New York Yankees: Ivan Nova Outshines Phil Hughes in Every Way… Except Hype
August 5, 2011 · Larry Barnes · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Imagine, if you will, a scenario in which Phil Hughes had remained healthy all season, pitched to a 10-4 record with a 3.81 ERA and lost his job to a guy a year older than him, who was 2-3 with a 6.93 ERA, and who was at the very least fragile physically, if not mentally.
Talk about a Twilight Zone episode.
This is on the verge of happening, only in reverse. It is Hughes (25) who is on the verge of being awarded a job over Ivan Nova (24), despite the latter having SIGNIFICANTLY outperformed the former, across the board.
Look at win-loss record, ERA, WHIP, batting average against, innings pitched, innings per start, WAR, quality starts, ability to stay on the field and take the ball when called upon, etc., etc., etc… Nova wins in a landslide over Hughes each and every time.
Even this week, the New York Yankees sent the message (indirectly through the media, if nothing else) that Hughes and Nova were competing for one spot in the rotation with their respective starts in Chicago against the White Sox. Seems silly that one start by each would overrule an entire season of Nova kicking Hughes to the gutter, but fine.
In his start, Hughes was VERY good for the only time all season, pitching six shutout innings while allowing three hits and no walks while striking out four.
Even in the face of that pressure—not to mention the Yankees announcing that Hughes would start again on Tuesday, seemingly ending this “competition” before Nova even got his chance—Ivan Nova did what he’s done all season. He authored a performance that left Hughes in the shade.
On Thursday night, Nova finished off the Yankees’ sweep of the Chicago White Sox with his best performance of the season. The right-hander worked 7.2 innings, allowing only one run (which likely would not have scored had it not been for a botched pitch-out) on six hits and no walks while striking out a career-high 10 batters.
The New York Yankees have won each of Nova’s last seven starts, which is really impressive when you consider that there was a one-month gap between No. 5 and 6 in that stretch as Nova rotted away at Triple-A so the fragile Hughes could stink it up in the major leagues.
SI.com’s Jon Heyman tweeted last night: “Ivan Nova has out-pitched A.J. Burnett. #JustSayin.”
We quickly shot back with, “They’ve BOTH out-pitched Phil Hughes.”
Had the roles been the reverse, this would be a complete non-issue. Phil Hughes would have the job, Ivan Nova would sit at Triple-A without getting another sniff of the Major Leagues, and nobody would say a word.
But the roles aren’t reversed. As a result, the guy who has done virtually NOTHING to live up to any of the hype the Yankees have been heaping upon him for years (“the next Roger Clemens” is my personal favorite) prepares to start on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the guy who has done everything possible and more ON the field to earn the job sits and waits to be dismissed to either the bullpen or the bus leagues.
It’s enough to make one wonder if the Yankees are even aware of what “a competition” is.
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