No second-guess here; Hughes should have stayed in
nydailynews.com 7/1/2009 — I’m not a big second-guesser most of the time, since I have to assume that most managers know more about baseball than I do. But I first-guessed Joe Girardi’s decision to bring in Brian Bruney for Phil Hughes and still don’t really ...

Nearly set-up for failure
yankees.lhblogs.com 7/1/2009 — Brian Bruney on his outing tonight: “That’s my bad, obviously. I thought I threw the ball pretty well tonight. I can go home on sleep on that. I’m fine with it. It’s not like I’m out there walking guys to their bases every time. I feel good. ...

The Woes of Brian Bruney
puristbleedspinstripes.com 7/3/2009 — "Bruney's our 8th-inning guy" --Joe Girardi, 1 July 2009 Brian Bruney did not pitch the 8th inning of that game, a Yankee win; nor did he pitch the eighth inning today, also a Yankee win. Instead, those innings were given to a combination of Phil Coke and Phil Hughes, who, to their credit, have ...

Bruney: It Doesn't Matter if I Pitch the 8th
slidingintohome.blogspot.com 7/2/2009 — From Mike Puma : Brian Bruney isn't launching a campaign to keep his eighth-inning job. The inconsistent Yankee reliever yesterday stopped short of saying he'd welcome a new role, but also made it known he wouldn't lose sleep if manager Joe Girardi were to make Phil Hughes the team's primary ...

Phil Hughes to assume eighth inning role?
lennysyankees.com 7/1/2009 — Joe Girardi continues to call Brian Bruney the setup man on this team, but after last night’s blown save in the eighth, Bruney might be degraded to middle relief. After watching Phil Hughes continue to dominate the sixth and seventh innings, it seems he could potentially replace Bruney for the ...

Unnecessarily pigeon-holing relievers
riveraveblues.com 7/4/2009 — When did this whole 8th inning phenomenon start? When did the Yankees, their fans and anyone associated with the team decide that the 8th inning was of such paramount importance that the team needs one reliever dedicated to the 8th inning and only ...

Happy 4th!
boogiedownbaseball.blogspot.com 7/4/2009 — Sorry for not posting after yesterday's game. My friend Joe and I took a little road trip to Erie, PA to check out the Trenton Thunder. They crushed the Seawolves 10-1. I also got Jesus Montero's autograph. Good times. Yesterday's game in a nutshell: A.J. was again the man. Hughes is in, ...

Bruney taking everything in stride
riveraveblues.com 7/11/2009 — When the Yankees demoted Brian Bruney on August 8, 2009, to make room for Joba Chamberlain , the then-25-year-old reliever didn’t take it too well. He explicitly denied comment to reporters, and knocked over a chair on his way out the door. It ...

Hughes Becoming a Weapon Out of the Pen
slidingintohome.blogspot.com 6/22/2009 — From Anothony DiComo : And according to Girardi, he can. For the Yankees, perhaps the brightest spot in this weekend's series loss to the Marlins was Hughes, who so impressed his manager with a perfect inning of relief Saturday that Girardi was prepared to use Hughes out of the 'pen again the ...

Around the Yankee Universe: Phil Hughes edition
pinstripealley.com 6/30/2009 — More photos » by Tony Dejak - AP Phil Hughes Browse more photos » OK, so when do you guys start screaming that Phil Hughes should be the 8th inning guy? or ... gulp! ... ...

Cabrera, Jeter get key hits as Yanks down Mariners — Newsday.com - Yankees 7/1/2009
Brian Bruney didn't do the job as Joe Girardi's bridge to Mariano Rivera, but the Yankees' offense bailed out all parties last night.

Smith: Time for Girardi to let Hughes Phil role in eighth — NYDailyNews.com - Baseball 7/1/2009
With Brian Bruney struggling, it's a good time for Joe Girardi to consider making Phil Hughes the bridge to Mariano Rivera for the Yankees. Girardi even admits that he likes what he is getting from Hughes out of the bullpen.

Melky Cabrera's Three RBIs Lead New York Yankees to Sixth Straight Win — Bleacher Report - MLB 7/1/2009
When Nick Swisher struck out with runners at the corners and nobody out in the second, it became Melky Cabrera's responsibility to drive in the Yankees' second run with an out. He did just that with a sacrifice fly to center. When Swisher popped ...

Joe Girardi Blows It Bigtime — Bleacher Report - MLB 7/1/2009
I'm not a guy who enjoys dogging Joe Girardi, not in the least bit possible. I love supporting him, even when people question every little decision he makes when the Yankees lose games. Being the manager in New York isn't a piece of cake, and ...

The Arcane Eighth Inning Decision of Joe Girardi — Bleacher Report - MLB 7/2/2009
Brian Bruney was sent to replace Phil Hughes in the eight inning on Tuesday night's game against the Seattle Mariners. This had also caused the Yankees fans to send comments and criticism about the decision. No one knows the real reason manager Joe ...