Phil Hughes

In a year of stunning rookie performances, Cuban defector and Reds uber-prospect Aroldis Chapman made his major-league debut on Tuesday, facing three batters in one inning of work. The 22-year-old was electric, hitting 103 mph on the radar gun.

When you look at Phil Hughes’ numbers on the surface, things look good.  He’s got 15 wins.  He’s sporting a respectable (though not as much in 2010) ERA of 4.12.  His WHIP is solid at 1.25.

However, entering last night’s start those numbers are a bit deceiving.  Just look at his ERAs over the past three months:

There is a reason why people say "You can't predict baseball." Teams have to actually play out all 162 games. And one day in August does not make or break a team's chances in October.

Stephen Strasburg needs Tommy John surgery (TJS), and if you are in shock over this, you shouldn't be. Strasburg has all the requirements of a guy destined for this procedure.

First, he throws extremely hard, upwards of 100 MPH. That is just too taxing on the throwing arm’s tendons and ligaments. There is a certain threshold for the body when it comes to pitching a baseball. Second, Strasburg has brutal pitching mechanics, with a very violent motion.

New York Yankees' starter Phil Hughes is closing in on his pitching limit, which seems to be around 200 innings.

Hughes, 24, has currently pitched 140 and 2/3 innings this year.

At this rate, he would have to miss one start before the start of the playoffs if New York makes it (which they probably will).

He is currently 15-5 with an ERA of 3.90, great stats in preparation for October. 

Now the question is will Hughes be starting in October?

After losing the first game, the New York Yankees demolished the Blue Jays at home in Toronto on Tuesday night.

Marcus Thames, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Curtis Granderson, and Mark Teixeira all homered in the affair.

Wednesday night’s game determines the series; both teams want to win but are on very different paths.

The Blue Jays have a chip on their shoulder. My guess is because Toronto resides in the AL East, which diminishes any hopes at a playoff berth.

The team with the best record in baseball has some major issues as the calendar approaches September. The Yankees remain atop the American League East, leading the Rays by one game. They do, however, have some issues and I’ve noticed many fans becoming concerned.

While they have a right and reasons to be concerned, it’s not quite time to panic just yet. It’s not one area that causes concern either. It's multiple areas.

Many baseball experts discuss the pitcher who has been unlucky, who just cannot seem to win no matter how well he pitches. Roy Oswalt is the main example being used this season, and his 8-13, 3.36 ERA season is indicative of a player whose win-loss record should be flipped.

In an effort to protect the arm of Phil Hughes, who has never gone beyond 146 innings in any one season in his career, the Yankees are limiting him to about 175 innings this year. Many believed this meant that the Yankees would move him to the bullpen in October, as a way of keeping that innings total down. It turns out that isn’t the case.

Fresh off an unacceptable loss to the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon, the New York Yankees arrived back home to face the Detroit Tigers for a four-game set.

Instead of keeping the Tampa Bay Rays at bay, the Yankees lost to the Tigers 3-0, but that is just the icing on the cake.