Thursday, April 26, 2007

Jacked Up for Tonight!


I've been waiting for this day for the past 2 years....

PHILIP HUGHES, 20, makes his much anticipated major-league debut tonight vs. Toronto -- at The Stadium. By all accounts, Hughes is the top pitching prospect in all of baseball.

Standing at 6'5", Hughes has been tagged as having "the best arm in camp" for the past 2 years -- by the likes of Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez. On numerous occasions, Jason Giambi has compared him to Roger Clemens.

Last year in the minors, Hughes dominated -- to the tune of 168 K's (and only 34 walks) in 146 innings.

Over the course of the 253 innings pitched in his minor league career, Hughes has done it all... 23-8 record, 2.24 ERA, an amazing 286:58 K-to-BB clip. And of course, the microscopic WHIP of 0.87.

Here's to hoping that Hughes' impeccable control (the issue with almost all prospects) translates into immediate success at the big-league level.

Red Sox fans...familiarize yourself with this mug - because for the next 15 years, you will be watching:

  • 93-98 MPH fastballs (mostly 4-seamers)
  • a low 80's 12-to-6 and 1-to-7 hard-breaking curveball -- which is absolutely DEVASTATING
  • a hard slider with late bite
  • an improving changeup
  • ...and lastly, a very deceiving delivery

Come October, tell me how the "banged-up" rotation of...WANG, PETTITTE, CLEMENS, MUSSINA, and HUGHES...sounds?

2 comments:

Norman P. Orlando said...

1. i'd be surprised if the yankees are in the post-season
2. $50 says Hughes gets tatooed tonight
3. how much can you believe the judgement of people on YOUR OWN TEAM, in terms of evaluating talent. Of course A-Rod, Giambi, and Posada are going to say he has good stuff. Do you honestly think they're going to $hit all over him???!

Simply Suds said...

I hope Phillip Hughes needs Tommy John surgery by the weekend...you friggin herb.