Next Phil to climb

Girardi eyes Hughes start

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Joe Girardi is leaving the varsity in Tampa today to grind through a 150-minute bus trip so he can watch Phil Hughes work.

And though Girardi said he isn’t making the trek to measure Hughes against the other three candidates for three spots in the rotation, Hughes knows the deal.

“Obviously I am in a spot to impress people this spring — it’s what it is,’’ said Hughes, who will make his second outing of the spring, but first start, against the Twins in Fort Myers.

Girardi said the hard-core evaluations don’t begin until the pitchers pitch at least twice. Hughes agrees with that — to a point.

“You don’t want to go out there and not show them anything,’’ said Hughes, who is viewed as a starter by the organization but has more bullpen experience (49 games) than the other three hurlers — Michael Pineda, Freddy Garcia and Ivan Nova — combined.

There were pluses and minuses to Hughes’ first game, which he worked behind CC Sabathia against the Pirates.

After suffering from low velocity for most of last year when a shoulder problem landed him for an extended stay on the disabled list, Hughes’s fastball was clocked at 92-93 mph in Bradenton.

Those digits did more for Girardi than Hughes not being able to get through two innings because his pitch count swelled to 38.

So, if Girardi isn’t making the long journey to compare Hughes to the other three right-handers, why is he not staying home to watch Sabathia start and Mariano Rivera make his initial outing of the spring?

“I want to see him pitch and build off what he did the last time,’’ Girardi said. “I am curious.’’

Of course, Girardi has no problem with Hughes looking at today’s assignment counting toward the final grade.

“He can take it how he wants, but I am curious to see because I was pleased with what I saw the other day,’’ Girardi said. “I know you can look at the numbers and say he didn’t finish two innings. But I thought he was aggressive and the ball was coming out of his hand. I want to see improvement from that.’’

Girardi was asked if he could remove himself from the evaluation process even though he is watching a pitcher compete for a rotation spot.

“I think what might stick with you more is the good stuff that happens,’’ Girardi said. “If they are a little off, you are going to chalk that up to being their first couple of starts, that their arm strength isn’t where it needs to be and they may be working on something. So, I don’t get too caught up in that.’’

A lot has been made of Hughes arriving in camp noticeably lighter and apparently in better shape this year after spending the winter working out in L.A. A 5-5 ledger with a 5.79 ERA following an 18-win season will get you motivated. Girardi recited a simple fact. “When they throw well they are in shape. When they don’t throw well they are out of shape,’’ Girardi said.

The manager may not admit he is evaluating but others are.

Garcia’s three shutout innings against a depleted Braves squad Friday were noticed. Michael Pineda’s first game was “OK’’ against the Phillies, and his velocity reached 94 yesterday against the Braves when he gave up a run, four hits and walked three. Nova has struggled with locating his fastball in two outings.

Now Hughes is being watched by the manager a long Florida highway away from the comforts of George M. Steinbrenner Field and Sabathia and Rivera.

“You pretty much know what you are going to get from CC,’’ Hughes said of Girardi watching him instead of the staff ace.

So what are the Yankees going to get from Hughes?

A “curious’’ Girardi is investing time to find out.