Phil Hughes

[AdvRider]

...Joba's ongoing meltdown...

This. Joba is slowly but steadily pitching his way out of the rotation and back to the pen. The Yanks can't afford to keep trotting this guy out if he does not improve on for instance his last three starts ... gave up 9 hits in 5.1, 3.2 and 4.1 IP. That's 27 hits in 12.4 IP.

Remember Joba was freaking solid out of the pen last year. The Yanks must be thinking about returning him to where he he's a proven contributor.

If it's back to the pen for Joba, Hughes has got to be a candidate to return to the rotation. Aceves did nothing to impress in his spot start last week. Mitre, maybe. I wouldn't be surprised if it's Hughes.

[CharlatanSin]

...Joba's ongoing meltdown...

This. Joba is slowly but steadily pitching his way out of the rotation and back to the pen. The Yanks can't afford to keep trotting this guy out if he does not improve on for instance his last three starts ... gave up 9 hits in 5.1, 3.2 and 4.1 IP. That's 27 hits in 12.4 IP.

Remember Joba was freaking solid out of the pen last year. The Yanks must be thinking about returning him to where he he's a proven contributor.

If it's back to the pen for Joba, Hughes has got to be a candidate to return to the rotation. Aceves did nothing to impress in his spot start last week. Mitre, maybe. I wouldn't be surprised if it's Hughes.

What the Yankees SHOULD do is send Joba to AAA for a couple of weeks to work on his mechanics in a low-stress environment. Of course, being the Yankees, and being in the playoff race, they won't. But he's DEFINITELY not moving to the Pen.

As good as Hughes has been in the pen, Aceves has been equally lights out. I think Aceves goes back to the bullpen, and the Yankees stretch Hughes out and he gets into the rotation in a couple of weeks. But who knows. I've misread this situation before.

[CAVscout]

Unless I'm mistaken I read somewhere that the yankees stated Hughes will stay in the bullpen for the remainder of the year, as they would have to send him down to stretch out his arm and he's become very valuable in the setup role

[Inukchuk]

Unless I'm mistaken I read somewhere that the yankees stated Hughes will stay in the bullpen for the remainder of the year, as they would have to send him down to stretch out his arm and he's become very valuable in the setup role

Yeah, I can see the Yankees not wanting to mess with Hughes' success in the pen. Couple that with the fact that they don't want to see a repeat of his 08 rotation performance, as well as the rest of their bullpen woes, and I would bet big that he stays right where he is for the rest of the season...

[socceryank]

How about this scenario:
It's no secret that Joba will be on an innings pitched limit, and he has shown to be stellar in relief. I can see Hughes and Joba switching roles, which helps in 2 ways: it limits Joba's innings, but it will stretch out Hughes in preparation for next year (otherwise, he'll be very limited next year if the Yanks follow the formula of minimizing the amount of innings pitched from one year to the next to reduce injury risk).

I think Hughes would be a smart pick up right now, and can at least help with WHIP, ERA and K's if nothing else.

[MaudDib]

Or the two best pitching prospects for the Yankees become very good setup guys. Neither one has shown much as SP so the Yankees might have to move these guys to the pen where they have been amazing.

[High Inside Heater]

i read somewhere they wont move joba to the pen because it takes a few innings for his arm to reach his velo. which can be understood why it takes him a while to settle down at beg of games. he seems to get lite up early then settle down. Joba has potential to be a ace, he has had very bad games but also some dominate ones. They need to leave him be or send him back down so he stays in one role and gets comfortable pitching. Moving Joba out of the rotation would not help them.

[Bozo]

If the Yankees are that impressed with the work that Hughes is doing in the bullpen and as the setup guy is there any chance they start thinking that maybe they will make him the closer when Mo packs it in?

[KCollins1304]

If the Yankees are that impressed with the work that Hughes is doing in the bullpen and as the setup guy is there any chance they start thinking that maybe they will make him the closer when Mo packs it in?

Long term they're going to give Chamberlain and Hughes every opportunity to be in the rotation. That being said, if either of them shows that ultimately they can't cut it and be above average starters they have at least both shown they can be dominant in the 8th inning role. Both of them have shown flashes of brilliance in the rotation and they're both still only 23, so they have at least 2 more years imo to cement themselves into the rotation before being relegated to the bullpen.

[Inukchuk]

Both of them have shown flashes of brilliance in the rotation and they're both still only 23, so they have at least 2 more years imo to cement themselves into the rotation before being relegated to the bullpen.

Yup. People don't realize how young these 2 guys still are. It's way too early to pigeon hole them as starters or relievers just yet. I'm very encouraged with the way they've both shown flashes of dominance already.