« Watson Does It Again - Melky Suspended | Main | Big Stein To Become Part Of The Big Trop »

March 14, 2008

Phil Hughes Seeing Red Today

Phil Hughes was roughed up today by the Reds. Hughes faced 17 batters, only retired 8 of them, and allowed 4 runs in 2.2 innings pitched.

Just as I wasn’t ready to give Hughes the 2008 A.L. Cy Young Award based on his starts earlier this spring, I’m not ready to bury him on this game. It’s March 14th. There’s a very good chance this just may be a tired arm situation for Phil – that many pitchers endure in spring training.

I’m more interested in seeing Hughes’ next start and the one that follows. We’re probably looking at March 19th and March 24th as Hughes’ next two turns. These could be his last two spring starts before the regular season. Most baseball people in the know say that it’s only the last two weeks in spring training that you should count in terms of watching someone’s performance.

Let’s see how Phil Hughes does in those two starts. If they’re both like today, then it’s something to talk about. But, if he does fine in those games, well, then, today is just a blip on the radar and it means nothing.

Posted by Steve Lombardi at March 14, 2008 03:34 PM

Comments

Just as I wasn’t ready to give Hughes the 2008 A.L. Cy Young Award based on his starts earlier this spring, I’m not ready to bury him on this game.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PROGRESS! :-)

Posted by: MJ [TypeKey Profile Page] at March 14, 2008 03:50 PM

I've written that good starts are great because they build confidence, but I will also state that young pitchers need these screw up games to learn how to correct mistakes in game. If you're stuff isn't working and you can't correct it then you're never going to really make it in the big leagues. Just ask every good pitcher. The ability to correct mistakes is what separates AAA pitchers and the MLs. 4 runs is not that bad, if it was like...14 runs then i'd be slightly concerned. I won't get worried until June thank you very much

Posted by: Straylightrise [TypeKey Profile Page] at March 14, 2008 05:30 PM

I'm proud of you Steve, way to show some restraint.

Posted by: dan [TypeKey Profile Page] at March 14, 2008 06:07 PM

Probably a dead arm period.

Posted by: Rich [TypeKey Profile Page] at March 14, 2008 10:48 PM