Yankees send Vazquez to bullpen, insert Nova in starting rotation
The New York Yankees have opted to place Ivan Nova into their starting rotation. As a result Javier Vazquez will be sent to the bullpen. Vazquez has been struggling and Nova’s starting job against Toronto on Monday night was enough to convince Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi that Nova was capable of being a starter.
"We liked what we saw out there," Girardi said after Monday’s game. "I saw toughness. I saw resiliency. I liked his presence out there. And we think his stuff is even better than he showed."
Nova impressed in his starting debut in the Yankees' 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays, even with Jose Bautista’s two home runs. Nova still displayed confidence and poise and the bottom line was, he didn’t give up many runs.
Vazquez has been inconsistent this season, with a 9-9 record and a 5.056 ERA. The 34-year-old has also lost some speed in his pitching, and his performances as of late have not been impressive. With the Yankees clinging to a slim lead in the AL East, Girardi had to make a move and Nova has earned the starting job.
Meanwhile, Vazquez may be sent down to the bullpen permanently but that’s not determined yet. Vasquez said that while he was disappointed with the move, he wasn’t surprised either: "I haven't been doing my job, so I understand it," he said. "I'm feeling good but I'm just not throwing the ball well. That's why I'm a little frustrated."
The 13-year veteran has had an up-and-down career. He started off as an ace for the Montreal Expos from 1998-2003 before he was traded to the Yankees. He only lasted two years in his first stint in the Bronx after a poor pitching performance in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox. After runs in Arizona, Chicago (White Sox), and Atlanta, Vasquez was traded back to the Yankees this off-season.
Nova will take over presumably the rest of the way and maybe even get a post-season start come October. While Girardi said it’s too early to tell, he was quoted as saying the same thing when asked whether Nova would soon be a starter.
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