All Star Game Discussion

by John Sickels on Jul 13, 2025 11:00 AM EDT Comment 20 comments

Workers prepare for the 2010 All-Star Game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

So I'm looking at the All Star Rosters, trying to find something young-player-oriented to discuss. Talking about Jason Heyward would be boring and repetitive, he's injured anyway, and I have pitching on my mind today anyhow.

So here's a question for you. If you could have either Clay Buchholz or Phil Hughes for the next five years, who would you pick? Don't consider the team contexts of Boston and New York; focus just on the pitchers themselves...who is more likely to be pitching well in 2015?

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Read More: Phil Hughes (P - NYY), Clay Buchholz (P - BOS)

Comments

Will there be a hastily-organized tribute to Steinbrenner?

As a fitting tribute, perhaps MLB could fire everyone participating in this year’s All-Star game.

by royshowell on Jul 13, 2025 11:04 AM EDT reply actions

Hughes (barely)

Incredible question to ask/consider though…

I like the mental maturity/mettle/growth that Hughes has shown with his movement and path with the NYY thus far. While he may not see as many random high-K performances as Clay, I (do) see him fighting and battling and pitching - not just “throwing” when times get tougher on the mound.

I guess it’s a mix of having Rivera by your side for a full season in the ‘pen, with a mix of Andy as a veteran SP to give some wisdom to help the “stuff” he’s already got - and not just rely on the “stuff” alone as he attempted years ago.

Clay may have flashier stats more often, but I’ll take a steady Hughes over him in 5 years time.

\m/

by cobratron on Jul 13, 2025 11:07 AM EDT reply actions

Phil Hughes

He’s younger and has easily the better K/BB ratio. He gives up too many flyballs, which is dangerous in that park, but I’m confident he can be a solid #2 going forward. Clay’s an interesting kid, but he only strikes out 1.68 for every walk he issues. That’s not going to bode well for him in the future.

http://oursaviorchuck.ytmnd.com/

by Conjunction on Jul 13, 2025 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

Fly Balls

Hughes does give up a lot of fly balls but his HR/Fly Ball rate is really good. 8.1% for his career and never above 8.3% for a season. He’s thrown almost 300 ML innings now so it’s a sizable sample. If he keeps this up, being a fly ball pitcher won’t affect him that much.

As for answering the question, I’d go with Hughes but not by a wide margin.

by joerote on Jul 13, 2025 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Hughes

I think they will be even with wins and ERA, buty I give Hughes the edge because I think he will strikeout more and walk less

by Yankees10 on Jul 13, 2025 11:19 AM EDT reply actions

Trevor Cahill

2-3 yrs younger than hughes, bucholz. Having an impressive season so far, though some might view it was flukish. Too bad anderson has been out w/ injury.

by MagicMike23 on Jul 13, 2025 11:21 AM EDT reply actions

Too bad he wasnt an option...

by Yankees10 on Jul 13, 2025 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah more discussion about yankeees/red sox players isnt done enough on here

by MagicMike23 on Jul 13, 2025 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

Although both pitchers seem to be turning into quality starters there are a handful of other young pitchers I’d rather have - Matusz, Bumgarner, Leake, Cahill…

by KSM on Jul 13, 2025 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

cahill

I considered expanding the question to include Cahill but I wanted to focus on just two guys to narrow the discussion. Cahill is a good topic for another day

by John Sickels on Jul 13, 2025 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Cahill vs...

John,

Obviously can’t tell you what to post, but would love for you to consider the old > Cahill vs Anderson < conversation. While it’s not opposing teams, with opposing phenoms, with opposing treatment by their developments - Cahill vs Anderson once had quite the debate that disappeared and is now resurfacing yet again…

Bucholz vs Hughes is incredibly appropo to delve into with their powerhou$e teams - with the directions (and recently slightly shifted paths) the Yanks and Sox are taking. While either team is willing to pony up top-$ for a FA top of the rotation horse, these two kids have gone from uber-hyped, to nearly frowned on, to accepted by their own team/fanbase.

As for Cahill vs B.Anderson? well.. we’ll leave that for another day, hopefully, maybe.

\m/

by cobratron on Jul 13, 2025 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Cahill

by BigJ7489 on Jul 13, 2025 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers."

by fourfingerwoo on Jul 13, 2025 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

by BigJ7489 on Jul 13, 2025 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Talking about Heyward is NEVER boring! ;)

by sunking1056 on Jul 13, 2025 11:22 AM EDT reply actions

Age

Not sure why Hughes isn’t the easy answer here just based on his being two years younger.

by AGuinness on Jul 13, 2025 11:47 AM EDT reply actions

question limited to the next 5 years

No real reason to expect serious age-related decline from Buchholz at 30, IMO.

by AndrewTorrez on Jul 13, 2025 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Buchholz

The only argument for Hughes right now is that he has 30 more Ks than Buchholz (and thus a slightly better xFIP). Both Hughes and Buchholz had relatively similar K rates in the minors, so I don’t really see Hughes continuing to strike out two more guys per game than Buchholz.

Given that, Buchholz has the superior track record, gets 50% more ground balls, and (in my eyes) has better stuff. So for the next five years, I’d take Buchholz.

by AndrewTorrez on Jul 13, 2025 12:11 PM EDT reply actions

+1

"The A's have to be setting some record this year for simultaneously maximizing team quality and player anonymity. I guess that’s sort of their thing though." - Luke in MN

by hero66 on Jul 13, 2025 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions