When the last inning of 2011 is logged, owners will likely look back at Phil Hughes' splintered campaign and dub it "A Tale of Two Seasons."
The first half was certainly the worst of times.
Throughout spring training, the former 18-game winner was repeatedly battered. His control unhinged. Velocity dipped. Many within the Yankees organization and prospective owners in Fantasyland were on high alert.
Instead of rounding into form like many established pitchers eventually do off a rough exhibition season, Hughes continued to experience one April pounding after another,�promptly tumbling risk-takers to the bottom of the ERA ranks.�In three starts (10.1 IP), he surrendered a staggering 16 earned runs (four homers), only 11 fewer than AL ERA pacesetter Jered Weaver has allowed the entire season in 17 turns.
Diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation in mid-April and quickly placed on the 60-day DL, it seemed the former elite prospect's season was over before it really began.
However, better times lay ahead for the embattled righty.
While recuperating on the farm, the 25-year-old has rediscovered his mojo. Pedestrian fastballs that looked like giant grapefruits to hitters earlier this season are no longer. Touching 94 mph in his latest rehab start with Double-A Trenton, he is again popping the mitt with virility, routinely missing bats. �From the Daily News:
Wednesday, the Fisher Cats could barely touch Hughes. His velocity clocked in at 93-94 mph on an unofficial radar gun even in the fifth inning. He struck out eight in 61/3 innings of three-hit ball, and induced 20 swinging strikes, a vast improvement over the six swinging strikes he got in Friday's less-than-impressive showing in New Britain.
"It feels normal," he said of his throwing motion. "Like it did last year. I can tell by the swings that I'm getting. Earlier in April (hitters) just couldn't wait to get in the batter's box."
Brian Cashman believes Hughes needs one more MiLB start before returning to NYY's rotation, which will have to be reshuffled. With Baconator Bartolo also on track to return in short order, Joe Girardi is currently mulling over installing a six-man rotation. But shifting Ivan Nova to the 'pen is the most logical course of action.
Trusting an extreme fly-ball pitcher (career 45.7 FB%) in the Bronx Bandbox, especially one coming off a noteworthy shoulder injury, may seem akin to standing in the batter's box against a 'roided-up Ricky Vaughn sans head protection, but Hughes, when firing on all cylinders, clearly has the talent and run support necessary to produce a SP3 yield in 12-team mixers moving forward. Managers with bench or DL space available should immediately stash the 35-percent owned starter.
After a tumultuous first three months, the once trustworthy hurler is in position to write a memorable final chapter.
Fearless Forecast (rest of season): 85.2 IP, 7 W, 3.96 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 73 K
DOUBLE DIPPERS
For stream conscious owners who want to push the innings-pitched envelope this is the list for you. Run support, ballpark factors, historical and recent trends, opposing offenses, opposing SPs, managerial tendencies and meteorological influences are painstakingly taken into account to give you the top double dippers of each week.
Other AL Double Dippers: Mark Buehrle, ChW (KC, Min), John Lackey, Bos (Tor, Bal), Brian Duensing, Min (TB, at ChW), Joel Pineiro, LAA (Det, Sea), Brett Cecil, Tor (at Bos, at Cle), Brandon McCarthy, Oak (Sea, at Tex), Jeff Francis, KC (at ChW, at Det), Guillermo Moscoso, Oak (Sea, at Tex), Chris Jakubauskas, Bal (at Tex, at Bos)
Other NL Double Dippers: Randy Wolf, Mil (Ari, Cin), Ted Lilly, LAD (NYM, SD), Derek Lowe, Atl (Col, at Phi), Edinson Volquez, Cin (at StL, at Mil), Brett Myers, Hou (at Pit, at Fla), Chris Capuano, NYM (at LAD, at SF), Vance Worley, Phi (at Fla, at Atl), Mike Pelfrey, NYM (at LAD, at SF), Clayton Richard, SD (at SF, at LAD), Rubby De La Rosa, LAD (NYM, SD), Chris Volstad, Fla (Phi, Hou), Aaron Cook, Col (at Atl, at Was), Zach Duke, Ari (at Mil, at StL)
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Image courtesy of US Presswire
Katherine Heigl Lorri Bagley Leslie Bega Maria Sharapova Lindsay Price
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