After months of talking about the Yankees’ fifth starter, we finally get to see him today.
Phil Hughes won the spring-training competition for the job and makes his season debut tonight against the Angels. With three off days in the first nine days of the season, the Yanks did not need him until today, giving him extra time off.
“It feels normal,” Hughes said. “I’ve thrown a hundred pitches and done my normal bullpens in between just like I would in a game. I feel like I’m well into the season just with spring training and the two [extended spring training] starts I’ve gotten.”
Hughes has not started a game since last May 31 in Cleveland. He moved to the bullpen soon after and became the main set-up man for Mariano Rivera.
Joe Girardi said he will keep an eye on Hughes’ emotions on the mound to make sure he is not overexcited. Hughes’ changeup was a big reason he beat out Joba Chamberlain for the starting job.
“I feel like the last time I started to now my changeup has made all the difference in the world,” Hughes said. “I haven’t had, you know, regular season games to judge that off of but just off spring training it’s just miles and miles apart from when I was starting last.”
ANGELS PITCHER: UMPS FAVOR YANKEES
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Jorge Posada threw out Bobby Abreu trying to steal third to end the third inning yesterday. It was the first runner Posada has thrown out this season. Opponents were successful against him in their first eight attempts.
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Girardi said he liked how David Robertson looked yesterday morning after he gave up a grand slam in the ninth inning Tuesday to Abreu. Girardi said he would not hesitate to use Robertson in a crucial spot.
Hideki Matsui was not the only one fooled by pranksters during Tuesday’s World Series ring ceremony. Nick Swisher also received a fake ring.
“They got me,” he said.
Mariano Rivera gave him the real thing when they returned to the dugout.
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Ervin Santana, who lost Tuesday’s matchup against Andy Pettitte, blamed the umpires for his lifetime 5.50 ERA against the Yankees.
“Sometimes, when Pettitte was pitching, he’d throw a fastball a little up and [the ump would] call it. He’d throw it a little down and he’d still call it,” Santana told ESPN.com. “When I do the same thing, he didn’t give me the call. That’s because it’s the Yankees. That happens every time we play the Yankees or Boston.”
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Abreu had two hits off Javier Vazquez yesterday to run his career numbers against the Yankees starter to .297 with nine home runs and 16 RBIs. . . . Jackie Robinson‘s family will throw out the ceremonial first pitch tonight as part of Jackie Robinson Day . . .