Pregame notes: Nunez gets another turn in the infield
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Apr 09, 2012 
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Of course it happened in his first start, on the first ball hit his way. Eduardo Nunez, who managed to lead the Yankees in errors despite being a parttime player last season, got his first start of the year on Satuday and botched a ball on his very first chance.
“I thought he got over it last year, but I think when it happens the first game he plays people think he’s right back in it,” manager Joe Girardi said. “None of us really know. I personally don’t think he’s right back in it. Time will tell.”
Nunez is back in the lineup today, this time playing third base. The Yankees are fully expecting Nunez to play a significant role this season, giving Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter regular rest on the left side of the infield. And Nunez is fully expecting to make a better impression the second time around.
This winter, Nunez worked out with Robinson Cano and Albert Pujols in the Dominican Republic.
“We had a hitting coach,” Nunez siad. “We had somebody for the gym, training. We had somebody for running. But we don’t have anybody for defense because (Cano)’s a Gold Glove. But I need defense. We talked and we called the guy and he came to help me.”
At Camp Cano, Nunez had an infield instructor hired specifically to help Nunez with his defense.
“He helped me a thousand percent, seriously,” Nunez said. “So confident. My throw is so quiet, a quality throw. … I have to prove, show (Girardi) I can play defense too. I don’t want him to take me out in the bottom of the eighth, bottom of the seventh, (saying) ‘Hey Nuney, you can’t play defense.’”
The Yankees believe Nunez can handle the infield, and they’re going to give him every chance to prove it.
“For this team to be successful, I think he has to play well,” Girardi said.
• After a rocky spring training, Ivan Nova gets his first start of the year, trying to stop this season-opening three-game losing streak. “My biggest concern the first time through the rotation is emotions because of that anxiety to get off to a good start,” Girardi said. “And now he’s been watching for three days and hasn’t had a chance to play.”
• Nova has said he was happy with his bullpen leading into this start. “I try not to make too much out of spring training,” Girardi said. “You watch how guys are throwing the ball. At times he threw the ball very, and there were times he struggled. Hopefully that bullpen carries over into today and he’ll be good for us.”
• Andy Pettitte is scheduled to pitch two innings for High-A Tampa tonight. It will be his first start since signing a minor league deal last month.
• Girardi is giving Rodriguez a DH day in only the fourth game of the season, but that’s nothing new. He’s already rested Jeter and Nick Swisher this season. “To get three days on turf from Alex is really good, because that’s not something we always do a lot,” Girardi said. “So I feel good about where Alex is.”
• Girardi wouldn’t get into specific, but he has addressed the team about this 0-3 start. He said he did not mention the 1998 team that went 0-3 and went on to be one of the most successful teams of all time. “I didn’t talk about that because a lot of guys weren’t here in ’98,” Girardi said. “But if you’re a baseball player and you’ve never been through a three-game losing streak, God bless you. You were really on some good teams for a long, long time. I think we had three-game losing streaks in tee-ball for trying out loud. You just try to put things in perspective.”
• Girardi said he hasn’t heard from Hal Steinbrenner following the season opening sweep against the Rays. “We talk a lot during home stands when he’s there,” Girardi said. “This is par for the course.”
Associated Press photos
One of the issues with these silly half-day substitutions is that it makes it more and more likely that Girardi is going to give up the DH to get the guy who is being DHed into the field after pinch hitting for the person replacing them. I don’t like it.
Especially DHing Jeter. Just sit him. That way he can come in for Nunez.
mick April 9th, 2012 at 6:03 pm
Gardner and Nunez are throw-ins?
Glad you’re not the GM.
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What do you think are you getting for them, mick?
Maybe Jeter and Arod will be given full days off as we get deeper into the season.
Maybe Jeter and Arod will be given full days off as we get deeper into the season.
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Isn’t it the point of the half days that they are supposed to negate that?
“Especially DHing Jeter. Just sit him. That way he can come in for Nunez.”
Yea but they are only doing this vs lefties….and he really should be in the lineup vs them.
Youre not getting anything for Nunez. Gardner is a nice player that has tools, and could be a key to a trade, but not a centerpiece.
It WAS said that the revolving DH would limit the amount of full days off for Jeter and Alex. If it doesnt, then there isnt any point to continue giving Nuney starts.
Yea but they are only doing this vs lefties….and he really should be in the lineup vs them.
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Well ideally they’d just play Nunez willy nilly. Forcing him into a platoon bat vs lefties only also hurts his growth.
“Isn’t it the point of the half days that they are supposed to negate that?”
Yes, but they will eventually get sad that Gardner isn’t playing enough.
Girardi informed me he’s resting me tonight to keep me fresh for the long season. I think I’ll watch Smash!
“Girardi informed me he’s resting me tonight to keep me fresh for the long season. I think I’ll watch Smash!”
I wonder if there is any way Girardi that can take some nights off.
“Forcing him into a platoon bat vs lefties only also hurts his growth.”
Yea I agree….they should play him when Alex needs a day off or DH day (about once a week) whenever Derek need a day or they are facing a tough righty that could give Jete problems…….
“I wonder if there is any way Girardi that can take some nights off.”
Binder auto pilot engage!
Drew Storen is heading for Alabama to see the Grim Reaper.
Girardi needs to learn a lesson from that Bad News Bears game at the Astrodome and LET THEM PLAY.
Once (if) Yanks start winning some games, Girardi may move Gardner over to CF and sit/rest Grandy just as often as not when this situation presents itself.
The distinction between Gardner platooning and Granderson resting is that Granderson will definitely be in the lineup in a must win game against a lefty (playoffs, most obviously) whereas it’s an open question about Gardner/Nunez and will depend on what happens as the year plays out.
Binder auto pilot engage!
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Funny but would probably be effective. How do you think Maddon figured out all those clever fielding shifts? Just statistics…
“Drew Storen is heading for Alabama to see the Grim Reaper.”
They once talked about the Columbus Shuttle. Now, there appears to be one to Alabama.
Good luck, Storen.
The binder doesn’t have such a tight sphincter and likes candy.
Nick,
I would kill to have William Devane as our manager. While he was no Buttermaker, he had a toothy grin you couldn’t resist.
Post more often, lounge lizard. I like your reasoning.
Granderson plays just about everyday anyways, at least he did last season.
I think Cano is the only regular who played more games than Granderson last season.
Someone needs to take Girardi’s binder and burn it because it’s not really giving him any advantage.
I get not playing Gardner against Price but it doesn’t make sense that he’s not in the lineup against Matusz.
Not a Girardi basher but I’m not understanding some of his decisions the first few games.
maybe gardy’s career 0-10 lifetime against matuz has something to do with it?
Hello again,
Domo arigato mister Roboto. That Styx song fits perfectly to Joe.
Not playing Gardner tonight does make some sense, considering he’s 0-for-10 (w/4 Ks) vs. Matusz.
Then again, Swisher is 1-for-16 against him, and he’s batting second…so who the hell knows???
http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/.....ian-matusz
“maybe gardy’s career 0-10 lifetime against matuz has something to do with it?”
Probably, but how generalizable are 10 AB?
Domo arigato mister Roboto. That Styx song fits perfectly to Joe.
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Mr Roboto is too good for Joe
Warren is getting bombed 6-0 after two innings. 6 hits, 3 walks, 0 strikeouts.
Cervelli with a passed ball to score a run.
If only Jeter and Arod didn’t get old…
Looks like Yu vs HeyZeus will have to wait….
@shannondrayer: Montero woke up with a bit of a stomach issue this morning so not in the lineup.
Good memory, G. Love.
Aside from “Let them play!!!” I don’t think I remember a single thing about that movie.
It’s a good thing that series died out, or we would’ve ended up with Judge Reinhold as the manager. Or did that actually happen?
Montero is dodging Yu with a “stomach issue”??????
So much for “tough as nails”.
Jerkface April 9th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Domo arigato mister Roboto. That Styx song fits perfectly to Joe.
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Mr Roboto is too good for Joe
===========================
What song would you suggest then? . Oh yeah!, what about lost in space?
Maybe if someone got personal info on Joe, that person could blackmail him with it.
Montero is dodging Yu with a “stomach issue”??????
So much for “tough as nails”.
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Maybe something we didn’t know about his makeup??
Montero is dodging Yu with a “stomach issue
=======================
or his intestinal fortitude…
Only the tough should move on:
Swish = clutch
1 & 3rd. No outs, he’s a mess. Need to bat hiim 7 or 8