Connection with fans natural to Hughes

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080125&content_id=2355135&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

Already at the Legends Field facility in Tampa, Fla., as one of the Yankees' earliest reportees to Spring Training, Phil Hughes had an open evening -- and a dilemma.

Unable to decide between offers to a George Strait concert and a monster truck rally being held in the area, he turned to the masses, firing up his blog and asking fans to help him fill a Saturday out on the town.

So it goes in the technological age, where the 21-year-old right-hander has become the newest entry to the sports blogging universe. His personal Web site launched this month (philhughes.wordpress.com) discusses the Yankees, but also Hughes' favorite music -- mostly rock and alternative -- and his affinity for the NBC sitcom "The Office."

"I don't want it to be all about baseball," Hughes said in a telephone interview. "This is more about a personal thing and stuff that I do, and what happens to me. It gives people an inside look into who I am, over what they already know."

For Hughes, who launched a personal Web site before he'd thrown one Major League pitch, the step was natural. The Red Sox's Curt Schilling is already an icon for his popular 38pitches.com, where he breaks down each start in intricate detail; Hughes said he may keep up in similar fashion, while also sprinkling in behind-the-scenes details not normally available.

"The fans, a lot of times, don't get a personal side of what guys are like away from the field," Hughes said. "I've always felt it's my obligation to stay close to the fans, because without them, I wouldn't be in the situation I'm in now. I've always felt it's important to give back in all the ways that I can."

In the case of his free Saturday night, the public was able to help guide Hughes, with assistance from Mother Nature. Rain nudged Hughes toward the third row of the St. Petersburg Times Forum for the country concert, passing up an outdoor seat at Raymond James Stadium, where cars were evidently crushed in a downpour.

Having already set up residence in the Tampa area and now planting roots online, it would appear the 21-year-old Hughes is preparing for a long haul in Yankees pinstripes.

Though rumors of a potential trade for Twins ace Johan Santana have continued to swirl for most of the offseason, the Yankees have been far from an all-on pursuit in recent days. Senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner has admitted to wavering on the prospect of a swap, and general manager Brian Cashman has stated that the Yankees are more likely to "go with what we have."

Hughes, mentioned as an integral chip in a Santana trade, is taking the relative silence as a good sign.

"Obviously, anything can happen, and there's not always a lot of warning for big news to happen or for a deal to go down," he said. "There's always that chance that something will happen, but just from what I've heard from different people, it seems like the longer this goes on, the odds of me staying will be better. I couldn't be more happy about that."

A first-round selection of the Yankees in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Hughes arrived in New York last April amid great fanfare, partially borne out of necessity. Amid a rash of injuries to the starting rotation, Hughes became the fifth rookie to start in the Yankees' first 21 games, making his big league debut on April 26.

Hughes threw 6 1/3 hitless innings at Texas in his second start, on May 1, notching his first win, but he also suffered a painful left hamstring strain that would cost him much of his debut season. Hughes returned in August and finished the regular season 5-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 13 starts, throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 3 of the American League Division Series and picking up the Yankees' only victory of October.

Though he admits the year was frustrating by his standards, Hughes said the strong finish gave him motivation for the offseason. With more than two weeks still ticking down before pitchers and catchers report to Tampa, Hughes is already working out in daily sessions with Joba Chamberlain, Jeff Karstens and pitching coach Dave Eiland.

It will be a productive Spring Training, Hughes believes. Freed of the spotlight somewhat by the emergence of pitchers like Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy -- plus a second wave of promising Minor Leaguers -- Hughes is willing to cede some of the inherent hype.

"This will be a good spring for me, I think, coming in a different position than the last two years," Hughes said. "We're going to have a really good team and there's going to be plenty of attention spread around some other guys. With a lot of young guys stepping up and the core from last year coming back, it should be exciting."

In fact, Hughes has said that Chamberlain's emergence as a dominant phenom setup man last August was one of the most important turns of events in his debut campaign.

"It was like this huge weight off my shoulders," Hughes said. "People finally realized that there weren't just one or two guys coming up from our system who could actually contribute. There were quite a few guys, and I didn't have to answer every question."

Now, in the case of his online presence, Hughes has the freedom to ask a few questions as well.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7704810/Young-and-gifted,-here-are-10-ready-to-shine

Dayn Perry is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com and author of the new book, "Winners: How Good Baseball Teams Become Great Ones" (Available now at Amazon.com).
Let's talk breakout candidates for 2008.

What makes a breakout candidate? The criteria can be a bit sketchy, but here's the gist of it:

He's guy who's still on the young side but no longer in possession of his rookie status. He's a guy with alluring potential who's thus far failed to realize that potential. Most critically, though, he's a guy poised to take the next step in the upcoming season. So let's a have a look at your top 10 breakout candidates for 2008.

Justin Upton (top) reached the majors at the age of 19; Philip Hughes (middle) picked up valuable experience with the Yankees in 2007; Mike Napoli (bottom) hasn't hit for average but has shown flashes of power. ( / Getty Images)

1. Justin Upton, RF, Diamondbacks

Upton was a major-league regular at age 19. Players who are major-league regulars at such a young age more often than not go on to be superstars, and Upton likely will be no exception. He's got once-in-a-generation tools, a strong work ethic, baseball intelligence, and an awareness of what it takes to win ballgames. The results didn't match the press clippings last season, but expect that to change in 2008. One day, Upton is going to have 30-30 and maybe even 40-40 potential at the highest level, and the next step begins now. Don't be surprised if this season Upton gets to 25 bombs, all while running the bases well, commanding the strike zone, and providing excellent defense in right.

2. Rickie Weeks, 2B, Brewers

Weeks has an exceptionally strong college and minor-league record of performance, but thus far he hasn't put up the numbers in the majors. However, in the second half of 2007 Weeks posted a batting line of .251 AVG/.422 OBP/.481 SLG. Ignore the low batting average; that's exceptional production for an up-the-middle-defender. Weeks is always going to strike out a lot, and he's probably never going to challenge for a batting title. More important, however, is that he takes his walks, shows good power by positional standards, and is a ruthlessly efficient base stealer. Weeks' main job on offense is to get on base, and he's going to do that exceptionally well in 2008.

3. Alex Gordon, 3B, Royals

The lefty-swingin' Gordon, thanks to his promise, position and parent organization, has evoked comparisons to the great George Brett. That's an unfair label for any young player, and sure enough Gordon at times last season seemed to be pressing. However, he settled down and slugged a respectable .472 after the break. At the plate, he's got it all: command of the strike zone, plate coverage, pitch-recognition skills, natural loft to his swing and bat speed. Keep in mind that Gordon skipped over Triple-A entirely, so now that he's had some exposure to major-league pitching the numbers should follow.

4. Philip Hughes, RHS, Yankees

No surprise here. Hughes struggled occasionally last season, but he also tossed 6.1 hitless innings in only his second major-league start. Hughes has a tremendous fastball-curveball combo, and his changeup is already a workable offering. He's battled injuries in the past, so that'll be a concern going forward. Still, Hughes cut his teeth in the majors last season, and now he's ready to grow into the ace of the Yankee staff. Don't be surprised if in 2008 he gives them 200 innings and a comfortably sub-4.00 ERA. In a few years, Hughes will be contending for Cy Youngs on an annual basis.

5. Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B, Padres

Kouzmanoff got off to a brutally slow start last season, batting just .113 in April. However, once he adjusted, Kouzmanoff fared much better. After the break, he authored a batting line of .317 AVG/.366 OBP/.524 SLG, and that's despite playing his home games in baseball's toughest environment for hitters. Petco will always tamp down offensive numbers — especially for right-handed power hitters — but Kouzmanoff figures to produce at a high level in the upcoming season.




6. Felix Pie, CF, Cubs

Pie is slated to be the Cubs' regular center fielder in 2008, and the hope is that he's ready to contribute. Pie has excellent tools and a strong minor-league track record. However, an aggressive promotion schedule and the occasional injury have hindered his ability to produce at the highest level. Still, last season when he wasn't in Chicago, Pie put up a batting line of .362 AVG/.410 OBP/.563 SLG at Triple-A Iowa. Those are just the kind of bridge numbers he needed. As such, don't be surprised if Pie shows drastic improvement in 2008.

7. Jason Hirsh, RHS, Rockies

Hirsh was having a respectable campaign in 2007 when a broken leg ended his season. In 2008, however, the 25-year-old will be fully healed and ready to take the next step. Hirsh has command of three pitches, including a low-90s fastball with sink, and he's poised and self-assured on the mound. Ever since the Astros drafted him in 2003 as a second-rounder out of Cal Lutheran, scouts have praised his makeup and mental focus. That'll be as important as his stuff when it comes to succeeding in the majors and surviving Coors Field. If Hirsh takes a step forward in '08, then the Rockies might wind up with one of the best rotations in the game.

8. Mike Napoli, C, Angels

Napoli is just a career .236 hitter in two major-league seasons, but he's already displayed excellent secondary hitting skills. Namely, Napoli has 26 career homers in 487 at bats, and he's also got 82 unintentional walks to his credit. As well, Napoli's minor-league numbers suggest those abilities are for real. His low batting averages and high strikeout totals may frustrate fans at times, but Napoli's raw power and willingness to talk a walk make him a valuable hitter by catcher standards. Expect improvement in 2008.

9. Lastings Milledge, RF, Nationals

The trade that sent Milledge to the Nationals from the Mets in exchange for Ryan Church and Brian Schneider figures to be a steal for Washington. Milledge has exceptional skills at the plate, and he's a smooth defender in the outfield. Milledge's attitude problems were grossly overblown by the New York media, so the change of scenery may serve him well. Milledge put up solid numbers last year in limited duty with the Mets, and let's not forget that in 2005 he hit .337 in the Eastern League as a 20-year-old. Also, the Nats' new park figures to be much more hitter-friendly than RFK. Milledge should come up big in '08.

10. Andrew Sonnanstine, RHS, Rays

With guys like Scott Kazmir, James Shields and Matt Garza in the Tampa Bay rotation, it's easy to forget about Sonnanstine. However, he's impressive in his own right. Sonnanstine boasts a low arm angle, an array of pitches, and an ability to change speeds. None of his offerings wow scouts, but in four minor-league seasons he logged a 2.56 ERA and a stellar strikeout-to-walk ratio of 6.2 to 1. Last season in Tampa, Sonnanstine struggled in terms of keeping runs off the board, but he did strike out more than three times as many batters as he walked. Given his command skills, Sonnanstine is one to watch in 2008.

http://www.boston.com/sports/nesn/wilbur/sports_blog/blog/2008/01/25/the_evil_tag/
In some circles of thought, he is Iago, Patrick Bateman, and C. Montgomery Burns all wrapped together in one disheveled, hooded package.

He is the Evil Genius, the cheating coach, singled out for his shady tactics in a league satiated with similar approaches employed by every other staff on the field.

But Bill Belichick is ultimately different than the rest not only because of his proven superior gamesmanship and preparedness, but because he got caught. His name was dragged through the sludge. The legitimacy of the Patriots’ past glories came into question. Fines were paid, and a draft pick was lost, as the New England franchise fought to keep its reputation as the model for excellence.

And now, they're just considered the greatest team in NFL history.

As silly as the hubbub surrounding everything Spygate seems almost five months later, it hasn’t been forgotten on the national front, where the Patriots are seemingly viewed not so much as a team of destiny, but one of malevolence. Whether it be their gruff leader, a star wide receiver with a questionable past, a quarterback who spends his downtime hanging out with the world’s most popular supermodel, an increasing notion that certain members play dirty at the line of scrimmage, or just a general avariciousness for the continued success of all things athletic within Massachusetts state lines, there is a trendy hatred for the AFC champs.

The good vs. evil struggle percolated mostly prior to the Patriots’ November showdown in Indianapolis against the defending Super Bowl champs, Belichick and Colts head coach Tony Dungy depicted as the devil and angel, respectively, on numerous national sports sites. Yes, it was all pretty dumb (and as the Providence Journal’s Shalize Manza Young proposed prior to that contest, what about Colts president Bill Polian advocating his players break Doug Flutie’s legs in 2005 -- where does that fit in the angelic analysis of Indianapolis?) but the story line became prevalent: The Patriots, an All-Star football team, caught in the crosshairs of controversy, were suddenly on a mission for history. They are the best the NFL has to offer, and when you’re the best, you’re an obvious target.

That’s why, all of a sudden, it is the Giants -- a major market team out of Gotham, mind you, being seen as the loveable underdogs in next week’s Super Bowl. “New York, suddenly considered cute and lovable?” asks Newsday’s Shaun Powell.

Strangely, yes. They are the last hope, the final beacon of optimism for a nation of Patriot-haters, who think the best thing for the NFL is to watch a contest of comeuppance.

And if they win, well, that’s cool too.

"It's a weird thing," Edward Hirt, an Indiana University psychology professor who has studied fan behavior, told Time Magazine. "Fans' emotions are often conflicted, which is even surprising to themselves. The Pats offer a kind of win-win situation. You can root against them, but you kind of wouldn't mind seeing a perfect season. And if they lose, you'll enjoy seeing them get their comeuppance."

There’s a reason why “Empire” is generally regarded as the best of the “Star Wars” trilogy: The bad guys win. Certainly that might not be the best assessment of a culture striving for a sunny disposition, but sometimes we need reminders in a pop culture environment that always takes the easy way out. Rainbows, gumdrops, and teddy bears only go so far.

When evil triumphs in storytelling, it gives us a stronger sense of hope in a sort of backdoor way. It might not be immediate gratification, but the sense that good will eventually triumph drives us with interest even deeper. Would you rather spend your entertainment time watching “Lost,” where the questionable actions of the Others have a stranglehold on the way of life, or your average family sitcom, where resolution takes no more time than a typical oil change?

Good is what we strive for in life, but evil is a reality. An overflow of one of the other in the ways in which we spend our amusement dollars leads to something about as compelling as the plot of a coloring book. This is why the NFL couldn’t be more pleased with what the morality play that has transpired with these Patriots, punishment and all. Spygate was the best thing that could have possibly happened to Roger Goodell.

And it didn’t exactly hurt the Patriots, either.

Writes Foxsports.com’s Mark Krieger:

Do you really think New England would still be undefeated if not for Spygate? Among the episode's unintended consequences was the forging of the team's identity. It crystallized the coach's paranoid vision. It justified the Belichickian mantras: Us against Them, Trust No One, They All Hate Us. Football is not a game to be played dispassionately. You can't have too much motivation. Whenever one of the Pats talk about being called a cheater, you know somebody on the other side of the ball is about to get his ass kicked.

So with the Super Bowl approaching, it's worth noting that the New York Giants again find themselves at a major disadvantage. As it pertains to incentive, the Patriots had Spygate.

What do the Giants have?

Tiki Barber?

Perception is everything, which certainly doesn’t make the Pats diabolical in a realistic realm. But that hasn’t stopped the tag from becoming a story line in a Super Bowl prep that is littered with plenty. Even some of their own fans have hopped on the bandwagon. Consider Evil Patriots.com, started by a fan of New England who revels in the sinister view of the team, complete with a “Temperature of the Nation” thermometer that forecasts the level of national hatred for the Patriots (currently having soared past the ’72 Dolphins, just above I %$#^ Hate You, and on its way to Furious Jealousy).

Oh, remember when they were just the plucky upstarts, led by Boy Wonder Tom Brady, whose Super Bowl debut was one for the annals. That was fun for New England sports fans.

This is fun too, quite obviously, because while the David vs. Goliath storyline is persuasive for the immediate moment, nothing grabs our attention like a Good vs. Evil strife because it is the very center of what every legend is based upon.

One week from Sunday, the Patriots set out to complete the script to their own

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=neyer_rob

This winter, the Johan Santana "story" has been written mostly as an East Coast story. Red Sox, Yankees, Mets ... Who's going to get him? But isn't this really a Minnesota story? The Red Sox and the Yankees and the Mets will likely be successful over the next five or six years whether they get Santana or not. The Twins, though? If they don't do the right thing, or one of the right things, they may be consigned to third or fourth place for some years. And as Sid Hartman writes today, don't assume the Twins won't just keep Santana for a while ...

So maybe the Twins' offer is a pretty good one. Santana will be paid $13.25 million in 2008 and the Twins offered him a four-year deal at $20 million or a total $80 million guaranteed. The Giants signed pitcher Barry Zito to a seven-year contract for $126 million last year, and the result was the former Oakland lefthander had an ordinary record of 11-13. The experience the Giants had might dissuade clubs from giving that type of contract to Santana.

I don't think smart teams factor Zito's contract in the equation much, if at all. Zito's contract was obviously foolish (for the Giants) before he signed it, not just after. Considering that Santana's got the profile of a future Hall of Fame pitcher, the notion that he'll be a great pitcher for the next six or seven years is hardly outlandish. It's a hard bet to make, though. Even if you're likely to win the bet, the consequence of losing is terribly embarrassing (if not embarrassing enough to cost Dan O'Dowd or Brian Sabean their jobs).

So yeah, maybe Santana will have to settle on $80 million, give or take. And you know what? The Twins can afford that. They don't play in a large market, but it's not really small, either. The Twins play their home games in the 16th-largest metropolitan area in the United States, just behind Seattle-Tacoma, just ahead of San Diego, and well ahead of St. Louis. The Twins' new ballpark is scheduled to open in two years. We've seen that a new building isn't a panacea -- just ask Pirates fans -- but the Twins' financial situation obviously will improve relative to the other teams. I'm not saying the Twins should sign Santana to a long-term deal; if it were my team I'd trade him for three young players. But paying him $20 million per season needn't be debilitating.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs07/insider/columns/story?columnist=jaworski_ron&id=3210630

ESPN.com's resident expert and "Monday Night Football" analyst Ron Jaworski went to the lab after the AFC and NFC championship games and studied film of the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. While in the lab, he documented three potential surprises and situations for each team that could dictate which holds the Lombardi Trophy at the end of Super Bowl XLII.

New England Patriots

1. After watching tape of last month's Patriots-Giants game, the biggest surprise was the aggressive play of linebacker Junior Seau. While he did make some big plays because of his aggressiveness, it also left him vulnerable when the Giants went to play action and he was exposed.

In the rematch, he must play with better discipline, because the Giants will smartly take advantage of him, using play action to suck him up to the line of scrimmage, then putting either a tight end or a running back in the spot Seau previously occupied. That could lead to some big plays, especially if they are able to get the ball to Ahmad Bradshaw in the middle of the field with room to work.

2. Another surprise is the lack of designed big plays we have seen from the Patriots. When I say designed, I mean a play that has eight-man protection and only two receivers. Those plays give Tom Brady enough time to let his receivers get downfield to attack the safeties. The Patriots used those plays quite a bit early in the season, but opposing teams have taken them away with good safety play. The Pats have not executed one since playing the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14.

I expect to see the Patriots return to form with those types of plays against the Giants, because the Giants' weakness is their safeties. If New England is able to make those plays early, New York might have to play catch-up, and the nature of the game could change completely.

3. Matt Light versus Osi Umenyiora is going to be one of the biggest matchups on the field. Umenyiora is an extremely gifted pass-rusher who can use his strength to bull-rush an offensive lineman or speed rush against the high shoulder of a lineman, and use his spin to get free and cause havoc in the backfield.

The Patriots realize how dangerous Umenyiora is and will try to get Light help as much as possible. They will keep a running back to his side to chip him or use the same playbook they used against Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, sending a tight end or wide receiver in motion and using that player to chip him.

New York Giants

1. Ahmad Bradshaw's presence will be a surprise for the Patriots. He didn't play in the first game, and he offers the Giants a versatile big-play running presence that will be vital to beating New England.

The Patriots' down linemen are the strength of their defense. They create a tunnel for the linebackers to work in, but on occasion, the linebackers freelance or try to make plays, creating seams. Bradshaw will actively take advantage of the seams where Brandon Jacobswouldn't, because of Bradshaw's better speed. He could be a major key to this team's success.

2. The matchup between center Shaun O'Hara and nose tackle Vince Wilfork is extremely important and simply a great interior match. O'Hara must find a way to handle Wilfork by himself, allowing the guards to get in the linebackers' faces, creating second-level opportunities for Bradshaw and Jacobs. The linebackers do a fabulous job of attacking the gaps created by teams that double-team Wilfork. If O'Hara can get it done, it will go a long way toward the Giants pulling off the upset.

3. The Giants' secondary has played extremely well during the playoffs. Surprisingly, it has gone more and more to dime coverage, which obviously has been very effective. Even more surprising was the Giants' decision to go primarily with single coverage against the Green Bay Packers' talented receiving corps.

We won't see that against the Patriots, but we can expect to see physical Giants cornerback Aaron Ross matched up against Randy Moss. Most of that coverage will be on the right side, where the majority of Moss' big plays have come this season. Also, don't expect to see a true Cover 2 against the Patriots, because the Giants will have to have their No. 2 cornerback on Wes Welker at all times to make sure he doesn't eat them up underneath.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/01/24/heyman.cano/index.html

By Jon Heyman, SI.com

The Yankees and Robinson Cano have reached a preliminary agreement on a contract that will guarantee him $30 million over four years and could pay him about $56 million over six years. Once contract language and a physical are completed, the deal will be done.

The agreement is for $28 million over the next four years, with a $2 million buyout in 2012 and 2013, which would bring him to exactly $30 million. The option for 2012 is for $13 million and the option for 2013 is believed to be for about $15 million.
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Cano had recently requested $4.55 million through arbitration, with the Yankees submitting a $3.2 million figure.

Cano took over as the starting second baseman in 2005 and was an All-Star in 2006. He got off to a slow start in 2007, but rebounded to finish at .306 with 19 home runs and 97 RBIs. He then was one of New York's few productive offensive players in the Division Series loss to Cleveland, batting .333 with two home runs.

New York has two other players still eligible for arbitration. Starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang asked for $4.6 million and was offered $4 million; and reliever Brian Bruney requested $845,000 while New York countered at $640,000.

The Yankees have several promising young players not yet eligible for arbitration, a group that includes pitchers Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy.

New York also was nearing completion of a minor league contract with backup infielder Chris Woodward. If added to the major league roster, he would get a one-year deal for $700,000 while in the majors and $120,000 while in the minors.

Woodward hit .199 in 136 at-bats for the Atlanta Braves last year. The nine-year big league veteran could earn an additional $200,000 in performance bonuses, getting the full amount for 325 plate appearances.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/01/24/heyman.cano/index.html

By Jon Heyman, SI.com

The Yankees and Robinson Cano have reached a preliminary agreement on a contract that will guarantee him $30 million over four years and could pay him about $56 million over six years. Once contract language and a physical are completed, the deal will be done.

The agreement is for $28 million over the next four years, with a $2 million buyout in 2012 and 2013, which would bring him to exactly $30 million. The option for 2012 is for $13 million and the option for 2013 is believed to be for about $15 million.
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Cano had recently requested $4.55 million through arbitration, with the Yankees submitting a $3.2 million figure.

Cano took over as the starting second baseman in 2005 and was an All-Star in 2006. He got off to a slow start in 2007, but rebounded to finish at .306 with 19 home runs and 97 RBIs. He then was one of New York's few productive offensive players in the Division Series loss to Cleveland, batting .333 with two home runs.

New York has two other players still eligible for arbitration. Starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang asked for $4.6 million and was offered $4 million; and reliever Brian Bruney requested $845,000 while New York countered at $640,000.

The Yankees have several promising young players not yet eligible for arbitration, a group that includes pitchers Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy.

New York also was nearing completion of a minor league contract with backup infielder Chris Woodward. If added to the major league roster, he would get a one-year deal for $700,000 while in the majors and $120,000 while in the minors.

Woodward hit .199 in 136 at-bats for the Atlanta Braves last year. The nine-year big league veteran could earn an additional $200,000 in performance bonuses, getting the full amount for 325 plate appearances.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.