Tyler Kepner has a feature on Phil Hughes and his blog.

“The fans are very important to me,” Hughes said. “Without them, I wouldn’t have a job, basically. I try to give back as much as I can. It’s almost a no-brainer.”

As a homegrown Yankee with talent, Hughes was bound to be popular. But his blog has forged an uncommon connection. A young medium has further endeared a young player to the fans.

Meanwhile, Lisa Kennelly discusses concern within the Yankee organization about this new fangled technology.

"We warn them about putting their private lives in the public arena," GM Brian Cashman said, "because it comes back to haunt you, depending on what you put out there."

And it's entirely possible, said Yankees director of media relations Jason Zillo, that in the very near future blogs could be banned for Yankee players. All it takes is one bad incident.

"It's a way to relate to your fans," Zillo said, "but you need to be hyper sensitive to the type of information you're putting out there and understand there can be ramifications."

The way to think of blogging and communicating online is also the way to think about communicating with the press... or anywhere. There are some things you don't say. That isn't just for blogging. If you don't want Phil Hughes saying something on his blog, you don't want him saying it to a reporter, right? So, it comes down to judgement and, I suppose, media training. But, to single out blogging or social networking as some sort of pariah isn't fair or wise.

I think Phil should keep doing what he's been doing. I have no concerns about it as a distraction - he can't be all baseball, all the time - and I enjoy reading it. If he enjoys providing it - rock on, I say.

Via Alex (who was quoted in Kepner's story) and Steve.