What Happens When Phil Hughes Comes Back?
Phil Hughes has been out for quite sometime with a dead arm injury, but Hughes had made some progress since then. Hughes had started throwing last month without a radar gun and just 2 weeks ago, he threw live batting practice with a radar gun and clocked 91-93 mph on his fastballs. Hughes had taken the next step in his road back to the Yankees by starting for the SI Yankees. His last start for them, he threw 3.2 innings, 1 hit, no runs and 2 strikeouts all while throwing 49 pitches. Joe Girardi says that he wants Hughes to get at least 3 more starts with the SI Yankees before he could come back to the Yankees.
There is just one question that people had been wondering. Where will Phil Hughes go when he does come back? Our starting rotation had been reliable with CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and surprisingly Bartolo Colon. Freddy Garcia and Ivan Nova had been up and down with there starts (Nova had given up 4 runs in the Yankees 12-4 win against Texas while Garcia gave up 3 runs in a Yankees 3-1 loss against the Cubs yesterday). Where Phil Hughes could fit in there is if either Garcia or Nova go back to the bullpen while Hughes could take a spot there.
There had also been speculation that Phil Hughes could go to the bullpen to help David Robertson, Boone Logan, Luis Ayala and Mariano Rivera since Joba Chamberlain and Rafael Soriano are out of commission but I’m sure that Joe Girardi would want to put Hughes in the bullpen. Girardi made him to be a starter and a starter is what Hughes wants to be as well. What the Yankees will do with Hughes after he comes back in July, only time will tell.
Posted on June 18, 2011, in Player Analysis and tagged New York Yankees, Phil hughes. Bookmark the permalink. 7 Comments.
Brian D.
fishjam25
jimmytoucan
Matthew B
Delia E.
Dan H.
Matthew S.
Michael P.
Mike D.
Delia – Cahsman already said Hughes will come back as a starter but we also know to take what Cash says with a grain of salt.
He was an 18 game winner last year and deserves a starting spot is my thought.
Phil Hughes is not a good pitcher. He only won last year because of terrific run support of over 6 runs per start. He has no secondary pitches. I hope he becomes trade fodder.
Morning Dan. I see that point. I think he deserves a shot in the rotation though if he comes back healthy.
The only way he becomes a good for a trade if he comes back and pitches well.
Unless there is some drastic change imo Hughes has NO future in NY. Look at his splits compared to Nova and you will see that Ivan is the better young pitcher. I hope Hughes is gone and CJ Wilson brought in to replace him. Add another youngster or even bring back Colon to fill out the rotation for next year.
I like CJ also but, can you see the benefits of having a Bull-pen of; Sory, K-Rob, Joba and Phil as your main stoppers? I mean Phil is a very good BP pitcher, so if he can’t come up with a 3rd useable pitch, put him in the BP. He has a lot of value as a BP pitcher.
I’m in favor of CJ Wilson. I love his stuff. He is an excellent pitcher.
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