Let the new debate begin: Franchise to the bullpen?

Good win for the Yankees. Yes, it is not a good sign that the Yankee hitters couldn't figure out a jiggsaw puzzle like Kevin Slowey and ended up in another do-or-die game with a midling pitcher, but a win is a win, and their ability to come back and win late in games has been impressive. While they might not have gotten AJ Burnett a win, they got a very good performance out of him and didn't squander the performance.
But the trio of Michael Kay, Paul O'Neill, and David Cone (mostly Cone and O'Neill) raised a fascinating question during the broadcast, one I would like to address right now.
With Wang seemingly ready to rejoin the team after a very good performance at Scranton on Sunday, what do the Yankees do with Phil Hughes?
Both Cone and O'Neill suggested the Yankees put him in the bullpen and, I have to say, I completely agree.
What is gained by sticking Phil Franchise back down in the minors? Does he need to prove yet again that, against minor leaguers, he is a dominate starter? Please!!!!! In the immortal words of Mr. Watori from Joe Versus The Volcano (top ten in underrated movies of all time) "I know he can get the job, but can he do the job?"
So what are the arguements against a Hughes move to the pen? I'll take the liberty of addressing what I believe would be their best arguements.

It will stunt Hughes' growth.

This is the most tiring arguement of all. Hughes apologists.........ahmmm............supporters protest that the young man cannot be expected to perform at the major league level because he has had such limited professional work. But the truth is that Hughes has, by comparison with many other top pitchers, had more than enough time to hone his skills at the minor league level. Phil Hughes has had, to date, 329 innings at the minor league level. By comparison, Chad Billingsley had 404 innings in the minors, CC Sabathia had 232 innings in the minors before going to the majors at 19, Josh Beckett had 216 innings in the minors, King Felix Hernandez, 306 innings, Barry Zito, 170 innings, Cole Hamels, 201 innings, Ben Sheets (not counting rehab starts) 179 innings, Tim Lincecum, 62 innings.
The idea that 600+ innings is essential for any major league pitcher to be decent is just a myth. All of those pitchers were able to come to the majors, learn their trade, and flourish without much experience at the bottom levels. If Hughes is truly going to be a "special" pitcher, he learns how to apply his craft to major leaguers, not just build up innings at the minor league level for the sake of doing so.

Hughes has no experience in the pen. How could you be sure he would be successful in such a role?

There is no guarantee that he will take to such a role, but it might be just what he needs. The two most impressive professional appearances Phil Hughes has made in his career were the almost no-hitter against Texas when he was injured in 07 and then, later in that year, the relief appearances he made against the Indians. In fact, one could make the case that his "stuff" was more impressive out of the pen than when he was in the rotation.
The young man needs to learn how to get major league hitters out. True, it would be in a different role than as a starter, but getting guys out is the same no matter what. There is nothing else to learn at the minor league level for him.
Plus, while there is no way to know whether he will take to the pen, one can deduce that it might actually be the perfect place for him. One of the reasons why the arguement for Joba to go back to being a reliever is suppose moronic is because he has four plus pitches. His fastball and slider at A+ pitches, his curve is a A pitch, and his changeup is at least B+ and getting better. He can mix and match throughout a start, showing different looks to batters throughout the course of a game. Hughes, however, has yet to perfect even a third pitch. He has an average fastball and an above average curveball. After that, he has been working on a cutter which isn't there just yet, and his changeup hasn't improved at all. As a reliever, he can simply rely on his fastball and curve, and won't have to worry about conserving on either pitch. For Joba, cutting back on velocity means going from 98 to 95. For Hughes, pacing himself through a game means the difference between throwing 95 to 90 or 91. That's a big difference. It also makes a difference to his curve, which isn't as nasty when the hitter can simply foul it away and wait on the average fastball coming in.

What happens if and when another starter goes down? Who do you turn to then?

You can still turn to Hughes. Why not? If, God forbid, one of the five went down with a serious injury, Hughes would simply move into the rotation. If someone had to miss a start, you could still use him in that role or spot start Alfredo Aceves. And, it would be more beneficial to the Yankees because you would be turning to guys who were already in the majors. They wouldn't have to worry about the game, and the pace of the game, being a shock to the system.

You're wasting Hughes in the pen.

This is the arguement used by people like myself for why Joba shouldn't be in the pen. It doesn't apply to Hughes. So far, despite his numbers in the minors, Hughes has shown little if any signs that he is destined to be a special pitcher in the majors. Joba has shown time and again that his talent and his makeup is unique. This is all about what is best for the team, not what is best for one player or another. Right now, with Wang coming back, the place where Hughes makes the most sense and can best help the team is in the pen. The place where Joba makes the most sense and is best to help the team is in the rotation. That's it. If Hughes doesn't like it, he should have pitched better over the last year when given a chance in the rotation. He hasn't just had growing pains, he has been non-competitive in many of his starts. Right now, at best, you could say Hughes is an average major league starter. Maybe he could be more in the pen.

He needs to pitch more innings to build up arm strength.

So, is the point help the team or further Phil Hughes' career? Right now, the Yankees NEED quality pitchers in their pen. They have gone too long with Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez. Would you rather those two or Hughes and Aceves? Which tandem gives the team a better chance to win on a day in and day out basis? It would be hard for anyone to convince me that Phil Hughes helps this team more by pitching every 5 days in Scranton at this point. He is what he is against minor leaguers. No more growth is necessary.

The fact is, I don't expect the Yankees to make this move because they care more about "development" and "growth" than helping the team win. But the truth is Hughes' true value might end up being in the pen. As I wrote about before, Hughes, right now, is a two-pitch pitcher. He can get by with that out of the pen, not starting. Shuttling him up and down does nothing for him and it does nothing for the team.
Let him see what he can do. Let him take over as potentially a bridge to Rivera. Let him help solidify the pen. If he is needed in the rotation, the move can always be made in season. If not, he can help the club win and he can learn at this level. There is no baseball excuse for sending him down and keeping Veras and Ramirez up, none at all.