Phil Hughes was in the Yankees' clubhouse Wednesday, and Colter Bean was not. This reflected an intriguing roster move by the team, one that wound up being untested due to the rainout.
The Yankees wanted Hughes, their prized phenom, to spend Wednesday soaking in the big leagues _ hanging in the clubhouse prior to the game, speaking with the media, attending the pre-series scouting meetings, sitting in the dugout during the contest. In order for Hughes to do this, as per the letter of Major League Baseball's law, they had to put Hughes on their 25-man roster. And we know the Yankees would never skirt the rules.
To make room for Hughes, the Yankees optioned Bean to Triple-A Scranton. Because Hughes wouldn't have pitched Wednesday under any circumstances, the Yankees decided to risk going a pitcher short in their bullpen. Scott Proctor and Sean Henn were both coming off two days of rest, Joe Torre explained, and the Yankees were hopeful that their scheduled starter Andy Pettitte would give them some length.
But what would have happened, say, if Pettitte were hit by a Frank Thomas comebacker in the first inning and had to leave the game? Then the Yankees could've been exposed, with one less arm in the bullpen. Not that Bean is a future Hall of Famer or anything, his cult following notwithstanding, but still. There was a worst-case scenario.
So what do you think, Yankees fans? Was it worth taking the admittedly slim risk of dumping Bean in order to make Hughes more comfortable? Or, at 8-11, should the Yankees have been entirely focused on ending their five-game losing streak?
Comments (2)
It is just typical of them.Torre does not like Bean,so he is disposable,even though he has pitched well so far.Money talks,and Hughes is the big bonus baby and Bean is just another joe.
All the recent talk about the Yanks possibly scoring a thousand runs this year, failed to mention that they would give up eleven hundered. Oh well, that's baseball.