Phil Hughes’ answer to a question about his health sent him to the DL instead of the minors. (Getty Images)
The Yankees’ plan to send Phil Hughes to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to build arm strength changed abruptly Friday afternoon when the pitcher didn’t answer a question with enough conviction.
“I was going to Scranton and then Joe [Girardi] and Cash [Brian Cashman] said, ‘Are you all right?’ ” Hughes said yesterday.
Hughes couldn’t exactly say what the problem was, but he didn’t believe continuing to pitch — even in the minors — was the right way to inject life into his dead right arm.
“After 30 pitches, there was nothing there,” said Hughes. “I felt like a reliever who had thrown four straight days.”
So, Hughes went on the DL. Hughes added he had no tests between the decision to send him to Triple-A and his placement on the 15-day disabled list.
He also said he played catch with CC Sabathia before yesterday’s 5-2 win over the Rangers at Yankee Stadium.
“We will start a strenuous long toss [today] and the next day,” pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. “Tire it out, rest and tire it out and see where we are at.”
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When Hughes went on the shelf, Girardi said Bartolo Colon was being inserted into the rotation. Yesterday, Girardi couldn’t say when the veteran right-hander would pitch.
“We will see how we get through the weekend before we make any decisions,” said Girardi, who will start A.J. Burnett on Tuesday in Toronto.
The manager has several options because tomorrow is a day off. Girardi can use Ivan Nova, who was ineffective Friday night, on regular rest Wednesday against the Blue Jays. Or he can insert Colon into Hughes’ spot behind Burnett. The Yankees also are off Thursday, so Girardi could start Sabathia, tonight’s pitcher, on regular rest Friday.
“I feel good right now and trying to do my job,” said Colon, whose three relief outings have been effective.
Colon (0-1, 3.97 ERA) said he hasn’t been told when he will start. Thoughts of being used as a starter danced through his head in spring training where he lost out to Nova and Freddy Garcia for a rotation spot, but Colon said there was a more important issue after not pitching in the big leagues last season due to arm problems.
“The main thing for me was to make the team,” he said.
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Kevin Millwood, signed last month to a minor league contract, will start today for Double-A Trenton. . . . Anyone with a ticket for yesterday’s game, whether it was used or not, may redeem it for a free Grandstand or Terrace level ticket to another game this season or use it to receive 50 percent off any non-Suite or Club ticket for another game this season. Both offers are subject to availability and do not include Old Timer’s Day or games against the Red Sox or Mets.
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Until yesterday, when Gustavo Molina started behind the plate (going 0-for-3), Russell Martin was the only catcher in the big leagues to play every inning of every game.
“He will be back [today],” Girardi said of Martin. “I have seen no sign of fatigue. Guys are used to playing four days in a row.”