Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
I’ll admit it. Ivan Nova hasn’t exactly been consistent this year for the New York Yankees. He’s been on and off, and he’s spent a good deal of time on the DL. But when he’s healthy, he’s on. Tonight’s game was a perfect example.
Nova earned the complete game win earlier tonight using an economical 102 pitches. He allowed only three hits and two earned runs while striking out 11 and allowing just one walk. Best of all, the win came against the division rival Baltimore Orioles, whose high-powered offense has frustrated the Yankees all year. Another loss would’ve made six in a row to Baltimore. Luckily, the skid stopped with Nova and his impressive pitching.
I think that this start proved Nova’s superiority over Phil Hughes once and for all. In my opinion, the Yankees should just go back to a five man rotation of CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Andy Pettitte, David Phelps, and Nova. Hughes is simply too inconsistent to be relied upon as a starter. Nova is also inconsistent, I’ll admit, but his moments of greatness come far more often than Hughes’. Hughes should be moved to the bullpen or traded; he hasn’t worked out, and it’s time to dump him for someone better. Perhaps a first baseman with a bat?
Ivan Nova’s brilliant start should make the Yankees higher-ups think twice about who should be starting and who should be traded.
Kyle Massa is a New York Yankees writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylemassa, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
