UPDATE: COLON & HUGHES

Some news in Yankeeland, some good, some questionable. Bartolo Colon and Phil Hughes seem to be close to returning to the big club. Bartolo Colon threw a bullpen session on Friday. You can check that out HERE. He threw 31 pitches and felt good. If all goes well, and he passes a few other tests, simulation game and live game, expect to see Big Bart back before the All Star game.

On the Phil Hughes front, his start with the Staten Island Yankees last Sunday was positive, hitting 95 on the gun. That story is HERE, but last night in New Britain, Hughes velocity was down. Cashman seems to think that he'll need a few more starts and could be back in the Bronx but doesn't seem concerned. Casey is worried however. Read WHY THERE'S CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

I'm not all doom and gloom like Casey, I believe that these types of starts is what rehabbing is all about, but I believe Hughes will be back soon. Think about this, Hughes could barely hit 90 mph early in the season due to a dead arm, which resulted in an 0-3 record with an ERA around 13 and a long stint on the DL. Last year he made his first career All Star game and won 18 games. He's working his way back, slowly but he's doing it.

Now, as far as Colon's situation, on Monday he will pitch a simulated game. Read about it HERE. If a positive simulation, that will determine how much closer Colon gets. Right now, Colon is 5-3 with a 3.10 ERA in 13 games, 10 starts. In February, before Colon threw a pitch for the Yankees, A-Rod called the Bartolo Colon signing "the signing of the century". He may be right.

Right now Colon's been out since June 11th due to a strained hamstring, but it actually could have been a blessing in disguise. You can read my take on that in my piece called WHY COLON'S INJURY COULD BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.

Both Hughes and Colon will be critical in the Yankee's success down the road. If Hughes can pitch like he did in the first half of last season when he went 11-2 with a 3.65 ERA, and if Colon can keep up his great start, to go along with CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Freddy Garcia, and Ivan Nova, the Yankees could possibly have the best starting rotation in the American League.

Now, notice how I mentioned six starters and not five. That will present a problem down the road. Girardi and pitching coach Larry Rothschild may have a problem in deciding who will get the boot from the rotation when those two comeback. But, it's certainly a problem you wouldn't mind having. Like the old saying goes, you can never have too much pitching.



--Jesse Schindler, BYB Staff Writer




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