Total domination!
It seemed unlikely the Yankees would lose three consecutive games with any of their pitchers toeing the mound on Tuesday, but it was least likely with on the mound. CC demonstrated the he remains firmly in beast mode with a dominating performance against the Indians. CC lasted seven innings on 100 pitches, giving up five hits, no runs, only two walks and striking out eleven, his second consecutive start with more than ten strike outs.
To call CC’s stuff dominating would be an understatement. This was as strong a start as he’s given the Yankees this season. If the Bombers weren’t putting runs on the board at will Sabathia easily would have come out for the eighth inning.
Through seven innings Sabathia had complete command of all his pitches. The radar gun at Progressive Field (which may be jacked — who knows?) routinely clocked CC’s fastball at 97 mph. He was putting his fastball, changeup and slider wherever he wanted them. The Indians left handed hitters were particularly helpless against him. , , and combined to strike out nine times.
Watching this just keeps on getting better.
was every bit as bad as CC was good. He pitched just four innings on 93 pitches. He gave up six runs, ten hits, three walks and two homers (both to , who is so hot right now they were hosing him off in the dug out). Carrasco’s worst inning was the second, when the Yankees tagged him for five runs. Given the way CC was pitching, the game was pretty much over at that point.
While CC was embarrassing the Indians on the mound, the Yankee bats were pounding them at the plate. The Yankees scored nine runs on seventeen hits tonight. Granderson was the star of the evening with the lumber. He had two booming homers and three hits in total, knocking in three runs. also had an impressive evening, with two doubles (although one of them just as easily could have been ruled an Orlando Cabrera error). also had a big night, with an infield single in the first and a legit two run double in the second. In total, this was one of the Yankees’ most balanced offensive games of the year. Every single starter got at least two hits except for who had none (figures).
Throughout the broadcast Michael Kay constantly questioned why Sabathia was left off the All-Star steam when he will have at least twelve wins, and possibly thirteen, heading into the break. Wins are completely, and totally meaningless, so let me take a moment to explain why it is travesty that Sabathia is not on the team, using stats that actually matter. After Tuesday’s win CC’s ERA now stands at 2.90, which would be his best since joining the Yankees, and is an impressive feat in the AL East, while his WHIP is 1.20. Coming into last night’s start CC had 3.9 fWAR, which puts him third in all of baseball — not just the American League. He had a 2.67 FIP entering the game and was fourth in all of baseball in innings pitched, with 129.2. It is obvious that Sabathia is one of the best three or four pitchers in the game right now. If anyone other than were picking the players, CC’s omission would shock me, but nothing Washington does shocks me anymore because I’ve been certain he doesn’t know what he’s doing for a while now.
Wednesday’s game is an important one in Yankee land. makes his first start since going on the DL earlier this year. If Hughes can give the Yankees anything resembling his total season line from last year then his return would have a similar impact to a mid-season trade for a better than average starter and an improvement on (albeit it a marginal one). In the event Hughes can’t regain form, it would certainly represent a huge loss for the team because of how important young pitchers are, but Nova has been strong enough a starter to give the Yankees some breathing room if Phil struggles.
The Indians will counter with . The game begins at 7:05 pm. On a final, unrelated note, the Red Sox got some bad news. left his start last night with a strained lat and is expected to miss at least two weeks. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Injuries are part of sports. In a close race for first place anything bad for the Sox is good for the Yankees.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
What do you think a reasonable expectation for Hughes is tonight? 5IP/3R? 6/3? 6/4?
[Reply]
T.O. Chris Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 9:07 am
He threw 88 pitches in his last rehab start didn’t he?
If so I imagine he will be around 85-90 pitches tonight, so I would expect 5 complete innings and 5 or less earned. His biggest hurdle in that lineup will probably be Hafner, and Santana, being lefties (switch for Santana) that can knock it out.
I personally will be looking at control. It’s always been the biggest problem for Hughes, and if he ca come out and show some good as can be expected fastball command, I’ll be happy.
I’d love to see him mixing the curve and change with regularity, but tonight anyway that isn’t the biggest concern. Tonight he just needs to locate as well as possible, and get some confidence on his side.
Any word on Asdrubal Cabrera and his availability?
[Reply]
Tim Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 10:16 am
You have low expectations of Hughes to say you expect him to give up 5 or less earned runs.
He should have a start at least as good as the first of two starts Brian Gordon made considering who the hell was/is Gordon?
I expect at least 5 IP and 2 or 3 ER out of Hughes tonight.
[Reply]
What I’m looking for tonight is Hughes attacking hitters, especially after getting 2 strikes on them. I assume that Martin will be catching him, so Hughes needs to just concentrate on execution and allow Martin to call the game. In other words, I’m looking more to see if Hughes has learned anything from his troubles than I’m strictly looking at results. That being said, if he’s allowed 100 pitches, he must complete 6 innings.
[Reply]
Matt Imbrogno Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 8:56 am
I just hope he doesn’t forget that he’s allowed to throw a pitch that isn’t a four seamer or a cutter.
[Reply]
Phil C Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 9:19 am
How much influence do you think Martin will or even can have on Hughes’ pitch selection?
[Reply]
Professor Longnose Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 10:32 am
How do you learn pitch selection by being injured? It’s sort of a separate issue.
[Reply]
Phil C Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 10:38 am
I was referring to his “troubles” not as an injury but how he struggled late last year and early this year in putting away hitters. Sorry I was clearer on that issue. Just getting his velocity back won’t necessarily make him a more effective pitcher.
[Reply]
Professor Longnose Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
True. He does have some things to learn.
[Reply]
Knowing Girardi, I will assume he is taken out after 75-80 pitches (not that I would complain with that in his first start back). If I’m correct, does this mean we have a Mitre sighting tonight :(
[Reply]
I was looking at Sabathia’s numbers on fangraphs last night, and I was surprised to find that he currently has the lowest FIP of his career. We are talking about a Cy Young award winner, and a pitchers who’s K/9 has come down over the years. He really is pitching better than he has the past 2 seasons with the Yankees. If he has his normal strong second half, he could nake a real case for Cy Young yet again.
[Reply]
Mike Jaggers-Radolf Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 9:50 am
I struggle to see CC winning the Cy Young in the AL given the way Justin Verlander and Jared Weaver are pitching. He’s been better than Verlander, but I don’t think Cy Young voters care about WAR, even if they do not look to things like ERA and WHIP. That said, CC will figure in the conversation and he is on pace to accumulate about 260 innings pitched.
What he will definitely earn himself is a dump truck full of money. He will opt out and the Yankees will have to make him an even better offer. There will be a thick market for his services if they don’t.
[Reply]
Granderson now actually has more home runs now on the road than he does at home. So much for the Yankee Stadium being the reason for his home runs theory. He looks to still be on pace for a 40 HR, 120 RBI, 150 R, 28 SB season, and he’s leading the AL in triples. That would have to go down as the most well rounded season I have seen any Yankee post in quite some time. In fact does anyone know the last time a Yankee posted these kinds of numbers?
[Reply]
Mike Jaggers-Radolf Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 9:43 am
A-Rod in 2007. 54 homers. 154 RBI. 143 Runs. 24 SB. .314/.422/.645. Also, 183 hits, 95 BB’s.
[Reply]
Professor Longnose Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 10:29 am
He sucked. He didn’t have ANY triples that year!
[Reply]
Mike Jaggers-Radolf Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 10:40 am
Frankly he should give his MVP to Magglio Ordonez then!
[Reply]
Duh, Innings! Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 11:29 am
Alfonso Soriano 2002:
156 games (I’m assuming at least 150 starts for all his PAs)
741 PA
696 AB
128 R
209 H
51 2B
2 3B
39 HR
102 RBI
41 SB (Impressive considering he had prime Jeter, Giambi, and Williams in that order after him, it was Giambi’s best year as a Yankee and Bernie’s last great one.)
13 CS
23 BB (LOL)
157 (LOL)
.300 BA
.332 OBP
.547 SLG
.880 OPS
Silver Slugger
Third in the ALMVP voting
Granted Sori batted leadoff, was protected by prime Jeter, and had prime Jeter/Giambi/Williams after him most of the year if not all year and he wasn’t half the CF Granderson is, so it isn’t as impressive as projected 2011 Granderson, but it’s the closest a Yankee has got to projected Granderson numbers in recent times at least statistically.
If Granderson finishes with 40 HR, 120 RBI, 120+ runs etc. wins a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove, perhaps even the ALMVP or he finishes 2-5 in the voting, it could very well be the greatest all-around season by a Yankee with the GG and SB and him producing this kind of season at various slots in the order thus with protection of varying quality.
[Reply]
he goes four innings…
[Reply]
“his return would have a similar impact to a mid-season trade for a better than average starter and an improvement on Ivan Nova (albeit it a marginal one).”
Either you’re giving Nova too much credit, or Hughes too little… I can’t figure out which one.
[Reply]
Mike Jaggers-Radolf Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 10:45 am
Neither.
Phil Hughes 2010: 4.19 ERA, 4.25 FIP, 4.13 xFIP, 1.25 WHIP
Ivan Nova 2011: 4.12 EAR, 4.42 FIP, 4.21 xFIP, 1.47 WHIP
Literally, the only difference between what the Yankees have gotten so far from Nova this year and what Hughes gave them last year is 0.22 base runners more per inning when Nova pitches, or about two more base runners per game.
Hughes is marginally the better pitcher right now based on performance because he allows slightly fewer base runners and strikes out more batters. That’s it. Hughes has a higher ceiling as a starter based on what he did in the minors, but that has yet to translate to the big league level.
[Reply]
Dismortologist Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 10:57 am
Ok… but can you then reasonably say that Hughes’ addition to the team is commensurate to a mid-season trade for a BETTER than average starter?
[Reply]
Mike Jaggers-Radolf Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Yes, but only slightly above average. He’s not a huge improvement, but his 2010 numbers were above average.
[Reply]
Duh, Innings! Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Absolutely not.
If you consider Hughes a trade acquisition, then the Yankees acquired a guy who is 0-1 with a 13.94 ERA in 3 GS and he’s replacing starter who is 8-4 with a 4.12 ERA in 16 GS.
Hughes starting tonight is utterly, totally ridiculous for the simple fact that not one person on here is saying he could go 6 or more innings. Ok, then why start him when Pendleton is out of commission for the next three days from throwing 45 pitches last night? Pendleton will be back in AAA today if he isn’t there already.
If the Yankees acquired Gavin Floyd and he was starting tonight, no one on here would be predictin 5 or 5+ IP from him. Gavin Floyd. I like him but he doesn’t exactly psych me up. Nova is better than him for what he’s done so far as a fifth starter. You anti-Nova people seem to forget Nova posted what he posted as a fifth starter.
All you Hughes > Nova people can hang your collective hat on is Hughes’ 2010. Ok then let’s re-sign Chien Mien Wang and start him over whoever next year (assuming he comes back next year or is he back pitching already)? After all, he had a pair of 19-win seasons sandwiched by two nice half-seasons, the second one cut short by injury. He even won a game for the 2009 World Champion Yankees. He’s done considerably more than Hughes as a starter. Let’s bring back Wang for 2012 and have him replace whoever, to hell with whoever replaces him.
[Reply]
Duh, Innings! Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Stop using Hughes’ 2010!!! It’s 2011. And Nova’s ERA is lower than Hughes despite putting on more baserunners as indicated by his higher WHIP than Hughes’, so he’s a better pitcher. You’ve shown Nova puts more men on base but gives up fewer runs hahaha.
Hughes is 0-1 with a 13.94 ERA in 3 GS in 2011. Add those numbers to his 2010 and his ERA is even higher than Nova’s. His WHIP might be, too. Hughes had his ass handed to him by the Rangers twice in last year’s ALCS, both games were losses. He was the primary reason why the Yankees didn’t go to last year’s World Series because he was the #2 and he pitched like 2010 Burnett. He pitched like an overmatched #5. Nova or even Dustin Moseley probably could’ve beaten the Twins.
Since you and others want to constantly bring up Hughes’ 2010 like it’s an extension of his 2011 when it isn’t, ok, Hughes was 10-1 with a 3.17 ERA in his first 13 starts of 2010. He was a 7-7 (.500) starter the rest of the year, 7-7 because his 18th win was in relief (a one-inning tuneup for the postseason 10/2.) He finished 2010 with an ERA of 4.19, 1.02 runs higher than his ERA through his first 13 GS. Someone was closer to 5 ERA than 4 the rest of the way. He was good against the Yankees’ perennial or near perennial postseason patsies the Twins and again blew against real competition in the Rangers.
All you people hoping/thinking/predicting he’ll go 4 or 5 innings proves my point that starting him tonight is bullshit. The Yankees have lessened their chances of winning this series by starting Hughes over Nova. You all are treating this game like it’s extended spring training, well it’s not and shouldn’t be. If the Yankees lose and the Rays win tonight, guess what? The Rays are in position to tie for the division lead. Of course that’d mean they’d have to sweep the Yankees to do so and I think that’s unlikely but you never know. Why give open the door for them to do that by starting a guy who has barely pitched this year and is still somewhat of an unknown quantity since he’s coming back from injury? Thankfully he doesn’t face TB this weekend and CC will.
You know what’s comical and stupid about Nova’s demotion? He was sent down and Pendleton was called up but Pendleton was so shitty he will be or has been sent down today because he threw so many pitches (45 to be exact) to finish a game he won’t be available to pitch for another two or three days. The guy couldn’t just pitch a pair of scoreless innings with 25-30 pitches tops. Now the Yankees can’t call Nova back up with the ten-day rule.
Ya think the Yankees could’ve called up Hughes AND kept Nova as the mopup man in case Hughes blows tonight? Now the Yankees have neither Nova nor Pendleton. Great work Cashman.
Of course I will root for Hughes to pitch well tonight, but the Yankees roster manuevering makes no sense whatsoever.
[Reply]
Matt Imbrogno Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
Stop using Hughes’ record and ERA in three games. It’s disingenuous and you know it.
[Reply]
Moshe Mandel Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
What is hilarious about all of this is that you wanted Nova sent down as recently as a month ago. For the first two months, every time he pitched poorly you said “he’s barely a 5th starter, give him one more start and then go to Millwood/Silva/Warren.” Now sending him down is this shocking mistake? Come on.
[Reply]
T.O. Chris Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
I stopped really paying attention when he said Alex was “done” early in the season, and we should trade while we still can for a salary dump.
[Reply]
Wins by a starting pitcher are not meaningless. They indicate the number of times a starter leaves a game allowing less runs than the opposing pitching in the time he was in the game. They also indicate the number of times a starter contributes to a win.
If Sabathia posts 7 IP 2 R (1 ER) and leaves the game with the Yanks up 7-2 and the Yanks hold on to win 8-6, it is safe to say Sabathia’s performance contributed to the win considering his bullpen (perhaps defense, too, if an unearned run was allowed) 2 IP 4 R shit the bed. Sabathia (along with the offense) won that game. The bullpen won it, too, but only because they didn’t give up enough runs to tie or lose the game.
If you’re gonna say wins are meangingless, then you have to say losses are meaningless, too, because while it is absurd that a dude who gives up 8 ER in 5 IP could win a game if he leaves the game with his team up 13-8 and they hang on to win 15-12, it is equally absurd that a dude who pitches a perfect game through 26 batters could lose a game 1-0 because he gave up a walkoff homerun to the 27th batter (the absolute most brutal loss in a baseball game.) You also have to say a no decision is meaningless because a guy who gives up 7 runs in 2 1/3 IP but gets off the hook if his team ties it 9-9 in the 7th is considered an equal pitcher to a dude who pitches nine shutout innings but doesn’t get the win cuz his team didn’t walk off with the win in the 9th or take the lead in the 10th then win in the bottom half off the frame.
Let’s eliminate wins, losses, and no-decisions altogether and just show a guy’s ERA, WHIP, and GS.
[Reply]
Mike Jaggers-Radolf Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
A pitcher’s record is meaningless, completely and utterly meaningless. Look at Verlander last night. He pitched 7.2 innings, allowed one run and lost. He didn’t lose, his offense did.
IP is more important than GS in the stats above that you suggest. But a pitcher’s record is the worst statistic in baseball that is still widely cited.
[Reply]
Duh, Innings! Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Verlander lost because he was outpitched. He gave up more runs than the other team did. Give credit to the opposing pitching.
By your logic, it isn’t Verlander’s fault if he gives up a walkoff solo homerun after getting the first 26 batters out when it is. The opposing pitching gave up no runs through nine innings, who cares how many hits or walks were given up. 0-0 through nine, Verlander has a perfect game through 8 2/3 IP, serves up the solo shot, Tigers lose, L to Verlander. You wanna say his offense lost, well, then don’t give Verlander a win when he posts 6 IP 7 ER, leaves the game up 11-7 and the Tigers win the game 15-7. His offense won the game not him.
IP > GS, but I wasn’t talking about GS, I was showing you Hughes was a far worse pitcher after his 13th start last year than he was in his first 13 GS. I was pointing out a trend. His ERA was so high he finished with an ERA 1.02 runs higher than what he had through his first 13 GS. 3.17 through his first 13, he finished with 4.19.
Look up his 2010 gamelog and tell me he didn’t get progressively worse as the year went on. If you tell me that, then you are either blind or living in denial.
2010 Hughes was a solid #3 only because of his hot 10-1, 3.17 ERA first 13 GS start. He pitched like a #4 most of the year. He had the win total of a #2 but was nowhere close to being a #2. His highest IP was 7 1/3 IP and his highest SO total was 8 and he did that only once, 7 SO two or three times.
[Reply]
Btw when the talk of wins comes up, ultimately “run support” is part of the convo.
True run support for a starting pitcher is the runs per game a team scores while the starting pitcher is in the game. ‘Say Phil Hughes posts 6 IP and leaves the game up 4-2, the Yankees win 9-6. Hughes did not get 9 runs of support, he got 4. His run support should be 4 not 9. How could you get 5 more runs of support when you’re not in the game anymore?
What if a starter wins a game where the final score is 9-2 but he left the game up only 3-1 through 7 IP? He got run support as in a ton of runs? No. If anyone got run support, it was his bullpen (6 runs in 3 innings.)
Run support as it’s talked about is misleading.
[Reply]
Mike Jaggers-Radolf Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Is it? I didn’t mention run support because it equates into the question of pitcher wins, a stat that I’ve already rejected.
[Reply]
Duh, Innings! Reply:
July 6th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
It is misleading for the simple fact that you more often than not leave a game with your team scoring amount of runs which won’t be the final tally.
You could win 10-2 but leave a game up only 4-2 through six.
[Reply]
[...] original here: CC demoralizes the Indians, while the offense takes care of the … AKPC_IDS += "24942,"; AKPC_IDS += [...]