Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
Listen, I don’t know how much more ranting I’m going to have to do, but I think we just got a lot closer to seeing David Huff in the New York Yankees rotation.
It’s no secret that Phil Hughes hasn’t been putting the Yankees into any position to win lately, while Huff is only giving good innings out of the bullpen. But regardless of his numbers, Yankees manager Joe Girardi has denied to tell us that Hughes is close to being out of a job.
“I don’t know what we’re going do,” said Girardi after the win. “I haven’t made any decisions about changing the rotation.”
Hughes has been pitching so poorly lately, that even Mother Nature is trying to step in to do something about it – cutting Hughes’ start against the Chicago White Sox short just 20 pitches into the game, thanks to a one hour and 53 minute rain delay.
When play resumed at 3:24 pm EST, Huff took the mound, and only helped strengthen his case to finish out the season as a starter with the Yankees.
Huff easily navigated through 5 2/3 innings on just 62 pitches, allowing one run on five hits, while walking none and striking out three. Afterwards, he handed the ball off to Cesar Cabral — who made his major league debut by striking out two — and Adam Warren to finish the game, getting Huff the victory.
After the game, Derek Jeter called Huff’s performance “outstanding”, and that the Yankees needed someone to step up and give them a good effort. But the question is whether Huff will get a chance to start a game on the mound, rather than take over in the middle of play.
If he hasn’t already earned the opportunity, then Monday’s game might be the game that finally pushes Hughes out of the door, and leaves his start against the Toronto Blue Jays last week the last of his Yankee career.
Gavin Ewbank is a Yankees columnist for Rant Sports. Follow @GavinEwbank2013 on Twitter for more Bombers talk.
