Is Hughes the Next Righetti?

Both were labeled as can’t miss. Both had/have tremendous ability as a starting pitcher. Both went to the bullpen, one stayed there. Is is the bullpen destiny of the second one as well?

Dave Righetti was a hard throwing left-hander who was destined for great things as a starter for the Yankees in the 1980’s. But the Yankees needed a closer with the departure of Goose Gossage and turned to Righetti, who was having his ups and downs as a starter. He would go on to record a then American League record 46 saves in 1986. Rags finished his 16 year career with 252 saves, good enough for 27th place all time.

I remember being upset that the Yankees made the move with Righetti. He had been 14-8 in 1983 and had no-hit the Red Sox. He had also topped the 200 mark in innings for the first time (217) and recorded 169 strikeouts. He was on the verge of being a superstar.

After 1983, Righetti would make only four more starts, all in 1992, for the San Francisco Giants. (He’s been the Giants pitching coach since 2000, quite an achievement in this day and age.) Would he have had a very successful career as a starter? Probably so. But we do know he was very successful as a closer.

Like Righetti, who made his debut as a 19-yr old in 1979, Phil Hughes has heard the hoopla, praise, and expectations. So far as a starter, he has shown flashes of brilliance, but has been oft injured and ineffective.

The one thing word that would sum up Hughes’ major league career is inconsistent. That is until the Yankees needed to get Chien-Ming Wang back in the starting rotation and Hughes moved, at first thought to be temporarily, to the bullpen. He’s been nothing short of outstanding since the switch.

Joe Girardi seemed reluctant to use Hughes at first, especially in big spots (we can understand that to some degree), but Hughes has supplanted a struggling Brian Bruney as the Yankees’ go-to guy in the 8th inning.

Hughes made his pen debut on June 8th and has appeared in 13 games. He’s allowed an earned run (two to be exact) in just one of those games. His numbers are outstanding - 18.1 IP 7 H 2 ER 5 BB 19 K - and his fastball, which was usually in the 91-92 mph range as a starter, is regularly popping the catcher’s mitt at 95.

Hughes is also showing a confidence and aggressiveness that hadn’t come through when he was starting. So while we believe Hughes will still make a fine starter, we’re also beginning to think the Yankees may have the heir apparent to Mariano Rivera, and his name is not Joba.

Since Hughes hasn’t firmly established himself as a starter, I wouldn’t mind if he were groomed for Mo’s role. I’m just glad I’m not the one who has to make that decision.