Green Jets & Ham Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 FUTURE ACE of the NYY HUGHES THAT GUYS? NY POST By George King Phil Hughes, the future, retired all six batters he faced in two innings {Intrasquad Game} and had Jorge Posada predicting the 19 year old RHP could play at Yankee Stadium this season. Which brings us to Hughes {6' 5"/220}, who packages a big arm, a knee-buckling curveball, and a large dose of confidence. "This is Great," Hughes said of his first big-league camp. "It won't be a shock when I get to the big leagues." Considering he hasn't pitched above Class A, the Yankees' No. 1 pick in 2004 could need extended seasoning However, Posada predicted Hughes' arrival in Yankee Stadium could be swift. "Everything is there," said Posada, who caught Hughes' two innings. "He is a no-miss. He will be in the big leagues soon." Asked if he ever felt that way about another young Yankees pitcher, Posada didn't hesitate. "Andy Pettitte," Posada said. "Just the way he carries himself and goes about his business. You see the arm and the tools, but it's in his head, too. He listens. It wouldn't surprise me if I see him before the season is over." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 He is getting compared to Petite a lot. Which is good but is kind of scary. Petite at a young age just knew how to pitch. He never had the best stuff but he was always smart. I remember Petite's spring training (when he made the team) under Buck. He was just real solid the entire time. If this kid comes close to that level that is a huge win for the Yankees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 It's all very promising and I obviously hope all the experts are right about this kid but I've seen and heard it all before about guys who just couldn't get it done at the big league level. Remember how Dave Eiland and Jimmy Jones used to completely baffle hitters at the AAA level and then get rocked in the bigs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 It's all very promising and I obviously hope all the experts are right about this kid but I've seen and heard it all before about guys who just couldn't get it done at the big league level. Remember how Dave Eiland and Jimmy Jones used to completely baffle hitters at the AAA level and then get rocked in the bigs? Dave Eiland was the best AAA pitcher ever. Problem was he topped out at 74mph and his stuff didn't go over that well in the bigs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Jets & Ham Posted March 1, 2006 Author Share Posted March 1, 2006 Dave Eiland was the best AAA pitcher ever. Problem was he topped out at 74mph and his stuff didn't go over that well in the bigs. Exactly Max Hughes has a Mid 90's fastball with late life {according to all reports, and that usually means a rising fastball} ... and a big sweeping curveball {think Barry Zito} that he supposedly controls very well Translation: This kid has a big league arm and big league stuff, thus the rave reviews PS. Posada is a catcher and he's caught quite a few aces, so I think he knows what THE REAL DEAL looks like ... I never heard Posada rave about Eiland and alike ... he says himself that Pettitte was the only other neophyte Yankee pitcher who impressed him to this degree {i.e. CAN'T MISS} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shutout Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Hughes seems like a really great prospect...which if recent years has taught us anything,means that George will trade him for someone like Griffey Jr. I hope Cashman has enough control over the roster and the farm that he sticks with us and we can finally actually stock up in the farm system rather than trade every half-decent prospect for the Aaron Boone/Gabe White packages of the major leagues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gun Of Bavaria Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 If scientists were ever able to harness the energy produced during periods of Yankee fans stroking each other we could discontinue our reliance on foreign oil in 4 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garb Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 If scientists were ever able to harness the energy produced during periods of Yankee fans stroking each other we could discontinue our reliance on foreign oil in 4 months. .....could also explain all those sad responses in the Lounge's "who had sex today" thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LionelRichie Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 the only thing that can derail hughes is arm trouble. at 19 i'd like to see him increase his innings gradually and show up in the bronx ready to stay. i think 2007 or 2008 is better than trying to push him to 200+ innings this season. it is nice to finally be excited about a yankee pitching prospect i just hope the yankees learned from past mistakes and don't trade him in august for "the final piece" this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIGHT STALKER Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 He'll be in AA ball at the beginning of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbn007 Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 The Yankees have babied Hughes the past 2 seasons, shutting him down if he even sneezed. The kid has a live arm, and sits at 93-95 with his fastball, occasionally touching 97 last season. He has a slider that was a big pitch in High School, but the Yankee minor league brain trust has not allowed him to throw it yet. The word I hear is that he will start using it this season. His Curve is one of those late breaking ones, that drop either away or inside, depending on the spin he puts on. So it is a super pitch to either lefties or righties. Knowing the Yankee history of over-caution, I expect Hughes to start this season in High A ball (Tampa) for up to 6 weeks. Then, he should get promoted to AA (Trenton) after the weather warms up. He has the goods, and the frame to support the stuff. If he logs 150 innings this season, his arrival in NY should be mid to late 2007, although he probably won't stick in the Bronx until ST 2008. That said, while I doubt that he gets traded, I can see him being used as part of deal for a young, solid, established, EXPENSIVE starter. I do not mean Zito, or Mulder, or someone like that. I mean Santana or Rich Harden, or someone like that. I believe if Cashman keeps his role as the final word of all personnel moves though, Hughes will stay in pinstripes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMJets Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Hughes is a tremendous prospect. Success at Trenton this year will make him a top 10 prospect in all of baseball. To date, he has completely dominated A ball, and has been restricted to use probably the best pitch that he has, his slider I believe. With Cashman in charge now, we don't have to worry about Hughes being traded, unless he's part of something that brings back Santana or Pujols. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbn007 Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Hughes is a tremendous prospect. Success at Trenton this year will make him a top 10 prospect in all of baseball. To date, he has completely dominated A ball, and has been restricted to use probably the best pitch that he has, his slider I believe. With Cashman in charge now, we don't have to worry about Hughes being traded, unless he's part of something that brings back Santana or Pujols. Hughes' Fastball is a Plus pitch, and his Curve is also rated as a plus pitch, although not quite like his fastball. He has not thrown the slider yet, but it is reportedly his top pitch, coming in at close to 95, and diving almost to the dirt. In High School, it was considered one of the most dominating pitches of any hurler from that year's draft, or something like that. It is reportedly really good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMJets Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Hughes' Fastball is a Plus pitch, and his Curve is also rated as a plus pitch, although not quite like his fastball. He has not thrown the slider yet, but it is reportedly his top pitch, coming in at close to 95, and diving almost to the dirt. In High School, it was considered one of the most dominating pitches of any hurler from that year's draft, or something like that. It is reportedly really good. Exactly, he has THREE plus pitches. Scouts said, before the draft, that his slider is devastating. The fact that he has dominated to date WITHOUT using it is pretty scary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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