tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Hughes Sends A Message / New Era In Believeland??

The intrigue will continue to mount today in the Bronx as the Yankees announced that Freddy Garcia will not pitch because of a cut finger and AJ Burnett will toe the rubber in his place. This coming after another good performance by Phil Hughes. Hughes was solid yesterday going 6 innings allowing 2 earned runs on four hits while only walking one and striking out 6. Hughes had velocity on his fastball and was in control for most of his outing.

So what happens if Burnett today continues his 0 for August string against the Rays?? If we are to believe Mr. Cashman it doesn't really matter what Burnett does today because he is going to stay in the rotation. What kind of message does this send Hughes, the rest of the team and your young prospects when performance means nothing. While Cashman says that Burnett's salary has nothing to do with AJ staying in the rotation, then what is the reason. Burnett's incredible stuff?? His tremendous potential to dominate a game??? Here's what I know: in Hughes' last three starts he is 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA. Burnett's last three starts: 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA. Enough said.

One more note on the Yankee game: Jorge Posada responded to his benching by driving in 6 runs including a grand slam home run yesterday afternoon. The Yankee Stadium crowd showed their appreciation by asking for and getting a curtain call from the aging Yankee star. For Posada's efforts, Manager Joe Girardi said that Posada will be back in the lineup today.

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Last night kicked off the 2011 NFL season for the Cleveland Browns and the Brownies responded with a 27-17 preseason win over the defending World Champion Green Bay Packers. Now the win, while nice, really means nothing. But what was significant was the coordinated methodical running of the West Coast offense by 2nd year quarterback Colt McCoy. McCoy made all the right reads and all the right throws as he led the Browns to two scores, one a 27 yard touchdown pass to Josh Cribbs.

During the lockout, the Browns were considered one of the teams that would be hurt the most because they had a new coach instituting a new offensive system with a young quarterback. But last night, the Browns looked anything like being hurt by the lockout. McCoy has always been a winner, a leader and he is extremely intelligent. The receiving core looked good also and there seemed to be a connection between them and McCoy. After years of painful offensive playcalling under Romeo Crennel and Eric Mangini, it was exciting watching the offense under Head Coach Pat Shurmur.

While it is only one game, a preseason one at that, there sure was some encouraging signs last night. Who knows maybe there is a new era dawning in Believeland.