WasWatching.com

So basically, during SPRING TRAINING, you're throwing under the bus a 21-year-old pitcher that most MLB-employed talent evaluators agree has one of the best arms in the game?

Can't you save your regularly depressing doom-and-gloom for the regular season and let Spring Training not count? Considering you claim to be a Yankee fan, it's really hard to believe you root for this team based on what I've read on this blog.

It's so effin' weird. Every time Phil struggles, I think of this site. I'm like, "Will Steve be posting some story about a 1980s-era pitching prospect who bombed now?"

But you didn't tonight. I think you were somewhat fair -- it's a little disconcerting to see Phil get smacked around by such an offensively-challenged team. But rather than drop Phil altogether, I think if Phil struggles again it would simply lead to Kennedy moving up in the rotation. Right now I believe it's Wang-Pettite-Mussina-Hughes-Kennedy. If Hughes struggles again, they swap him and Ian, and then use Hughes differently and keep him on a shorter leash. What happens if Hughes bombs the first month of the season? Well, I don't think that's going to happen, and it if it does, they figure something out.

I don't really feel worried at this point -- just curious. I wish there was an objective source watching the game who could tell me what Phil was throwing and how he looked. Abraham is there, but he doesn't know his ass from his elbow when it comes to pitchers' stuff.

Not to make anyone mad (but I will).

I kind of hope everyone gets bombed for spring training.

I'm happy when guys slump in spring training, I am happy when my pitchers get smacked in spring training.

Because its spring training, its glorified batting practice.

Nothing ticks me off more then to see players feel like they are doing something because they did something in spring training or fans get excited or depressed over these exhibition games.

Hughes actually laughed for a second when they pulled him.

Hell, I hope Joba gets bombed bad, and Mussina and Petite, it lowers expectations, it means nothing, and once the season starts the players are feeling to cocky.

FWIW...The idea that the first couple of starts mean nothing, and then by the 3rd or 4th start they start to mean something is foolish. Up until spring training ends, with pitchers and hitters, you ignore performance and focus on stuff like shape, conditioning, health, etc.

By the way, Steve,

My gripe isn't directed at you, I'm just annoyed that through spring training, its being made like Shelly Duncan is Mr. MVP, Gardner is going to be the next hall of famer, and Traber, well he is Mr. Cy Young.

When guys do well in spring training, I blow it off, I remember last year when Mr. Money in the Bank Phelps won the job coming out, and all the oohs and ahhs going for some of the other guys, and it was BS then.

Abraham as reporter, not an analyst:

SEVENTH INNING
Just talked to Hughes in the clubhouse. He said that he was overstriding on the mound because he was trying to throw too hard. “Even though it didn’t look it, the last few innings were better,” he said.

Hughes said he typically does not pitch well in spring training. “I wish that wasn’t the case but it seems to be,” he said

The good thing for Hughes is that he has the support of his manager and GM. I don't think a bad spring will keep him off the team. He seems to realize that too. Hopefully he'll have his mechanics straightened out by the regular season and everything will be okay.

YanksFanInNY -your IP address gives you away. I know who you are, in reality. The fact that you're making posts here, under an assumed name, like this one...well, I'm not going to say any more...other than the fact that I know who you are and wish you could act more maturely than this.

one of the few good things about DirecTV is that one can get regional sports networks. i watched the game on FSN Pittsburgh tonight. Hughes wasn't as bad as his line would indicate. the commentators said several times about a strong wing blowing out that helped a few of the HRs (including Posada's).

Hughes' FB command wasn't great, not up to his norm. a few FBs drifted over the heart of the plate, leading to the XBHs. however, his curve was the best ive seen it all spring, reminiscent of last May 1. very sharp break, good command of it. iirc, not one hard hit ball off his curve. his change was hit and miss. occasionally excellent, occasionally hanging or way off the plate. the biggest problem was control and command: he hit a batter and threw a wild pitch, and fell behind too often. he also walked two.

as for him not pitching well in ST, he didn't fare well last year either, yet had a good rookie campaign.