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.”

I Say No-No-No

Phil Hughes has decided to be quite greedy this spring. The right-hander dominated the Minnesota Twins Sunday afternoon, en route to a 6-4 Yankees victory. Hughes walked 2 batters, but did not allow a hit or run in 4 innings of work. Both walks came in his final frame. So far this spring, Dr. Phil Good has not allowed a hit in 6 innings pitched (5 "official" IP plus 1 in the USF game).

The Yankees offense gave Hughes support early with 3 runs in the second. Jose Molina delivered the big hit, a 2-run double. The Yankees tacked on single runs in each of the 4th through 6th innings. Jose Tabata, Morgan Ensberg, and Robinson Cano delivering RBI hits. Tabata drove in a pair of runs on the day.

The Yankees held the Twins without a hit until the 7th inning when Tommy Watkins singled off of Alan Horne. Kei Igawa threw 2 scoreless innings, but he didn't do it without his usual tightrope walk. Igawa walked the bases loaded in the 5th, issuing two free passes after their were 2 outs. But he managed to induce an inning ending ground out from Carlos Gomez.

The Twins battled back, scoring 4 runs (2 earned) off Jeff Marquez and Chase Wright, before Scott Patterson recorded the final out for the save.

The Yankees, who evened their record at 4-4, return home for a 7:15 start Monday night against the Reds. Joba Chamberlain gets the start for the Yankees, while the Reds send their top rookie, Homer Bailey to the mound. Mariano Rivera will also make his 2nd appearance of the spring.

After the game, Horne, Marquez, and Wright were each assigned to the minor league camp.

Hideki Matsui went 0-3 in his first appearance of the spring, but felt good afterwards.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NY Yankees	0	3	0	1	1	1	0	0	0		6	10	2
Minnesota	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2		4	4	2

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Cabrera, CF	3	0	0	0	1	0	2	.333
Jackson, A, CF	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.125
Cano, 2B	3	0	1	1	1	0	3	.474
Castro, B, 2B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.167
Matsui, DH	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
a-Porter, PH-DH	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	.444
Duncan, 1B	1	2	1	0	2	0	0	.500
Miranda, 1B	2	0	0	0	0	1	2	.000
Ensberg, 3B	2	1	1	1	1	0	1	.429
1-Green, PR-3B	2	0	0	0	0	2	2	.000
Lane, LF	1	1	1	0	2	0	0	.313
2-Gardner, B, PR-LF	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.333
Molina, C	3	1	1	2	0	0	3	.133
Anson, C	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
Woodward, SS	3	1	2	0	0	0	2	.529
Gonzalez, SS	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.333
Tabata, J, RF	3	0	1	2	0	1	2	.143
Curtis, RF	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.200
Totals	33	6	10	6	8	5	21
a-Walked for Matsui in the 7th. 1-Ran for Ensberg in the 5th. 2-Ran for Lane in the 5th.
BATTING 2B: Molina (1, Bonser), Ensberg (4, Keisler), Porter (2, Bass). TB: Cano; Porter 2; Duncan; Ensberg 2; Lane; Molina 2; Woodward 2; Gonzalez; Tabata, J. RBI: Molina 2 (3), Tabata, J 2 (2), Ensberg (2), Cano (5). 2-out RBI: Cano. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera; Green. GIDP: Matsui; Cano; Molina. Team LOB: 8. FIELDING E: Curtis (1, throw), Gonzalez (2, fielding).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Hughes (W, 2-0)	4.0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0.00
Igawa	2.0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0.00
Horne	1.0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0.00
Marquez	1.0	2	2	1	1	0	0	9.00
Wright	0.2	1	2	1	2	0	0	13.50
Patterson (S, 1)	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00

WP: Horne.
Ground outs-fly outs: Hughes 7-4, Igawa 2-4, Horne 1-2, Marquez 1-2, Wright 2-0, Patterson 0-1
Batters faced: Hughes 14, Igawa 9, Horne 6, Marquez 6, Wright 6, Patterson 1
Inherited runners-scored: Patterson 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Randy Marsh. 1B: Chuck Meriwether. 2B: Brian O'Nora. 3B: Fieldin Culbreth.
Weather: 61 degrees, sunny.
Wind: 12 mph, In from CF.
T: 2:49.
Att: 8,163.

I Say No-No-No

Phil Hughes has decided to be quite greedy this spring. The right-hander dominated the Minnesota Twins Sunday afternoon, en route to a 6-4 Yankees victory. Hughes walked 2 batters, but did not allow a hit or run in 4 innings of work. Both walks came in his final frame. So far this spring, Dr. Phil Good has not allowed a hit in 6 innings pitched (5 "official" IP plus 1 in the USF game).

The Yankees offense gave Hughes support early with 3 runs in the second. Jose Molina delivered the big hit, a 2-run double. The Yankees tacked on single runs in each of the 4th through 6th innings. Jose Tabata, Morgan Ensberg, and Robinson Cano delivering RBI hits. Tabata drove in a pair of runs on the day.

The Yankees held the Twins without a hit until the 7th inning when Tommy Watkins singled off of Alan Horne. Kei Igawa threw 2 scoreless innings, but he didn't do it without his usual tightrope walk. Igawa walked the bases loaded in the 5th, issuing two free passes after their were 2 outs. But he managed to induce an inning ending ground out from Carlos Gomez.

The Twins battled back, scoring 4 runs (2 earned) off Jeff Marquez and Chase Wright, before Scott Patterson recorded the final out for the save.

The Yankees, who evened their record at 4-4, return home for a 7:15 start Monday night against the Reds. Joba Chamberlain gets the start for the Yankees, while the Reds send their top rookie, Homer Bailey to the mound. Mariano Rivera will also make his 2nd appearance of the spring.

After the game, Horne, Marquez, and Wright were each assigned to the minor league camp.

Hideki Matsui went 0-3 in his first appearance of the spring, but felt good afterwards.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NY Yankees	0	3	0	1	1	1	0	0	0		6	10	2
Minnesota	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2		4	4	2

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Cabrera, CF	3	0	0	0	1	0	2	.333
Jackson, A, CF	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.125
Cano, 2B	3	0	1	1	1	0	3	.474
Castro, B, 2B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.167
Matsui, DH	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
a-Porter, PH-DH	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	.444
Duncan, 1B	1	2	1	0	2	0	0	.500
Miranda, 1B	2	0	0	0	0	1	2	.000
Ensberg, 3B	2	1	1	1	1	0	1	.429
1-Green, PR-3B	2	0	0	0	0	2	2	.000
Lane, LF	1	1	1	0	2	0	0	.313
2-Gardner, B, PR-LF	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.333
Molina, C	3	1	1	2	0	0	3	.133
Anson, C	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
Woodward, SS	3	1	2	0	0	0	2	.529
Gonzalez, SS	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.333
Tabata, J, RF	3	0	1	2	0	1	2	.143
Curtis, RF	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.200
Totals	33	6	10	6	8	5	21
a-Walked for Matsui in the 7th. 1-Ran for Ensberg in the 5th. 2-Ran for Lane in the 5th.
BATTING 2B: Molina (1, Bonser), Ensberg (4, Keisler), Porter (2, Bass). TB: Cano; Porter 2; Duncan; Ensberg 2; Lane; Molina 2; Woodward 2; Gonzalez; Tabata, J. RBI: Molina 2 (3), Tabata, J 2 (2), Ensberg (2), Cano (5). 2-out RBI: Cano. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera; Green. GIDP: Matsui; Cano; Molina. Team LOB: 8. FIELDING E: Curtis (1, throw), Gonzalez (2, fielding).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Hughes (W, 2-0)	4.0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0.00
Igawa	2.0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0.00
Horne	1.0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0.00
Marquez	1.0	2	2	1	1	0	0	9.00
Wright	0.2	1	2	1	2	0	0	13.50
Patterson (S, 1)	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00

WP: Horne.
Ground outs-fly outs: Hughes 7-4, Igawa 2-4, Horne 1-2, Marquez 1-2, Wright 2-0, Patterson 0-1
Batters faced: Hughes 14, Igawa 9, Horne 6, Marquez 6, Wright 6, Patterson 1
Inherited runners-scored: Patterson 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Randy Marsh. 1B: Chuck Meriwether. 2B: Brian O'Nora. 3B: Fieldin Culbreth.
Weather: 61 degrees, sunny.
Wind: 12 mph, In from CF.
T: 2:49.
Att: 8,163.

The Path to Glory

We can only hope that Phil Hughes turns out to be a monumental success. No, it's not because we didn't get Johan Santana. And, yes, there's probably unnecessary added pressure on him because of that. But from what we've seen so far of the kid, we would want him to succeed even if he had been dealt.

We nicknamed him Dr. Phil Good last year because of his approach to pitching and how mature he came across in interviews. He knows how to be a professional and still be a 20-something.

Well, the promising right-hander has stepped it up even more this year. We mentioned back in January, that Phil had decided to start blogging. Needless to say, he's gotten more hits than a team full of Pete Roses.

But Phil is not only giving back to the fans through his blog, but through his generosity. So far he has held 3 contests, the winner of the latest one to be determined at 9 pm eastern time tonight. He's given away an autographed used game ball from last year's ALDS and an autographed ball from last year's team. Tonight's winner gets a fleece warmup with his new #34 sewn into it. Of course the winner probably won't be able to wear it since it's an XXL and it was even too big for the 6'5" Hughes.

We hope there's success in the future for Dr. Phil Good, but beyond that we hope he continues to have his head and heart in the right place.

The Path to Glory

We can only hope that Phil Hughes turns out to be a monumental success. No, it's not because we didn't get Johan Santana. And, yes, there's probably unnecessary added pressure on him because of that. But from what we've seen so far of the kid, we would want him to succeed even if he had been dealt.

We nicknamed him Dr. Phil Good last year because of his approach to pitching and how mature he came across in interviews. He knows how to be a professional and still be a 20-something.

Well, the promising right-hander has stepped it up even more this year. We mentioned back in January, that Phil had decided to start blogging. Needless to say, he's gotten more hits than a team full of Pete Roses.

But Phil is not only giving back to the fans through his blog, but through his generosity. So far he has held 3 contests, the winner of the latest one to be determined at 9 pm eastern time tonight. He's given away an autographed used game ball from last year's ALDS and an autographed ball from last year's team. Tonight's winner gets a fleece warmup with his new #34 sewn into it. Of course the winner probably won't be able to wear it since it's an XXL and it was even too big for the 6'5" Hughes.

We hope there's success in the future for Dr. Phil Good, but beyond that we hope he continues to have his head and heart in the right place.

Tonight's Lineups (8/31)

Last Day of August, the Yankees start a 3 game series with the Devil Rays and My Pinstripes heads out on vacation.

Here are tonight's lineups:

Andy Sonnanstine (3-9, 6.38) vs. Phil Hughes (2-2, 5.35)

Devil Rays

A. Iwamura 3b
C. Crawford lf
C. Pena 1b
B.J. Upton cf
D. Young rf
B. Harris 2b
G. Norton dh
D. Navarro c
J. Wilson ss

Yankees
J. Damon dh
D. Jeter ss
B. Abreu rf
A. Rodriguez 3b
H. Matsui lf
J. Posada c
J. Giambi 1b
R. Cano 2b
M. Cabrera cf

Tonight's Lineups (8/31)

Last Day of August, the Yankees start a 3 game series with the Devil Rays and My Pinstripes heads out on vacation.

Here are tonight's lineups:

Andy Sonnanstine (3-9, 6.38) vs. Phil Hughes (2-2, 5.35)

Devil Rays

A. Iwamura 3b
C. Crawford lf
C. Pena 1b
B.J. Upton cf
D. Young rf
B. Harris 2b
G. Norton dh
D. Navarro c
J. Wilson ss

Yankees
J. Damon dh
D. Jeter ss
B. Abreu rf
A. Rodriguez 3b
H. Matsui lf
J. Posada c
J. Giambi 1b
R. Cano 2b
M. Cabrera cf