What's the Phil Hughes Plan Now?
With Wang re-established in the rotation, what's Hughes' role?
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Wang's back on the winning side of the ledger, which creates other issues for the Bombers.
Most of the coverage of Sunday night's Yankee win is concentrating on Mariano Rivera recording his 500th career save and first career RBI. How much time can you spend coming up with more superlatives for Rivera, though? Numbers will never tell the whole story, although that one RBI will always be a funny anecdote.
The real headline from Sunday should be Chien-Ming Wang's start, and any story would have to delve into how his start affects Phil Hughes. Wang picked up his first win, and has now pitched at least five innings in his last three starts. They haven't been wholly inspired outings, but there wasn't a particularly high bar set for Wang keeping his job in the rotation. If he keeps turning in these outings, he'll keep getting the ball.
What does that mean for Hughes? He's been Wang's shadow, relieving in games he starts and making sporadic other appearances out of the pen. He's done a very good job, and with the need for an emergency blanket lessening for Wang the Yankees need to figure out how they're going to use him going forward.
Brian Bruney is back, but his two eighth-inning walks on Sunday were a reminder that there aren't any guarantees when he's on the mound. Based on his results out of the pen thus far, Hughes would be an intriguing choice for that high-leverage role. You could also make a good argument for sending him back to Scranton so he can resume a regular starting schedule and be there if there's another opening in the big league rotation.
Hughes is clearly a better pitcher than some of the guys who would remain in the big leagues in that scenario, but that's the reason for sending him down. Using him as a glorified Brett Tomko isn't helping either the Yankees or Hughes all that much. The other options have varied benefits, but keeping him in the bullpen and pitching important innings is probably the best mix of what's good for both team and player.
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.
