Hughes Plays a Key Role

(Zell's Pinstripe Blog)

Phil Hughes has gone through a lot this year. He entered the season thinking he would be a starting pitcher, and only a starting pitcher. He was called up to the majors early in the season after Chien-Ming Wang was placed on the DL. He started 7 games this season, and managed to put up his best start of his career. On May 25th, Hughes pitched 8 scoreless innings against the Texas Rangers. It seemed like he was finally settling down as a starter, and than Wang returned which made Hughes move to the bullpen temporarily.

The plans changed, and Hughes has been in the pen ever since. Many have started to implore the Yankees to keep Hughes as a setup pitcher,  but that’s not what the Yankees have in mind for him. Their plan is to make Hughes a starter over the long-term, and I happen to agree with them.

Since joining the bullpen, Hughes has put up staggering numbers:

34.1IP  (W-L) 2-1  1SV  21H  5R  5ER  10BB  44K  1.31ERA  BA.174

Hughes has done phenomenal in the bullpen, and he will be staying there for the rest of the season. There are no plans to change that. For the rest of the season it makes sense to keep him there, because he wouldn’t be starting in the postseason anyway. He is part of “The Formula” now, and can be a key part in World Series team.

I fully expect Hughes to line up in Spring Training with Sabathia, Burnett, Joba and Pettitte next season.