What Happened
The Yankees took 2 out of 3 from the Orioles to bounce back from a 5 game losing streak, with CC Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez, and Johnny Damon supplying the heroics. The Yankees lost the middle game of the series due to a poorly pitched game from Phil Hughes.
What I Liked
1) CC Sabathia- A complete game shutout performance to halt a long losing streak is exactly the kind of thing the Yankees expected from CC when they signed him to a huge contract this offseason. He allowed the first two runners to reach, and then proceeded to cruise through the rest of the game until he met a bit of resistance in the 9th. It was a dominant performance, and bodes well for a team that needs to start stringing together victories.
2) Alex Rodriguez- He is only 2-11, but he announced his presence in dramatic fashion by sending the first pitch he saw this year, a 94 mph fastball from Jeremy Gtuhrie, over the fence in left center. He looks to be running a bit gingerly and seems a bit tentative in the field, but that is to be expected for someone recovering from hip surgery. The Yankees desperately needed his presence in the middle of the order, and he delivered.
3) Johnny Damon- Damon is tearing the cover off the ball, hitting big home runs and reaching base to start a rally with regularity. He won yesterday’s game with a three run homer, and had at least 1 RBI and reached base twice in each game over the weekend. He is making the Yankees decisions about their outfield for 2010 very difficult.
4) Robinson Cano- Cano looked to be slumping badly, and he did have an awful game on Saturday, grounding into two big double plays as the Yankees tried to claw back from a large deficit. However, he did have 2 multiple hit games over the weekend, and both of his hits yesterday were for extra-bases. The Yankees need him to have a good year to lengthen this lineup, and it seems that his recent poor play was just a bump in the road.
5) Joba Chamberlain- Joba stunk in the first inning again, and had to endure the indignity of being mocked by an opposing batter after a home run. Instead of overreacting and doing something stupid, he buckled down and did not allow another runner to cross home plate. Until he works out the first inning foibles, he is not going to be putting forth dominant starts. However, he has pitched very well for a 4th or 5th starter, and has given the fans glimpses of the pitcher he will be.
6) Phil Coke- After a slightly rough start to the season, Phil looks like the only remaining trustworthy reliever at Joe Girardi’s disposal. Apparently Phil’s good showing at the close of 2008 was not a fluke, as his stuff looks sharp and he continues to throw it for strikes. When Bruney and Marte return, the three of them should really stabilize the bullpen.
What I Didn’t Like
1) Phil Hughes- Hughes could not escape the 2nd inning on Saturday, allowing 8 runs in just 1.2 innings of work. He got some bad breaks and had to work through some awful fielding, but it is time to stop making excuses for Phil. He mentioned mechanical issues that need to be fixed, and it is his responsibility to fix them. I know that he is just 22 and that it often takes a long time to develop pitchers. I just think that Phil clearly has the ability to be a good MLB pitcher right now, and he just needs to find a modicum of consistency if he is ever going to maximize his potential.
2) Edwar Ramirez- The guy cannot be trusted to get important outs, as he allows to many balls to leave the ballpark. Players just sit on one of his two pitches, and when they guess right, the results are not pretty. He is my candidate to be sent down when relievers begin returning from injury.
3)Hideki Matsui- Matsui cooled down over the weekend, garnering just one hit over three games. Joe Girardi needs to be flexible regarding his lineup and be willing to move Hideki up and down depending on his performance.
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10 Responses to Recapping The Weekend
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TIQ IQ
Phil needs to figure out how to make adjustments on the fly and work with what you have. He will never be the pitcher he can be, without learning what the real good pitchers have learned…how to win without your best stuff.
Edwar has been one of the guys I have never had much faith in. Maybe if his FB moved a little I would be in his corner but, it doesn’t. As you pointed out…they sit on one of his pitches.
Matsui always goes hot and cold…he starts to pull everything and backside slides out…ground out to 1st/2nd.
Good points. Matsui in particular- everytime he grounds to second, I fear a slump is coming.
I personally think Hughes is what he is.He has an average to slightly above average fastball but it’s as straight as can be, he doesn’t hide the ball so it’s not like his 91-93 looks 97 and the cutter doesn’t cut much, almost hangs.Nice curveball, I just don’t see him as anything more than #4-5 type on a team like the Yankees or a #3 on a bad team.
Coke is lefty, has good control and should be a solid performer for us.
Looks to me like he has enough stuff to be a LH starter in the Ted Lily mold, if needed also.At least a poor man’s Ted Lily.
I think you underrate Hughes. Very good fastball command (usually), good curveball that he throws in two different ways, and a cutter that is starting to show more bite and should keep hitters honest. He has 2-3 potential if he can establish some consistency regarding fastball command in the majors.
Is it just me, or do the Yankees top pitching prospects, other than Joba just seem to buck the trend that we’re seeing with other teams these days. Being in the SF Bay Area, I see the Giants young pitcher come out and pitch well and consistently. I don’t see a lot of 1 1/3 innings, 8 runs lines from them. More like the 6 innings, 3 or 4 runs variety. Or you have Tim Lincecum on the far end of the spectrum. You’d think that even on their worst days, guys like Hughes and IPK would be able to get by, but we’re seeing huge innings that seem like batting practice the likes of which I just don’t see happening on other teams like the Blue Jays who trot out just about anyone or the Angels. All with guys with far less stellar minor league track records than Hughes or IPK. I just don’t get it. Anyone have a theory, or am I just not paying close enough attention to teams other than the Yankees and this is normal for top pitching prospects?
It’s more common than you think, but I think Hughes has an issue with minimizing damage. I thought he did a decent job of that against Boston and was pleased, but he obviously didnt follow up with similar fortitude against Baltimore.
I think the Yankee Top pitching prospects are over rated and I question if the Yankees even understand who is a prospect.
What’s to love about Ian Kennedy over a kid like Ohlendorf who was a horse and throws much harder?
In love with a blob like Humberto Sanchez?
Melancon and Robertson both, at least to me offer better potential results than career BUMS like Ramierez (2nd time around nobody bites on the change)Veras (Yes his 95 MPZH heater seduced me also but his delivery will never repeat) and Albaldejo(we need to lose 10 games before his arm tires and sinker works???)
I’d much rather go with those 2 kids than those 3 failures everywhere they’ve been.
Additionally, did Yankees REALLY know Coke was going to be solid LH reliever who could probably start?
I still say his upside is far greater than Kennedys and his stuff better too and from the port side.
Yea, Joba might be the real deal but the rest of the minor leagues is full of 5’11- 6 types who I do not see as having tremendous upside.Why do they draft and sign so many smallish pitchers?
Who was responsible for drafting CHris Priesendorfer 3 times, only to have him cut almost immediately?
Aside from the 2 6’9 Giants, McAllister and maybe Bleich who do the Yankees have in the farm system that sounds like they have a shot to be difference makers and frankly, only McAllister looks like he might be special so far.
Seems like every young guy every team brings up is throwing 95 and our minor leaguers throw 88-92.
Claggert, Whelan are these guys REALLY top prospects or just guys?
Tghat’s my rant.
Lol. No team is perfect in regard to prospect, and the Yankees have not been great until the last few years. But players like Kennedy and Hughes were not middling prospects talked up by the Yankees. These are guys that all of the independent publication loved as well, including noted Yankee haters like Jim Callis.
“Aside from the 2 6?9 Giants, McAllister and maybe Bleich who do the Yankees have in the farm system that sounds like they have a shot to be difference makers and frankly, only McAllister looks like he might be special so far.”
Well you mentioned FOUR right there… that’s kind of a lot. Don’t neglect to mention Kontos. Kennedy still has the talent to be a big league starter IMO.
Further down the line you have a lot to be excited about with DJ Mitchell, Wilkins De La Rosa, and Brett Marshall.
Kontos and De La Rosa most likely profile as bullpen arms in the bigs. Other than that… those are a lot of potential quality big league arms.
ALL SMALLISH pitchers except Kontos.Yea, De La Rosa and Dunn, the 2 lefties were drafted as OF’s which sort of makes my case.Who’s selecting and developing these players?