Short Leash On Phil

Ed Price checks in with an interesting tidbit after speaking to CC Sabathia:

CC Sabathia says he is available in relief tomorrow for #Yankees. “I can probably throw 45 pitches, 50.”

While I hope that the need for CC does not present itself and that Phil Hughes can hand a lead directly to the primary relievers, this bit of information does highlight the way Joe Girardi needs to manage Game 6. With CC available for about 2 innings and the entire bullpen rested, Joe Girardi needs to have a very quick hook with Phil Hughes. If Phil starts to look shaky, puts a few runners on, and allows a run or two, a reliever needs to be ready to take his place and stop the bleeding.

In an elimination game, there is no use in planning for tomorrow. If Hughes needs to be pulled in the 3rd to keep the game in reach, Girardi must do so. If the situation calls for two innings from both Wood and Rivera, Girardi must do so. If you lose Game 6, there is no tomorrow, so you need to use your best options as early as possible to try and give the offense a chance to win the game against Colby Lewis and the Texas bullpen.

Game 6 is, quite obviously, a must win game. Joe needs to manage that way.

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