Phil Hughes Should Join Bullpen When He Returns To Yankees

 New York Yankees starter Phil Hughes pitched today for the first time in an organized game since April and he didn't disappoint.  The right-hander, who was diagnosed with "dead-arm" two months ago, threw 3 2/3 solid innings against minor leaguers in an intra-squad game at the Yankees minor league complex and struck out six while allowing two hits.

Hughes' fastball topped out at 93 mph and was consistently throwing in the low-90's.  He retired the first eight batters.  Good news for Hughes and the depleted Yankees pitching staff.

The New York Yankees starting rotation has turned into one of the most bizarre collection of pitchers in recent history.  It's a combination of an old work-horse, schizoid fastballer, young hopeful and a couple of old retreaded former All-Stars--one who just went down and will be replaced by Hector Noesi from the bullpen or David Phelps.  Hughes' return will add another question mark in that motley crew.



This rotation may be as reliable as Harold Camping and getting nearly as old.  While the bullpen is shaky and has more injured players than Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark; where does Hughes fit in when he comes back to Yankee Stadium?

Hughes underwent a battery of tests in April and, truthfully,  hasn't been the same since last year's All-Star break.  Hughes' breakout 2010 season was still memorable and he finished 18-8 with a 4.19 ERA.  He slumped a little down the stretch when it looked like he was emerging as one of the best young hurlers in the majors, but never looked good in 2011.  This season he is 0-1 with a fat 10.94 ERA.

Now, with Bartolo Colon on the 15-day DL,  the $35 million Rafael Soriano looking at another 4-5 weeks and Joba Chamberlain out for the season; it opens up the quandary of where to put Hughes when he returns.  Chances are, it will be about the same time as Colon and way before Soriano.

Right now, Dave Robertson has played the part of set-up man with the flair of Houdini, but does manager Joe Girardi continue to bite his nails and Mariano Rivera grind his teeth every time Robertson loads the bases and goes to his great escape routine?  Boone Logan is just a mop-up pitcher right now and Girardi has to be wondering which pitcher who can get an opposing batter's knees knocking in the eighth.  Hughes could be the man.

Hughes is scheduled to leave Tampa and is scheduled to pitch for Class A Staten Island on Sunday.  Physically, the rested Hughes is getting closer to Yankee Stadium but still has a ways to go.

The 24 year-old Hughes knows it's a long process but is thankful surgery wasn't an option so far.

"It [his arm] felt good; a lot better," said Hughes after this morning's game.  "I thought the ball was coming out pretty good and that's all I can ask for at this point.  I'm just trying to build it up and make sure I don't have any set backs."

The Yankees have said this morning's outing was technically not a rehab start and is just another way of getting Hughes' pitch count up.  It will take about three or four rehab starts for Hughes to strengthen his arm and build up his stamina.

If Colon returns from his strained hamstring injury on schedule, the five-man starting rotation should be intact.  That still leaves room for a steady set-up man like Hughes for a few weeks.  A perfect opportunity to limit  Hughes' pitch count until he builds up his arm and Soriano returns--and that's no guarantee.

For the time being,  Hughes seems happy to be throwing in a game situation again.

"Really, until I get to the 100-pitch mark, there's no way of knowing [when I'll rejoin New York]," said the optimistic Hughes.  "I'm hoping it won't be much longer, but it's kind of out of my hands."

Girardi must weigh his options after Hughes does return.  What will be the former-number three starter's role?  It seems logical to slowly work him in from the bullpen and allow him to get back to form.

Bartolo Colon Limps Off Field And It Means More Bad News For Yankees

Just  a couple of days after the New York Yankees found out relief pitcher Joba Chamberlain would miss the rest of the season due to a damaged elbow; the team's second best starting pitcher, Bartolo Colon, limped off the slippery Yankee Stadium field with a "strained left hamstring" on Saturday afternoon.

Yankees GM Brain Cashman told the YES Network, after New York beat the Cleveland Indians 4-0,  the injury to Colon "looks like a DL situation."

Since getting swept by division rivals the Boston Red Sox, the Yankees have literally taken one step forward and two steps back when it concerns their pitching staff.

The one step forward was Ivan Nova's gutsy win against the Indians last night.  Nova needed a solid performance to save his spot in the Yankee rotation after being winless since May 17.  His continued ineffectiveness would have meant possibly coming out of the bullpen to replace Chamberlain.  Now it looks like he will be needed to fill Colon's big spot in the rotation.

The two steps backward are the injuries to Chamberlain and Colon--and they are of mammoth proportions.



Chamberlain had settled nicely into his role as set-up man after Rafael Soriano went out for up to eight weeks.  He was having one of his finest seasons.

Now comes Colon's pulled hammy and it could really spell trouble for the Yankees. 

The flawless Colon cruised through six innings in the drizzling rain against the Indians when he went to cover first base during Shin-Soo Choo's seventh-inning dribbler down the first base line.  Colon's slipped or landed oddly on the damp turf and limped back to the mound.  Manager Joe Girardi and team doctor Gene Monahan ran out and convinced the pitcher to exit and take his 2-hit, six strike-out gem to the showers.

Dave Robertson relieved Colon with one out in the seventh and continued to pull his Houdini act by giving up three hits then striking out the side in the eighth. Boone Logan mopped up the ninth.

Girardi wouldn't make any predictions on the possibility of putting Colon on the DL or the extent of the injury to his pitcher's "planting foot." "We won't know anything until tomorrow," he said.  "We'll have to wait until he shows up tomorrow."

Colon has resurrected his career after under missing a year and a half of major league play.  He had undergone a radical, but controversial, treatment in the Dominican Republic for his damaged right shoulder and elbow.  This season, Colon is 5-3 and has become the number two starter on the Yankees rotation.  He won his last three starts in dominating fashion.  Extended time on the DL would be a real set back for New York.

When asked about Colon's performance so far this season, Alex Rodriguez said, "He [Colon] is off the charts.  He is pitching like his Cy Young caliber season in 2005."

A-Rod-- who got  Indians starter Mitch Talbot tossed out for plunking him in the sixth-- homered and then compared Colon to the Yankees # 1 ace CC Sabathia.

"He [Colon] has been consistently great all year," said Rodriguez.  "He is pitching like 1-A."

If Colon does go on the 15-day DL, it could take longer for the portly pitcher to rehab than other players.  He packs over 260 pounds on his short frame and was never known as the best physical specimen on any team.

It's too bad because it looked like Colon was headed for his second straight complete game victory and sensational comeback season.

Joba Chamberlain's Dad Claims "Rules" Didn't Help Prevent Son's Injury

In 2007, three young pitchers represented the future of the New York Yankees starting rotation and dominance over the American League for years to come.  Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy were the building blocks to a new dynasty after the Core Four were gone.  Now, only four years later, all three may have seen their better days with the Yankees prematurely slip away for one reason or another.

Chamberlain and Hughes were considered so indispensable, Kennedy was the one traded to Arizona in the Curtis Granderson mix before the 2010 season.  He is now enjoying an All-Star season with a 6-2 record and 3.14 ERA with the Diamondbacks.

The other two fastballers stayed behind and the Yankees tried to figure out what to do with them.

Both pitchers were shuttled to-and-from the bullpen to the starting rotation and the team set limitations on the hard-throwing pitchers' innings.  They became known as the "Joba Rules."

The Joba Rules were put in place to limit pitcher's time on the mound and protect the young hurlers' arms.

Now, even with all the coddling, it looks like Chamberlain's season is over, with Tommy John surgery is on the horizon, for an elbow injury--which could keep the 25 year-old Chamberlain out until the 2013 season-- nobody saw coming.  Nobody except one person.



"I just knew.  It's something I can't explain," said Joba's dad, Harlan.  "But as a father, I knew."

Hughes, meanwhile, has been on the DL since April 15 with right shoulder inflammation--or dead arm as the Yankees have cryptically called it.  The Yankee starter, who had an All-Star season last year, threw 30 pitches over two innings yesterday in a simulated game in Tampa.  His bread-and-butter fastball reached 92 mph--slowly approaching a shadow of his old self.  Hughes will give it a go and start Tuesday for the Gulf Coast Yankees.

Even with all of the reasons behind the Yankees implementation of the Rules, it seems they did nothing to prevent injuries to Chamberlain or Hughes.

In 2007, then manager Joe Torre wouldn't use Chamberlain on consecutive days, and for every inning he threw, the young righthander would get a day off.

The following year new manager, Joe Girardi, lifted the Rules but sent Chamberlain to the bullpen.

Last season, Hughes finally earned a position in  the starting rotation but was restricted to 175 innings over the regular season.  He slumped down the stretch after an All-Star appearance and lost two big games in the playoffs.

Girardi said, up to now,  Chamberlain was consistently throwing in the mid-90's and during the recent road trip and showed no signs of pain.

While Chamberlain's new elbow injury caught the Yankees off guard, his father could tell his son was hurting.

Chamberlain's dad thought it was only a matter of time before his son injured his arm, and didn't blame the Yankees for babying their his son or causing the damage to Chamberlain's elbow, but did have regrets about the Joba Rules.

"Looking back on it now, well...there's some reservations," he said.  "But I entrust these people, this organization with one of the two most precious things I have, my children.  I don't think any where along the line that they intentionally wanted to hurt my son.  Had I thought that, I would have intervened.  In summary, they did what they felt was best and I respect that."

The elder Chamberlain said his son knew about the possibility of injury before he was a Yankee.

"He throws the ball with such velocity, such power, that the torque the body goes through --any pitcher-- and compound that with a power pitcher, something eventually is going to break," he explained.

Chamberlain was having a fine season with a 2-0 record and 2.83 ERA in 27 games.

GM Brian Cashman expects the Tommy John surgery to keep Chamberlain out of action for "10 to 14 months."

Chamberlain's dad is more optimistic.  "With relievers, it's a shorter time.  You're talking eight, nine, ten months," he said.

"He's still pitching 96 mph and gets people out," Harlan Chamberlain exclaimed.  "Look what he's doing now; imagine what's going to happen when he gets back."

Yankees Joe Girardi: The Joba Ruling Is Official

The New York Yankees knew their starting rotation was shaky at best when the season started and placed a lot of faith on their back end relievers, Rafael Soriano and Mariano Rivera, to pick up the slack.  The real question was who would be the bridge between the starters and Soriano.  Last night manager Joe Girardi made it clear Joba Chamberlain is officially the team's seventh-inning specialist.

The much-maligned and oft-shuffled Chamberlain, who arrived to spring training camp 25 pounds overweight and seemed like a long shot to even still be on the team, has pitched well enough in two chances in the seventh inning in the Yankees first four games to be awarded the spot.

Girardi, who likes to assign his relievers set roles, is loaded with one of the deepest bullpens in the league.  Chamberlain's name has been dangled about as trade bait for a long time, but he has made the most of his three appearances early in the season.

For now it looks like Chamberlain, who has been a starter, eighth-inning closer and set-up man since coming up in 2007, has the security of a new official job title.

"Right now, that's what we're doing," said Girardi.  "We love the way he threw the ball in spring training."

Even if Chamberlain didn't hear about it from Girardi, he seemed thrilled that the bouncing around is over.

"It's an honor and a privilege to have that role and, to know that with the arms we've got down there, they have enough confidence in me to get guys out."

Chamberlain has retired all six batters he's faced in  the seventh inning this season and threw nine pitches in last night's 1-2-3 seventh to help the Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins.

Confidence had become a problem for righthander over the past few seasons and Girardi's pat-on-the-back can only help Chamberlain overcome that obstacle.  No more insecurity or guessing what his role on the team would be.

"I never really got into a routine," said Chamberlain.  "This is the first time in spring training in 4 1/2 years where I've had the opportunity in spring training to do exactly what I was going to do in the season."

Girardi said, "[Pedro] Feliciano is not healthy for us.  There might be situations where you bring in both of them in for an inning.  Feliciano to face a couple of lefties and Joba to face a rightie.  But Joba has the ability to get lefties out, as well as righties."

The Joba Rules.  Once, it was about about limiting Chamberlain's pitches.  Finally, it's about getting an official role on the team.

Cashman: Joba Chamberlain is Expendable

New York Yankees Brian Cashman's message to pitcher Joba Chamberlain wasn't exactly a sweet, rose-colored valentine card the day before the team opens spring training tomorrow in Tampa.  It sounded more like a pink slip.

The Yankees GM said the right-hander could possibly be in the team's 2011 bullpen but wouldn't guarantee that Chamberlain would even play at Yankee Stadium.

According to the New York Post, Cashman replied," Anybody who has [minor-league] options is not a lock for anything.  Any player with options has to re-earn everything.  You earn more or you earn less--New York or Scranton [Triple-A].  I fully expect Joba to be in our bullpen.  If not, he would have worked his way out of it."

Chamberlain, who showed up last week at the minor-league complex weighing about 30 pounds heavier than last season, has his work cut out for himself.

After three years of being pushed and shoved in the starter/reliever debate, Chamberlain headed into this year's camp looking like a valuable commodity.   Now he looks like either an extra middle-reliever, Triple-A call-up or trade bait.  It can't be good for his confidence.

In 2007, Chamberlain was the wonder boy of the Yankees staff.  He had a murderous fastball and a slider which brought batters to their knees.  Three years of being babied by the 'Joba Rules', shuttled between starter and reliever and mind-game expectations have messed up the head.  Now he shows up with the additional poundage and as much job security as Hosni Mubarak.  Another "fat toad" in the making?

Most fans expected Chamberlain to be the heir apparent to closer Mariano Rivera, or at least the eigth-inning set-up man by now.  That hasn't been and won't be the case this year.  The Yankees signing of Rafael Soriano for three years and $35 million squashed that scenario.

Chamberlain could still prove everyone wrong.  Maybe the gym in his basement and the extra muscle on his body will rejuvenate the 25 year-old?  Maybe the shoulder he injured in 2008 as a starter has healed?

Since that injury, Chamberlain has had his ups and downs.  In 240 1/3 innings, he has allowed 249 hits with an ERA of 4.53.  He struck out 224 and walked 101.  There are a lot more worse pitchers in the majors.  Too bad for Chamberlain, they are not in the Yankees pen.

Now that Phil Hughes has secured the No. 2 spot in the Yankees starting rotation, Chamberlain won't have to play that tired game anymore.  For now he gets to battle David Robertson as the go-to rightie in the bullpen.  And Robertson has been good.

Chamberlain still has value as trade bait.  He is young and his one-year $1.4 million contract with the team is inviting to teams missing a piece to a winning team and don't want to break the bank.

As it stands, it looks like Chamberlain, who has three minor-league options remaining, will look for a spot in the bullpen if he has a good spring.

"We won't decide, he will decide his role," said Cashman.  "Players always dictate [from their performance]."

Chamberlain can only pitch well then wait and see how Sergio Mitre and Ivan Nova fare in the battle for the No. 4 and No. 5 spots in the starting rotation.  If one of them isn't in the rotation, it probably means Chamberlain will be pushed out of the bullpen and could be headed out of Yankee Stadium.

Relief in Sight for Yankees Joba Chamberlain?

Just when New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain finally thought his role on the team was secured firmer than George Steinbrenner's Monument Park plaque, he must be starting to wonder--will he start again or is he in the bullpen to stay?

The much maligned, and often realigned, Chamberlain made his first appearance at the Yankees' minor-league complex on Wed., after a winter of expecting to be a middle-inning reliever but, with the team's failure to sign Cliff Lee and Andy Pettitte's retirement, there are now two openings in the starting rotation.  Here we go again.

Yankees GM, Brian Cashman, made it clear this winter that the 25 year-old Chamberlain would stay in the bullpen.  Now, with the addition of set-up man Rafael Soriano, the debate of whether Joba would be more valuable as a starter or reliever has been revived.

Chamberlain appeared to be 10-15 pounds bigger than the end of last season but doesn't want to be the heavy in the starter/reliever drama.

"I don't know if that debate is ever going to stop," said Chamberlain.  "I knew it was coming, especially with us not signing [Lee and Pettitte].  I guess you take it with a grain of salt.  That's all you can do."

The noticeably bigger version of Joba may be of concern to the Yankees but the pitcher says its due to his new conditioning program.

"I put a gym in my house," he said.  "I think it was the best thing I ever did.  I feel good.  It's easy to go downstairs and get it in and continue to work."

"I actually feel better.  My delivery feels better.  My weight feels better, stronger.  Man strength, I guess is what they call it.  I feel great."

Besides the physical difference, Chamberlain said his son, Karter,  kept his mind free from all the Yankees winter controversies.  A bigger man with smaller worries.

"I didn't think about baseball," the right-hander said about his off-season.  "When your son is four, he keeps you busy with other stuff.  I didn't watch 'SportsCenter.'  I pretty much watched (with his boy) 'Ben 10,' 'Clone Wars,' and 'Spongebob.'  If it wasn't on that channel and they weren't talking about it there, I probably didn't hear much about it."

Chamberlain will be joining one of the best bullpen crews in the majors.  Besides Soriano, the set-up group includes Boone Logan, Pedro Feliciano and Dave Robertson.

With a well-stocked bullpen and 5 or 6 guys battling it out for the the No. 4 and No. 5 spots in the starting rotation, could Chamberlain be wondering what his role on the Yankees is once again?

"I've got to take my role and embrace it and try to be the best I can to help us win another championship," he said.

Hopefully Chamberlain, the man who has been passed from bullpen to starter to bullpen, dangled as trade bait and brought us the 'Joba Rules,' will find a permanent place on the Yankees team.

After throwing a bullpen session under the scrutiny of new pitching coach Larry Rothschild, Chamberlain was asked if he hopes to start again.

"I worry about whatever today is and getting through today," Chamberlain said.  If that comes up in the future, then we'll answer that question.  But right now you can't think about it."

As long as there are two openings in the rotation, it's hard to believe Joba Chamberlain won't somehow be thrown into the equation.

Will Joba Chamberlain Start Or Will He Depart?

Today, Yankee GM Brian Cashman called Joba Chamberlain a "bullpen guy."  The only problem is he didn't say for what team.  Chamberlain, the one-time gem of Yankee pitching prospects just signed a one-year contract with the team, but now his future as a Yankee doesn't look so shiny.

On Monday, the up-and-down reliever signed a one-year deal worth $1.4 million to avoid arbitration and instead of giving him job security, it makes him valuable trade bait.

Last week's signing of former Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Rafael Soriano to a three-year deal worth $35 million now makes the big righthander expendable.

The 25 year-old Chamberlain has been shuttled between being a starter to middle or short relief--all with limited success--since being signed by the Yankees in 2007.

The "Joba Rules," designed to preserve the flamethrower's arm, ironically,  could have ruined his career in pinstripes.  The "rules" commanded that the young pitcher would not pitch on consecutive days and he would accrue an additional days rest after each inning pitched.  It led to Chamberlain never finding a stride or a steady position.

Chamberlain comes into this year's spring training with his stock at an all time low.  The Yankees bullpen is now considered one of the strongest in baseball with Dave Robertson and Pedro Feliciano being the bridge between the starters and the set-up man Soriano, who then hands the ball to closer Mariano Rivera and his indefatigable arm.  There now seems to be little room for an inconsistent component like Joba.

Meanwhile, the starting rotation begins with CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett as the big three and Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre rounding out the five.  If Joba stands any chance of making it on the team, it would be after battling it out with Nova and Mitre for a starter's position.  If Andy Pettitte decides to pull a Favre and return for one more year, Chamberlain is pretty much the sixth wheel.

Chamberlain's versatility may have led to his downfall.  The Yankees never knew where to use him.  They played head games with him, and last year's attempt at using him as Rivera's set-up man was a disaster.  It left the Yankees wondering about his abilities and Chamberlain doubting himself.

For every fist-pumping Chamberlain strikeout, there were too many high fives by the other team.  Even his sweaty and courageous rookie relief effort in the insect-infested 2007 ALCS against the Indians turned into a loss.  If his career has been anything, its been like those midges buzzing aimlessly  all over that Cleveland field.

Chamberlain, who had the talent to be a starter, a set-up man or closer now seems to only mop up during routs or long lost games.

This makes the one-time phenom perfect trade bait for the Yankees to score an experienced four or five starter.  His arm still has life--thanks, Joba Rules--and he'll come relatively cheap. As it stands now, Chamberlain can only wait and see if either Nova,  Mitre or (not inconceivably) Burnett implodes.  Otherwise he'll be accruing splinters on the bench.

It's sad to see a young talent like Chamberlain languish as a Yankee.   With Soriano on deck as Rivera's most likely replacement in two years, it wouldn't help the Yankees to keep Chamberlain.  A change of scenery might do the Nebraskan good, and Cashman could get the fourth starter he needs.  A win-win for the Yankees and Chamberlain.