Phil: "Huge"es not the man just yet, but be patient

So now the Yankees are considering sending Phil Hughes to the minors. I know that many Yankee fans are already thinking that the youngster may not be big league material. I know that T.J and birthday boy Ryan (Happy Birthday Ryan!) are not among them.

I hope not, for a variety of reasons:

1. He’s had some success already. Last season, Hughes looked like the next Cy Young before injuring himself against the Rangers. He just needs to get back to what is successful.

2. Reference #1, A starter throws (plays) every 5th day, NOT every day like a position player, or a guy coming out of the bullpen. There’s nothing Hughes can’t learn on his off days here with Dave Eiland that he’d see in Triple A.

READ MORE ON THE REASONS WHY PHIL HUGHES SHOULDN'T BE SENT TO THE MINORS AFTER THE JUMP...

3. If they do send Hughes down, the YANKEES are to blame for buying into the ‘We can’t be patient mode.” Look up the first years of Glavine and Smoltz, They were awful on paper-but the Braves let them learn on the job –things turned out pretty well. Glavine has 300+ wins, and Smoltz has been a terrific starter and reliever. Even Tom Seaver lost more than 200 games in the big leagues. Kids have to grow into the job. It takes time to adjust in any industry. The team HAS to know this in the cases of Hughes and Kennedy. Unfortunately, athletes in NY don’t get the benefit of the doubt.

4. Who replaces him? It better NOT be Joba. With the starters outside of Wang and Pettitte up and down, the Yankees need Chamberlain and Rivera rock solid in the back of the pen.

5. There’s still 5 months left in the season: Giambi and Cano haven’t hit much. Jeter and A-Rod have had injuries. Yes, Posada will be gone for quite awhile. But the Yanks have gotten off to bad starts and still made the playoffs. Until the calendar says they are eliminated, don’t count the Yanks out. The team just returned from a stretch of 18 out of 20 on the road. Don’t make Hughes a casualty of a rough start. It’s too early.