Hughes Makes Up Impressive Trio in Cape
by Eric Adler, Cape Cod Chronicle
July 21, 2005 CHATHAM — It's no secret that pitching, whether in the majors, minors or in the Cape League, wins games. And thus far, the Chatham A's have been blessed with a bevy of brilliant arms, a crowning reason why they're the East Division wild card leader and legitimate contenders for the Cape League championship.
"Every guy we've thrown out there has done great things, and every guy has lived up to the expectations I had of him," Chatham Field Manager John Schiffner said of the cast he assembled. "What's impressed me about these guys is their ability to throw strikes and locate as well as they have."
Since the start of the Cape League season, the A's have boasted the top-ranked pitching, and continue to do so, entering the week with a league-best 2.23 team ERA.
Chatham's pitchers have struck out 233 batters – the fourth lowest total in the 10-team league – but have demonstrated tremendous control, walking just 66 stickmen, the fewest of any franchise and well below the 92 base on balls league average.
The basis for the A's superlative pitching has been the exceptional play of starters Jared Hughes, Andrew Miller, and Robert Woodard, set-up man Brooks Brown and closer Derrick Lutz, each of whom has put up all-star quality stats and simultaneously increased their status as a major league prospect.
Hughes, a six-foot-seven righty, got off to a rocky start during his first outing in Bourne, hitting the first two batters he faced before walking the third. But the Long Beach State ace benefited from a double play and never looked back, allowing just one run and striking out five over six innings to notch the first of his now five wins.
The Cape League's player of the week June 26, Hughes trumped his performance in Bourne with a dazzling one in Falmouth the following week, flirting with a no-hitter as he struck out 12 Commodores in a complete game two-hit effort.
The Laguna Beach, Calif., native has been just as sharp in his other starts, recording seven strikeouts in six innings against Hyannis, posting seven K's in as many innings against Y-D, and allowing just one run against Wareham on Monday.
Matching power with accuracy, Hughes has fooled opposing batters with his fastball/change-up/slider combination, throwing each pitch with major league caliber movement and velocity, according to his coaches. His highlights have come in spades, but Hughes says his performance against the Braves is the one that truly stands out.
"I was particularly proud of the game against Bourne, just because I was able to come back and keep our team in the game," said Hughes, relying as much on his brain as his brawn by constantly charting pitches and making scout reports.
"I may not be the best guy in the world to decide how a batter swings and where I should pitch him, but I figure I have to learn sooner or later," said Hughes. "Some guys can get by just on talent, but if I want to be the best pitcher I can be, I have to have a game plan."
That student-of-the-game approach has paid dividends, as Hughes is tied for the league lead in wins (5), ranks second in the league with a 0.77 ERA, and leads the A's with 37 strikeouts (in 30 innings).
"I knew if I came out and threw strikes and threw low in the zone with the stuff I had, I could be productive and a good pitcher in this league," said Hughes. "My whole mentality is to take one pitch at a time, because the next pitch is always the one that matters, never the one before." |
