Hughes Can't See, but the Opposing Offense Sure Can

Another night, another brutal start by Phil Hughes (and of course another 100 runners left on base - Cano makes me want to fucking puke everytime he steps in the box, but I digress). Over the past year, we've been flying the Phil Hughes flag pretty hard. I'll even admit to arguing that he could be a better starter than the almighty Joba. Well, I'm not too big a man to admit when I'm wrong and as of April 29, 2008 Phil Hughes is flat out terrible. Tonight's line - 3.2 innings pitches, 8 hits, 6 runs, 2 home runs, 3 walks and only two strike outs, is another representative of the problem Hughes is having: namely, that when opposing batters step into the batter's box they're getting busy on the salad and staying through dessert. Unfortunately, Hughes is not fooling anyone, guys are teeing off him. It is not just the amount of hits, it is the lack of strike outs and the fact that almost every hit Hughes gives up is smoked, the kid is not getting beat on seeing eye singles.

So what do we do? Hughes is only 21 and just months removed from looking awfully good in the playoffs against Cleveland. Hughes has talent, it is just a matter of whether or not he is ready for the majors. Interestingly, the new Yankees pitching coach is Dave Eiland who was also Hughes pitching coach in the minors. I'd love to know what Eiland is saying on the bench. Is he looking out and wondering, "gee, these same pitches got an awful lot of minor league batters out." Or is he going "Hughes is just missing, it is a matter of time." Some have suggested that Hughes has lost something off his fastball, if he has, then Eiland should step up and either fix his motion or perhaps send him down to develop another pitch. But something has to give.

The bottom line is that the Yankees are struggling to score runs, I'm pretty sure they lead the world in making bad pitchers look good and they are in the bottom 5 in batting avg with runners on base; the defense is dreadful, Jorge and A-Rod are hurting, Cano swings at every pitch regardless of how close to the strike zone it actually is, and Hideki Matsui is playing with giant chopsticks sticking out of his back. The team cannot afford to only be able to rely on Wang, Andy Pettitte and perhaps Mike Mussina again for quality starts. If Hughes and Kennedy are going to continue to set the ball on a tee for opposing hitters then Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi has to make a change. Ross Ohlendorf, especially after striking out 5 in 3.1 innings tonight, is starting to make a case for starting and there other arms in the minors. Oh, and there is that Joba guy only pitching an inning a game.

Aces High!

Wang gets Bruce Lee on Cleveland, using his Kung Fu grip to strike out 9.

We just wish we really had slept for a week...

We admit, we here at 26goingon27 have been asleep at the wheel this week. We'd like to say it was because we were zipping around the globe in our private jets, sipping Crystal smoothies and smoking ten foot cigars. Unfortunately, we were rocking around town in our worn out Kangaroos (pocket on the side, of course) and were just too tired/lazy to post about all the late night happenings in Chicago. But, because we are dedicated to our readers, here's what went down:

First the bad news, Brian Bruney, who has been outstanding this year, may be lost for the year after tearing some tendons in his foot. We'd like to think his tendons weakened after giving up beer, but it turns out to just be plain old bad luck. The Yanks bullpen took a major hit here.

Now, the good news, the Bombers took 2 out of 3 from the White Sox, a good start to the road trip. More importantly, Jason Giambi, sufficiently shamed by last weeks Minky is showing signs of life. The artist formerly known as the Giambino hit 3 home runs this week, a few deep doubles, and took a couple of walks, providing a huge boost to the lineup. Additionally, Alex Rodriguez is back, but because the Yanks actually have quality instead of shite on their bench, Morgan Ensberg did a decent job filling in. Still, we'd rather have the reigning MVP hitting bombs to right field in our lineup, then a guy named Morgan. Meanwhile, Bobby Abreu continues to carry the team with clutch hits, considering how he's hitting this year, the Yankees should sign him to a series of one year contracts.

The pitching was decent, but not great. Some people were celebrating the resurrection of Mike Mussina, but even Michael Kay, the homer's homer, pointed out that the Pale Hosers hit a few deep flys that probably would have gone out, had it not been for the cold weather. The Wanger had a decent start, getting a win when he pitched liked doo-doo. Phil Hughes looked great for 2 innings, but the rain delay wiped out his start. Props to Joe Girardi for not putting Hughes at risk by letting him go back to the mound after a 45 minute rain delay.

On another note, Kyle Farnsworth became a 26goingon27 favorite by throwing at Manny's head. Well, this morning I nearly ran out and bought a Farnsworth t-shirt after reading in the NY Times that Farnsworth is a fan of the arcade game Big Buck Hunter. Based on those two actions, we at 26goingon27 are offering an open invitation to Kyle to meet us anywhere in NY for a Big Buck Hunter tournament. We'll supply the quarters, Kyle just has to supply the beers.

Everyone Gets a Minky!

This weeks Minky goes to the entire Yankees offense. Watching this team hit is about as fun as getting a tongue scraping from a great white shark. The only saving grace is that no one on this team, other than Bobby Abreu and A-Rod, wants to take a pitch or try and actually get on base by taking a walk, so the innings are short and painful.

Yeah, I know, they kicked the shit out of Boston on Wednesday. Since then however, they've been shut down by the immortal Daniel Cabrera and some guy who won a pitch for the Orioles radio contest – Brian Buress. This past Friday the supposed Bronx Bomblets were held to 2 runs by Daniel Cabrera, the same Daniel Cabrera who sports a nifty 5.16 ERA and couldn't throw a strike if the ump used Dwight Howard's strike zone. The team followed up that sterling effort with an amazing ZERO runs against some dude name Brian Burres, I have no idea how disgusting this effort actually was because I have no idea who Brian Burres is. Given the Yanks did manage to win on Sunday, but no one should lose site of the fact that Steve Trachsel held the team to 3 runs in 6.1 innings. Getting only 3 runs against Trachsel is like only getting to third base against the drunk girl at the party who just broke up with her boyfriend and was throwing up from all the shots of Jaeger she did with her sorority sisters five minutes before you met her.

The golden turd in the lineup is Jason Giambi who is batting .109 with a .288 on base percentage and .283 slugging percentage. Even better his 2 home runs are both off the corpse of Mike Timlin and probably shouldn't be counted. Robinson Cano is doing all he can to kill any rally by batting .169, slugging .234 and getting on base at .200 clip. If those two weren't enough to make you puke on your notebook, Johnny Damon is hitting .215/.342/.400, although those numbers look nasty compared to the wonder twins Giambi and Cano. So, if you want to do the math – 9 batters, 3 automatic outs = Cabrera and Burres looking like major league pitchers.

Fortunately, fans shouldn't have to watch this abortion all summer, the offense should get better. Even though Giambi and Damon might be done (Cano will hit, just give him time) – Morgan Ensberg and Shelly Duncan can play DH/1B and the Yanks could get by with Bob Abreu, Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera in the outfield. (Hey guys who miss Torre – do you miss having Nick Green and Miguel Cairo on the bench?). Of course, even if Giambi returns to his pre-Balco form and Damon turns back into sasquatch, unless Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes can start making it past 4 innings and the defense can make it through 9 innings without an error, the Yanks are going to struggle to keep up with Boston this year.

NOTE: We at 26goingon27 think Joba Chamberlain should have been in the starting rotation all along. If the Brian Cashman is truly planning on bringing him along the way the Twins brought Johan Santana then things are all good. However, if the plan is to really keep Joba in the bullpen for his career, then Hank was right – that plan is idiotic.

15 Runs in 1yr 3mos 18days and 33minutes

It may have taken all night, but the Yankees bats undo Wang's mess.

Cano Comes Through in the 8th

It was buy one, get a home run for free at the Trop tonight. Fortunately for the Bombers, it was Robbie Cano's bomb that counted most. Damon, A-Rod and Morgan Ensberg went deep for the Yanks; Carl Crawford, BJ Upton, and Evan Longoria went yard for the Rays. Ian Kennedy was solid till he took a liner off the hip. Fortunately, Mo Rivera came in and put an end to the madness by treating the opposing hitters like the chumps that they are.

Poll 'o the Week Results

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