Phil Hughes’ Inconsistency Is Killing the New York Yankees
May 29, 2012 · Imala Weligamage · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
It was not too long ago that Phil Hughes was viewed as the future ace for the New York Yankees.
The organization believed in him so much that GM Brian Cashman refused to include him in a deal for stud pitcher Johan Santana. He was ranked as the Yankees’ best prospect and the second best prospect in all of baseball in 2007 according to Baseball Digest.
Oh, how far he has fallen.
Despite an 18-win season in 2010, Hughes has yet to find any form of consistency throughout his career. His career ERA is over 4.50 and it would be considerably higher if it weren’t for a lights-out showing in the bullpen in 2009.
Hughes shows flashes of his potential every now and then, but they remain few and far between. So far this year it seems as if the 18-win pitcher he was in 2010 is long gone.
After getting lit up by the Angels for seven earned runs in 5.1 innings, Hughes’ ERA ballooned to an exorbitant 5.64. He will stay in the rotation for the foreseeable future as manager Joe Girardi almost has no choice with big free agent signing Hiroki Kuroda and fellow young gun Ivan Nova also struggling. But Hughes clearly does not belong in the Yankee rotation any longer.
With Michael Pineda ruled out for the season and super prospects Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances not coming up anytime soon, Cashman must make a move for a stable, consistent starting pitcher.
Hughes’ form is perhaps the reason for the Jesus Montero-Michael Pineda swap, as Cashman has seen first hand just how much of a crapshoot pitching prospects are. Taking a proven commodity in Pineda seems a lot more defensible than waiting for a young prospect to possibly pan out.
Should Hughes remain with the Yankees, his position must be in the bullpen. He was dominant out of the ‘pen in ’09, helping the Yankees win their 27th World Series. Unless Hughes undergoes a radical improvement, which at his younger age still seems plausible, his only position should be in spot duty out of the bullpen.
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