Hughes Cruises

Like a lot of Yankees fans I’m tired this morning, but who could turn off last night’s game in the middle of Young Mr. Hughes’  near no-hit gem?

Hughes made it look easy last night–not much needing his knuckle curve and, at least from what saw, never breaking out his new change up. Nope, he did it yesterday with a great live fastball that he was able to throw inside, outside, up and down (sure, he threw the curveballs too, but the put away pitch on 9 of his 10 K’s was the ol’ number 1).

Hughes looks like a different pitcher than the youngster who walked off the mound in Texas on May 1, 2007 with a no-hitter going after popping a hamstring. For one thing he’s bulked up. It was apparent last year too but in the context of comparing near no-nos the contrast is visible:three years ago it was a skinny kid giving it everything he had and straining himself. Last night is was a stocky grown man, delivery under control, ball jumping out of his hand, hitting spots, attacking hitters and keeping his pitch count low (I kept wondering if Girardi would come to pull the kid out in the 7th or 8th). For another thing, the maturing Hughes has more weapons. It was less on display last night-when one pitch was mostly all Hughes needed–but during his first start he featured a cut fastball he threw in on the hands of leftiesMariano-style, and a change up he threw diving away from them. The new pitches are clear evidence of Hughes’ teachability and ability to make adjustments, as well as evidence not only of his desire to compete but his ability for successfully translating the lessons he’s learning from couches and observation into physical action. It’s super impressive and the biggest reason, beyond the excellent stuff, that Hughes looks like he could be a superb major league starter.

He certainly was superb last night (and 4 hits in 12.1 with 16 strike outs ain’t a bad way to start the season). Now, excuse me, I have to go take a nap.

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