Yankees back in the postseason; Hughes has been a stud

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The Yankees win, the Yankees win.

After blowing a five-run lead to the Angels last night, the Yankees came through with a run in the ninth inning against those pesky Angels and won, 6-5, and became the first team in MLB to clinch a berth in the postseason.

Say what you want about those Yankees -- insert joke here -- but they're fun to watch. They can beat you on the mound with CC Sabathia -- but there are question marks with A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte and Joba Chamberlain come playoff time -- and with a nasty offense, but what about that bullpen?

Everyone ripped the Yankees for not putting Chamberlain back in the 'pen when they started out the season like members of the Bad News Bears, but that bullpen has turned the corner and has been outstanding.

While we all know about future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera, the biggest difference in this team is the emergence of youngster Phil Hughes.

Hughes was suppose to be the next Roger Clemens as a starter -- while we all agree he's not going to ever be Clemens, he could still have a very nice career as a starter in the future -- but he's becoming a lights-out reliever that every team covets in the crucial 7th and 8th innings.

Hughes has found his form, pumping it a 95-plus mph fastball with a cutter and downright filthy slider.

When he's called upon, he's done the job. And he's not pitching in garbage time, either. When he's toeing the rubber, it's an important spot in the game. It's hard not to be confident in this kid -- 3.04 ERA, 83 IP, 65 H, 28 BB, 90 K. He's been a much different pitcher, confidence included, since making the move into the bullpen after some bad early-season outings as a starter.

If Hughes didn't emerge as a late-inning stud, where would the Yankees be? Who knows, but he's been the main reason why nobody is questioning the bullpen anymore.

But can he do it in the playoffs? That's the next question to ask.