Hughes?

[Boom Boom]

Why does he stink this year? Are we going to find out he's been trying to pitch through an injury? Was 2014 a gigantic fluke?

 

...your thoughts.

[howieramone2]

It's a long season.

[Winston Smith]

Last year was better than his normal good year but his career has been good year and not so good year. This fits what his career has been so far.

[jimmer]

 

Why does he stink this year? Are we going to find out he's been trying to pitch through an injury? Was 2014 a gigantic fluke?

...your thoughts.

He's basically reverted back to what he was his last three years with the Yankees (with obvious exceptions like less KS and less BBs).  It's why we can't assume one year that is out of whack with normal performance should be expected to be repeated by any player. It's why many predicted negative regression by him and were unpleasantly surprised he got extended after only one good season in the last four.

[Boom Boom]

Strikeouts are way down and home runs allowed are way up. I don't think you can say he's been unlucky.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if an injury was suddenly reported... but if this is Hughes reverting back to form, and we've just signed him long-term... yikes.

[drivlikejehu]

The strikeout decrease is very concerning.

[Vanimal46]

The curse of it being an odd year? Kind of interesting to look at his stats since he's been a full-time starter he has a good year on even years, followed up by off years on odd years. Either way we have to hope that he finds what was working for him last year. Otherwise he will be the new punching bag for us fans in the future.

[jimmer]

 

Strikeouts are way down and home runs allowed are way up. I don't think you can say he's been unlucky.

It wouldn't surprise me if an injury was suddenly reported... but if this is Hughes reverting back to form, and we've just signed him long-term... yikes.

His FIP this year is 4.58.

 

His last three years as a Yankee: 4.58, 4.56, 4.50.

 

Last year, his FIP was 2.65.

 

One of those things is not like the others :-)

 

 

[Gene Larkin]

It was premature to extend Hughes especially considering the Twins also signed Santana to a long term deal and Nolasco is still under contract for 2 more years after this season

[spinowner]

Stick a fork in him. (Hoping for the Hunter effect.)

[Nick Nelson]

His fastball just isn't getting it done. He's spotting it but it's too hittable. Lowest avg velocity since he was a rookie in '07. I wouldn't say he stinks but he's nothing special.

 

The regression is not entirely surprising based on the guy's track record. Just another reminder that it's dumb to give a guy a huge extension off a career year... something the Twins just keep on consistently doing for whatever reason.

[Mike Sixel]

Didn't he change the FB mix, for some reason? If so, I'd go back to last year's mix.

[jimmer]

 

Didn't he change the FB mix, for some reason? If so, I'd go back to last year's mix.

The difference is Rick Anderson :-)

 

::::Ducks for cover::::

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

 

The difference is Rick Anderson :-)

 

::::Ducks for cover::::

I'd be open to having Rick Anderson come back in a "only speaks to Phil Hughes and no other pitcher" role.

[stringer bell]

I was surprised the Twins extended Hughes.  In the off-season I speculated that the combination of Nolasco/Hughes would likely contribute about as much in 2015 as they did in 2014 (more from Ricky, less from Phil).  It looks like that will come true despite Nolasco's overall poor numbers and current injury.

[Boom Boom]

An ERA just a hair under 5... giving up 1 more HR per 9 innings than last year... and a strikeout rate that's getting way too close to Blackburnian levels for my taste.

 

If it was Pelfrey putting up Hughes's numbers we'd be trying to run him out of town on a rail.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I feel like last year was even more impressive / special now that Hughes is pitching like his regular self. I expect that he will make some adjustments and find a middle ground that is a bit better than he's been this year, though not quite the masterful performance of last year.

 

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

I seem to remember him getting off to a slow start last year too (though not quite this slow).  I could be wrong though... so who knows.

 

I'd like to believe that he's doing something different this year.  Sounds like a case for Parker.

[Steve Lein]

They gave him the extension prematurely...

 

I say that just because I thought it was unnecessary at the time.

 

But he did start slowly last year, though he was locked in by now.

[zchrz]

High fastballs and backdoor cutters made Hughes last year, and now he isn't locating either well.  He has always been a tinkerer to a fault and that appears to have happened again since he is throwing a bunch of 2 seamers down in the zone now going away from what was his strength.  Kinda surprised he didn't get on the Neil Allen changeup wagon, for as much as he relies on fastballs its seems like he would really benefit from a change.

[Dantes929]

Extensions are a mixed bag.  Doesn't seem to have done any harm to Dozier and I could probably find cases of Morneau, Mauer (the first time) and others working out fine.    In general I don't like doing it based on one year especially when it is likely the same deal could probably be done the following season at similar amounts even if the players repeat the good year.    Mauer, Blackburn, Suuki, Lamb, Harris and on and on are examples of he bad side but there are good examples as well.    It was my biggest issue with Mauer.  Even if the Twins had waited a year to extend and he had another great year he was at the top of the market so there was just no good reason to do it except to get publc approval for the stadium.   Ok, that was probably a pretty good reason but people forget that real quick.