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What Should The New York Yankees Do With Phil Hughes?

New York Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes has been on the DL for the majority of the 2011 season.

Everything from Thoratic Outlet Syndrome to being over-worked to having a dead arm was speculated as the reason for the 24-year-olds drop in velocity.

After numerous tests and really no definitive answers, Hughes was put on the 60-day DL and on a throwing program targeting to build up his arm strength.

Hughes is throwing bullpen sessions and is expected to face live batters shortly; and according to a tweet from Marc Craig of the Star Ledger skipper Joe Girardi stated that Hughes could return prior to the All-Star break.

So, what am I getting at?

Filling in for Hughes has been veteran Bartolo Colon, whom baseball fans have witnessed do a stellar job.

Colon is not leaving the rotation, as he just through a complete game against the Oakland A’s and is becoming a solid and reliable starter that the Yankees now lean on.

Without question Hughes is not going to de-thrown Colon, nor should he knock out Freddy Garcia or Ivan Nova.

Hughes was never that great of a starter even in his heyday at the start of 2010. He got a ton of run support during his All-Star run, but we watched him slowly fall post All-Star break and then completely collapse earlier this season.

The Yankees cannot afford to give Hughes a few ‘test’ starts because the AL East is the most competitive it has ever been and that means avoiding losses.

I like Hughes, but it is hard to forget his three starts this season, where he went 0-1, posting a 13.94 ERA, giving up four home-runs, 16 earned runs and that was in just 10 innings pitched. He never made it through four innings and batters were feasting in every pitch.

So, what is my Hughes solution?

Any Yankee fan should know Hughes was most productive coming out of the bullpen. Continue reading ‘What Should The New York Yankees Do With Phil Hughes?’ »

Jumping The Gun: 7 MLB Headlines You Might Be Reading At 2011 All-Star Break

Every MLB season, the All-Star break is viewed as the halfway point of the 162 games season. Even with still a lot of baseball to play, this is the time when a team’s reputation and attitude have been backed by enough play on the field.

At this point, there are the obvious observations that only a miracle could change, but there are many more what if’s than anything.

Now, I have gotten way ahead of myself, in predicting seven headlines that fans might be reading at this 2011 season’s half-time. The headlines, in no specific order, are the forecasts, while the summaries below give the present reasons why each lead could be future news.

1. New York Mess: Finally Cleaning Up The Mets

No one from the fans to the players expect much out the New York Mets until 2012. Still, Citi-Field’s atmosphere certainly feels different, with a new GM and Skipper.

Even without Santana, the Mets have the pieces and it’s about time the puzzle started coming together.

The team should be more relaxed, respectful and the players’ natural competitiveness to win, as that’s what pro athletes like to do, could actually do just that. My bet is 2011 will be a nice surprise for Mets

fans, to finally get some genuine hope.

2. Twins, White Sox, Tigers – AL Central Looks To Be A Fight To The Finish

The AL Central will be a tight three-team race that should continue till the end. This division did have to have a tiebreaker back in 2009, when the Tigers lost to the Twins in a literal baseball dual.

Definitely throw the White Sox back in mix for 2011. If the AL Central didn’t house the Royals and Indians, it could rival the AL East for toughest division.

3. Perfection Or Bust: Philadelphia Phillies Aiming For Better Second Half

The moment the Phillies signed Cliff Lee expectations soared in Philadelphia.

Now, the 2011 season is a World Series or bust situation. Lee came to win; the Phillies broke the bank to get Lee in order to win; which makes leading the NL East at the All-Star break by a half-game completely

unacceptable. Phillies should only lose every fifth game and they might have to start to if they get behind the Marlins and Mets.

The Phillies should effortlessly win a minimum of 98 games or else the Lee signing will look like a failure. Lucky for Philly fans the team always plays better post-All-Star break.

4. Jeter Still Finished? No Way As The New York Yankee Captain Is Proving Everybody Wrong

I can guarantee what a bad idea mocking the Yankee Captain’s ability was this off-season. Jeter wills and hard work is going to shut-up his detractors in 2011.

Hopefully, Jeter will earn the well overdue respect from all who have criticized this man’s every move.

Jeter is moving all right, but it isn’t away from shortstop, as Jeter has taken his off-season workout up a few notches. He is already in Tampa, and amped-up for the start of Spring Training.

5. Giants Are Struggling Out In San Francisco

The Reigning Champs felt so good in 2010, that they did nothing in the off-season. Why mess up a good thing?

Well, reality bites and the Giants will realize that winning the World Series once is just good timing, but repeating is what makes a team truly worth keeping together. It is presumable that their young pitchers will have growing pains as a group. The bats can’t not score runs like last year, but Posey and Huff have to lead the way. Also, Cody Ross will prove to be a postseason fluke or a legit player??

Lucky the NL West is home to D-backs, Padres who pose no threat this season. Still, Giants are not in the clear as the Colorado Rockies have the complete package, while the Dodgers will either be much better than expected, or embarrassingly awful.

6. For What It’s Werth: The Phillies Miss Jayson’s Clutch Hitting Continue reading ‘Jumping The Gun: 7 MLB Headlines You Might Be Reading At 2011 All-Star Break’ »

The Boss Says Goodbye

As most baseball fans know already, New York Yankees owner died this morning at 6:30am in Tampa, Florida. Mr. Steinbrenner was 80 years old.

The Boss was one of my idols. Many disagree with me because of his winning-only motto and demanding ways.

Find me someone who does not want to win? I know I sure do.

Winning is demanding, in any aspect of life because if it was easy it would not define people as much as it does.

Mr. Steinbrenner was the architect for free agency that changed the future of not only baseball, but of sports forever.

Not only was he the Boss of the Yankees, but he was beyond generous to the less fortunate. The Boss would beat you to the punch by asking, “What do you need?” Just fly down to Tampa, FL and ask anyone what he has done for the city.

Being able to make fun of yourself is what defines an extraordinary man, this makes a man authentic and enables people to relate. This was signature of the Boss.

It makes his passing so surreal on the day of the All-Star Game, as George Steinbrenner was an All-Star of sports and he will be sorely missed by all of New York City and especially his Yankee fans.

New York Yankees Sweep A’s But Double Trouble In Seattle

The New York Yankees brought their brooms out West, as the Bombers easily swept the Oakland Athletics for three-games. Pitching set the tome, as Javy, AJ and Sabathia all were phenomenal in their starts.

The timing could not be better as the Yankees head to Seattle for four-games against the Mariners.

In case Yankee fans forgot on purpose, the Mariners were just in the Bronx a week ago. Trust me, never facing the Mariners one-two knockout of Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez ever again would have been fine with me.

Lee and King Felix totally massacred the Yankee bats last week. It was not pretty, or fun for Yankee fans to watch because it was that scary.

For a group who can’t score runs, the Mariners have certainly found the perfect solution. Putting Lee and the King on the mound is a guaranteed relief for the Mariner bats.

This makes today’s game a must win for the Yankees because double trouble starts are slated for Friday and Saturday’s games.

The Yankees best pitcher in these situations is on the mound tonight. Do I even need to type the name Andy Pettitte? Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Sweep A’s But Double Trouble In Seattle’ »

Last Chance To Vote 4 Nick Swisher To Be An All-Star

There is one spot left on the American League All-Star roster and it has Nick Swisher written all over it.

Could you think of a better player to represent baseball to the world than Nick Swisher?

Voting ends this Thursday…so PLEASE click the link below and:

VOTE 4 NICK SWISHER!!!

Winning series….key to AL East

I always believe that baseball season is the hardest to predict. Obvious reasons being…..its a long season, injuries are frequent and all these players are top athletes so can break out at anytime. Everyone has different theories to why a team wins their division, world series etc. Well a mix of players and managers that just works, as Joe Torre was the most losing manager in MLB before he came to the Yankees. And we know how that story ended…..

I truly think that baseball is streaky on wins/loses and a lot of fans do not even care about records till the All-Star break but unfortunately if your team is in the AL East every game counts cause the competition is fierce. Even the Orioles are good and Toronto has been due for this recognition but I do believe in this division it is who wins series throughout the season, which entails consistency throughout. I also think the experience of the Yanks and Red Sox is huge factor but the Rays are not afraid with a lot of young athletes who have now been to the end. The Rays are cocky and as we all know a player who makes it all about himself (aka BJ Upton) can disrupt a clubhouse.
All of the AL East teams have pitching, hitters and runners (props to Carl Crawford) so other than taking 2 of 3 games, the next cause will be set-up men, the dreaded middle relievers. I have watched so many games be so close only for the middle men to come and blow it!! As a fan it is the most nervous part of any game because I can’t seem to find the Mo or K-Rod of middle relief….I have nightmares of Farnsworth, who if only could locate the damn ball would be unhittable!!! Continue reading ‘Winning series….key to AL East’ »