TAMPA — Those of you scoring the bout between Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes for the undisputed No. 5 spot in the Yankees’ rotation, get your scorecards ready Friday.
That’s when Hughes and Chamberlain — in that order — will work approximately two innings against the Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Five days later at Lakeland against the Tigers, the order reverses.
Because manager Joe Girardi is using Chad Gaudin, Sergio Mitre and Alfredo Aceves — who are also in the mix for the final rotation slot — in the exhibition opener Wednesday against the Pirates, CC Sabathia Thursday, A.J. Burnett Saturday, Gaudin, Mitre and Aceves Sunday, Andy Pettitte in a simulated game Sunday and Javier Vazquez and Aceves a week from tomorrow, he said there was no way to split up Hughes and Chamberlain.
“It’s just kind of how it worked out,” Girardi said of the main competitors for the No. 5 spot throwing in the same games at least for the first two turns.
Every move Chamberlain and Hughes have made since arriving in camp has been watched. Their bullpen sessions have been slated at the same time. They threw batting practice Friday back-to-back. Now, they get to show Girardi what they have in games.
It will be interesting on several fronts. Hughes and Chamberlain have tasted more big league success as relievers than starters. And there are some who believe the Yankees are a better team with Hughes and Chamberlain in front of Mariano Rivera.
Nevertheless, that’s not the likely way it will play out. The loser will go to the pen and become Rivera’s setup man. In that regard, Chamberlain has more experience than Hughes, who pitched brilliantly a year ago as the Accidental Reliever. And the heavy emphasis on Hughes rediscovering his change-up as an added pitch is an indication that he is the slight favorite as we await the bell.
The reason Pettitte is throwing a simulated game a week from today instead of facing the Twins in Fort Myers is Girardi doesn’t want to subject the 37-year-old veteran to the two-hour trip.
“That’s an awful long trip and Andy in the past has had some back issues, so it’s kind of protecting him,” Girardi said.