When the Giants Come to Town, It's Bye-Bye Baby

05.02.2007
The Days of My Youth Rise Fresh in My Mind

The buzz on this coast about Tim Lincecum couldn’t outhype the noise from other coast about Phil Hughes, the Yankees’ version of Lincecum: the can’t-miss pitching prospect who could have made the team out of spring training. Hughes is younger, bigger, and has better control; objectively he’s a notch better prospect than Lincecum, aka The Enchanter, aka The Franchise.

Hughes made his ML debut earlier than Lincecum, too. His first outing was so-so, but his second, last night, was spectacular: a no-hitter until the seventh, when he felt something pop in his hamstring while delivering a pitch. As if the Yankees could afford more pitching woes. Step right up, ladies and germs, and watch The Depressed Fan sink deeper into depression and his face turn green and pale.

Hughes is out four to six weeks, and you can be sure the Yankees won’t rush him back even if Chan Ho Park is in their rotation. Oh wait, that’s the Mets.

This is why the Giants probably won’t pull a hamstring in rushing to trade a starting pitcher just yet. Depth is good. Depth is important. Injuries to pitchers are bound to happen. I advocated last night for giving Russ Ortiz two more starts. If he flails, better to stash him in the bullpen, bring Lincecum up to start, and send Sanchez down to Fresno. That way, the Giants don’t deplete their depth: Ortiz becomes the backup starter in case of injury, Sanchez gets more refinement in Fresno and we get the Tim we’ve all been waiting for. If Ortiz doesn’t like moving to the bullpen, tough bananas. He’s lucky to be on a major-league roster.

Yes, the Giants need another bat, but the good news is they’re no longer dead last in the majors in runs scored.

***

P.M. UPDATE: Orlando Cepeda has been arrested for speeding and possible drug possession: marijuana, a syringe, and a white powder found in his car. That’s just plain dumb, as well as one hell of a cha-cha bowl, but joking aside I’ll be disappointed if the Giants drop their affiliation with the Baby Bull like a hot rock. Oops, wrong metaphor. Cepeda of course has his outfield food stand as well as a “community liaison” job in which he lectures kids about the dangers of drugs. OK, maybe he should stay off the lecture circuit. But I want to see a show of support from the Giants, not knee-jerk moralism.



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[May 2, 2007 2:44 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian said

Talk about the range of emotions, last night was excruciating.

There's a lot of talk going on that Hughes got hurt because the Yanks rushed him. This is complete B.S. if you ask me, but it may be a reason for the Giants to hold back on Lincecum. Hughes shouldn't be a cautionary tale at this point.

It's been a while since the Yanks had a young pitcher to get excited about. I guess we're just going to have to wait a little bit longer for him to become the ace of the staff, but I think it does happen this year.

[May 2, 2007 3:44 PM]  |  link  |  reply
pantalones said

I'm not ready to bury Ortiz just yet. I don't even think he pitched that poorly last night... he maintained his 2-1 K/BB ratio which remains the best ratio in the rotation. That said, a meltdown is always a possibility given his recent history, and he does seem to be the obvious choice for long relief if Lincecum is called up, as it's tough to imagine Lowry or Morris in the pen. Tough bananas indeed.

[May 2, 2007 6:35 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

I don't think a pitcher pulling a hammy is a result of him being rushed. If he's in bad condition, he'll get injured anywhere, and I don't imagine this was a conditioning problem. Seems strictly like a freak injury.

[May 2, 2007 7:33 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Barrataria said

I like having a bomb squad on the roster in any sport. Maybe Wayne Franklin's still around? If Ortiz does a Jamey Wright impersonation, I think he's fine to pitch 4 or 5 innings in the blowouts. The good news ( I guess) is there have been few needs for such a guy, but I think it's good to have one.

BB

[May 2, 2007 7:56 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian said

I recommend the Michael Irvin defense, "I was holding the dope for a friend," for Cepeda.

[May 2, 2007 7:56 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Roger said

Torre survives to fight another day, but the Strength and Conditioning Coach is gone, daddy gone!

[May 2, 2007 8:09 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Frank said

I agree with Pantalones. Take out last night and the ninth inning in the Pittsburg game and his ERA is 3.6. He was great against PItt and damned good against the Dodgers last week (5.1 innings, 3 ERs). He deserves his spot.
That being said, I don't know what to do with Timmy. He deserves a shot as well and not in the bull pen. But I don't think you just demote someone who is doing a pretty good job.

[May 3, 2007 1:05 AM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

>Conditioning Coach is gone, daddy gone!

Love is gone away.