Hughes continues consistent spring
Yankees' Phil Hughes warms up for practice at spring training. (Feb. 26, 2012) Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams, Jr.
TAMPA, Fla. -- In Phil Hughes' eyes, he's done all he can do. He'll find out shortly if the Yankees feel the same.
With several members of the team hierarchy -- including general manager Brian Cashman, assistant GM Billy Eppler and special assistant to the GM Gordon Blakeley -- looking on, Hughes had another solid outing Monday afternoon.
"I just wanted to come out and pitch well [this spring], and I feel like I've done that for the most part," said Hughes, who allowed two runs, six hits and no walks with four strikeouts in six innings against Phillies minor-leaguers. "Overall, I felt like I did what I wanted coming into camp and just pitch as well as I could. Besides that, I can't really do much else."
Hughes, who entered the game 0-1 with a 2.03 ERA in four outings, is in a four-for-three competition that is nearing its end. Hughes, Freddy Garcia, Michael Pineda and Ivan Nova have all had their moments, though the former has been the most consistent. Though no one is saying, it would be an upset if Hughes, whose velocity has been steadily in the low 90s, doesn't claim one of the spots.
Cashman talked up Hughes on Thursday in Fort Myers before that night's game against Boston, saying the 25-year-old, when healthy, is "still one of the best young arms in the game."
Coupling that with previous comments by Cashman that Hughes has "front-of-the-rotation stuff," it's difficult to imagine the righthander starting the season in the bullpen.
Pitching coach Larry Rothschild, also in attendance Monday, praised Hughes' work.
"He's pretty much improved every time out and the changeup's come a long way, which is really something we really wanted to see and had worked on," Rothschild said.
Hughes came to camp heavy last year, but a much leaner pitcher reported in 2012. "He's done everything we've asked him to do as far as the offseason and coming in and continuing to work," Rothschild said.
Hughes said he felt "confident" coming into spring training.
"I have to keep working hard and make sure these last couple starts are solid," he said. "I've done everything I can do. Whatever direction they want to go in is their call. I feel like right now, I'm doing everything I can to make that decision as hard as possible."
Notes & quotes: Rothschild likes what he's seen from Andy Pettitte, who will throw his second round of live BP Tuesday. "The stuff is there. You can see it clearly," Rothschild said. "He's commanded everything really well. I don't think I need to tell you, he knows what he's doing and knows how to do it, and he hasn't lost that." . . . Rocky Point graduate Dan Burawa, whose impressive spring training ended when he tore an oblique muscle in his third outing March 10, has been rehabbing at the minor-league complex. The righthander, taken in the 12th round of the 2010 draft out of St. John's, probably will begin a light throwing program in two weeks . . . Gary Sanchez, 19, a catcher whom some consider the organization's top prospect, impressed several scouts Monday in a low Class A game, hitting a long home run and picking a runner off first.
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