Some quick notes on Joba, Hughes

Here are a few quick items on the evening regarding Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain:

• Sam Borden has an interesting piece out on the way the Yankees’ starters work with each other in order to craft and refine their own repertoires. A notable item from the article is that former Yankee, Mike Mussina, advised Phil Hughes to adopt a “spike grip” for his curveball back in ’06. Hughes tried the grip and has used it ever since.
• According to an unnamed (of course) Yankee executive that spoke with ESPN 1050, on Wednesday, while facing Detroit, the first 2 innings Joba Chamberlain threw prior to giving up 6 earned runs were very good. In fact, the executive claimed that “he thought Chamberlain’s first two innings were the best he has looked in two years.”
• Speaking of Joba, Joe Pawlikowski of River Ave Blues on the right-hander’s reduced velocity, noting that he should employ his breaking pitches with greater regularity this season – and in the future – to counteract the loss. I think Joba’s curveball, in particular, is a very good pitch that he needs to use more often.

In 2009, the whiff rate on Joba’s curve was 14.9%, the second highest rate in his four-pitch repertoire, just behind the slider. It was put in play 10.9% of the time, which was actually the lowest rate of the four pitches in his arsenal.

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