New York Yankees: Phil Hughes Will Be No. 5 Starter for Yankees in 2012
February 16, 2012 · Michael Moraitis · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
As A.J. Burnett’s time in pinstripes is coming to a close, it’s abundantly clear that the No. 5 starter spot in the New York Yankees rotation will belong to Phil Hughes for the 2012 season.
Burnett, along with Freddy Garcia, were the only competition that Hughes had to deal with going into spring training—those two and a slew of young, unproven pitchers in the Yanks’ farm system, if you want to count them as competition at this point.
Long story short, it’s Hughes’ job to lose.
Garcia will end up being an expensive insurance policy and the shaky Hughes will have slightly more time to get his stuff together, but I’m sure manager Joe Girardi won’t have too long a leash for his former top prospect.
After Garcia’s impressive season in 2011 (though he might not be able to repeat that again), he’s proven he can still be a quality No. 5 starter in the MLB. That is reason enough for Hughes to be looking over his shoulder during this season.
Hughes has been a disappointment the past season-and-a-half, battling inconsistency and injury en route to a disappointing tenure in the Bronx. His former No. 1 prospect status is the only thing that has saved his job at this point and the Yanks are holding onto the one shred of hope that he can still pan out.
Simple and plain: The Bombers aren’t ready to give up on a 26-year-old former top pitching prospect just yet. That reason in itself makes Hughes the No. 5 starter by default. Sure, Garcia could potentially still beat him out for the final slot in the rotation, but it would take a monumental collapse on the part of Hughes.
This will be Hughes’ last chance in pinstripes. He will become a free agent at the end of this season and there isn’t an ounce of hope the Yanks would bring him back in anything less than a bullpen role if he isn’t successful, which is the only place he’s had consistent success during his short career.
The bullpen is where Hughes might find himself playing out the string with the Yankees if he doesn’t get his act together. There’s never time in Yankeeland to “figure it out” unless you’re Burnett and making a ridiculous salary that forces the manager’s hand to keep sending you out there.
Hughes doesn’t have that luxury and it’s time for him to prove he belongs on the mound for the home team at Yankee Stadium. There’s no doubt about it: It’s put-up or shut-up time for Hughes.
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