Tuesday notes: Nova calls last spring outing “lazy”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Apr 03, 2012 
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Ivan Nova has lacked consistency this spring, but he’s generally thrown more good innings than bad. He’d shown enough to understand why the Yankees felt confident keeping him in the rotation to open the season.
Today, though, was something completely different.
Nova called it one of the worst days of his life, which was surely an exageration but also spoke to just how poorly he was pitching. Through 2.2 innings, the Yankees No. 4 starter allowed five runs on eight hits, two walks and two hit batters.
“I was like, lazy,” Nova said. “Sometimes when you’re pitching, sometimes you feel you’re right and (sometimes) you’re not. (Larry Rothschild) agreed with me that I was lazy today out there. Maybe that’s why I didn’t get in a good rhythm.”
Lazy?
“Lazy, like arm lazy, body lazy,” Nova said. “My body feels like it was sleeping or something like that.”
Seems like “lazy” is Nova’s way of explaining that he couldn’t get himself up and going for today’s start. He stressed several times that he’s physically 100 percent. He wasn’t hurting today, wasn’t sore or injured, just never felt quite right. Could be one of those days. Could be going through the spring motions. Whatever the reason, his ERA jumped to 8.06.
“You try not to get too caught up in spring training,” Girardi said. “You want to know how the ball is coming out of a guy’s hand, and up until today I thought it was coming out really pretty good. Today it wasn’t for whatever reason. … He wasn’t using his lower half. I can’t tell you exactly why. You can hunt for a number of reasons. Was it due to the last start. Was it due to the bus ride. Was it due to just being fatigued. Who knows? Bottom line is he just didn’t use his legs today.”
• Although the Yankees seem to have all they need in-house, Brian Cashman said today that he’ll look for available trade and waiver options when spring training ends. “We’ll look at it all, absolutely,” Cashman said. “I don’t know what to expect. We’ll react to whatever becomes available and evaluate it compared to what we got, but we have a lot of locked-in situations that we have money committed to. We’re not going to take on money, I can tell you that. Until we take on money, and then I’ll tell you we took on money.”
• Nick Swisher and his recurring groin injury seem to be just fine. Swisher homered again today, and he also doubled, raising his spring average to .345. He’s hit really well since returning from the injury.
• Speaking of hitting really well, Doug Bernier went 2-for-3 this afternoon and has a .361 average for the spring. He’s not going to make the team unless Eduardo Nunez gets hurt again, but he might have put himself on the map if the Yankees need an infielder during the season. “I thought he had a very good spring,” Girardi said. “He’s not a young guy, but I think he opened a lot of eyes. The improvement with his bat, and he’s always had a glove. You can put him anywhere. He’s very flexible. It’s a guy that opened some eyes.”
• David Phelps pitched 1.1 scoreless innings. D.J. Mitchell allowed one run on two hits through three innings. Phelps has a 2.08 ERA. Mitchell has a 2.60. “We’ve said all along that these guys are really close,” Girardi said. “And we’ve got to make a decision.” Warren is not scheduled to pitch tomorrow, so this will be the last bit of information before the Yankees settle on their long reliever.
• For whatever it’s worth, it was brought up before today’s game that Phelps seems like more of a strikeout guy and Mitchell more of a groundball guy. Here’s how Girardi responded: “When you look for a long man, you look for a guy that can give you distance and is a real strike-thrower. Hopefully he can get some quick innings and save your bullpen. I believe Mitchell has a swing-and-miss changeup, too. They’re all really close. That’s a tough decision we have to make.”
• Although a stress fracture in the elbow certainly sounds like a season-threatening injury for a pitcher, Cashman is hopeful Rule 5 pick Cesar Cabral will be back this season. “I guess it could be (season-ending),” Cashman said. “I’d say more likely you’ll see him up and running later in the year.”
• According to the AP in Tampa, Mariano Rivera threw a 21-pitch simulated game today. He last pitched in a real game on Sunday and will now have two days off before Opening Day. CC Sabathia also threw a bullpen today, a pretty standard 43-pitch between-starts side.
• Also from the AP in Tampa: In his rehab from Tommy John surgery, David Aardsma has started throwing to a catcher from 60 feet on flat ground.
• In case you missed it in the game post: 1B Jorge Vazquez has been released. A team source said the Yankees prefered Steve Pearce at first base in Triple-A, and the Yankees weren’t sure Vazquez would be happy with another season in the minors. … Also, Jack Curry has reported that neither Jayson Nix nor Dewayne Wise was offered a spot on a big league roster, which means they can’t use their outs and will open the season in Triple-A with the Yankees.
• It’s kind of an odd way to carry two Rule 5 picks, but the Yankees will keep both Cabral and Brad Meyers on the 40-man roster out of spring training. They’ll both open on the disabled list with elbow and shoulder injuries. Meyers is ready to pitch again and — I assume — will open the season on rehab assignment with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Wonder if he could be their fifth starter while one of their expected starters opens in the big league bullpen. “That’s not the way we drew it up but that’s the way the cookie crumbles for us right now,” Cashman said. “I can’t offer (Meyers) back while he’s hurt. When you offer him back you’re certifying that he’s healthy. I can’t do that and get away with it.”
• Have to feel a little bit bad for Mark Montgomery. After a huge debut season last year, his big league spring training debut included just one batter: He gave up a walkoff home run to Ike Davis in the ninth. Montgomery is heading for Tampa to open the season.
Associated Press photos
really tough one on Cabral.
I hope Rapada works out and Cabral can come back later this season.
I can see visions of Cabral striking out Prince in a big spot in the ALCS….
Ivan.
Talk to your body next time.
Have a conversation but be nice.
Tell your body to be ready. Not to be so lazy.
That you need each other to succeed.
I’m sure your body will understand and cooperate.
Chad, one guy who is an integrated part of the lineup and yet seem to receive little attention this spring is Tex. what is your observation of him this spring?
Love Nova. Hope he’s not hiding any injuries.
Hey kids. I’m going to post the Charts. You have the right to make changes to either, especially in light of Pineda and also the Suxer’s sad misfortune.
1. Everyone has until Opening Day to either sign up or give changes.
2. To be considered for the outstanding prize of 12 Ritter Sports Bars, (flavors of your choice), you have to give me predictions for both charts.
I’ll post the relevant chart in this post and then the secondary (or tertiary, or in reality – fourth in line – don’t know the “ary” term) chart in the next.
2012 YANKEE PREDICTION CHART
2012 SUXIAN FUTILITY CHART
trisha-
Since you’re around I just wanted to tell you that I took your advice and offered some of my Photos
to GFS.
I’ll let you know if I hear anything.
MTU – just awesome. Please let me know. Did you send any along or did you just make the first contact in the form of an offer?
Anyone predict that a team not on this list will make the playoffs in the AL?
NY Yanks
Detroit
Anaheim
Texas
Boston
Tampa
seems like the extra wildcard, in the eyes of Yankee fans, is simply a means of having Tampa and Boston battle it out. I guess Toronto/Seattle/Chicago/Minnesota could surprise, but I doubt it.
NY must have high hopes for Montgomery to have him in High a ball after being drafted in june and pitching in 26 games.
Trisha-
I made the offer w/o including any Photos.
I thought I would just gauge their interest first and proceed from there.
See if they are even open to the idea.
Bucholz did an amazing job for the Sux today. He only gave up 5 ER I believe. Something like that.
So the sure bets in their rotation at this point in time are – NOBODY!
GB-
He has outrageous K totals for the # of innings.
Very D-Rob-like.
BD – I predict a team on the list will NOT make the playoffs. But that’s not the same thing as you are asking.
trisha,
I knew you’d have something to say about that… I hope I didn’t offend anyone by even putting Boston on the list
For those interested, yanks/Mets game starts at noon tomorrow on MLB-TV.
BD, I almost (not quite, but almost) wish that West Coast Sux fan was around to deride us for not giving any credit to the Sux. Remember how crazed he used to get when I didn’t show the Sux any respect? I thought he was going to have to be hospitalized!
BD,
I think you got it right. The only other team I might consider is the Jays. None of the others are ready yet, I am not even sure that the Jays are ready yet. but if I am picking one team out of those you picked is them.
yes, nearly 17 strikeouts per 9 innings. Those are Steve Dalkowski numbers.
Trisha, how do we put in bets on the red sox win total? Just post it like when you did the Yankees one?
If so, put me down fof 89 wins for the Sux.
Guys,
I’m working up the courage to give trisha a futility guess.
What should the number be and why?
GB-
I was sorry I didn’t get to see the slider.
His FB was around 92-93 wasn’t it ?
Is that typical ?
# m April 3rd, 2012 at 7:41 pm
Mick, is it a new commercial? The one they’ve been winning with the white guy and Chinese girl is called The Date”. The music was cut from an old bollywood song from the 60?s. Great tune.
==========================
saw “The Serenade” after it was over. Funny looking singer and magic tricks etc…
Just saw Jeff Who Lives at Home, interesting and very short movie…83 minutes
M,
You know where i stand. I checked my number (85) and I think it will hold. the ones a previously posted:
1) weak back end of the rotation
2) Injury concerns on both Beckett and Buckholtz. Plus the former history
3) weak BP even if they manage to get good starts from the first trio they might lose them for the weak BP
4) Lack of depth , they can’t sustain many injuries. pretty much what happened to them last season, but this team is worse.
MTU April 3rd, 2012 at 8:04 pm
GB-
I was sorry I didn’t get to see the slider.
His FB was around 92-93 wasn’t it ?
Is that typical ?
————————————————————————————————————————-
yeah, his fastball usually ranges around 92-95….about the same as Robertson’s.
Jeff Who Lives at Home looks funny. Sarandon looking her age. Finally! She stopped being a sexpot 20 years ago. I guess no one wanted to hurt her feelings by telling her that.
creativity-online.com/work/heineken-the-serenade/26088
here it is in english
Luke Laloosh!
Trisha,
Yankee wins – 98
Sox wins – 88
jpmatrix, yes I will add it in for you. So the next time I post the charts you will see your name there and your extremely generous Sux prediction.
make that Nuke
Jeff Who Lives at Home looks funny.
=========================
its more than funny, a little disturbing but poignant.
Will Andy look like Andy ?
Or will he be not so dandy ?
We’ll find out tomorrow.
And that will be handy.
m April 3rd, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Jeff Who Lives at Home looks funny. Sarandon looking her age. Finally! She stopped being a sexpot 20 years ago. I guess no one wanted to hurt her feelings by telling her that.
————————————————————————————————————————-
Was she ever a sexpot? Or like Jane Fonda, was it her politics that uglified her?
matrix and Jeers – got them.
Jeff Who Lives at Home looks funny. Sarandon looking her age. Finally! She stopped being a sexpot 20 years ago. I guess no one wanted to hurt her feelings by telling her that.
————————-
Very funny and quite touching at the end. I loved it after thinking it was going to be just another slacker/stoner flick.
The same writer-director brother team did “Cyrus” with Marisa Tomei, John C Reily and Jonah Hill which was great as well.
Jay & Mark Duplass are their names.
Both the date and the serenade are the sane tune (different lyrics obviously)
Search YouTube for “Jaan Pahechan Ho” the original version is 5:34 long. Great horns and drumming.
Jays beat Detroit 13-8 today.
BD, I think you need to add the Jays to that potential list of playoff teams.
Gonna watch some telly. If you have chart prediction for me, put my name in the post please so I don’t miss it.
Later y’all.
Will Andy look like Andy ?
Or will he be not so dandy ?
We’ll find out tomorrow.
And that will be handy.
or you could just ask randy
The 1st Heineken commersh was haunting. I don’t remember it at all.
Both the date and the serenade are the sane tune
===============
tho the theatrics are insane
can we rename this blog…Ask Randy?
trisha –
Yankees – 104 wins
Red Sox – 86 wins
Will Andy look like Andy ?
Or will he be not so dandy ?
We’ll find out tomorrow.
And that will be handy.
or you could just ask randy
But that might bring sorrow.
So I’ll just hang on for Andy.
New Kinsler/Cano contracts tied together?
http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/....._post=true
Both the date and the serenade are the sane tune (different lyrics obviously)
============================
the english version is about “lava surfing”
randy l. April 3rd, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Will Andy look like Andy ?
Or will he be not so dandy ?
We’ll find out tomorrow.
And that will be handy.
or you could just ask randy
————————————————————————————————————————-
Or, how many think randy is really a candy…..nahhh…just can’t finish that.
Will Andy look like Andy ?
Or will he be not so dandy ?
We’ll find out tomorrow.
And that will be handy.
or you could just ask randy
But that might bring sorrow.
So I’ll just hang on for Andy.
just as well
might blow up crawdady’s head tomorrow
Oh! I meant to get on Gardner for predicting that the Yankees would win 100 games and will win the world series.
Baseball gods don’t like bold predictions!
Trish
Yankees 96 wins
Sox 91wins
CC and Hiroki
Okey dokey
Ivan and Phil
A Definite thrill
While Freddy fills out the back
With a definite knack.
And we all just chill.
Oh.
And Pineda
we see later.
I’d rather listen to Manilow’s “Mandy”
Or jump in bed with Jessica Tandy
Have my foot stepped on by John Candy.
Share a meal with Mohaneas Gandhi…
“might blow up crawdady’s head tomorrow”
Bite me!
and the Yanks were just getting ready to start their 1st place finishes.
“It was on this day in 1919 that Yankees outfielder Ping Bodie defeated an ostrich named Percy in a spaghetti-eating contest. The valiant bird made it through 11 plates before finally passing out. We here at MLB Trade Rumors usually stick to reporting transactions, but we promise to provide up-to-the-minute coverage of any modern player vs. bird eating duels.
Here’s the latest from the AL East…
From MLBTR
sorry crawdaddy, my bad
let me correct that:
“might blow up crawdaddy’s head tomorrow”
there
that’s better
You all knew I took Photos.
But poetry too ?
I’m a Man for all seasons.
Especially Baseball.
50 minutes of playing nice and then, KA-BLOOWEY. shot to hell in a flash.
Randy,
For you to bring me up now after not posting since this morning tells me I’m the one in your head.
mtu-
i think this blog is all fired up and ready for the season to begin.
i have nothing else to learn this spring training and no one else to piss off
i am ready
Randy-
Very succinct.
However, I was ready weeks ago.
randy l. April 3rd, 2012 at 8:48 pm
mtu-
i think this blog is all fired up and ready for the season to begin.
i have nothing else to learn this spring training and no one else to piss off
i am ready
————————————————————————————————————————-
I don’t know about that Randy. There’s nearly 7 billion people out there that don’t know you. A lot of targets getting wasted.
The beginning of this season is already getting over ripe.
Let’s get on with it before it starts to spoil.
Sorry for being off topic:
April is Autism awareness month.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its estimate of autism prevalence in the United States to 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls). By comparison, this is more children than are affected by diabetes, AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis”
Early intervention is critical. Educate your self. Ask questions– here’s a place to start.
http://www.autismspeaks.org/
Sorry again, but I feel this is very important and may re-post this throughout the month.
mtu -
i think the blog is peaking at the right time
i think it’s ready for the season to begin
a few posters’ fast balls are missing a few mph
but nothing that that opening day won’t solve
Don’t wanna lose your edge or people start sneakin’ up on ya’.
:Chief Dan Georg’ed:
“Sorry again, but I feel this is very important and may re-post this throughout the month.”
good reminder
autism is a serious issue
You’re an outlaw Josey Wales.
That I am.
Have a good evening.
Just to kind of finish off one of the many Spring dramas in here…
Meanwell got hit with a 52 count indictment yesterday that went well beyond her dealings with Cashman. This all comes from the same office that recently investigated a BS rape charge against the police commissioners son who is also a retired Lt. Col pilot for the USMC. Nobody gets special treatment here and no one cares if youre the GM of the baseball team.
Especially a GM that deals away generational bats.
I thought Cashman was going to lose his job over that chick? Didn’t somebody say he was in big trouble and won’t survive long?
One more thing since Tar is putting a plug for a worthy cause.
For those of you who live in NJ, or the greater Metro area.
Do yourself a favor and visit the “Grounds for Sculpture” In Hamilton, NJ.
It’s a totally non-profit outdoor sculpture museum.
It unique in all the World and it’s right in your backyard.
I’m done.
Carry on.
Knicks D should pull them thru this game.
Man, haven’t said that since the Ewing days…
Meanwell is a name out of a Dickens’ novel.
Important Announcement ….
Jesus Montero was not in the line up today, but…
he is fine and showing no ill effects from being beaned yesterday.
As you were.
Montero should take a vacation…for like…six years.
Bronx Jeers,
Trading away that bat is a much bigger, but sadly an unindictible, crime.
Lucky thing LoHud doesn’t sit on the grand jury.
Jackie Childs would say…… If the bat don’t hit, you must acquit.
For fans of Yu Darvish, there’s a very rosy piece on him in today’s USA Today……I’m certain Jerkface will enjoy this very much……
I’ve been obsessing over fantasy baseball the past two nights, two drafts. I love the heck out of one of my teams…
C Brian McCann
1B Eric Hosmer
2B Aaron Hill
3B Brett Lawrie
SS Troy Tulowitzki
OF Brett Gardner
OF Jeff Francoeur
OF Yoenis Cespedes
UTIL Jesus Montero
UTIL Carlos Lee
BN Chase Headley
BN Daniel Murphy
BN Jim Thome (dropping him…)
SP Cole Hamels
SP Madison Bumgarner
P Yu Darvish
P Josh Johnson
P Phil Hughes
P Mark Melancon
RP Sergio Santos
RP Grant Balfour
BN Vance Worley
BN Matt Thorton
Just had to share my ridiculously hype-tastic team.