Tracking Phil Hughes' fastball velocity vs. Tigers via MLB Gameday

Since a lot of Yankee fans are pretty obsessed with Phil Hughes fastball velocity, we figured it would be worth keeping an eye on. I love the data available to the average fan using MLB Gameday. Here's what we are seeing for Hughes velocity on his fastballs:

FIRST INNING:
6 fastballs @ 94 MPH
4 fastballs @ 93 MPH
3 fastballs @ 92 MPH or lower

SECOND INNING
3 fastballs @ 93 MPH
1 fastball @ 92 MPH
1 fastball @ 91 MPH
Gotta say, Hughes looks pretty good through two. 3 K's, 0 BB. He's throwing pretty hard, too.

THIRD INNING
3 fastballs @ 93 MPH
6 fastballs @ 92 MPH
2 fastballs @ 91 MPH

FOURTH INNING
1 fastball @ 93 MPH
6 fastballs @ 91 MPH
1 fastball @ 89 MPH
There were a few pitches that gameday has read as his fastball thrown at 87-88, but to my eye, they were really Hughes' cutter, so I'm not listing those.

FIFTH INNING
3 fastballs @ 93 MPH
2 fastballs @ 92 MPH
Just got a funny text from my buddy Brendan who blogs for Smoking With Hank: "Hughes is becoming a man tonight." Is he right?

SIXTH INNING
3 fastballs @ 93 MPH
4 fastballs @ 92 MPH
4 fastballs @ 91 MPH
After the Yankees batted for a half hour, the Yankees took Hughes out. He threw 99 pitches and only gave up 2 hits in 6 innings. Pretty good 2009 debut, no?
Read the full post, after the jump

What a difference a year makes

Imagine one year ago today, I told you that Phil Hughes, Ross Ohlendorf and Joba Chamberlain all pitched a couple of innings for the Yankees in a game on the previous night. First of all, you would be ecstatic that the young guns were getting a chance to shine. Next, you would wonder what crazy circumstances led to the pride of the farm turning into the core of the team. One thing would be certain - there is no way you come away from watching the game with those participants and have a sour taste in your mouth.

So, fast forward a year, and you know that all three of those guys DO play an integral role on the 2008 New York Yankees. All three pitched last night, and because of rain curtailing what should have been a bounce-back start for Phil, a terrible outing from Ohlendorf and a game-ending hit off of Joba, I am left feeling pretty bad about last night's game.

The White Sox should have been swept last night, but because Girardi was being justifiably careful with the very young Hughes, and because of a couple of disappointing outings from the other young guys, they let the sweep slip from their grasps.

We all pined for the Yankees to develop from within and have "home-grown talent" to root for again. Because of that, we'll have to take the good with the bad.

Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump