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New York Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes looks toward the outfield as Detroit Tigers' Gary Sheffield, rear, runs the bases after hitting a third inning two-run home run in a baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, Tuesday, April 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) |
Yankees place struggling starter Hughes on disabled list
NEW YORK—Yankees starter Phil Hughes was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday night with a strained right oblique muscle.
Hughes lasted just 3 2-3 innings in a 6-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night. He allowed six runs and eight hits to drop to 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA after six starts.
Both general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi were guarded when asked about the 21-year-old Hughes before the Yankees' game against Detroit on Wednesday. The club announced during the game that the right-hander was headed for the DL.
"We obviously went through a tough time last night and he's struggling so we've had some discussions earlier today and we'll get together and have some further ones," Cashman said earlier Wednesday.
Girardi was asked repeatedly about Hughes' status for his next scheduled start Sunday against Seattle and refused to say much more than he's in the rotation right now.
"These are internal discussions that are meant to stay internal and that's basically all I can say," he said.
Hughes, one of the mostly highly regarded young pitchers in the organization, was mentioned in offseason trade talks with the Minnesota Twins about Johan Santana. Hughes went 5-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 13 starts with New York last year.
"In the short term we'll evaluate what's best for the player as well as what's best for our club," Cashman said.
Hughes isn't the only young Yankees hurler in a funk. Ian Kennedy is 0-2 with an 8.53 ERA heading into his start against Detroit on Thursday.
Team co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner, who has been outspoken about wanting setup man Joba Chamberlain in the rotation, said he hasn't lost his patience with Hughes and Kennedy.
"They're 21 and 23," he said in Tampa, Fla., before Hughes went on the DL. "They've been thrown into the fire, and the fact is it will take time."
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AP freelance writer Mark Didtler in Tampa, Fla., contributed to this report.
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