One-On-One with Phil Hughes

Phil Hughes was the marquee name that came to the Lowcountry during the Charleston RiverDogs' first year as an affiliate of the New York Yankees in 2005. The righthanded pitcher was 7-1 in half a season with the Riverdogs and made his major league debut in 2007 and has shown flashes of great potential in between dealing with various minor injuries. He added his eighth career win for Charleston recently while on a rehabilitation assignment and then went One-On-One with The Post and Courier's Bill Henley:

What was the first difference that you noticed between what you saw in the big leagues and what you experienced in the minors?

"Just the atmosphere overall. The players obviously better — you'd have to expect that. But just to make that first start in Yankee Stadium and the atmosphere with the fans right on you. It's a totally different feel. It's very exciting, too."

Do you like the intensity of the New York fans?

"Yeah, it's great. It gets the adrenalin flowing. And they let you hear it when you're not doing well, and they support you when you are doing well. They know the game of baseball, and no one cares as much as they do."

On the field or off the field, what's the one thing you miss right now that you can't wait to get back when you return to the Yankees?

"Chartered flights. That's the best thing. It's literally flying time and that's it. You don't have to worry about airports and that other stuff. That's probably one of the nice luxuries."

Not having to carry your luggage?

"I actually had to carry a lot of stuff including taking turns carrying on this big jukebox thing. It's Johnny Damon's, but a couple of the young guys have to take turns lugging it on the plane. My carry-on and that thing was what I was carrying on in my first year."

How long did it take you to adjust to New York City life?

"I try to avoid it to be honest. It's nice to get it in bits and pieces — see the city and experience it and all that. I'd be happy just staying away from it. I stay in New Jersey anyway so I just commute to the ballpark. I didn't have the experience of living in Manhattan. Maybe one day I'll decide to head over there, but I kind of like the quiet."

I don't know how much time you actually have to see the sights, but did you get a chance to see Broadway shows or do a little sight-seeing?

"I did a little sight-seeing last year. I stayed in New York for about a week to see the city and get a feel for it, know where some of the streets are in case I ever get lost. It's a really cool city."

As a tourist guide, what's the one thing people have to go see?

"Man, the Statue of Liberty has got to be the No. 1 thing. Once you see that, everything else seems not as cool. You see it on TV all the time, but to see it in person is something different."

You were working on a no-hitter when you pulled a hamstring last year. Any choice words come out?

"Not immediately. Afterwords, I think there might have been. I was a little upset, but it's one of those things that's a part of baseball that you deal with. Hopefully, it makes you stronger mentally whether you're struggling or dealing with injuries or whatever else it is."

That was such a high and a low to go through in one day.

"Yeah, yeah. I try not to think about it too much."

Oh, sorry.

"That's OK. I get asked about it all the time. It was tough."

Who's the coolest person you've met since joining the Yankees?

"Probably Yogi (Berra). I actually met him before the big leagues — in spring training and things like that. He's a character. He's really fun to talk to. He'll sit down and tell you stories until you tell him you have to leave. That's the kind of person he is. He's awesome."