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The future of the Yankees arrived tonight, and his name if Philip Hughes.  It seems like we have been hearing about Hughes forever, and to some he has been a bust.

Well, tonight he came into his own.  Five innings, three hits, two runs, and six strikeouts.  And one of the runs scored after he was out of the game.  Although he struggled a bit with his control, for most of his stint on the mound he appeared to be overpowering.  For the first time in memory, the Yankees have a young stud on the mound, a pitcher who can eventually lead the staff.

Strangely, the Yankees have never been very good at developing top of the rotation pitchers.  The last one they grew was Ron Guidry, and Guidry was unexpected – he was considered a minor prospect, too small to be a number two, let alone a number one.  Before Guidry, you have to go back to Whitey Ford to find a number one starter who came out of the farm system.

That sounds like an extreme statement, but think about it.  Andy Pettitte is a great Yankee, but even in his prime, he was never more than a number two starter.  The other pitchers of the last fifteen years – Cone, Wells, Clemens, Johnson, Key, Mussina – were acquired from other teams or through free agency.  El Duque doesn’t count; he was a star in Cuba before he defected.

The champs of the 70s featured Catfish Hunter (free agent), Tommy John (free agent), and Ed Figueroa (trade with the Angels).  The team in the early ’60s was built around Ford.  None of the others were more than a number three (Jim Bouton, Bill Stafford, Al Downing), with the exception of Ralph Terry, who qualified as a number two for a couple of years.  And the teams of the mid fifties featured Ford, Bob Turley, and Don Larsen.  The latter two came from the Orioles in one of the biggest (in terms of the number of players involved) trades in history (something like 19 players).

The great team that won five straight from 1949 through 1953 did include one home grown Yankee in Vic Raschi.   Raschi could conceivably qualify as a number one, but Allie Reynolds (from Cleveland for Joe Gordon) was the true ace.  In the ’30s and early ’40s, Red Ruffing, a refugee from the then moribund Red Sox, was the number one.  Before Ruffing, Waite Hoyt and Herb Pennock, both from the Red Sox, were the aces.  Happy Jack Chesbro, who won a record 41 games in 1904, came over from the Pirates during the bidding wars between the American and National Leagues.

So Hughes has a chance to be something special for the Yankees – a home grown ace.  It should be fun to watch his progress.  But he’ll have to wait a while to be number one until the present ace, CC Sabathia (free agent), gives way.

The Yankees could not have asked for a better start.  Okay, they could have won six straight, but four out of six on the road against the Red Sox and the Rays is damned fine.  Especially considering that they lost the first game of each series.

High notes so far include the following.  First, Curtis Granderson looks great.  He has been the team’s best hitter so far, and he completes a mid-career core four with  Teixeira, Sabathia, and Cano.  Those four players give the team a solid base to build around as the original “Core Four” move into the twilight of their careers.

Second, the pitching has generally been solid.  Vasquez looked awful Friday night, but it is way too early to panic about him.  CC, AJ, and Andy looked solid.  The bullpen is deep, and the incredible Mariano can still bring it at age 40.

The hitters have not yet hit their stride, yet the team has pounded out runs.  The offense is demonstrably superior to that of the Red Sox, and the pitching looks considerably better than that of the Rays.  The Yanks remain the team to beat in baseball’s best division.

Concerns.  First, the team has no left fielder.  Brett Gardner lacks the power necessary to play a corner outfield position, and he has yet to demonstrate he is a big league hitter.  Randy Winn and Marcus Thames are journeymen.  The Yankees clearly believe they can win this year with a hole in their line-up.  Hopefully, they can win the Carl Crawford sweepstakes next winter.

Joba looked great in his first outing against Boston, but he looked sluggish today in Tampa.  Maybe the layoff hurt him.  If he can pitch as he did in 2007, the bullpen will be almost impregnable.

Posada looks shakey again behind the plate.  His passed ball cost the Yankees the opener, and his deteriorating defensive skills have to be a concern.  I would not be surprised to see Jesus Montero appear in mid-summer.

Phil Hughes has yet to pitch this year.  We will have to wait until Thursday to see how he does as the fifthe starter.

But these concerns are minor.  The team has started strong, and hope springs eternal.  Thank God baseball is back.

I hope you all noticed  that I have said nothing bad about Girardi.  Yet.

I’m more than content. Cliff Lee was lights out for the Phillies, they have less payroll flexibility for 4 years, and the Phillies could have had both Lee & Halladay leading that rotation together.

Halladay; Lee; Hamels;  Happ; Blanton/Drabek/Moyer would have been Lights Out.

Also I think some other moves fall into place now. The Mariners upgraded already this off season with the Figgins signing and another ace in Lee. I think they’ll next go with power in LF via Bay or Holliday, which then potentially forces the other to accept a little less money from the Mets/Giants/Red Sox/Yankees. However, with Cameron to Boston, the Sox are out of it, and in my opinion Damon (for 5-7 million and 3-4 years less than Holliday) re-signs with the Yankees. Therefore, either Holliday or Bay signs to a slightly less than expected deal with the Mets.

No matter what, I fully expect the Phillies to take the NL East yet again – unlike the past 3 years.

I truly wish the Mets were the 3rd team in the Yankees-Tigers-(D-backs) deal replacing the D-backs. I thought 0f a crazy, but interesting scenario that could have actually worked: Carlos Beltran, Ike Davis, Fernando Martinez, Wilmer Flores, Ruben Tejada or Reese Havens, and Brad Holt or Bobby Parnell from the Mets; Robinson Cano, Phil Hughes, Austin Jackson from the Yankees, and Edwin Jackson, Curtis Granderson, and Miguel Cabrera from the Tigers.

Mets receive: Miguel Cabrera/1b, Robinson Cano/2b, Curtis Granderson/cf, Phil Hughes/sp (go on to sign a FA LF & another SP and their offseason needs would have been completed beyond expectations)

Yankees receive: Carlos Beltran, Edwin Jackson, Wilmer Flores (and go on to sign Hudson or FA 2b + FA lf)

Tigers receive: Ike Davis, Fernando Martinez, Tejada/Havens, Holt/Parnell, Austin Jackson (and get even more payroll flexiblity trading Miguel Cabrera for a decent haul). I of course understand the Tigers got a very nice haul of SP’s from the trade they actually did complete with the Yanks & D-back. I think if Scherzer stays healthy, Verlander through Porcello can still keep them toward the top of the AL Central.

Do you think my proposed 3-way above is irrational, however? It completely depletes the Mets farm system, which isn’t great any way, but I think it instantaneously helps them compete with the Phillies.

The Red Sox kicked off their offseason quickly, acquiring Jeremy Hermida from the Marlins just hours after the Yankees won the World Series (insert vomitingsound here). The Sox gave up minor league southpaws Hunter Jones and Jose Alvarez for Hermida, the 11th overall draft pick in 2002. He hasn’t performed up to expectations for the Marlins, but a change of scenery and a different role could be just what he needs. Hermida had this to say about his first major career move: “I made some great friends and they treated me very well [in Florida]. On the other hand, I’m very excited to go to a city like Boston and a team like that. There isn’t a better team, in comparison. Just the history and the fan base that they have. I’m very excited to go up there and be a part of that as well.”

In other hot stove news, the Red Sox picked up their option for catcher Victor Martinez, who was acquired from the Indians at the Trade Deadline. Martinez will return as the starting catcher in 2010, and a long-term deal may be around the corner.

Boston had three more contract options to make a decision on today, none of which were exercised. Shortstop Alex Gonzalez had a $6 million option, though the Red Sox may have plans to re-sign him for less money. Captain Jason Varitek had his $5 million option declined, but he has three days to decide if he wants to exercise his personal $3 million option that would keep him in Boston for the 2010 season.

Knuckleballer Tim Wakefild’s year-to-year mutual option was nullified by a new two-year deal for the longest-tenured member of the Sox. Wakefield is just 17 wins shy of the All-Time Red Sox record of 192 that is shared by Cy Young and Roger Clemens.

After weeks of boring, unimportant games the playoffs are finally here.

I’m a little mad at Anaheim right now after the Ducks spanked the Bruins 6-1, but I’m very excited about the Sox and their familiar foe, the Angels. The Angels have lost to the Red Sox three out of three times in the ALDS, and are 0-4 to them all-time in the playoffs. History would give the Sox the edge, but the Angels are a different team this year.

Jon Lester is pitching tonight against John Lackey. The Sox clearly have the pitching advantage, with the only match-up that favors the Angels being Game 3’s Bucholz-Kazmir duel. The teams are even at the plate, with the Sox having the power edge and the Angels having the small-ball advantage.

The umpiring crew may be a factor in this series, as some of baseball’s worst are among it. Curt Schilling called in to WEEI this afternoon and had some words of wisdom about the crew. He said a few of them sucked, and he went so far as to calling Joe West and ass and criticizing him for being against the Red Sox. Whether or not this will be a factor remains to be seen.

Another positive note for this postseason is the coverage TBS will provide for the series. Chip Caray is working the Yankees-Twins series this year (suckers!) and working the Sox-Angels is none other than NESN play-by-play man Don Orsillo. Sure we have have to contend with Buck Martinez mispronouncing Ortiz’ name again, but at least this will only happen every few innings.

When the season ended for the 2008 Yankees there was one glaring need: Pitching.  This was nothing new, and as the old adage went, “you can never have enough.”  But the Yankees from 2004 to 2008 never had enough starting pitching to bring a World Series, or even a Pennant, home.  The Yankee pitching staff has not been outstanding since the end of 2003 when Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens momentarily defected to the Astros.

So when the Yankees signed C.C. Sabathia to a huge deal, they hoped they got the true ace they have long coveted.  Well, in case anybody was not sure after a dominant year of 19 wins, C.C. Sabathia proved to all that he was for real tonight.  Sabathia may have labored through some long innings, and some bad breaks, but he limited the damage, and only let up 2 runs in 6.2 IP.

Those two runs were more than enough for the Yankee offense, which hammered the Twins for 7 runs.  Derek Jeter, of course, was on base all four times he came to the plate.  Hideki Matsui had an important two run home run.  And Nick Swisher had a key double.

But the biggest news of the night was the exorcism that took place at Yankee Stadium.  No I am not talking about a movie from the 70’s, but the two clutch hits, and yes I say clutch hits, for Alex Rodriguez.  There are two important parts to these hits.  First, the team, and A-Rod, will not have to deal with questions about his inability to hit in the clutch during the playoffs.  Second, the manner in which A-Rod got these hits proves he is more devoted to the Yankees.  The two clutch hits were singles that drove in one RBI.  In years past, A-Rod would have been swinging for the fences, trying for the big splash on one swing.  Perhaps he finally realized that a single with RISP in the playoffs is just as important as a homerun; something Bernie, Tino, and Paulie knew all too well.

Whatever the reasons for A-Rod’s sudden productivity in October, all this blogger knows for sure is that A-Rod exorcised some demons with a couple of big swings tonight.  And the Yankees now lead the series 1-0.

With a month to go in the season, the Red Sox have put together a successful season so far. Considering all the team has had to go through with injuries, inconsistencies, and David Ortiz, adds to the impressive performance.

At 76-54 and leading the wild card, the Sox are meeting pre-season expectations—at first glance. However, if David Ortiz had been hitting all season, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield were healthy, and Brad Penny and John Smoltz actually paid off, the Sox’s record might be even more impressive. Although if that did happen, we most likely wouldn’t have Victor Martinez and Alex Gonzalez now, which could have hurt in the postseason.

Since were on the topic of mid-season acquisitions, I think I’ll break down the new guys. Victor Martinez has added depth to the Sox and gave David Ortiz the slugger he asked for in the offseason. Defensively he’s no Jason Varitek, but his big bat more than makes up for that. Alex Gonzalez has been giving the Sox much more than they ever asked for. After claiming him from Cincinnati, their goal was to plug up the defensive hole that was shortstop. He’s clearly the one for the job, seeing as how he is the best defensive shortstop the Red Sox have ever had—he set the club record for fielding percentage at shortstop in 2006. Offensively, he has been a bonus from the number 9 spot and has become a big part of the Sox for the final month. Billy Wagner still has to prove himself though, and if he’s anything like Eric Gagne, the Sox could be in trouble. Thankfully, Okajima has emerged as one of the game’s top setup men, so Wagner won’t be a necessary part of the ‘pen for the postseason. Paul Byrd is also worth noting, as he was seen as Theo recycling another old pitcher, but his return to the Majors last night was impressive as he shutout the Jays over six innings.

The Red Sox’ upcoming schedule is tough, wtih the Rays, Angels, and Yankees as the top foes. They do have a few easy series against the Orioles, Royals, and Indians, but by the time those games come around, the playoff picture may very well be determined.

Well Omar Minaya supposedly rejected 2 major trades (potentially losing Jenrry Mejia & Brad Holt for Victor Martinez/c fom the Indians and Fernando Martinez, Ruben Tejada, Jon Niese, & Bobby Parnell for Roy Halladay/sp from the Blue Jays). Obviously/Naturally/Inevitably neither was ever 100% confirmed. Mets Blog author Matt Cerrone thought the Indians potentially wanted Jon Niese and one of Brad Holt or Jenrry Mejia as well as a minor league bat (”…from what i can gather, the Indians would have requested Jon Niese and one of Brad Holt or Jennry Mejia from the Mets, in a deal for martinez, plus maybe a minor-league hitter, but i don’t believe an official offer was ever on the table…” – http://www.metsblog.com/page/3/), and as per Jon Heyman (http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/mlb_trade_talk/posts/70781-jays-asking-price-for-halladay-too-steep-for-mets), the Mets supposedly rejected the Halladay offer.

Honestly either deal would have significantly depleted our system. Personally, I would have pulled the Halladay deal to have two gorgeous anchors for the 2010 Mets rotation, and they wouldn’t have had to give up their top 2 sp prospects in Holt and Mejia.

I do have another proposal for Halladay contingent on whether the above offer was true:

Jon Niese; Bobby Parnell; Fernando Martinez; Ruben Tejada, Ike Davis (preferably not adding Davis if possible) for Roy Halladay/sp and Alex Rios/of (consuming their salaries).

This would then allow the Mets to trade Alex Rios or Carlos Beltran + Daniel Murphy or Ike Davis if not traded above + Brad Holt for Matt Cain/sp and Pablo Sandoval/ci from the Giants. Matt Cain has been unhittable and probably will be harder to attain then ever before, but I think such a deal could work for the Giants with their offensive needs.

This provides the Mets with a 2010 rotation of Halladay;Santana;Cain;Pelfrey;Maine/Perez and a 2010 lineup of Castillo/Reyes/Wright/Sandoval/Rios/Francoeur/Pagan or FA LF/Schneider-Santos/c. Again, preferably I’d love for the Mets to sign Orlando Hudson for 2b and keep Castillo on the bench or trade him as much as his salary and 2009 performance is, but I think at this point, that won’t happen considering his performance and salary.

Left Field: While he isn’t the hitter that Manny Ramirez was, everything else Jason Bay does is an upgrade. He is faster, smarter, a better fielder, and more committed than Manny was (and still is). His offensive production is good on the surface with 20 home runs on the season, but he is hitting just .252. Overall though, he is still providing more than most people expected him to. GRADE: A-

Center Field: Jacoby Ellsbury has had a better season so far than he did in his last two. Ellsbury produced well in the bottom of the order. He has been getting on and stealing bases to set up the top of the order for most of the season. Recently he has been moved back to the top of the order where he should still be able to set the table for the heart of the order, but with Boston’s best hitters up after him, he will probably have fewer opportunities to steal bases. GRADE: B

Right Field: The difference between JD Drew and Julio Lugo is that Drew actually deserves some of the outragous amount of money the Red Sox shelled out in 2007. While he has been plagued by a few injuries and a tough ‘07 season he has been a good contributor in Boston’s lineup. This year has been no exception, with Drew putting up decent numbers in both the middle and top of the Red Sox’ lineup. GRADE: B

Backups: Rocco Baldelli is playing well as Boston’s 4th outfielder, and showing few signs of his muscle disorder which limits his playing time. He has been putting up adequate numbers and has been playing solid defensively. Mark Kotsay has been the only other player to backup the outfielders, but he has been used mainly at First Base. With Adam LaRoche coming over from the Pirates, Kotsay may be used more in the outfield now. Chris Duncan coming over from St. Louis also gives the Sox more depth in the outfield, but he most likely won’t be in Boston until the rosters expand in September. GRADE: C

Catcher: A long off-season for Jason Varitek hasn’t seemed to hurt the captain for the first half of 2009. After a poor season at the plate last year, Varitek has been off to a better start this year and is putting up adequate numbers for a 37-year-old catcher. He has also been terrific as always behind the plate, contributing to much of the pitchers’ success. Rookie George Kottares has been good catching Wakefield’s Knuckleball so far and has been valuable behind the plate for the other pitchers. His .213 average isn’t superb, but it isn’t much worse than Tek’s last year. GRADE: B

First Base: Kevin Youkilis has been an All-Star both in the field and at the plate since his conversion from Third to First in 2006. He has also been backed up well by Mark Kotsay and Jeff Bailey at times. The recent acquisition of Adam LaRoche from the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chris Duncan from the St. Louis Cardinals now gives Terry Francona more options with Kotsay if he needs another outfielder. GRADE: A-

Second Base: After winning the AL MVP last year, Dustin Pedroia’s numbers are below what he expected of himself, but still they were worthy of an All-Star nomination this year. His glove has been just as steady as before, but with five errors already (he made 6 in both 2007 and 2008) he hasn’t been quite as strong as in past years. GRADE: B+

Third Base: Mike Lowell’s hip hasn’t fully healed, and it has been reflected on his play this year. Offensively he’s been solid but he hasn’t been able to generate the power of his Marlins and early Red Sox days. Defensively he is still reliable, but his range is gone and he hasn’t been able to play everyday. Youkilis will be the Third Baseman as soon as Lars Anderson is ready for the big leagues, but with the acquisition of LaRoche, the Red Sox have the option of putting him at First and Youk at Third should Lowell be unable to produce. GRADE: B-

Shortstop: Baseball’s version of the lottery, Shortstop at Fenway Park has been a revolving door of players since 2004. The Red Sox have used 10 different players consistently at Shortstop since that time, with Julio Lugo being the only player since Nomar Garciaparra to be in the starting lineup on Opening Day twice. The nightmare that was Lugo is now gone, with the underachieving player being sent to St. Louis for Duncan, and Nick Green is the current starter. Jed Lowrie is back from injury but it appears that he will be used in utility to back up Second Base and occasionally Third with the impressive play that Green has shown. He has been good offensively, and he has greatly improved defensively, equipped with one of the strongest arms in the game. GRADE: B+