Phil Hughes and Bullpen
By Mike Silva ~ September 17th, 2009. Filed under: Mike Silva.
Billy Campione of Full Count Pitch wrote earlier today why Phil Hughes should remain a permanent fixture in the Yankees bullpen. You can read the details, but Campione cites the short stints for improving his velocity and eliminating underdeveloped secondary pitches. The rationale, Billy points out, could be an argument for any starting pitcher going into the bullpen. I have thought about this a lot since Hughes has successfully taken over the eighth inning role. I am a huge proponent of a “lock down” bullpen, but even I think it’s way too soon to give up on the 23 year old righty as a starter.
You’re probably saying that, “you were the guy that preached Joba to the pen.” You would be correct, but Joba hasn’t exactly distinguished himself as a starter like Hughes. Take away the injury plagued 2008 and Hughes put up very serviceable numbers in 2007 and, outside of the May 9th game in Baltimore, showed improvement during a short stint this year. If you had to pick between the two Hughes would be my choice over Joba. In the end I believe Chamberlain will probably wind up in the bullpen. I am also the guy who thinks Hughes is the real pitching jewel, not Joba.
It was essentially for the Yankees to keep Hughes in the bullpen this year because of the lack of an established setup man. The Yankees bullpen would be far less imposing without the “lockdown bridge” Hughes has established to Rivera. This shouldn’t mean the Yankees give up on him in the rotation. Brian Cashman needs to acquire a setup man this winter and finally give both these kids a full year in the rotation. If my instincts are correct Hughes will establish himself and Chamberlain will prove to be a bust or suitable for the bullpen. Either way, it’s too soon to scrap Phil Hughes as a starter.
September 17th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Each of their career major league numbers, as a starter:
Hughes: 141.1 IP, 5.22 ERA, 1.90 K/BB
Joba: 209 IP, 3.88 ERA, 2.11 K/BB
“Joba hasn’t exactly distinguished himself as a starter like Hughes.”
Uhhh
September 17th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Pull out 08′ (injured) and the Baltimore game and I think you will see a different picture.
September 17th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
If it was up to this site and others similarly deluded by idiocy, the Yanks would just run out 9 guys pitching in 1 innings stints. Then we would hear about how much better their stuff was out of the pen and that they’re better suited to those short outings.
September 17th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Arbitrarily pull out ’08 and the Baltimore game, fine. But then why don’t we arbitrarily pull out a couple of Joba’s bad starts as well? Why let facts get in the way of another good Joba bashing session?
Even if we do pull out those starts, which is silly to begin with, that’s only 19 major league starts for Hughes. Hardly enough time to “establish” anything.
September 17th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
The reason I pulled out 08′ is because of injury, not arbitrary. When it comes to the Baltimore game I absolutely understand your point.
Hughes to me is the more polished pitcher.
September 17th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Joba was also injured in 2008, by the way. But I suppose he gets no credit for pitching awesome through injury.
2 of Hughes’s 8 starts in 2008 were made after he came off the DL. Let’s not twist facts and throw out data to support a pre-formed opinion. Facts should come before opinion, not after.
February 27th, 2010 at 7:27 am
Hey I just wanted to let you know,