Improved changeup encourages Yankees' Hughes
New York Yankees starting pitcher Phil Hughes (65) throws in the first inning of the Yankees baseball spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays. (Mar. 5, 2010) Credit: AP
BOSTON - Phil Hughes didn't make too much of it.
The righthander, in a simulated game Monday in Tampa against players from the Yankees' extended spring training program, struck out 12 in the equivalent of 81/3 scoreless innings, an impressive line to be sure.
Before last night's game at Fenway, Hughes was asked if he read much into the outing for the season. "Not really," he said.
For the Yankees' fifth starter, the most important aspect of the game was getting his pitch count up. He threw 100 pitches, 70 for strikes, and Joe Girardi said he had "all of his pitches" working.
The simulated game wasn't that in the truest sense. Hughes faced a rotation of five hitters, who were attempting to hit him as best they could, and an umpire called balls and strikes.
"It had the intensity of a game situation, there were just no baserunners and no fielders," he said.
Hughes was especially pleased with his changeup, which he spent the spring working on. Now, he said, it's as good as his curve. "To be honest, I think they're probably about equal right now, just as far as my willingness to throw it and how comfortable I am with it."
He said that wasn't something he would have predicted in February at the start of camp.
"Not at all," Hughes said. "The curveball's always been my go-to, second pitch and now I just feel like I have something else to go to, along with my cutter. So it's good to be able to mix it up."
Hughes will throw a bullpen here today and accompany the team to Tampa for the weekend series against the Rays. He'll throw another simulated game Saturday - getting his pitch count to 110 - and will start April 15 against the Angels.
The Yankees left Tampa Saturday, but Hughes stayed behind because of his scheduled outing Monday. He said it was an odd feeling watching his teammates Sunday night in the season opener. Hughes could have stayed in Tampa, considering he'll pitch again there Saturday, but decided against it.
Hughes won a spot in the rotation in Florida, but had he not, he would have ended up back in the bullpen, where he shined last season. He said it was difficult watching the bullpen struggle Sunday, but that he didn't think the performances were necessarily as bad as they seemed.
"It looked like everyone's stuff was really good," Hughes said. "That's the one thing I took away from it. There were a couple bad breaks and Chan Ho [Park], he busted Dustin Pedroia up and in and he just was able to get around on it. Wild pitch and a passed ball here and there . . I don't think it's going to be a huge issue going forward."
Hughes feels good about his changeup, though he recognizes the regular season is different than spring training.
"We'll find out when the games start really counting just how far it's come," Hughes said. "It's one thing saying it's a great pitch but I've only pitched in spring training so far where I've really really been throwing it, so I don't think I'm to the point where I'm going to label it like a plus-pitch or anything like that because I want to see what kind of swings guys take on it when my first start of the regular season comes around."
