SARASOTA, Fla. — Throughout the Yankees’ Fifth Starter Derby, manager Joe Girardi saw highlights and saw potential.
He also, however, saw Phil Hughes develop his new pitch.
“Each guy had really bright spots, and they showed what they could possibly be,” Girardi said yesterday.
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“But I thought Phil’s changeup the last couple of outings has made a big difference.”
Girardi officially handed Hughes the fifth-starter’s job yesterday, awarding the 23-year-old righty the rotation shot thanks to his improved changeup, his added maturity and his potential to be an impact starter.
Hughes was considered the favorite. He beat out Joba Chamberlain, Alfredo Aceves, Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin.
“What I set out to do this spring was win that job, and I felt like I did everything they asked me to do, and they felt like I was the right guy for the spot,” Hughes said.
“I’m happy about it and ready for the challenge.”
Chamberlain, meanwhile, can almost ready himself for the eighth-inning set-up role.
Speaking before Girardi announced the decision, Chamberlain said, “You go with the flow. That’s what I’ve done.”
Girardi said Chamberlain’s reaction to losing the battle was “whatever I can do to help.” Hughes said Chamberlain congratulated him.
“We’re all teammates again,” Hughes said.
The next issue is how ready Hughes is to contribute as a starter. He’s 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA in four spring games. And in his career as a starter, he’s 8-9 with a 5.22 ERA in 28 games.
The Yankees believe that, in addition to Hughes’ new changeup, he’s equipped to be a successful starter because of his dynamic relief work last season, his better fastball command, his maturity and his physical growth.
“I think he was really tested last year at times in tough pressure situations,” Girardi said.
Like Chamberlain the last two years, Hughes — who will pitch today on three days’ rest so he’s on schedule for the season — will be protected with his usage.
Last season, the Yankees put an innings restriction on Chamberlain as he transitioned from reliever to starter.
Chamberlain was pulled from games early, logging just 157 1/3 regular-season innings — though he also threw 6 1/3 innings in the postseason.
Because Hughes threw 146 innings in 2006, Girardi expects him to be able to handle more innings this year than Chamberlain did last year. A cap of 170-175 is probable.
According to Girardi, how the Yanks shelter Hughes — pulling him early in the year, skipping starts, letting him open the season in the minors — will be figured out.
“I don’t foresee it being a huge issue,” Hughes said. “I don’t think anyone has got the exact formula for it, how to keep a guy healthy. I’m not going to be worrying about it.”
As for Chamberlain, the question remains where does he go from here long term? Do the Yanks still view him in the rotation?
Said Girardi, “I think Joba could do either one. But right now, we think Phil’s a little bit ahead of him as a starter.” — With AP