Major League Baseball

REGGIE HELPED HUGHES REGAIN FORM

Published Oct. 13, 2010 10:06 p.m. ET

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YANKEES NOTES

When Reggie Jackson talks to players, it's usually position players and the subject is hitting.

Yet, in late September, Mr. October stopped by Phil Hughes' locker for a chat. Hughes was preparing for a Sept. 26 start against the Red Sox, and the Yankees' wild card lead was dwindling because of a four-game losing streak.

Originally scheduled to pitch Wednesday, the Yankees pushed Hughes up to Sunday and bumped Dustin Moseley.

"He told me to relax. I was coming off some starts that were forgettable," Hughes said. "He told me to do what I usually do. I took a lot from that. I hadn't talked to him one-on-one too much. Anytime a guy like that talks you have to listen."

Since talking to Jackson, who wasn't in Minnesota because of a back problem, Hughes has thrived. He beat the Red Sox with six innings of one-run pitching, grabbed a victory in relief at Fenway and was brilliant against the Twins in Game 3 of the ALDS Saturday night when he threw seven shutout innings in his first postseason start.

Hughes hasn't been told if he is starting Game 2 or 3 in the upcoming ALCS versus the Rangers. Nor was he asked about working on three days rest instead of four.

"I'll go whenever they tell me," Hughes said. "Normally it's been longer rest that I've had to deal with so short rest would be a nice change."

In order to stay sharp, Hughes threw a bullpen session Monday. If he doesn't start until Game 2 of the ALCS he will be working on six days' rest. If it's Game 3, it will be eight.

*** DH Marcus Thames was excused from yesterday's workout because of personal reasons. He is due back for today's workout at the Stadium.

*** Asked if manager Joe Girardi had more trust in Kerry Wood and David Robertson than Joba Chamberlain, who didn't appear in the three games against the Twins, pitching coach Dave Eiland said that wasn't the case.

"It's matchups," Eiland said. "I said the other night to somebody Joba is going to play a big part in this before we're finished as are all the other guys down there.

"It's just a matchup. You take Minnesota for example. That was a team that hit sliders much better than they hit curveballs. David Robertson has one of the best curveballs in the game. That was a better matchup for him. If it was a team that did better hitting curveballs than sliders, then Joba would have been in. It's circumstances like that that dictate it."

*** Francisco Cervelli said he understands he has become linked to A.J. Burnett because he catches him more than Jorge Posada. Yet, Cervelli looks at a bigger picture.

"I have to be ready to catch every day, just not A.J.," Cervelli said.

*** Rangers president Nolan Ryan and Don Mattingly have something in common: they made an impression on Lance Berkman.

"Definitely one of them," Berkman said when asked if fellow Texan, Ryan was his favorite player as a kid. "Strangely enough, him and Don Mattingly were probably my two favorites."

*** Pitchers Kerry Wood, Joba Chamberlain, Sergio Mitre, Dustin Moseley, Boone Logan and David Robertson participated in a simulated game yesterday at the Stadium.

All but Mitre, who threw two innings, pitched a single frame.

Greg Golson, Ramiro Pena, Austin Kearns and Francisco Cervelli were the hitters.

The highlight? Wood shattering Pena's bat.

Another simulated game takes place today. A.J. Burnett, the likely No. 4 starter, will join Javier Vazquez and Chad Gaudin, who weren't on the ALDS roster.

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