Dr. Phil Good Making his Pitch

Phil Hughes knows what a disappointment 2008 was. Injuries and poor pitching left him winless, DL'ed and back in the minor leagues. But while some were ready to write off the 22-yr old, the Yankees top pitching prospect still had confidence in his abilities. It's paid off so far this season as he awaits a return to the major leagues.

Hughes out pitched veteran major league Freddy Garcia on Wednesday night in the Scranton Yankees 6-1 win over the Buffalo Bisons (Mets). He allowed 1 run and 6 hits over 7.2 innings, walked 1 and struck out 7. In doing so, Hughes raised his record to 3-0.

In 19.1 innings this season, Hughes has allowed just 4 earned runs (1.86 ERA) and given up less than a hit per inning. He's also struck out 19 opponents while walking only 3.

Hughes will be the go to man if Chien-Ming Wang ends up on the DL.

Chad Jennings had this additional info on Hughes' performance:

Phil Hughes (right) struck out seven batters tonight: Two on fastballs, one on a cutter and four on a curveball that was much improved from his previous two outings. Hughes said he's been focused on the curveball during his side sessions, and felt like he got the feel for it heading into this start. It was sharp, and he was willing to throw it in just about any count, including three-ball counts when he needed to drop it for a strike.

“His curveball was outstanding," pitching coach Scott Aldred said. "Command of it was good. Break was good. He used it in good situations. To me he just pitched a much better game. He didn’t just go after guys with his fastball, then use his secondary. He mixed it up real good. No patterns. That was probably the best that I’ve seen him this year.”

Hughes was upset with himself because of the eighth inning. With two outs, he walked Cory Sullivan, then gave up a single to Andy Green on pitch that Hughes said he simply did not execute. He called it a "lack of concentration." All told, though, he was outstanding. He went through four innings -- the fourth through the seventh -- getting every out either on strikes or in the infield. His re-discovered curveball gave him three outstanding pitches, with his fourth pitch, the changeup, still a work in process.

“Trying to develop it," Aldred said. "He threw a few good ones tonight. Others he got on the side of and pushed. As long as he’s throwing it and working on developing it, that’s all we can ask of him right now. It will come. As soon as he gets a good feel for it and enough reps, it will be there.”

Scranton Goes 11 to Go 6-0

The Scranton Yankees are off to the fast start the New York Yankees would like to have. It took 11 innings today, but the Yankees Triple-A affiliate prevailed over the Mets top squad, 5-3.

The Yankees improved to 6-0 when Austin Jackson walked, stole his second base of the game, and scored on Angel Berroa's double. Kevin Russo's fourth hit of the game, also a double, provided an insurance run for winner Mark Melancon (1-0).

	April 14, 2009
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E Scranton/WB 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 12 1 Buffalo 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 11 1 W: M. Melancon (1-0, 0.00); L: C. Muniz (0-1, 4.50) HR: None.

Box Score

Robertson continues to open eyes

David Robertson impressed Joe Girardi during spring training by striking out 10 hitters in 6-plus inning. Girardi said he wouldn't be surprised to see Robertson recalled to the majors at some point this season. Robertson's performance in today's Scranton Yankees games will continue to keep his name on everyone's lips.

Robertson struck out seven batters in three shutout innings of relief in the Yankees 6-5 win over the Mets' top affiliate, the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.

Robertson shut down the Bisons after starter Kei Igawa surrendered three home runs and couldn't hold 4-1 and 5-4 leads. Brett Tomko came on in the ninth to record his first save.

Justin Leone and Shelley Duncan homered for Scranton, but it was Kevin Russo's RBI single in the sixth inning that proved to be the difference.

Austin Jackson had three more hits in the game and is 11-22 (.500) on the season.

	April 13, 2009
	Game Over 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Scranton/WB 0 0 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 6 13 0 Buffalo 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 HR: SWB: S. Duncan (1), J. Leone (1). BUF: M. Abreu (1), B. Kielty (1), F. Martinez (1).

Juan Miranda earns 1st IL award

Chad Jennings has reported that Scranton Yankees first baseman Juan Miranda has picked up the first International League Batter of the Week award this season.

Miranda destroyed the Lehigh Valley IronPigs with two home runs, 11 RBI, and nine hits. He also slugged to an .895 perecentage.


photo courtesy of minorleaguebaseball.com

Hughes wins season debut

In the on-going debate on how Joba Chamberlain should be used, Phil Hughes' name is the one consistently brought up should the Yankees need a sixth starter. It so happened that Hughes made his season debut at Scranton on the same day Chamberlain made his first start of the year for the Yankees.

Their numbers were remarkably similar, each allowing three runs in six innings. Hughes (1-0) came out a winner though in the Yankees 14-5 pasting of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The victory completed a four game home sweep.

It was a big day too for the Kevins, Cash and Russo. Each drove in three runs with Cash hitting his first home run of the season. He also had three hits and three runs scored. Juan Miranda continued to rake, adding two more RBI to his team high total (11) and came up with three hits of his own.

	April 12, 2009
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Scranton/WB 0 0 4 1 1 1 2 0 5 14 15 1 Lehigh Valley 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 4 8 2 W: P. Hughes (1-0, 4.50); L: R. Lopez (0-1, 5.40) HR: SWB: K. Cash (1). LHV: M. Cervenak (1), J. Velandia (1).

Click here to see post game notes from Chad Jennings

Scranton pounds Lehigh Valley 12-5

After blowing a 3-0 lead, the Scranton Yankees rallied from a 5-3 deficit and blew out the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 12-5. Juan Miranda continued his hot start, belting a 3-run HR and drove in 4 runs. Miranda is batting .462 (6-13) with 2 home runs, 2 doubles, and 9 RBI. His OPS is a mere 1.610.

Al Aceves got roughed up in his first start of the season. After being handed a three run lead, he gave up 5 runs on 7 hits, with all the damage being done in LV's 5-run fourth inning.

Zach Kroenke, who was returned to the Yankees after being selected by the Marlins in the Rule V draft, picked up the win. Anthony Claggett worked the final three innings for his first save.

Todd Linden added his first home run for Scranton and John Rodriguez contribued four hits.

	April 11, 2009
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Scranton/WB 3 0 0 0 2 3 2 2 0 12 18 0 Lehigh Valley 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 11 0 W: Z. Kroenke (1-0, 0.00); L: D. Borkowski (0-2, 21.00); SV: A. Claggett (1) HR: SWB: J. Miranda (2), T. Linden (1). LHV: R. Thompson (1).

Scranton wins 2nd straight in 11

It took 11 innings, but the Scranton Yankees won their second straight game to start the season, 2-1 over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. John Rodriguez led off the eleventh with a double and two batters later scored on Shelley Duncan's single.

The Yankees tied the game in the seventh inning when Juan Miranda, who drove in 5 runs in the opener, doubled and later scored on an Angel Berroa single.

Brett Tomko picked up the win while J.B. Cox notched his first save. Ian Kennedy was outstanding in his first start of the season, allowing 1 run on 4 hits in six innings. He struck out 11 and didn't walk a batter. Tomko and David Robertson each struck 3 batters in 2 innings to give Yankees pitching 17 K's on the evening.

Prospect Watch
Austin Jackson was 2-5 with 3 K's.

Miranda's High 5 leads Scranton to Opening Win

Juan Miranda impressed the Yankees during spring training with his quick bat. Last night he impressed the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Miranda smacked a 3-run home run and drove in 5 runs to lead the Scranton Yankees to an 11-3 win in their season opening game.

Jason Johnson started for the Yankees, but was removed after 4.2 innings with the Yankees up 4-3. Anthony Claggett picked up the win as he, Mark Melancon, and Steven Jackson shut down Lehigh Valley for the rest of the night.

The Yankees put the game away with a 6-run sixth innings, highlighted by Miranda's home run.

	April 9, 2009
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Scranton/WB 2 0 0 0 2 6 0 0 1 11 12 1 Lehigh Valley 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 10 1 W: A. Claggett (1-0, 0.00); L: D. Borkowski (0-1, 18.00) HR: SWB: J. Miranda (1).

Scranton ready for season opener

The Scranton Yankees are set to start their International League season tonight with Jason Johnson getting the opening day start against Lehigh Valley. It's been quite a spring for Johnson, who was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer prior to reporting to camp.

Here's the 25-man roster, with one player still to be removed to get down to 24; according to beat writer Chad Jennings, P.J. Pilittere was told he would be inactive to start the season. Jennings also has an interview with Mark Melancon, who some have tabbed to be the heir apparent to Mariano Rivera.

Pitchers
91 Alfredo Aceves
35 Anthony Claggett
44 J.B. Cox
29 Kei Igawa
65 Phil Hughes
16 Steven Jackson
45 Jason Johnson
31 Ian Kennedy
51 Zach Kroenke
41 Mark Melancon
30 David Robertson
34 Brett Tomko

Catchers
18 Kevin Cash
*22 P.J. Pilittere
26 Chris Stewart

Infielders
xx Angel Berroa
02 Doug Bernier
10 Eric Duncan
07 Justin Leone
46 Juan Miranda
05 Kevin Russo

Outfielders
17 Shelley Duncan
24 Austin Jackson
25 Todd Linden
19 John Rodriguez

That's quite an outfield. Three veteran minor leaguers, who have each had a small cup of coffee in the majors and a rising star.

The Daily Yankeeland - 9/17

Phil Hughes tries to make an impression for 2009 tonight. Could he maybe win a game for a change?

Joe Girardi talked to Robinson Cano about his benching and then put him back in the lineup last night. Missed this one yesterday. Ken Davidoff knows it will take a team effort to get to Cano.

Good guy Bobby Abreu made a kid's wish come true.

Larry Brooks compares the Stadium to a museum.

More on the reported tax violations for the new Stadium.

Tony LaRussa talks about his visit to the Stadium on Monday night.

Sacramento beat Scranton in the one game Triple-A showdown in Oklahoma City. The game's MVP award was named after Bobby Murcer :)

A reminder - if you do the crime, you will pay the time. A warning against ripping off Stadium mementos.

Reginald Martinez Jackson talks about the House that Ruth Built and Reggie "Octoberized".

The YES announcers got screwed out of working the season finale, but Giants and ESPN announcer Jon Miller is ecstatic. Guess we'll hear Joe Morgan say "Bernie Wheelyums"

The Daily Yankeeland - 9/17

Phil Hughes tries to make an impression for 2009 tonight. Could he maybe win a game for a change?

Joe Girardi talked to Robinson Cano about his benching and then put him back in the lineup last night. Missed this one yesterday. Ken Davidoff knows it will take a team effort to get to Cano.

Good guy Bobby Abreu made a kid's wish come true.

Larry Brooks compares the Stadium to a museum.

More on the reported tax violations for the new Stadium.

Tony LaRussa talks about his visit to the Stadium on Monday night.

Sacramento beat Scranton in the one game Triple-A showdown in Oklahoma City. The game's MVP award was named after Bobby Murcer :)

A reminder - if you do the crime, you will pay the time. A warning against ripping off Stadium mementos.

Reginald Martinez Jackson talks about the House that Ruth Built and Reggie "Octoberized".

The YES announcers got screwed out of working the season finale, but Giants and ESPN announcer Jon Miller is ecstatic. Guess we'll hear Joe Morgan say "Bernie Wheelyums"

The Daily Yankeeland - 9/15

The Yankees open a four game series this evening with the Chicago White Sox at the Stadium tonight. The pale hose swept the Tigers in a doubleheader on Sunday to extend their AL Central lead to 1.5 games over the Twins.

Pitching match ups for the series:
Monday: Mark Buehrle (13-11, 3.88) vs. Al Aceves (1-0, 1.29)
Tuesday: Gavin Floyd (15-7, 3.77) vs. Andy Pettitte (13-13, 4.52)
Wednesday: Lance Broadway (1-0, 8.49) vs. Phil Hughes (0-4, 9.00)
Thursday: Javier Vazquez (12-13, 4.15) vs. Mike Mussina (17-9, 3.63)

Jorge Posada is a team leader in the Yankees clubhouse, but it will be interesting to see the reaction to comments he made on a taping of Centerstage, with Michael Kay. When Kay played word association and said, "Joba Chamberlain", Posada answered quite bluntly.

"Leave him in the bullpen," Posada replied flatly, before being asked to expand on his answer. "If you start him and he pitches 200 innings, he won't be able to (last).

"You're going to lose him. He's going to get hurt . . . I don't see him as a starter. I'd leave him in the bullpen."

We hadn't realized that Jorge was a pitching expert/coach. Posada expects to be ready by spring training and in not so many words, said Ivan Rodriguez has to go.

"Pudge, he's my friend, but he's going to have to go somewhere else."

There was no real likelihood of the Yankees bringing back I-Rod anyway.


The Journal Star has a profile on Joba Chamberlain's mom.

Unfortunately, Bob Sheppard will be unable to attend the Stadium finale on Sunday.

Newsday's Anthony Rieber thinks the Stadium farewell is "falling flat".

More on Derek Jeter's record tying Sunday.

Joe Girardi talked with Jack Curry about this year's disappointments.

The Scranton Yankees, winners of the International League championship, will face the Sacramento RiverCats, the A's triple-A affiliate and Pacific League champions, in a one game showdown on Tuesday. The game will be televised at 8 PM EDT on ESPN2.

The Daily Yankeeland - 9/15

The Yankees open a four game series this evening with the Chicago White Sox at the Stadium tonight. The pale hose swept the Tigers in a doubleheader on Sunday to extend their AL Central lead to 1.5 games over the Twins.

Pitching match ups for the series:
Monday: Mark Buehrle (13-11, 3.88) vs. Al Aceves (1-0, 1.29)
Tuesday: Gavin Floyd (15-7, 3.77) vs. Andy Pettitte (13-13, 4.52)
Wednesday: Lance Broadway (1-0, 8.49) vs. Phil Hughes (0-4, 9.00)
Thursday: Javier Vazquez (12-13, 4.15) vs. Mike Mussina (17-9, 3.63)

Jorge Posada is a team leader in the Yankees clubhouse, but it will be interesting to see the reaction to comments he made on a taping of Centerstage, with Michael Kay. When Kay played word association and said, "Joba Chamberlain", Posada answered quite bluntly.

"Leave him in the bullpen," Posada replied flatly, before being asked to expand on his answer. "If you start him and he pitches 200 innings, he won't be able to (last).

"You're going to lose him. He's going to get hurt . . . I don't see him as a starter. I'd leave him in the bullpen."

We hadn't realized that Jorge was a pitching expert/coach. Posada expects to be ready by spring training and in not so many words, said Ivan Rodriguez has to go.

"Pudge, he's my friend, but he's going to have to go somewhere else."

There was no real likelihood of the Yankees bringing back I-Rod anyway.


The Journal Star has a profile on Joba Chamberlain's mom.

Unfortunately, Bob Sheppard will be unable to attend the Stadium finale on Sunday.

Newsday's Anthony Rieber thinks the Stadium farewell is "falling flat".

More on Derek Jeter's record tying Sunday.

Joe Girardi talked with Jack Curry about this year's disappointments.

The Scranton Yankees, winners of the International League championship, will face the Sacramento RiverCats, the A's triple-A affiliate and Pacific League champions, in a one game showdown on Tuesday. The game will be televised at 8 PM EDT on ESPN2.

Scranton Wins Governors' Cup

The Scranton Yankees completed a three game sweep of the Durham Bulls to win the International League championship. The Yankees captured the Governors' Cup with a 20-2 pasting on Friday night.

Already leading 11-1, Scranton put eight runs on the board in the sixth inning to put the game completely out of reach. Juan Miranda had three hits, including a home run, and drove in a game high six runs. Justin Christian, Bernie Castro, and Chris Basak added 3 RBI each as the Yankees banged out 18 hits.

Phil Hughes picked up the win after striking out 12 batters in 5 innings. He allowed 1 run, 4 hits, and walked 4 batters. Jon Albaladejo and Zach Kroenke finished out the final four innings. Highly touted Rays prospect Wade Davis gave up 8 runs, 5 of them earned, in just two innings of work.

	September 12, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Scranton/WB 0 5 5 0 1 8 0 0 1 20 18 0 Durham 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 7 3 W: P. Hughes (1-0, 0.69); L: W. Davis (1-1, 6.75) HR: SWB: J. Miranda (1). DUR: G. Martinez (1).

Scranton Wins Governors' Cup

The Scranton Yankees completed a three game sweep of the Durham Bulls to win the International League championship. The Yankees captured the Governors' Cup with a 20-2 pasting on Friday night.

Already leading 11-1, Scranton put eight runs on the board in the sixth inning to put the game completely out of reach. Juan Miranda had three hits, including a home run, and drove in a game high six runs. Justin Christian, Bernie Castro, and Chris Basak added 3 RBI each as the Yankees banged out 18 hits.

Phil Hughes picked up the win after striking out 12 batters in 5 innings. He allowed 1 run, 4 hits, and walked 4 batters. Jon Albaladejo and Zach Kroenke finished out the final four innings. Highly touted Rays prospect Wade Davis gave up 8 runs, 5 of them earned, in just two innings of work.

	September 12, 2008
	Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Scranton/WB 0 5 5 0 1 8 0 0 1 20 18 0 Durham 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 7 3 W: P. Hughes (1-0, 0.69); L: W. Davis (1-1, 6.75) HR: SWB: J. Miranda (1). DUR: G. Martinez (1).