The Yankees went into last season with two rookies at the back of their rotation. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy were both highly regarded prospects handed jobs in spring training based on their brief 2007 stints with the club and their sheer talent. One disastrous season later, both are likely to start the year in Triple-A, fallen stars who must rehabilitate their pitching reputations. Kennedy has drawn the ire of Yankees fans for his seemingly poor attitude, and Hughes cannot stay healthy enough to establish any sort of consistency on the mound. However, both seem ready to put in the work necessary to recapture their former standing within the organization:
“I cleaned up some things mechanically and got my arm strength up,” Hughes said. “I feel like I was in good shape last spring, but I’ve put on some good weight and worked on my changeup. My curveball is back to where I’d like it to be from 2006 and early ’07, so I feel confident.”
Hoping to avoid a third consecutive year of injuries, Hughes spent four days a week training at the Athletes’ Performance Institute in Los Angeles. Concentrating on upper body strength, Hughes added eight pounds to inch up to 240, where he was in 2006 — his last full healthy season. “I know what I’m capable of doing,” Hughes said, “but I still have to go out and show that I can do it on the highest level.”
Kennedy’s perceived lack of aggressiveness frustrated Girardi and pitching coach Dave Eiland, giving the impression that he did not trust his stuff. He was 0-4 with an 8.17 ERA in 10 appearances (nine starts) over three stints with New York, allowing opponents to bat .309 against him. His last big league start came on Aug. 8, when Kennedy was dispatched to Anaheim after Joba Chamberlain was forced to the disabled list. Kennedy was shelled, allowing five runs in two-plus innings, and raised eyebrows when he told reporters that he was “just not real upset about it.”
Kennedy said a turning point came in the Puerto Rican Winter League, where he spun a league-leading 1.56 ERA in six starts for Mayaguez. While there, Kennedy tweaked his curveball and recaptured some of his chutzpah. “I feel like I grew as a pitcher, just as far as maturity and making in-game adjustments rather than postgame or post-inning,” Kennedy said. “This offseason, knowing that every other day someone signed, it still didn’t change my mentality. I knew if I wanted to make any part of the rotation or have a spot, I’d have to work really hard and come to Spring Training ready. All I can do is work hard and show them that I want this, that I want to have the chance again.”
Spring Training articles are typically excessively positive, but these quotes are noteworthy nonetheless. It is good to see that Hughes is working on his pitching form, as his performance struggles and injuries may stem from inconsistent mechanics. In regard to Kennedy, he needs to pound the zone with his wide repertoire of pitches, and building the confidence to do so without dominant stuff takes time and experience. Hopefully both pitchers find their way, giving the Yankees pitching depth that could rival any staff in baseball.
What do you think? What do you expect from these two in 2009? How about the future?
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10 Responses to Hughes And Kennedy Seeking Redemption
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TIQ IQ
I predict with the emergence of Zach McAllister as a solid back of the rotation innings eater Kennedy becomes expendable. I’m hoping both hughes and ipk are able to put together nice seasons in AAA so phil can get ready to take andy’s rotation spot next season and IPk increases his trade value.
I really wonder if Kennedy can rebuild his value anywhere other than the majors. People know he can pitch in the minors, the question is translation to the majors.
Yea thats true but you never know. Pitching starved teams like the pirates and padres could do worse than taking a flyer on a 24 yr old with an excellent track record but little to no success in the bigs.
Kennedy is done at a Yankee. I hope he is traded before the end of spring training before the Yankees burn a second option on him.
Right now he has more value to the Yankees on the team than traded. He wont get much now, and there is no cost to having him at AAA.
Hughes I still think will be great. That combination of stuff and command you just don’t see often. I expect something like 100 innings at the big league level filling in for various starters.
As far as Kennedy I’m still a big believer in him. His minor league numbers are just too good. I’m a big believer in MLE’s and Kennedy’s are elite. This year IDK what he will do, but at some point in the future he will be a good #2 starter somewhere.
#2? I have not seen one scout or analyst, even the stats based ones, think that he would be a 2. The ceiling for him was always a solid 3, which is nothing to sneeze at.
Agreed. IPK has the ability to be a successful ML pitcher. He just has to put it together.
Alex-agreed.
I am sure that keneddy will never be able to establish himself in the big leagues. But PHil is another story this offseason his proved that he is capable to make adjustments, he is a samrt pitcher with command and stuff, I think his numbers are going to be similar to jake peavy, I have absolutely no doubts he has that kind of talent, and that he eventually will reach that ceiling, joba and him are going to become one of the best one two punces in baseball in the near future