The Yankees and the Mets both found themselves short of reliable pitching options going into the 2011 season. At no point did it seem more important for each team’s young, homegrown pitchers to step up and help carry the rotation. Phil Hughes and Mike Pelfrey have both failed in this regard thus far, but this is hardly the first time the two righties’ careers followed the same path. The debate between Yankees and Mets fans over which one is better has raged for years but has never had a clear answer, and for good reason.
It all started back when both pitchers were hot-shot prospects tearing up the minor leagues. Both were known as hard throwers, though both have lost some pop on their fastballs. Hughes was drafted in the first round of the 2004 draft while Pelfrey went in the first round of the next year’s draft. However, Pelfrey still beat Hughes to the majors, as he was more polished coming out of Wichita State. Both of their major league careers have had their ups and downs early on. It took both of them until their third seasons to post ERA’s under 4.00, but there were some flashes of brilliance mixed in. Pelfrey’s breakthrough season came in 2008 when he threw 200 innings for the first time and posted a 3.72 ERA. Hughes put it together the next season out of the bullpen with a 3.03 ERA and a World Series ring to boot. Their careers mirrored each other even closer since the beginning of the 2010 season. Both pitchers got off to fantastic starts that made it seem like they finally had it all figured out, only to fade in the second half. Atrocious starts to the 2011 season for each has left their futures with their respective teams clouded.
Despite the similarities, there are some accomplishments that one can boast over the other. Pelfrey has established himself longer as a starting pitcher with more career innings and two career 200 inning seasons. He also has appeared as an Opening Day starter for his team. On the other hand, Hughes has that World Series ring as well as most of the superior statistics. Hughes bests Pelfrey in career winning percentage, WHIP, BAA and K/9. It is worth nothing that Hughes must face the tenacious AL East while Pelfrey calls a pitcher’s park in the National League his home. All of it has led to frighteningly similar career ERA’s from the two pitchers (4.39 for Hughes and 4.41 for Pelfrey). Given the similarities, the two pitchers seemed destined to continue providing fuel for the internet message boards until one or both of them no longer calls New York home. 
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