It’s Yankee Time: Prospect vs. Prospect
February 9, 2007
Alright, I would never normally write an article like this because a question like this is a no brainer. But I have been dealing with some Met fans lately who believe that Mike Pelfrey of the New York Mets farm system is better than Philip Hughes of the New York Yankees. Some of their arguments include:1:Mike Pelfrey already pitched in the Majors and did well2:Philip Hughes has an injury history while Pelfrey has a clean bill of health
3:“Yankees suck”
The third argument is no surprise, seeing how though it is usually the best argument a Met fan can come up with while trying to belittle the New York Yankees. But the fact is that Phil Hughes is the number 1 pitching prospect in all of baseball, and when the Baseball America top 100 prospects list is released in about a month, he figures to be in the 5-6 vicinity overall, while your Pelfrey will be in the high teens to low 20’s. Now, this does not take into account Daisuke Matsuzaka, who counts as a prospect and therefore may be the best in baseball, and Cincinatti Reds prospect Homer Bailey, who is near even in nearly every statistic with Hughes except has better stuff with worse command. Still, Hughes ranks on top.
Now don’t get me wrong, to an extent they are equals, but do the research. Compareable AA stats show Hughes at a 10.71 k/9 while pelfrey has a 10.45 k/9. Hughes also has a 4.31 k/bb ratio while Pelfrey has a 2.96 k/bb. Hughes has the advantage, Hughes gave up three more home runs in about double the amount of innings pitched…Hughes outperformed Pelfrey in AA, while being 2 years younger than him.
Let’s not forget that Pelfrey has average at best control of his secondary pitches while Hughes has already mastered them. Pelfrey was also rushed and did average at best in the majors. While pitching in New York, Pelfrey was one walk away from having as many walks as strikeouts. He has good stuff, but if he can’t have good control of his secondary pitches then he will walk people, not a good thing to do by the way. I don’t care if his record was 2-1, because according to you “no-knowledge” fans you think that means in 30 starts he would go 20-10. Don’t think so.
As for all the talk about injuries stunting Hughes growth, to paraphrase Jim Callis of BA when asked about Hughes and how he would do in 2007 ‘i’ve never seen anyone as dialed in down the stretch as he was in 2006.’ Hmmm, completely dominant for an entire summer without any injuries bothering him? It doesn’t sound like whatever injuries he had flared up at inopportune times. This is not Carl Pavano, there will be no buttocks injuries or Porsche crashes here.
Pelfrey is a good pitcher, but Hughes is better. His minor league track record shows that he has completely dominated every level he has played in. Still, he has some work to do in Triple A before getting called to the show, but so does Pelfrey. It should be interesting in 2009 when Phil Hughes, the ace of the New York Yankees, is facing the Mets #2 starter Mike Pelfrey during the Subway Series. Till then, we can only wait.
ESPN Ranks Yanks Farm System and Phil Hughes Among the Tops In Baseball
