as brittle as a potato chip?

Brittle as a potato chip? What does that even mean? Again, the guy is 21. He's had his share of injuries, but none of them are arm related (thankfully). None of his injuries have lead to any arm problems, and let's hope they don't.

Some people are so impatient. The guy is 21. Read my post above about Beckett's 2005 issues, at the age of 25. Beckett has had a career full of injury problems. He was considered fragile and injury prone.

We know what he did last season.

Sometimes injuries are just unlucky, sometimes they are a sign of a bigger issue.

Hughes' biggest problems have been, in my personal opinion only, not anything to get worked up about. He doesn't have any one thing that's been "nagging" at him during his whole (extremely short) career. If it was a repeated injury that kept happening (like a hamstring, shoulder, etc) then I'd be worried. These are all mostly unrelated injuries he's going through, and hopefully once his body finishes developing (again - 21 years old - men are still developing at that age physically), he'll be fine.