TAMPA — Joba Chamberlain was weak because of a stomach virus. Phil Hughes seemed to borrow his fastball command from Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams’ manual, which overshadowed Hughes’ effective change-up.
So, the favorites in the fight for the fifth spot in the Yankees rotation were as dull as the 12-7 loss to the Rays was long (for the record, it was three hours, 40 minutes).
Hughes, who started, went two innings, gave up a hit, a run and a walk. Chamberlain, who was sent home Tuesday with stomach discomfort and lost eight pounds in two days, followed Hughes and the numbers were awful. In 1 1/3 innings Chamberlain was spanked for five runs, three hits and gave up three walks.
Each threw 33 pitches. Hughes found the strike zone with 18; Chamberlain with 14.
Did the virus affect Chamberlain?
“A little bit,” Chamberlain said. “I haven’t done anything for three days. You try to get back into the flow of things.”
Chamberlain would have preferred to be sharp, but he said one bad outing wasn’t going to get him sent to the bullpen.
“You are not going to win the battle in one game,” Chamberlain said of the competition for the final rotation spot that includes Chad Gaudin, Sergio Mitre and Alfredo Aceves. “It’s what you do before the game, how you prepare and how you get your work done.”
Pitching coach Dave Eiland and manager Joe Girardi knew Chamberlain wasn’t at full strength. Nevertheless, the Yankees took the opportunity to build the pitcher’s arm strength.
“I am not going to make too much of it,” Girardi said of the outing. “I wonder how much his legs were under him. He wanted to pitch and develop arm strength. His stomach didn’t feel great, but that had nothing to do with his arm.”
Hughes, who gave up a homer to Sean Rodriguez in the first inning, wasn’t satisfied with his fastball location, but was encouraged by the change-up.
“My fastball command was all over the place, but I threw some good changeups. I don’t think I threw a fastball that was located all day,” Hughes said.
Developing Hughes’ changeup has been a goal from the time he arrived in camp. He threw “eight or nine” yesterday and received praise from Eiland.
“Dave told me afterward that it was the best changeup I have thrown,” Hughes said.
For those keeping track of the competition for the fifth spot, Gaudin, Aceves and Mitre have each thrown two shutout innings. Nevertheless, they remain long shots because the Yankees appear determined to use either Chamberlain or Hughes as a starter. The two front-runners will go again Wednesday against Detroit, when Hughes will start and Chamberlain relieve.
“I am used to starting. In high school I was a starter and [I was] a starter in the minor leagues,” said Hughes, who was 3-2 with a 5.45 ERA in seven games as a starter last season and 5-1 with a 1.40 ERA as in relief. In 34 2/3 innings as a starter, Hughes fanned 31. As a reliever, that jumped to 65 Ks in 51 1/3 frames.
“That’s what I am accustomed to,” Hughes said. “The coaching staff has confidence I can start or I wouldn’t be getting stretched out.
“If I get myself right that’s all I can ask of myself.”
By the time Hughes and Chamberlain get another chance to impress, Chamberlain’s stomach should be fine and Hughes’ command likely will be improved.
Yet, if they don’t pitch well, the promise Girardi made to the other three pitchers that the fifth spot is truly open will gain some teeth.