Phil Hughes Archives - Jane Heller

It’s Official: The Party’s Over

September 25, 2013

As I wrote last night, I wish these last home games had been more fun, but tonight was another exercise in futility and marked the Yankees’ official elimination from the postseason. It also marked what was likely to be Hughes’ last start in pinstripes. I’m sure there will be others who are allowed (encouraged) to walk too.

Just a few words about Hughes. He was supposed to be our next great hope, our home grown phenom. It didn’t happen. I have no doubt he’ll flourish in an NL ballpark and I wish him well. He had his moments. The question is how can we get four Kershaws?

I wouldn’t want to be Cashman this off-season. What a challenge he’ll face on so many levels.

It's Official: The Party's Over

September 25, 2013

I wouldn’t want to be Cashman this off-season. What a challenge he’ll face on so many levels.

Not Dead Yet

September 18, 2013

The Yankees looked dead for most of tonight’s Game 2 against the Blue Jays, much the same way they looked dead the night before. But – lo and behold – the combo of Hughes and Huff (the “H” boys) held the Jays to only three runs, so the deficit wasn’t insurmountable….barely. The Yanks fought back with four runs of their own, and Mo, despite a shaky ninth that nearly ruined my dinner, got the save after Robertson was given a quick hook in the eighth.

All I want at this point is for them to put up a good fight, and they did.

What’s sad is that yet another team is about to host their farewell ceremony for Mo, with various reporters speculating about what Toronto will give him for a going away gift tomorrow. The whole thing is a little weird and as much as he seems to be enjoying it, it has to be exhausting. In any case, he’s saying goodbye and I’m trying not to notice.

The Grandy Man Can – And Did!

September 11, 2013

I’ve been thinking lately that Granderson hasn’t been the same since his last stint on the DL. He hasn’t hit for power with the consistency he used to – until tonight. He wasn’t the only one who homered, obviously (thank you, Cano, for that clutch bomb), but it was great to see him knock one out plus hit that triple in the Yankees’ latest comeback win over the Orioles.

These games have been intense! They’re on during dinner here in CA, and the food isn’t going down so easily when the score is tied and I’m in stress mode. I was so happy when we scored a few insurance runs, but I was a wreck when Mo came in. I hope the poor man’s arm doesn’t fall off from the recent workload.

So we move another notch closer to the elusive second Wild Card spot. Can the Yanks keep this up and win another one tomorrow night? Hughes is pitching. Not sure how I feel about that, but maybe he’ll use the opportunity to show me and others he can be trusted. I hope so.

Unless I missed something, we haven’t picked up a catcher and we need one – like right away. Romine’s not going to be able to play – a concussion is a concussion after all, “slight” or not – and Chris Stewart is already doing the heavy lifting. Why not pick up another waivers guy with major league experience?

I do feel sorry for and about Jeter. It must kill him not to be able to play, but I guess he just has to write off the season and get back out there next year. I don’t buy that he’s finished, too old, too injury-ridden. I think we’ll see him in February and he’ll give us more great memories.

Can't Anybody Get An Out?

September 6, 2013

Yes, tonight was deja vu all over again, as Yogi would say. And yes, the Red Sox are on fire right now. And yes, our bullpen was short, given that Mo and Robertson were unavailable and Kelley is hurt.

But………..

Mike Napoli has been hitting the hell out of Yankees pitchers since he was with the Angels and he’s still at it. There are certain players we simply shouldn’t pitch to because we literally can’t get them out. (Miguel Cabrera comes to mind. So does Manny Ramirez back in the day.) He wasn’t the only one who battered our pitchers but he does it consistently. When he came up with bases loaded and Boone Logan on the mound (after Hughes allowed the bases to be loaded – not entirely his fault since there were some tough plays behind him), who in the world didn’t see the grand slam coming? If Logan had walked him, it would have meant one more run, not four more.

But then there were so many of Joe’s moves I didn’t get tonight. Didn’t he pull Pettitte on Sunday against the Orioles and the same thing happened? Why not let Andy go batter to batter? His arm wasn’t about to fall off. Jeez.

I actually felt sorry for Joba tonight. He’s so gone, poor guy.

And the game started out so well with Soriano’s homer. Sigh.

Just another nightmare in an already nightmarish season.

Can’t Anybody Get An Out?

September 6, 2013

But………..

I actually felt sorry for Joba tonight. He’s so gone, poor guy.

And the game started out so well with Soriano’s homer. Sigh.

Just another nightmare in an already nightmarish season.

Nunie Gets The Gatorade Shower

September 3, 2013

There’s nothing like a comeback win. What a great game it turned out to be. I was all mopey before the Yankees scored their five big runs in the eighth. Chris Sale is a really good pitcher (Can we please get him, Cashman?), and things were looking bleak for the boys. I was taking a walk during the first couple of innings, listening on my iPhone, and a black cat ran across my path right before Jeter got hit on the ankle. I thought, Pleeeease no. So glad he was fine. At least he seemed fine.

When Cano knocked Sale out of the game, my mood brightened and I knew there was a chance for us. And then it was single, single single, single, single, single. (OK, I don’t know how many singles there were, but they were all huge.) I love homers – who doesn’t – but seeing the offense hit the ball up the middle and use the whole field was a lot of fun and something this team hasn’t always been able to do.

Yes, the White Sox are terrible defenders. I’ve never seen such sloppiness. But beating Sale and some hard throwers in their pen was an accomplishment. Every game is so crucial right now – every at bat, every chance in the field, every pitch. I think I was holding my breath for the past three hours. But I’m exhaling now. If the Rays lose again to the Angels over on this coast, I’ll be even happier.

I’m not unhappy that Huff will start in Hughes’ place on Saturday against the Red Sox. I just hope he doesn’t fold under the pressure.

The Yanks Were In A Huff Today – In A Good Way

September 2, 2013

That’s David Huff in a Cleveland uniform – the Yankees have had so many players cycle on and off the roster that they don’t even bother to take team photos of the new guys anymore – and he gets my nod for the star of today’s almost Janer (a 9-1 score is close enough).

Huff hasn’t pitched long or often this season, but he’s been very good in his limited number of appearances and he was very good today in the rain-delayed game. I’d say something like, “Well, the White Sox are the worst team in baseball, so no big deal,” but they swept the Yankees the last time the teams played so anything could have happened. This time it was a combination of Huff’s pitching, Jeter’s emergence from Slumpville and a little help from the White Sox, who aren’t exactly slick defenders.

Everybody contributed, which is always fun. The only bad part was Hughes not getting a chance to win a ballgame. Girardi specifically adjusted the rotation so Pettitte would go yesterday against the O’s and Hughes would take on the Sox. Mother Nature had other ideas. Would Hughes have pitched really well? Maybe. We’ll never know, but I’m glad the game turned out the way it did. Now maybe some of the other Wild Card contenders will lose today?

Ichiro Pulled An Abreu

August 26, 2013

Remember how Abreu seemed to fear crashing into the right field wall? In tonight’s series opener against the Blue Jays, Ichiro, a HOF outfielder who is usually so reliable at his position, looked lost, committing an error that really cost the Yankees. I read that he was so embarrassed after his misplay he wanted to go straight home. Poor guy.

Of course, the “L” wasn’t all his fault by any means. Hughes was pitching. (Need I say more?) And the offense couldn’t bring runners home. What a frustrating game, especially knowing the Rays had been trounced by the Royals earlier in the day.

All these remaining games mean so much that every loss feels like a tragedy to me. Yes, the Jays were due to beat the Yanks and yes, there’s still time for a miracle, but not if the offensive output continues to be a couple of runs here and there and not if the starters can’t give us six innings.

I guess it was too much to expect Jeter to show up wearing his Superman cape and saving the day. He’s rusty. He needs playing time. I get it. Still, it’s comforting just to have him back for the rest of the season, however long that lasts.

You Mean We Can’t Win Every Game Now?

August 15, 2013

I knew the streak had to come to an end at some point, but I was hoping for a four-game sweep of the Angels. Hughes wasn’t bad at all, so that wasn’t the problem. C.J. Wilson was. He’s tough, no question, and I wish Cashman had signed him when he was a free agent. The Yanks did have scoring chances from what I saw as I watched off and on throughout the afternoon, and they did stage a ninth inning comeback. But thanks to a massive fail by Boone Logan and an out-of-nowhere offensive burst from the little known former Yankee, Chris Nelson, the deficit was too great to overcome.

Oh well. Now it’s on to Boston where it won’t get any easier. I’d say this is a do-or-die series at Fenway this weekend. If we take the series, there’s still a fighting chance for us. If we drop the series or, worse, get swept, it’ll be see you next year.

Maybe.

You Mean We Can't Win Every Game Now?

August 15, 2013

Maybe.

Sorry, Audrey

August 10, 2013

Unless I’m totally losing it, Audrey trekked all the way down to the Stadium today from Vermont – only to see Hughes and the Yankees get mauled by the Tigers. I hope just being there and soaking up the atmosphere made the trip worth it.

It wasn’t fun to watch on YES, not even a little. All the pitching was woeful, from Hughes to Clairborne to Joba, and the offense, not counting Overbay, was DOA. It’s been that kind of a season.

On a cheerier note, I meant to post this earlier and didn’t have time. So in case anybody missed Jeter’s appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s show last night, here’s a clip. For a guy with a calf strain, he was walking fine and in equally fine spirits. Enjoy.

http://youtu.be/e0ApVyU-roo

I’m With Jeter: “This season has been a nightmare”

August 4, 2013

Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports

The Captain called it when he spoke to the media after being diagnosed with yet another muscle strain, this time in his calf, and most likely going back on the DL. I can’t imagine what his level of frustration must be. He just wants to play and yet his body keeps letting him down. So awful.

Speaking of awful, that’s what Hughes was today in what could have been his audition for the Padres. After all, his old buddy Ian Kennedy is now a Padre and Hughes is a California boy and Petco is supposed to be a pitcher’s park. Still, he couldn’t get hitters out and was gonzo before I blinked.

The lack of offense isn’t worth talking about at this point. It is what it is.

So after dropping the series to a team they should have creamed, the Yankees head to Chicago to face the circus that will be A-Rod. I’m exhausted contemplating all the media waiting for Mr. Biogenesis to say, “No comment. I just want to help my teammates.” Someone on Twitter said it’s kind of sad that Mo and his farewell tour are the only things worth savoring this season, and I have to agree. I wish we could fast-forward to next year.

I'm With Jeter: "This season has been a nightmare"

August 4, 2013

The lack of offense isn’t worth talking about at this point. It is what it is.

A Great Day For Yankee Fans

July 28, 2013

Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images North America

I admit it. I got choked up watching the pre-game ceremony to make Matsui a Yankee forever. I loved that his parents and brother were there (what happened to “the wife” who was shown to the media in that famous drawing?) and that Jeter presented him with the plaque of his jersey. Very cool.

Then came Jeter’s big moment at the plate: one swing, one homer, one run – an actual lead! He seemed to ignite the rest of the players and set the tone. Soriano was terrific in what felt like his real return to the Yanks, and Ichiro showed he’s not done yet in the hits department.

Phil Hughes? I’ve given up trying to find ways to express my displeasure. All I know is he gave back the lead and can’t put batters away. He’s not terrible, by any means, just not somebody I want on the mound at the Stadium.

Whether today’s win over the Rays leads to more “W’s” remains to be seen, but it sure beats losing.

Surprise: A Comeback

July 24, 2013

Photo: Harry How/Getty Images North America

Brent Lillibridge is so inconsequential in the larger scheme of things that I couldn’t even find a decent picture of him in a Yankees uniform, but he had plenty of consequences last night, for better or worse. He figured prominently in sending Hughes to the showers and he figured prominently in beating the Rangers in the ninth inning. Go figure.

It was nice for the team to come back the way they did – a little confidence boost, I’m sure. I like Melky Mesa, by the way. He’s fast and he reminds me of Alfonso Soriano when he was young (so why do we need the old version?). And Nunez is a spark plug, no question.

It was the window against the Rangers that the Yankees had to seize with Ogando starting. The next two nights they’ll be facing tougher pitchers.

What to make of Hughes? He and Girardi may have said he didn’t have good stuff and he was pulled for Logan early, which I thought might have been premature, but he did hold the Rangers to two hits before they came alive in the sixth. And he’s still with the team. I was sure he’d be traded by now.

Comebacks are always good for the soul, so I leave it here with my friend, the laughing lady.

Hughes Will Make A Very Good NL Pitcher

July 13, 2013

No, I don’t have any breaking news about a trade, but I can see him joining Martin and AJ and doing really well in Pittsburgh, away from the home runs that bedevil him in the Bronx.

The Yanks were due for a loss to the Twins, so this wasn’t a tragedy today. Scoring some runs would have helped, but the bats were mostly silent. At least the sun came out there. I’m still waiting for it here in CT where it’s been a soggy day.