Phil Hughes on the Mound, Radars at The Ready

Ready those radar guns, because it's time to re-ignite the Phil Hughes ineffectiveness discussion. 

With Hughes' impending start Thursday, it's time to wonder what happened to that sure thing that was throwing a no-hitter at Ranger Stadium in 2007.  Last year’s 0-4 record with a 6.62 ERA in eight starts was certainly a setback and sent the diehards looking high and low for why.

Enter the mystics:

—Mechanics in early April said “Hughes is bending his knee” (pictures included)

—Glasses spotted in late April meant “Hughes is near-sighted”

—No movement on his fastball in August

Where's the heat?

Hughes had premium stuff at one point, a nice combination that included a 91-94 mph heater and knockout bender he showed down the stretch in Double-A two years ago.

Last year, he pitched off his 89-92 mph fastball and a plus curveball, not bad, but not great.

The sun shines in Az!

Peter Abraham talked to three scouts who watched Hughes pitch Arizona, who all said he was throwing 94, 95 with ease.

In his final start on Nov. 19, Hughes beat the Scottsdale Scorpions, striking out 10 in five innings of shutout, two-hit ball.

Been here before...

The question that we hope gets answered this spring is whether can Hughes can throw 95 in the majors, which we’ve seen only on occasion.

I hearken back to that night in Texas in 2007 or how well he pitched down the stretch in 2007 when he came back from the hamstring injury.

He’s had a lot of things happen physically, but whether he'll regain his premium stuff and stay healthy for an extended period remains to be seen. I’m pulling for him.