By Ted Keith, SI.com

Ian Kennedy (left) and Joba Chamberlain (right) are two huge pieces in New York's youth movement. AP

Hughes was supposed to be part of the puzzle a year ago, but a pulled hamstring suffered during his second big league start last May -- in the midst of a no-hitter, no less -- sent him to the disabled list for much of the summer. His considerable skills were never on full display, even after he returned to finish 5-3 in 13 starts. He split the winter between his native California and the Yankees' minor-league complex in Tampa, where he increased his workload from three or four days a week to five to seven days a week as spring training approached, all the while trying to ignore the persistent trade rumors.

"I was dreading something happening the whole offseason," he says. "I tried not to pay attention to it, but then my family or some high school friends would call and say, 'I saw your name on SportsCenter.' "

"I'm glad he's here," said new manager Joe Girardi. "I like looking at him everyday."

Girardi will like even better the look of a healthy Hughes. His curveball has shown extra bite, and paired with his two fastballs -- one a four-seamer in the mid-90s, the other a two-seamer -- Hughes has top-of-the-rotation stuff.

But he's still just 21 and has much to learn, which is why Mussina, an 18-year veteran, requested that Hughes' locker be moved into the near left corner of the clubhouse next to his own and Kennedy's. There Hughes and Kennedy can soak in the lessons on pitching in particular and baseball in general that Mussina has taken to doling out.

To make his young Paduan learners feel more at home, Mussina decorated the spare, gray cinderblock wall with a picture of a window looking out on a beach, and added curtains, a wall clock and a calendar. "We're going to have a sign that says Mussina, Hughes and Kennedy, Attorneys at Law," says Moose.

Such lighthearted moments were hard to come by in 2007 for Mussina, who was, by his own admission, "In a bad mood pretty much all year" thanks to a sub-par 11-10, 5.15 ERA season. His sour attitude kept Kennedy, a longtime admirer, at bay when he arrived in the Bronx last September for his big league debut.

"He's a lot more personable now," says Kennedy, "but I'd still rather wait until he asks me something" before asking questions of my own.

Not that Mussina has all the answers, however. Earlier this spring, Kennedy mustered the courage to ask the sage veteran how to throw a front-hip two-seam fastball to left-handed batters. "He said he just started doing it two years ago, so that answer didn't really help," says Kennedy.

In that case, Kennedy can always consult a video of Mussina that longtime Yankees pitching guru Billy Connors made for his benefit. Both Kennedy and Mussina are undersized control pitchers who can throw four pitches for strikes (Kennedy's are a fastball, curve, slider and changeup) and who rely heavily on location. "Some lessons you have to experience to understand," says Mussina, "[But] if they're going to do my job, they might as well learn."

One thing the Yankees still have to learn is how much they can get out of their young trio. The Joba Rules may have been relaxed but, according to Girardi, "There are three Rules now." All three pitchers are being kept to an unannounced innings limit that is unique to the individual, and while none were aware of it, Girardi said with a cryptic grin, "It's taken care of."

Hughes, who says he's preparing as though he's going to have to pitch close to 200 innings, has never topped 146 innings as a professional, Kennedy's high is 165 1/3 and Chamberlain didn't even make his pro debut until 2007. "We're trying to protect them long-term," said Girardi. "You can't expect guys to throw 200 innings if they've never done it before."

Nor have the Yankees done this before, asking so many of their pitching stars of the future to ensure their present success. Still, expectations remain the same around Tampa: World Series or bust. "Nothing's changed," says catcher Jorge Posada, when asked if the team would have to readjust its goals. "Everything's the same. They're going to be fine because we're going to help them out."

If there's anything the Yankees like displaying more than bit-sized motivational quotes, it's reminders of their past championships, which are proudly displayed throughout the Legends Field complex and the home office in the Bronx. Four of the team's 26 World Series titles and six of the 39 pennants came during Joe Torre's 12-year run as manager. Torre was fond of telling young players, "Don't take your talent for granted, because it's on borrowed time." For the Yankees ultra-talented Young Guns, their time is now.