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Austin
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From today's New York Daily News online article:
...with Rivera entering the final year of his contract in 2010, things could change for 23-year-old Phil Hughes, who is now being viewed as a potential successor for the Hall of Fame closer.
"I love it," Rivera said when asked about the job Hughes has done in his new role (as set-up man). "It looks like he's been in there for years. He goes in and throws strikes, and that's the key. Coming in from the bullpen, you have to throw strikes. He doesn't have to worry about four or five innings, so he's attacking, attacking, attacking with everything he has."
Even if Hughes winds up taking over for Rivera in a couple of years, he has no plans to do it with one pitch the way the All-Star closer has for the past 14 seasons.
When Chien-Ming **** returned from the disabled list in early June, Hughes was sent to the bullpen to serve as the long reliever. Most people figured he would return to Triple-A to resume his role as a starter, but as he kept pitching well, the Yankees decided to try him out in other spots later in games.
Assuming he stays there for the rest of the season, Hughes' development as a starter will be hindered by a lack of innings. But Girardi believes that pitching at the big-league level is a bigger plus for the young righthander, even if he doesn't build up his innings count as the Yankees had hoped he would entering the season.
"I think it's helped his development, because every inning he's pitching is a pressure inning right now," Girardi said. "You have to make your pitches, which is good for his development. I think it's real helpful."
...with Rivera entering the final year of his contract in 2010, things could change for 23-year-old Phil Hughes, who is now being viewed as a potential successor for the Hall of Fame closer.
"I love it," Rivera said when asked about the job Hughes has done in his new role (as set-up man). "It looks like he's been in there for years. He goes in and throws strikes, and that's the key. Coming in from the bullpen, you have to throw strikes. He doesn't have to worry about four or five innings, so he's attacking, attacking, attacking with everything he has."
Even if Hughes winds up taking over for Rivera in a couple of years, he has no plans to do it with one pitch the way the All-Star closer has for the past 14 seasons.
When Chien-Ming **** returned from the disabled list in early June, Hughes was sent to the bullpen to serve as the long reliever. Most people figured he would return to Triple-A to resume his role as a starter, but as he kept pitching well, the Yankees decided to try him out in other spots later in games.
Assuming he stays there for the rest of the season, Hughes' development as a starter will be hindered by a lack of innings. But Girardi believes that pitching at the big-league level is a bigger plus for the young righthander, even if he doesn't build up his innings count as the Yankees had hoped he would entering the season.
"I think it's helped his development, because every inning he's pitching is a pressure inning right now," Girardi said. "You have to make your pitches, which is good for his development. I think it's real helpful."
