Phil Hughes was truly brilliant last night, dominating the Oakland Athletics with high heat and knee-buckling curveballs. But it wasn't just the fact that he nearly pitched a no-hitter. It's the fact that he almost did so pitching like a five or 10-year veteran rather than the young starter he is.
The New York Yankees have to be pleased. They have long known that Hughes has the stuff to dominate big-league hitters, but to see him mixing his pitches and carrying himself like a veteran so early in his starting career has to lift their spirits. If Hughes can settle into the rotation comfortably and pitch well consistently, Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi have one less thing to worry about, not only for this year, but for the future.
He sure made his parents Dori and Phil Hughes Sr. proud. But they weren't at all surprised by his strong performance. They told YES Network reporter Kim Jones in the post-game interview that they've seen Phil Jr. dominate the competition in high school and the minor leagues.
"I could barely breathe," Dori said. "It was so exciting."
They and the Yankees were all a little worried when he got hit by the ball that broke up the no-hitter in the 8th inning. But everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief when it was obvious that Hughes was fine physically even if the youngster was a little disappointed about losing a chance at baseball history.
"If he was OK, that's good," Phil Sr. said.
He was more than OK last night. He was unhittable, pitching like the savvy old veteran he is on his way to becoming.
The New York Yankees have to be pleased. They have long known that Hughes has the stuff to dominate big-league hitters, but to see him mixing his pitches and carrying himself like a veteran so early in his starting career has to lift their spirits. If Hughes can settle into the rotation comfortably and pitch well consistently, Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi have one less thing to worry about, not only for this year, but for the future.
He sure made his parents Dori and Phil Hughes Sr. proud. But they weren't at all surprised by his strong performance. They told YES Network reporter Kim Jones in the post-game interview that they've seen Phil Jr. dominate the competition in high school and the minor leagues.
"I could barely breathe," Dori said. "It was so exciting."
They and the Yankees were all a little worried when he got hit by the ball that broke up the no-hitter in the 8th inning. But everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief when it was obvious that Hughes was fine physically even if the youngster was a little disappointed about losing a chance at baseball history.
"If he was OK, that's good," Phil Sr. said.
He was more than OK last night. He was unhittable, pitching like the savvy old veteran he is on his way to becoming.
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