WHY HUGHES HAS ACED THE SPRING TEST

Phil Hughes went 5 innings today and the Yankees won 5 -2. If the boss were alive, this would be considered a big deal, King George hated losing to the Tampa Bay Rays in any competition, so Phil Hughes did what the Boss would have loved…he pitched his guts out…spring or not, it didn’t matter.

Hughes only gave up 2 runs allowed 3 hits in his 5 frames. He threw 73 pitches. The game was tied 2-2 until the 9^th inning and that’s when the Yankees took the lead and won. Cole Garner had a ground-rule double. When Jorge Vazquez flied out, Garner advanced. Then Justin Maxwell hit a double scoring Garner. Gustavo Molina cranked out a two run homer after that. I’m sure he dedicated that one to Ivan Nova..I kid, I kid. (Read WHY IS NOVA BITCHING & MOANING? JUST PITCH! if you don't know what I'm talking about.)

Other highlights today go like this…Alex Rodriguez also hit a ground rule double earlier in the game. Cesar Cabral pitched 2 shutout innings and Andy Pettitte has been smiling from ear to ear the past 48 hours…he’s happy to be back and we’re happy he’s back.

Look, we all know it’s spring but this is where you lock it down. Phil Hughes has done what I suggested he should do, pitch perfectly in every appearance to land that 5^th spot role. Since Freddy Garcia got hit in the hand, I suggested that Hughes needed to be brilliant and he has been and that only helps Phil Hughes. Freddy is on his way back by the way, he will only miss one start and has been throwing but he hasn’t started since he got hit in the hand, but he will. Where he will land, be it the starting rotation or the pen or another team is yet to be seen…stay tuned for that.

But the Yankees won today and that makes Yankeeland happy.

Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and look for the hashtag #BYB. Also, join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.