Is Phil Hughes Finally Figuring It Out?

Phil Hughes was touted as the next big pitching phenom for the New York Yankees when they drafted him out of high school. Since then Hughes as went from almost throwing a no hitter to the bullpen to becoming an 18 game winner and then to potential bust. Hughes needed this year to be his statement year and needed to take a giant step forward. Instead he started the season off with a 7.88 ERA in April.

Hughes improved his game in May, posting a 4.66 ERA, more than three runs lower than his April earned run average. Yesterday, and over the course of the past several weeks, Hughes has taken a giant step forward. Hughes pitched a complete game against the potent Tigers' lineup, allowing only a solo home run to Prince Fielder. That was Hughes' first complete game of his career, which is five years in. Over his last seven starts Hughes, who could not make it to the fifth inning in April, is averaging more than six innings per start. The numbers get even better the further you dig.

Over those seven starts Hughes has an earned run average of 4.10, solid enough for a fourth or fifth starter in the American League. However if you take out a seven run beating he took against the Angels on May 28th, Hughes' ERA is 3.03. Has Hughes finally turned the corner? If he has, that coupled with the way Alex Rodriquez has started to hit, the Yankees could me poised to go on a run.