Time for Yankees' Hughes to Take Over 8th!

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Courtesy Yankees 'N More

OK, we're convinced. It is time for Phil Hughes to become the final bridge to Mariano Rivera - time for him to become the primary eighth-inning guy for the New York Yankees.

This is not only because of Brian Bruney's shaky performances since returning from the disabled list, though that is certainly a factor.

Bruney, while throwing hard, does not have anything close to the command he once had, at least not yet. Perhaps it will come as he gets more innings under his belt.

Right now, however, is no time for the Yankees to be risking late leads while Bruney attempts to get himself straightened out. It would be one thing if the Yankees didn't have a reliable option, but they do.

His name is Phil Hughes. Perhaps you've heard of him.

Hughes, of course, is the 23-year-old, hard-throwing right-hander the Yankees are counting on to become a big part of their starting rotation, as soon as next year, if everything goes according to plan.

For now, however, the Yankees rotation is set, and there is nothing left for Hughes to prove at AAA, so the Yankees have put him in the major league bullpen. The results have been staggering.

Pitching in short relief, Hughes has all but ditched his cutter and changeup and is simply overpowering hitters with mid-90's fastball and his devastating curve.

After another perfect inning on Tuesday, Hughes now has 13 innings in eight games pitched this season as a reliever. He has allowed only five hits (for batting average against is .114), two walks and two runs. He has struck out 16 and boasts a microscopic ERA of 1.39.

Those numbers are the primary reason the time for Hughes to take on a larger role is now upon us. The truth is, even if Bruney were at his best, he's probably not as good as Hughes has been since moving to the 'pen.

And given Hughes's background as a starter, he could be a guy who works the seventh AND eighth innings on the way to the magnificent Mo... Or at least a guy who can shut down a threat in the seventh, and then pitch the eighth, as well.

The New York Yankees, as they always do, are playing for this year, playing for now. And the time for Phil Hughes is now.

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