*OFFICIAL* Spring Training news & notes

[nykgeneralmanager]

His curve could be a bit sharper. But if he is going to go 4 innings without giving up a hit, the last thing I'm going to do is talk about his strikeouts...thats just nitpicking because there is nothing else to criticize. His curve missed a few bats (Monroe's at bat in the 4th sticks out) and he could've had a couple of more Ks. For March 9th, I'll take 4 innings of hitless ball from a 21 year old.

[VinnyTheMick]

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Phil Hughes could have been pitching his home games this spring at Hammond Stadium, preparing for his first season as a member of the Minnesota Twins.

Instead, the 21-year-old went out Sunday and showed the Twins and the rest of the American League what to expect from him.

Hughes - whose named was mentioned all winter as a possible trading chip as the Twins shopped Johan Santana - threw four no-hit innings against Minnesota, retiring the first nine Twins he faced before issuing a four-pitch walk to open the fourth. Hughes walked two in that inning, but he made it through without allowing a run, continuing his impressive spring.

"My fastball was good," Hughes said. "I threw some good breaking balls and a couple good changeups, but my slider was pretty bad. It's getting there."

Including his outing against the University of South Florida, Hughes has thrown six innings this spring without allowing a hit. In fact, he had retired all 15 batters he faced before walking outfielder Denard Span in the fourth.

Joe Girardi called the outing "really good," praising Hughes for using all his pitches, holding baserunners and "doing everything he has to do to be successful."

Said Girardi: "It seems like he's growing as a pitcher."

Hughes, whose last outing was shortened to just one inning and 10 pitches because of rain, threw an additional 30 pitches in the bullpen that day to bring his total to 40. Yesterday, he was at 35 pitches after three innings, then needed 21 to get through the fourth, bringing his total to 56. His next start, scheduled for Friday in Sarasota against the Reds, should see his pitch count increased to about 70.

"I want to get my pitch count up; that's the big thing," Hughes said when asked what he still needs to work on. "Arm strength and locating the fastball is No. 1, and from there, mixing in the changeup more this year."

Hughes struggled with some mechanical problems last year following his return from a hamstring injury, but an early start this season - he started throwing off a mound in January - and the help of new pitching coach Dave Eiland have allowed him to remain consistent to this point in the spring.

"I feel good," Hughes said. "I just hope I don't waste all the good innings in spring training. I think I have some more left in me."

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseb ... s_for.html

[VinnyTheMick]

March 10, 2008 -- FORT MYERS, Fla. - Until further notice, Chien-Ming Wang Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte Andy Pettitte are running one-two in the Yankees New York Yankees ' rotation. However, they aren't so far ahead of Phil Hughes they can't feel his youthful breath on their necks.

The 21-year-old Hughes has clearly been the Yankees' best pitcher this spring and he cemented that yesterday at Hammond Stadium by tossing four innings of no-hit ball at the Twins in a 6-4 Yankees win.

"They told me what he was doing last year and he was (in Tampa) a lot (during the off-season),'' Joe Girardi said. "He was in excellent shape and he is growing as a pitcher.''

Facing the team that wanted him in any deal for Johan Santana, Hughes retired the initial nine Twins before walking Denard Spain to open the fourth. It was the first of two walks Hughes issued.

"My fastball command was good and I threw a couple of good change-ups,'' Hughes said. "The slider was pretty bad, but it's getting there. It was good that I got to work with runners on base.''

In two official exhibition games (the University of South Florida doesn't count), Hughes has worked five frames without surrendering a hit. Hughes threw 55 pitchers and guessed he will be around 70 the next time. He also is hoping he doesn't leave his quality stuff in Florida.

"I feel good,'' Hughes said. "I hope I don't waste all my good innings in spring training.''

Considering the clouds hanging over the Yankees' rotation, they have their fingers crossed that a sensational Florida doesn't flatten out on Hughes. Wang is coming off a serious beating, Pettitte's season could be fractured if he is involved in the Roger Clemens' saga, Ian Kennedy has made three big league starts and Mike Mussina is 39.

So, the Yankees have their fingers crossed Hughes doesn't leave his arsenal under the palm trees.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03102008/sp ... 101225.htm

[cmaff051]

Joba is throwing his curveball more than his slider this outing. It is getting to be a very usable pitch for him.

[studcrackers]

LETS GO BILLY *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP*

[VinnyTheMick]

Shelly Duncan screaming F_CK! was priceless.

[VinnyTheMick]

Welcome back, Chien-Ming Wang.

After failing to make it out of the first inning last Thursday against the Reds, Wang tossed 3-2/3 shutout innings Tuesday against Toronto, looking much more like the pitcher who has won more games over the past two seasons than anyone in baseball.

To say Wang showed improvement would be quite an understatement. Thursday, he was smacked around for six runs in two-thirds of an inning; yesterday, he allowed two hits and two walks, striking out one in his scoreless outing.

"Every time I go to the mound, it's important," Wang said. "Today, I stayed back and kept the ball down. I'm still not 100% in game shape, but it will get better."

Wang threw first-pitch strikes to nine of the 14 batters he faced, and went to three-ball counts against just three of those hitters. More importantly, Wang got eight of his 11 outs on ground balls, a sign that his trademark sinker was back in its usual, devastating form.

full article here

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseb ... kees_.html

[Pharmcat]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseb ... andre.html

cash has high hopes for brackman

[VinnyTheMick]

Moose was pitching well today. 15 up and 15 down. 64 pitches/39 strikes. He was really good and had nice depth on his curve ball. Was nice to watch.

Fastball was 85-86
Curve was sometimes at 72 and sometimes around 76-77

I know its ST, but it is definitely encouraging. I'm glad Eiland is our pitching coach. Every starter that had a bad outing in ST, spent time with Dave & dazzled in their next start.

[VinnyTheMick]

March 13th: PIT at NYY. Yanks lose 5-3.

Positives:

* Mike Mussina. 15 up. 15 down. He cruised through 5 perfect innings. Lots of movement and excellent location. Most outs were easy flyouts. 2 K's, 0 BB (obivously)
* Shelley Duncan played a good 1B. A couple of plays ranging to his left and right and made some nice throws as well. He really looks good out there. No Minky, but easily good enough to play 1B for 20-30 games this year.
* Molina looked good at the plate and behind it. He may be Moose's catcher. I can see why.
* Mo was solid. His two hits were multiple bouncers in between infilelders. He got out of the inning without a run scoring.
* Cano continues to hit well. He hit a bomb off good old Kim.
* Veras had a nice 9th. Almost all strikes. 3 up 3 down. He attacked hitters.

Negatives:

* Jeffrey Karstens. He did not pitch well. Only lasted 1.1 and was on the hook for all 5 runs (I believe). No one was fooled or off balance. Lots of hard hit balls. In fact a couple of good defensive plays saved it from being worse.
* No regulars got anything going at the plate, but that's not a big negative.

[cmaff051]

Phil has given up 3 HRs to 3 scrubs on the pirates. All on fastballs.

[Pharmcat]

Phil has given up 3 HRs to 3 scrubs on the pirates. All on fastballs.

ya he had a big problem going with his stride he needs to work out

[Pharmcat]

joba looked sick today

[VinnyTheMick]

Billy Traber has been one of the biggest surprises of camp, making seven appearances without allowing an earned run. Traber, a non-roster invitee who spent the past two years with the Nationals, has given up just four hits and walked one in 6-2/3 innings this spring, all but assuring himself of the lefty bullpen spot come Opening Day.

"He's started, he's relieved, but he's never really been a lefthanded specialist," Girardi said. "He's done pretty good."

That leaves one final spot up for grabs among Jonathan Albaladejo, Chris Britton, Brian Bruney, Ross Ohlendorf, Scott Patterson, Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras. All seven have minor-league options.

Britton, Bruney and Ohlendorf have made strong cases. Britton has allowed one run in five outings, while Bruney has given up two runs over seven appearances. Ohlendorf has also opened eyes with his hard sinker, allowing just two earned runs in eight games.

Patterson has trumped them all, throwing six scoreless innings in six games. He has allowed just one hit and hasn't walked a batter, striking out five while holding hitters to a .056 average.

If there is one drawback for Patterson, it's the fact that he has never pitched above Double-A, but Girardi doesn't believe a pitcher has to have big-league experience in order to be successful at the highest level.

"He's done a good job," Girardi said. "We keep running him out there and he keeps competing with the other guys. He's been as good as anyone in camp.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseb ... rs_ga.html

[cmaff051]

Looks like Phil bounced back yesterday. Good to see.

[TKF]

Looks like Phil bounced back yesterday. Good to see.

yea.. I expect a strong start this year for Hughes..