Pregame notes: Nova replacing Garcia in Yankees rotation
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Sep 12, 2012 
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Ivan Nova is stepping back into the Yankees rotation. After a simulated game yesterday, Nova’s next outing will be on Saturday, when he’ll start in place of Freddy Garcia. Girardi has said that Nova should be able to throw close to 90 pitches.
“We’ve had struggles getting some length out of our starters,” Girardi said. “I like the way that he threw the other day, and we’re going to put him back in the rotation. This guy was really good for us for a substantial period of time, then he ran into some bumps, and we hope he’s beyond that.”
Nova went into the All-Star break with a 10-3 record and a 3.92 ERA, and he’s actually been especially good in the month of June. But in eight starts after the break, Nova went 1-4 with a 7.28 ERA before being shutdown because of inflammation in his rotator cuff.
“You’re never sure which one comes first,” Girardi said. “If it’s the physical where your mechanics are a little bit off and you get frustrated and you don’t have your consistent stuff and then you start thinking about, what do I need to do? Or is it the other way around? He was on a roll for us and pitched very well, and we need him to do it again.”
Garcia will move into the bullpen and should be available as early as tomorrow. It seems natural that Garcia will be a long man, but Girardi said he could also matchup with Garcia and use him in shorter stints depending on the hitters. Garcia hasn’t won any of his past four starts — he’d won three in a row before that — and he’s pitched to a 7.64 ERA since August 20.
• Andy Pettitte threw 55 pitches through four simulated innings today. He covered first base and made plays during the sim game, and he fielded a few rolled bunts at the end. He feels ready to pitch. “Can I give you 100 pitches? No,” Pettitte said. “But I feel like my stuff has been crisp. If they want me to do this, then I want to get back in
there. I’m comfortable with doing that.”
• Girardi said he’s still not sure what Pettitte will do next. “It might be something that we do, I can’t tell you right now,” Girardi said. “We got through today, which was really good and he’s worked hard to get to this point because it’s been on a little bit shorter rest and we have to see how he bounces back.” Girardi said Pettitte will be evaluated when the team gets home on Friday, and it sounds like another thumbs up from the doctor would be the final step toward getting Pettitte back.
• Pettitte said he could throw “a good 60-65 hard pitches without being concerned.” Girardi suggested Pettitte could go as high as 75 or so.
• One last Pettitte note, if only because you’ll probably read this quote a lot tonight and tomorrow: “It’s exciting,” Pettitte said. “Obviously, we had a big lead and that lead is gone, but this is what it’s all about. If you don’t embrace this and you don’t enjoy this, if you’re scared of this situation, you’re not going to be very successful. So it’s exciting and it’s fun. Do you want to fail? No. But you can’t be scared of failure, that’s for sure.”
• Girardi said David Phelps’ performance today has no impact on the decision to bring back Pettitte. If the Yankees are convinced Pettitte is ready, he’ll move into the rotation no matter how well the other starters are pitching.
• The past few times out, Joba Chamberlain has given the Yankees a legitimate boost. This is what the team had in mind when he came off the disabled list. “It was kind of our hope that we could lengthen our bullpen,” Girardi said. “He worked really hard to get where he’s at. He seemed to find his command and has been more consistent the last three or four outings. That’s what we were hoping for.”
• Phelps has had some trouble with the first inning lately. He’ll try to avoid that tonight (#analysis). “I think the command of his fastball (is key),” Girardi said. “You look at the two starts that he had, that he ran into trouble. He walked a few guys. I think two starts ago, and his last start he left some fastballs up.”
Associated Press photos
If Pettitte comes back and pitches the 18th, the opener of the Blue Jays at YS, he’ll be able to get in 4 starts, ending with the final game vs Boston at home.
Nick-
You might still be able to see the Yankees play a West Coast team……………………in Oakland vs the A’s in a wild card, one game takes all match!! I hope it doesn’t come to that!
Jerry Meals is not umpiring this week in Philly with the crew that had the Yanks/O’s series this past weekend.
Maybe it was planned, maybe not. But sometimes disciplinary actions takes place behind the scenes.
Will Nunez and Dickerson ever start a game? Or is it that they are not old enough to be in Girardi’s starting line-up?
RMS-
Dickerson did start a game soon after he was called up, hit a homerun and made two great catches.
The regulars were probably jealous that a journeyman AAA player was outplaying them, and went to Girardi to complain!
Andy and Jeter, always the right way to think. Nunez and Dickerson are not the back bone of the bench much less the team. If the manager doesn’t want to write their names in, trust him. Major League managers are not stupid. And stop begging for the kids. Most kids remains just that, only older.
YT, I’ve been contemplating/dreading a return to that hellhole (formerly known as Yankee Stadium West) for just such an occasion. I would be there, for better or for worse.
“If you don’t embrace this and you don’t enjoy this, if you’re scared of this situation, you’re not going to be very successful. ”
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Embrace the Suck!
Go Vato! Go Andy!
Nunez and Dickerson are not the back bone of the bench much less the team.
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No one said they were. But Jones and Ibanez are in horrific slumps and don’t deserve to play. Yet Girardi keeps playing the old men. Why? When he has other guys he could give a chance.
I love the quote from Andy – that attitude could help them beat out Baltimore down the stretch, especially if Baltimore has a stretch where their confidence gets shaken. They really needed Text back and I was hoping that A-Rod, Tex and Andy could all be back together in time to give them a push down the stretch, but clearly it is going to depend on the currently healthy players to start pulling their weight
If the Yankees take care of their own business, let the Orioles roll over the Rays and finish as the wild card playing the A’s.
Pete Abe says on NESN that the Yankees are not a good matchup for Cook.
I hope he is right.
Remember when Cliff Lee couldn’t win a game?
Well he’s winning up a blue storm now, Jack!
If Cook were smart he would throw left handed tonight
The Phillies are closer to the WC than the Tigers are.
Okay I’ve gotten over my afternoon of disgust.
GO YANKS!!!
Time to go and watch the game and plan for a win.
Go Yankees.
Going to watch ESPN. Between that and NESN, I’ll take them – I guess.
Who would have thought that ESPN2 would be television the Rays-O’s! (meaning who would have thought the O’s would be where they are right now)
GO RAYS!
GO JAYS!
Getting Andy back will be a wonderful shot in the arm for this club. Nova also should solidify the pitching quite nicely. Their additions could give Joe some interesting possibilities. What does Girardi do if Andy outpitches CC down the stretch?
I like the look of tonight’s lineup. I prefer Granderson in the two-hole over Swisher.
trisha – true pinstriped blue September 12th, 2012 at 7:03 pm
Who would have thought that ESPN2 would be television the Rays-O’s! (meaning who would have thought the O’s would be where they are right now)
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They’ve had a pretty terrific run. I was at the ballgame last Friday in Baltimore. The place was packed and brimming with excitement. It’s really good for the city and for baseball for the O’s to be a solid contender. Don’t get me wrong: I’m no Showalter fan. It’s just that it’s much more fun kicking their butts when they’re good, than when they’re pitiful cellar dwellers.
0-3 with RISP in one inning. Cook’s SO ratio today is near 70% more than normal. His WHIP is tremendous.
I was looking for a team RISP stat, just to find a bunch of different articles from May, June, and July about the Yankees struggle with RISP. This isn’t new. This is a chronic issue the Yankees offense has.
I just don’t get it. I would LOVE to see a stat with the Yankees offensive numbers vs pitchers in their full windup and in their stretch. The Yankees smack pitchers in their full windup, but as soon as they shorten their stride, they can’t hit. I just don’t get it.
I just hope this isn’t another game that ARod will talk about how the Yankees faced a good pitcher, and Swisher talking about needing to get a win, and Jeter saying we’ll get them tomorrow. That’s all fine, but I’ve been reading that for a whole month and nothing has changed.
Al Leiter BTW is great on TV. He is very knowledgeable, very objective, and teaches viewers about the game.