It was supposed to be a simple outing at a Spokane Indians minor league game for 4 year-old twin sisters, Gracie and Ruby Weichman, but it turned into so much more. After the two girls won Monday night's paper-toss contest during the fourth-inning, their real prize was seeing their father, Sgt. Chris Weichman-- who had just returned home from his third tour in Afghanistan that morning-- walking towards them.
Sgt. Weichman hadn't seen his family for six months.
After Weichman stepped out of the Indians dugout, he dropped to his knees while his daughters raced across the field to hug him. As the tear-filled soldier embraced his twins and wife, the crowd of 4,000 gave the family a rousing standing ovation.
If that image doesn't put sports into perspective, nothing will.
The Indians, a Class-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, defeated the Yakima Bears, 1-0.
You tell me who the real winners are
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Ivan Nova Makes Case For Permanent Spot In Rotation; Yankees Win, 9-3
Ivan Nova pitched six strong innings tonight and has made it almost impossible for the Yankees to send the pitcher back down to Triple-A. Nova's workman-like performance guided the Yankees to a 9-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels and snapped New York's three-game skid. It was Nova's seventh straight win.
You can add the word "stopper' to the 24 year-old Nova's resume. He is 3-0 this season in games after a Yankees loss. The only problem with Nova's victory, it didn't do anything to clear up the six man logjam in the team's rotation.
Nova was consistent, if not as overpowering as in recent games, through the first six innings. He gave up a couple of harmless singles and a hanging fifth-inning slider cost him a solo home-run to Peter Bourjos.
In the seventh, Nova started to lose his fastball. Up until then, it was clocked in the mid-90's and his slider was mostly good.
Vernon Wells' RBI single knocked in a run in the seventh, leading to Nova's exit with the bases loaded and no outs. He received a warm ovation from the fans in Yankee Stadium as he exited the diamond.
Enter Rafael Soriano into the precarious situation. The former-closer has been lights out since returning from the DL. Soriano didn't disappoint. He got the first batter to hit into a run-scoring double-play and the next batter, Jeff Mathis, popped up to end the threat. He threw a total of four pitches
Since returning from the DL, Soriano hasn't allowed a single base runner in four appearances. He pitched a critical inning in last Friday's win against the Red Sox and tonight, quite possibly, saved a trip to the minors for Nova.
"He's back to himself," said manager Joe Girardi when asked about the difference in Soriano at the beginning of the season and his appearance tonight. "Sometimes, coming here could be an adjustment. What he did tonight was huge for us."
Nova's final line read: six innings, three runs, three walks and no strikeouts. In his last outing, Nova dominated the White Sox and struck out 10. Still, since returning from the minors on July 30, Nova (11-4) has three quality starts under his belt but Girardi did notice a slight change from Nova's last outing.
"He [Nova] had to work a little harder tonight," said Girardi of his pitcher's adjustments. "It's a sign of maturity. He's made great strides as a starter since last year. He's more consistent and developed another pitch."
Nova agreed. "My fastball wasn't there, my slider wasn't there," he told the YES Network. "I battled to the end and got the win."
Luis Ayala came in to pitch the eighth and ninth innings. He allowed three hits and struck out three.
Offensively, the Yankees didn't make Angels pitcher Garrett Richard's major league debut a red carpet affair. The newbie walked the first two Yankees batters he faced, before Curtis Granderson hit the first of his two home-runs on the evening. Welcome to the big leagues Garrett. It could be Grandy was trying to atone for his base-running gaff which ended the game last night. Robinson Cano came up one single short of hitting for the cycle. He had a double, triple and home-run.
The Yankees victory was the first against a pitcher making his debut in seven years. Oddly, the team has lost the last six meetings to starters making their debut.
Nova's victory-- with Soriano's assist-- is sure to keep Girardi awake at night thinking about how to slim down his six-man rotation. Or at least until Saturday, when Phil Hughes goes to the mound.
How can the manager send Nova-- who has the second most wins (11) on the team, behind CC Sabathia (16)-- back to the minors?
Hughes got rocked by the Red Sox, in a relief role, last Sunday, and hopes to rebound this Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The righthander needs a good outing to keep him from returning to the bullpen.
Meanwhile, Sabathia has been grumbling about the over-stocked rotation, and the extra day between his starts, and wants Girardi to "make a decision on who to pitch."
Tonight, Nova didn't make it any easier.
You can add the word "stopper' to the 24 year-old Nova's resume. He is 3-0 this season in games after a Yankees loss. The only problem with Nova's victory, it didn't do anything to clear up the six man logjam in the team's rotation.
Nova was consistent, if not as overpowering as in recent games, through the first six innings. He gave up a couple of harmless singles and a hanging fifth-inning slider cost him a solo home-run to Peter Bourjos.
In the seventh, Nova started to lose his fastball. Up until then, it was clocked in the mid-90's and his slider was mostly good.
Vernon Wells' RBI single knocked in a run in the seventh, leading to Nova's exit with the bases loaded and no outs. He received a warm ovation from the fans in Yankee Stadium as he exited the diamond.
Enter Rafael Soriano into the precarious situation. The former-closer has been lights out since returning from the DL. Soriano didn't disappoint. He got the first batter to hit into a run-scoring double-play and the next batter, Jeff Mathis, popped up to end the threat. He threw a total of four pitches
Since returning from the DL, Soriano hasn't allowed a single base runner in four appearances. He pitched a critical inning in last Friday's win against the Red Sox and tonight, quite possibly, saved a trip to the minors for Nova.
"He's back to himself," said manager Joe Girardi when asked about the difference in Soriano at the beginning of the season and his appearance tonight. "Sometimes, coming here could be an adjustment. What he did tonight was huge for us."
Nova's final line read: six innings, three runs, three walks and no strikeouts. In his last outing, Nova dominated the White Sox and struck out 10. Still, since returning from the minors on July 30, Nova (11-4) has three quality starts under his belt but Girardi did notice a slight change from Nova's last outing.
"He [Nova] had to work a little harder tonight," said Girardi of his pitcher's adjustments. "It's a sign of maturity. He's made great strides as a starter since last year. He's more consistent and developed another pitch."
Nova agreed. "My fastball wasn't there, my slider wasn't there," he told the YES Network. "I battled to the end and got the win."
Luis Ayala came in to pitch the eighth and ninth innings. He allowed three hits and struck out three.
Offensively, the Yankees didn't make Angels pitcher Garrett Richard's major league debut a red carpet affair. The newbie walked the first two Yankees batters he faced, before Curtis Granderson hit the first of his two home-runs on the evening. Welcome to the big leagues Garrett. It could be Grandy was trying to atone for his base-running gaff which ended the game last night. Robinson Cano came up one single short of hitting for the cycle. He had a double, triple and home-run.
The Yankees victory was the first against a pitcher making his debut in seven years. Oddly, the team has lost the last six meetings to starters making their debut.
Nova's victory-- with Soriano's assist-- is sure to keep Girardi awake at night thinking about how to slim down his six-man rotation. Or at least until Saturday, when Phil Hughes goes to the mound.
How can the manager send Nova-- who has the second most wins (11) on the team, behind CC Sabathia (16)-- back to the minors?
Hughes got rocked by the Red Sox, in a relief role, last Sunday, and hopes to rebound this Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The righthander needs a good outing to keep him from returning to the bullpen.
Meanwhile, Sabathia has been grumbling about the over-stocked rotation, and the extra day between his starts, and wants Girardi to "make a decision on who to pitch."
Tonight, Nova didn't make it any easier.
Separated at Birth: A.J. Burnett and Elroy Jetson
It's hard to know if New York Yankees A.J. Burnett was going for the Elroy Jetson look on purpose but, it's safe to say the original spaceboy 'do didn't improve his game.
Burnett's newly bleached locks and 'his boy Elroy' cut did little to disguise the fact that it's the same old A.J. and his "I have to find a way to have fun" on the mound attitude has changed nothing either.
After throwing five strong shut-out innings last night against the Los Angeles Angels, Burnett turned into Rosie the Robot. He gave up four runs on two hits during the ugly sixth inning-- including two walks, a wild pitch a two-run double to a .181 hitter.
Burnett hasn't won a game since June 29 and the crowd at Yankee Stadium gave him a loud reminder of that fact as he walked to the dugout. The Yankees lost, 6-4.
Here's some fun facts. It was Burnett's league-leading 15th wild pitch, he has a winless streak of seven games and, not surprisingly, the righthander has not won an August start during three seasons in pinstripes.
It beginning to look like Joe Girardi has a better chance of seeing flying cars and the Little Dipper school on a pole before a Burnett win, but he refuses to bench his $16.5 million hurler.
To a frustrated Yankees fan, it feels like George Jetson walking Astro on that out-of-control treadmill (remember when treadmills were considered futuristic?)
Joe! Stop this crazy thing!!
Burnett's newly bleached locks and 'his boy Elroy' cut did little to disguise the fact that it's the same old A.J. and his "I have to find a way to have fun" on the mound attitude has changed nothing either.
After throwing five strong shut-out innings last night against the Los Angeles Angels, Burnett turned into Rosie the Robot. He gave up four runs on two hits during the ugly sixth inning-- including two walks, a wild pitch a two-run double to a .181 hitter.
Burnett hasn't won a game since June 29 and the crowd at Yankee Stadium gave him a loud reminder of that fact as he walked to the dugout. The Yankees lost, 6-4.
Here's some fun facts. It was Burnett's league-leading 15th wild pitch, he has a winless streak of seven games and, not surprisingly, the righthander has not won an August start during three seasons in pinstripes.
It beginning to look like Joe Girardi has a better chance of seeing flying cars and the Little Dipper school on a pole before a Burnett win, but he refuses to bench his $16.5 million hurler.
To a frustrated Yankees fan, it feels like George Jetson walking Astro on that out-of-control treadmill (remember when treadmills were considered futuristic?)
Joe! Stop this crazy thing!!
Fan Offers Cash Reward To Angels Torii Hunter During Game At Yankee Stadium
Los Angeles Angels rightfielder, Torii Hunter picked up a pair of glasses that fell onto the field at Yankee Stadium during last night's game, and handed them back to the man in the stands who then dangles a ten-dollar bill at the player as a reward. If it was a bribe for something, it was way too small.
The funny exchange took place during the bottom of the fourth inning of the Yankees/Angels game after Nick Swisher jacked a long fly ball that headed towards the man and what looks like his family (they're all wearing the same type of brand-new Yankees gear).
Hunter catches the ball but also catches a glimpse of the glasses below the right-field stands where the man is hanging over the rail.
Hunter hands the the specs back to the guy, but refuses to take the bill as a reward.
Does this guy know that Hunter is in the fourth year of a five-year, $90 million contract?
Anyway, ten bucks won't even get you a beer and a hot dog in the House That Ruth Built.
If the guy was trying to bribe him to drop the next ball, the Angels won, 6-4.
The funny exchange took place during the bottom of the fourth inning of the Yankees/Angels game after Nick Swisher jacked a long fly ball that headed towards the man and what looks like his family (they're all wearing the same type of brand-new Yankees gear).
Hunter catches the ball but also catches a glimpse of the glasses below the right-field stands where the man is hanging over the rail.
Hunter hands the the specs back to the guy, but refuses to take the bill as a reward.
Does this guy know that Hunter is in the fourth year of a five-year, $90 million contract?
Anyway, ten bucks won't even get you a beer and a hot dog in the House That Ruth Built.
If the guy was trying to bribe him to drop the next ball, the Angels won, 6-4.
A.J. Burnett Still Not Having Fun; Yankees Lose, 6-4
A.J. Burnett appeared on the mound tonight sporting a new bleach-blonde hair color and, for five innings, it looked like he was finally having as much fun as his care-free hair style. Then, using the pitcher's usual modus operandi, he unravelled in his inimitable style. The much-maligned New York Yankees righthander was coasting through the Los Angeles Angels line-up until the wheels came off once again.
Up until the fateful sixth inning, Burnett had confidence, control and his fastball was working like a charm. He allowed three hits and it looked like his "I have to find a way to have fun" theory on winning was working. For a pitcher who hadn't won a game since June 29, all signs looked positive and Burnett had finally turned the corner on his losing ways.
Then he turned into Bad-A.J.. In the sixth, Burnett gave up a home-run to former-Yankee Bobby Abreu, which tied the score, 1-1, then he walked Mark Trumbo on a 4-0 count. The slow-footed Trumbo tagged up to second on a long Vernon Wells fly to centerfield. Manager Joe Girardi then had Burnett intentionally walk the next batter, Maicer Izturis, and, like a premonition, had his bullpen start getting busy.
In typical Burnett fashion, the pitcher walks Peter Bourjus, loading the bases, and the Yankees bullpen really got into full gear.
Next, facing Jeff Mathis, a .181 hitter, Burnett abandoned his 94 mph fastball and threw a slider. Mathis bouces the ball over the outfield fence for a ground-rule double and the Angels take a 3-1 lead. Burnett wasn't through making his life miserable just yet. For an encore, his next pitch goes into the dirt in front of catcher Russell Martin and Bourjus scores from third to give the Angels a 4-1 advantage.
It was a league-leading 15th wild pitch for Burnett and it continued the struggling pitcher's 0-8 record in August as a Yankee. Amazingly, that makes it three August moons without a victory in pinstripes.
More groans than boos filled Yankee Stadium for about the umpteenth time and Burnett was through for the night.
His final line was six innings, six hits, four earned runs, three walks and six strikeouts, but the most glaring stat was the four runs in one inning on two hits.
Cody Wade came into mop up for Burnett in the seventh and struck out the Angels side and gave up one hit.
Meanwhile, Angels starter Dan Haren was mowing down the flat Yankees until Derek Jeter's two-out double knocked in Eduardo Nunez and Brett Gardner to tie the game at 4-4.
Mariano Rivera began the ninth inning by allowing a two out hit and then faced a patient Abreu, who drove a flat cutter from Rivera into the seats for his second home-run of the night and a 6-4 Angels lead.
The Yankees threatened in the ninth, but with two outs and Curtis Granderson on first, the Yankees centerfielder-- in a what-were-you-thinking moment-- inexplicably got caught in a run-down to end the game with slugger Mark Teixeira at the plate.
For Rivera, it was his second blown game in a row. On Sunday, he got his fifth blown save of the season against the Red Sox and tonight he got his second loss.
After the game, Burnett was asked why he switched from his fastball, which was clocked at 95 mph, to an irregular slider after the third inning.
"I wouldn't change a thing," said Burnett. "But I'll get upset about it later. It's frustrating, but I kept my team in it as best I could."
Asked to evaluate his performance, Burnett said, "I just want to keep the zeroes up. That double was a big hit."
Girardi has a lot of evaluating to do himself. The Yankees manager has to wonder if his "No. 2 starter" is ever going to get through a game without imploding.
Fans are also going to be asking Girardi 'why is it alright to bench Jorge Posada and his large contract and lousy play but, sitting Burnett and his huge paycheck, unless he gets better, is out of the question.'
Up until the fateful sixth inning, Burnett had confidence, control and his fastball was working like a charm. He allowed three hits and it looked like his "I have to find a way to have fun" theory on winning was working. For a pitcher who hadn't won a game since June 29, all signs looked positive and Burnett had finally turned the corner on his losing ways.
Then he turned into Bad-A.J.. In the sixth, Burnett gave up a home-run to former-Yankee Bobby Abreu, which tied the score, 1-1, then he walked Mark Trumbo on a 4-0 count. The slow-footed Trumbo tagged up to second on a long Vernon Wells fly to centerfield. Manager Joe Girardi then had Burnett intentionally walk the next batter, Maicer Izturis, and, like a premonition, had his bullpen start getting busy.
In typical Burnett fashion, the pitcher walks Peter Bourjus, loading the bases, and the Yankees bullpen really got into full gear.
Next, facing Jeff Mathis, a .181 hitter, Burnett abandoned his 94 mph fastball and threw a slider. Mathis bouces the ball over the outfield fence for a ground-rule double and the Angels take a 3-1 lead. Burnett wasn't through making his life miserable just yet. For an encore, his next pitch goes into the dirt in front of catcher Russell Martin and Bourjus scores from third to give the Angels a 4-1 advantage.
It was a league-leading 15th wild pitch for Burnett and it continued the struggling pitcher's 0-8 record in August as a Yankee. Amazingly, that makes it three August moons without a victory in pinstripes.
More groans than boos filled Yankee Stadium for about the umpteenth time and Burnett was through for the night.
His final line was six innings, six hits, four earned runs, three walks and six strikeouts, but the most glaring stat was the four runs in one inning on two hits.
Cody Wade came into mop up for Burnett in the seventh and struck out the Angels side and gave up one hit.
Meanwhile, Angels starter Dan Haren was mowing down the flat Yankees until Derek Jeter's two-out double knocked in Eduardo Nunez and Brett Gardner to tie the game at 4-4.
Mariano Rivera began the ninth inning by allowing a two out hit and then faced a patient Abreu, who drove a flat cutter from Rivera into the seats for his second home-run of the night and a 6-4 Angels lead.
The Yankees threatened in the ninth, but with two outs and Curtis Granderson on first, the Yankees centerfielder-- in a what-were-you-thinking moment-- inexplicably got caught in a run-down to end the game with slugger Mark Teixeira at the plate.
For Rivera, it was his second blown game in a row. On Sunday, he got his fifth blown save of the season against the Red Sox and tonight he got his second loss.
After the game, Burnett was asked why he switched from his fastball, which was clocked at 95 mph, to an irregular slider after the third inning.
"I wouldn't change a thing," said Burnett. "But I'll get upset about it later. It's frustrating, but I kept my team in it as best I could."
Asked to evaluate his performance, Burnett said, "I just want to keep the zeroes up. That double was a big hit."
Girardi has a lot of evaluating to do himself. The Yankees manager has to wonder if his "No. 2 starter" is ever going to get through a game without imploding.
Fans are also going to be asking Girardi 'why is it alright to bench Jorge Posada and his large contract and lousy play but, sitting Burnett and his huge paycheck, unless he gets better, is out of the question.'
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Is A.J. Burnett the Villian of Yankees Six-Man Soap Opera
For all the baseball fans who have been following the soap opera which is the New York Yankees six-man rotation saga-- otherwise known as Search For Tomorrow's Starter-- tonight's episode brings us another cliffhanger.
A.J. Burnett, who is the the Yankees' version of Susan Lucci at the Emmys-- because it seems like he has one win in 23 tries-- faces the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium tonight. The struggling righthander is winless in his last six starts and the fan's cries for rookie Ivan Nova to take Burnett's spot in the rotation are getting ominous. Now, they're basically just screaming. Tonight's game is Burnett's version of One Life to Live.
For all the fans of the soaps and the impending disappearance of the dying format from television, the Yankees can always be counted on some bring drama in to your mundane lives. Even if you think Peyton Place plays for the Colts or Lever Brothers are the Jewish siblings who played on the 1950 Brooklyn Dodgers, things are never dull in Dallas--I mean the Bronx.
The spirit of Jock Ewing (played by George Steinbrenner) has been passed down to the unscrupulous J.R. (Brian Cashman) and earnest Bobby (Joe Girardi). TV Guide says tonight's episode should be a good one:
'Burnett is trying to rebound from an almost disastrous last outing, when he didn't get a win after the Yankees batters fronted him with a 12-run lead against the weak hitting Chicago White Sox. Burnett proceeded to allow seven run and didn't qualify for the win because he was pulled from the game before five innings. He was last seen ripping the jersey off his body while hitting the locker room.'
Yesterday, Burnett told the New York Post he vowed to reverse his fortunes on the mound and said, " I have to find a way to have fun."
Wait...did he just say, " I have to find a way to win one?" What?
Sounds like the erratic No. 2 pitcher, Burnett, is living in Another World because he hasn't seen a 'W' in 40 days, after starting the season 4-0. The only thing bigger than Burnett's ever-growing ERA is his $82.5 million contract and, as every one who follows their daytime stories knows, the rich always get away with murder.
Right now, if Joe Girardi had to fill out his rotation in a five-game playoff series, Burnett would be lucky to be throwing out of the bullpen in a game five.
In reality, Girardi would open with CC Sabathia, then Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia and Nova-- with Phil Hughes waiting in the wings.
Tomorrow, 24 year-old Nova gets the start against the Angels and a chance to make a statement. Call him The Young and the Restless.
The rookie is having a breakout year, since his return from the minors to make room for Hughes in July. Nova's last outing was an outstanding 7.2 inning, 10-strikeout win. He gave up one run and no walks and has won six straight. Nova is 10-4 with a 3.81 ERA this season.
Only on the sound stage that is called Yankee Stadium could a pitcher with Nova's fine stats be fighting for a job in the rotation against a pitcher with Burnett's losing numbers.
Hughes and Nova are like the Luke and Laura of this whole drama-- two young faces the fans really want to see together in the rotation. Will they, or won't they. It's been a long and heartbreaking journey.
The 25 year-old Hughes looked like future ace they Yankees protected from trades since his arrival. Last year's breakout 18-8 season put him in the rotation until-- cue the downward-turn-of-fate music-- an undiagnosed and debilitating "dead arm" injury (it even sounds like a soap opera ailment) put him on the DL after losing his fastball early in the season. He has lowered his ERA to 7.11 from a sky-high 13.94 before going on the DL.
Hughes' comeback had been slow and steady until, finally, a brilliant (six innings, three hits, no runs) outing last week brought his recovery full circle. Cue triumphant music. But then, a failed relief appearance and game-winning hit against rivals, the Boston Red Sox, made his future unsettled again. Cue doom-and-gloom music then cut to commercial.
Hughes thirteen-pitch outing cost him a start this week and, now, Nova is the pitcher who takes his place.
The irony. Wow, General Hospital couldn't have scripted it any better?
As a sub-plot, there is the resurrection of Bartolo Colon in some sort of Dark Shadows theme. We're talking about Barnabas Collins-like mystical shoulder and elbow treatments in the Dominican Republic and Colon's incredible resurgence. He even has a goth haircut.
The 38 year-old Colon made a miraculous return to the majors, after missing two years and still, no one knows the circumstances. Spooky stuff.
Now Girardi has to solve the mystery of getting six pitchers into five rotation slots or risk upsetting Sabathia's rigid five-day throwing schedule.
Cue announcer Macdonald Carey: "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the Days of Our Lives."
Stay tuned for The Bold and the Beautiful starring Derek Jeter and Minka Kelly.
A.J. Burnett, who is the the Yankees' version of Susan Lucci at the Emmys-- because it seems like he has one win in 23 tries-- faces the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium tonight. The struggling righthander is winless in his last six starts and the fan's cries for rookie Ivan Nova to take Burnett's spot in the rotation are getting ominous. Now, they're basically just screaming. Tonight's game is Burnett's version of One Life to Live.
For all the fans of the soaps and the impending disappearance of the dying format from television, the Yankees can always be counted on some bring drama in to your mundane lives. Even if you think Peyton Place plays for the Colts or Lever Brothers are the Jewish siblings who played on the 1950 Brooklyn Dodgers, things are never dull in Dallas--I mean the Bronx.
The spirit of Jock Ewing (played by George Steinbrenner) has been passed down to the unscrupulous J.R. (Brian Cashman) and earnest Bobby (Joe Girardi). TV Guide says tonight's episode should be a good one:
'Burnett is trying to rebound from an almost disastrous last outing, when he didn't get a win after the Yankees batters fronted him with a 12-run lead against the weak hitting Chicago White Sox. Burnett proceeded to allow seven run and didn't qualify for the win because he was pulled from the game before five innings. He was last seen ripping the jersey off his body while hitting the locker room.'
Yesterday, Burnett told the New York Post he vowed to reverse his fortunes on the mound and said, " I have to find a way to have fun."
Wait...did he just say, " I have to find a way to win one?" What?
Sounds like the erratic No. 2 pitcher, Burnett, is living in Another World because he hasn't seen a 'W' in 40 days, after starting the season 4-0. The only thing bigger than Burnett's ever-growing ERA is his $82.5 million contract and, as every one who follows their daytime stories knows, the rich always get away with murder.
Right now, if Joe Girardi had to fill out his rotation in a five-game playoff series, Burnett would be lucky to be throwing out of the bullpen in a game five.
In reality, Girardi would open with CC Sabathia, then Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia and Nova-- with Phil Hughes waiting in the wings.
Tomorrow, 24 year-old Nova gets the start against the Angels and a chance to make a statement. Call him The Young and the Restless.
The rookie is having a breakout year, since his return from the minors to make room for Hughes in July. Nova's last outing was an outstanding 7.2 inning, 10-strikeout win. He gave up one run and no walks and has won six straight. Nova is 10-4 with a 3.81 ERA this season.
Only on the sound stage that is called Yankee Stadium could a pitcher with Nova's fine stats be fighting for a job in the rotation against a pitcher with Burnett's losing numbers.
Hughes and Nova are like the Luke and Laura of this whole drama-- two young faces the fans really want to see together in the rotation. Will they, or won't they. It's been a long and heartbreaking journey.
The 25 year-old Hughes looked like future ace they Yankees protected from trades since his arrival. Last year's breakout 18-8 season put him in the rotation until-- cue the downward-turn-of-fate music-- an undiagnosed and debilitating "dead arm" injury (it even sounds like a soap opera ailment) put him on the DL after losing his fastball early in the season. He has lowered his ERA to 7.11 from a sky-high 13.94 before going on the DL.
Hughes' comeback had been slow and steady until, finally, a brilliant (six innings, three hits, no runs) outing last week brought his recovery full circle. Cue triumphant music. But then, a failed relief appearance and game-winning hit against rivals, the Boston Red Sox, made his future unsettled again. Cue doom-and-gloom music then cut to commercial.
Hughes thirteen-pitch outing cost him a start this week and, now, Nova is the pitcher who takes his place.
The irony. Wow, General Hospital couldn't have scripted it any better?
As a sub-plot, there is the resurrection of Bartolo Colon in some sort of Dark Shadows theme. We're talking about Barnabas Collins-like mystical shoulder and elbow treatments in the Dominican Republic and Colon's incredible resurgence. He even has a goth haircut.
The 38 year-old Colon made a miraculous return to the majors, after missing two years and still, no one knows the circumstances. Spooky stuff.
Now Girardi has to solve the mystery of getting six pitchers into five rotation slots or risk upsetting Sabathia's rigid five-day throwing schedule.
Cue announcer Macdonald Carey: "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the Days of Our Lives."
Stay tuned for The Bold and the Beautiful starring Derek Jeter and Minka Kelly.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Nova Will Get Start Over Hughes When Angels Come To Yankee Stadium
It's official, but not really a shock. Phil Hughes' 13-pitch relief appearance against the Boston Red Sox, when he gave up the winning run in the tenth inning, cost the pitcher a start against the Los Angeles Angels this week. Hughes' spot will be filled by Ivan Nova.
Manager Joe Girardi tweaked the starting rotation for the upcoming three-game home series because of Hughes short stint in Sunday night's game. Hughes came in, after Mariano Rivera blew his fifth game of the season, and gave up two hits and Boston's walk-off score.
Hughes was set to open the series on Tuesday but struggling A.J. Burnett will be moved up one day. The ineffective Burnett will try and rebound from a disastrous outing against the Chicago White Sox, when the Yankees batters staked him to a 12-run lead, that he almost couldn't hold on to. Burnett gave back seven earned runs and was yanked before he could go five innings to qualify for a win. He will square-off against Dan Haren.
Nova will start Wednesday and is coming off an impressive 10-strikeout, six-hit and one earned run performance against the same White Sox team. Nova has won six of his last seven starts.
Bartolo Colon will close out the series on Thursday after a shaky outing (six-hits and two earned runs) against the Red Sox. He was pulled in the fifth after loading the bases and the bull pen took over. The Yankees won that game, 3-2.
Girardi's biggest concern had to be giving CC Sabathia an additional day off. Sabathia, who is notoriously fickle about throwing with extra rest, will now open the series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. Girardi thinks the rest is good for his ace after being banged up by the Red Sox on Saturday.
The manager said there wasn't anything in particular that presented itself to be a problem with Sabathia, but it seemed like a good time to give him a break.
Hughes, on the other hand, has to be wondering if the thirteen pitches he threw on Sunday are a bad omen. In his previous start, he gave up three hits and no runs in six sparkling innings and his ERA has dropped to 7.11 from a dismal 13.94 when he came off the DL.
"It's always disappointing if you're no starting," said Hughes. "I feel like I made some good progress in my last start, so if I have to wait around, it won't be something that's fun to deal with, but again, I don't make these calls or anything like that."
Manager Joe Girardi tweaked the starting rotation for the upcoming three-game home series because of Hughes short stint in Sunday night's game. Hughes came in, after Mariano Rivera blew his fifth game of the season, and gave up two hits and Boston's walk-off score.
Hughes was set to open the series on Tuesday but struggling A.J. Burnett will be moved up one day. The ineffective Burnett will try and rebound from a disastrous outing against the Chicago White Sox, when the Yankees batters staked him to a 12-run lead, that he almost couldn't hold on to. Burnett gave back seven earned runs and was yanked before he could go five innings to qualify for a win. He will square-off against Dan Haren.
Nova will start Wednesday and is coming off an impressive 10-strikeout, six-hit and one earned run performance against the same White Sox team. Nova has won six of his last seven starts.
Bartolo Colon will close out the series on Thursday after a shaky outing (six-hits and two earned runs) against the Red Sox. He was pulled in the fifth after loading the bases and the bull pen took over. The Yankees won that game, 3-2.
Girardi's biggest concern had to be giving CC Sabathia an additional day off. Sabathia, who is notoriously fickle about throwing with extra rest, will now open the series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. Girardi thinks the rest is good for his ace after being banged up by the Red Sox on Saturday.
The manager said there wasn't anything in particular that presented itself to be a problem with Sabathia, but it seemed like a good time to give him a break.
Hughes, on the other hand, has to be wondering if the thirteen pitches he threw on Sunday are a bad omen. In his previous start, he gave up three hits and no runs in six sparkling innings and his ERA has dropped to 7.11 from a dismal 13.94 when he came off the DL.
"It's always disappointing if you're no starting," said Hughes. "I feel like I made some good progress in my last start, so if I have to wait around, it won't be something that's fun to deal with, but again, I don't make these calls or anything like that."
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