DON’T worry about Phil Hughes. The kid is going to be all right.
Hughes pitched six solid innings last night in the Yankees’ come-from-behind, 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. He didn’t figure in the decision, but he kept the Yankees in the game. All you had to do was watch him strike out Vernon Wells and Frank Thomas in the fourth to understand that.
The right-hander had just given up a run and Alex Rios was standing on third with one out. As the at-bat to Wells developed, Hughes threw a changeup followed by a 3-2 curve ball to earn the strikeout, something, he said, he didn’t have the confidence to do last year.
On another full count, he busted Thomas on an inside fastball for strike three. Big Frank was ejected for arguing the call. If Hughes continues to pitch like this, he will help keep the Yankees in the AL East race.
“Hughes did fantastic,” Hank Steinbrenner said.
Hughes, 21, broke the bat of the first hitter he faced, David Eckstein and showed good command over six innings. For the youngest pitcher and second-youngest player in the majors he also showed plenty of composure. The only player younger than Hughes is Arizona’s Justin Upton, 20.
The Yankees cannot survive unless Hughes has a solid year. Every fan in the crowd of 47,785 and on the street is aware of that fact. You could sense they were with him on every pitch and showed it by chanting his name when he got two strikes on a batter.
They desperately want Hughes to succeed. For a fan there is nothing better than cheering a young pitcher who comes up through the system. Hughes also owns a sense of maturity and professionalism that makes him perfect for pinstripes.
He said that’s a gift he got from his father, a father who held his kids accountable and expected them to succeed in whatever they did.
“I expect great things from myself,” Hughes said, noting that’s how he can deal with the pressures of being a vital link in this staff at such a young age.
Joe Girardi said he could tell from the first live batting practice of spring training that Hughes was not to be denied.
Johnny Damon was the first batter to face Hughes. When he was done he came out of the box and told Derek Jeter, who was on deck, “Jetes, you better be ready.”
Hughes was ready. He was earning a spot in this rotation.
There is a maturity level about him that sets him apart from the other young pitchers, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy.
“He does have that California cool thing going on,” Chamberlain said.
Chamberlain also did well for himself, pitching a scoreless eighth for the win.
While Hughes is calm before games, Chamberlain is a bundle of energy. When Chamberlain walks through the Yankees clubhouse he is always extremely careful not to step on the large NY insignia. He gently tiptoes through the logo. That’s something, Chamberlain said, that goes back to college days and not stepping on the Nebraska logo.
The Yankees won two of three from Toronto in this opening series, but Toronto is a player in the division this year because of a pitching staff anchored by Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett.
“It’s a three-team race,” Thomas said before the game.
Thomas struck out against Chamberlain to end the eighth inning of the Yankees season-opening victory. Afterward, Joba did a celebratory 360 pump to the delight of the crowd. Chamberlain grew up a Thomas fan.
“It’s pure energy,” Thomas said of Chamberlain. “I don’t mind that at all. I like him and the Hughes kid. I think they made the right decision sticking with those young guys.”
Hank Steinbrenner had been an advocate for getting Johan Santana, but he has come around on the young pitchers.
“I have complete faith in Chamberlain, Hughes, Kennedy, [Andrew] Brackman and [Ala]) Horne in the minors,” Hank said. “I have complete faith in all of them.”
It’s great to have faith, that’s essential, but these are the Yankees, and wins are what really count.