*Official Minor League Thread (offseason and 2008)*

[Jitpal]

I don't understand why everybody puts more emphasis on Hughes' 22 innings this year over his September(29.2 innings) last year. Both were post hamstring injury. Coincidentally, his 3 worst starts of the year were with Posada, Moeller and Stewart. His 3 best starts were all with Molina. Same thing applies to Moose and Pettitte but no one seems to mention that with Hughes. One could certainly argue that as poor as he pitched he still pitched better with Molina than Rasner with Moeller or Ponson with Molina. Granted he wasn't out pitching Moose with Molina but those numbers are interesting.

Interestingly, if you take out that one start with Chris Stewart behind the plate, his numbers are tremendously better. No home runs for the year and 3 fewer walks. He also gave up 6 runs that night. He only gave up 7 runs in the 3 games that he started with Molina.

Here are the stats, you can see them for yourself. It's staggering how different a pitcher he was with Molina behind the plate instead of Moeller, Stewart or Posada. The opponent BA is over .100 lower when Molina catches him. More strikeouts and fewer walks, in less work.

Hughes isn't a bust. I firmly believe his struggles were related to two things. Catching issues and that rib injury. Let's not forget, his last time on a major league mound in Chicago, he was pitching well before it rained for over an hour. -Jitpal

[nykgeneralmanager]

Busy day on the farm...

First of all, Austin Jackson was placed on the 7-day DL with a stiff back, nothing major and should be fine for the AA playoffs next week.

Charleston had a double header today and here are the stats combined in the 2 games:
Montero - 3 for 7 with 1 home run (#17) and 4 RBI (84)
Romine - 1 for 6
Suttle - 3 for 7
Laird - 1 for 6 with 1 RBI

Heredia pitched in game 1 for the first time since August 6th (limiting innings), his final line was 5 innings, 8 hits, 4 runs, 0 walks, 4 Ks. He was throwing a shutout through 4.2 innings but gave up the 4 runs before getting the final out.

Zach McAllister threw 5 shutout innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, and 5 Ks. His ERA in Tampa is now 1.83. In his last 31 innings, he has allowed 16 hits, 7 walks, and just 2 runs. Thats good for a 0.58 ERA and 0.74 WHIP.

Melancon threw 2 perfect innings and struck out 3. In his last 6 innings, he has allowed just 1 hit and 1 walk and struck out 7. His numbers since being promoted to Scranton are now 16.2 innings, 7 hits, 4 walks, and 17 Ks.

[Jitpal]

Solid outing by Hughes. 6.1 Innings, 87 pitches, 2 ER, 1BB, and 7K. That 2nd run was on base when Hughes left the game, Coke was pitching to him. I think another solid game and he should be brought up to pitch in place of Ponson. -Jitpal

[rappa]

Hughes was reported 91-93 with a few 94's.... His curveball was absolutely lethal and his cutter gave a few swings and misses. A few of the hits were tiny flares but those are part of the game.

Melancon has been absolutely dirty, I hope he gets a september call up to get a taste of the majors.

Aceves was called up today with pavano placed on waivers. Hopefully he can do some good as he was putting up rediculous numbers before he pulled his groin.

Hopefully Hughes is next, we don't got nothing else to lose.

[Jitpal]

Hughes is pitching game 3 for SWB in the playoffs against Pawtucket. So far 5 innings, 3 hits, 0BB, and 9Ks. All in 71 pitches. If only Hughes had run support, its a 0-0 game with Arod's buddy Bartolo Colon pitching for the Red Sox. -Jitpal

[nykgeneralmanager]

Final line of 8 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 11 Ks

Since he had those two rough starts in a row where everybody declared he had no future in baseball, this is what he has done:

20 innings, 14 hits, 5 walks, 26 Ks, 1.35 ERA

[Jitpal]

Final line of 8 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 11 Ks

Since he had those two rough starts in a row where everybody declared he had no future in baseball, this is what he has done:

20 innings, 14 hits, 5 walks, 26 Ks, 1.35 ERA

Hughes is a beast. Remember after those two bad starts Contreras said there was a small problem with his mechanics. My guess is he was healthy for the start against Toronto, where he pitched well. Then in the next game he hurt his rib covering first, and then tried to pitch through it. When he tried to pitch through it, he probably altered his mechanics slightly. When he was healthy again, he was throwing with the poor mechanics and then Nardi Contreras fixed them. Thus, Hughes is dominating again. We are going to have a fantastic rotation with Joba, Hughes, Wang and maybe Sabathia plus Moose/Pettitte. -Jitpal

[Pharmcat]

plz say no to pettite, hes nothing w.out HGH

and tats encouragin news on phil

[Jitpal]

Scranton is one win away from winning the Eastern League. Kei Igawa pitching in the clinching game tonight against Durham (Tampa Bay's AAA affiliate). For reference Chase Wright beat David Price in game one. Kennedy had a gutty performance in game two. Kei Igawa in game three. Hughes for game four if there is a game four.

It's funny, if you read the quotes from the guys down there, they are the same quotes you heard from the Yankees in the late 90s. For example:

“You see one guy go in there and do a good job, then the next guy wants to go in there and do a good job,” Steven Jackson (left) said. “You don’t want to be that guy (who gives up the lead)."

“You can’t say enough about this team in general,” Strickland said. “It’s a refuse to lose attitude. It’s a different guy every night stepping up. We never panic. It’s kind of like, well when’s it going to happen?”

They won the last three playoff games on extra-inning walkoff hits. Pretty amazing. -Jitpal

[TKF]

Final line of 8 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 11 Ks

Since he had those two rough starts in a row where everybody declared he had no future in baseball, this is what he has done:

20 innings, 14 hits, 5 walks, 26 Ks, 1.35 ERA

So 43% of his 60 outs were by way of strikeouts? WOW!!!

[nykgeneralmanager]

Scranton won the International League Championship tonight with Hughes on the mound.

5 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 4 BB, 12 K. A lot of walks, but dominance otherwise.

So he finished the last bunch of starts with 25 innings, 18 hits, 9 walks, 38 Ks. Damn, he can't even miss bats at AAA how is he going to do it in the majors?

[Pharmcat]

^we'll see how he does on WEd