Joe Girardi's decision to pull Ivan Nova with two outs, two on and up by two in the 6th inning has been rather controversial around here.
Hlava: I completely agree with Girardi. Nova loaded the bases with nobody out, and got Longoria to ground into a double play. Obviously, Nova is a candidate for the 4th started role in the postseason. Lifting him from the game on that kind of a high note is a great idea. I've seen tons of games where guys would get themselves into a jam, get one or two outs, and then blow it. Why not give the kid some confidence?
Cabeza: Girardi shouldn't have done it. If Nova's starts over the rest of the years will determine whether he starts in the postseason or not, Girardi should have left him in to give him a chance to prove he can get out of that kind of situation by himself. Also, he took Nova out for Boone Logan, who has been terrible lately.
Hlava: There you go! Logan is the only lefty in the bullpen who's going to make the postseason. The Yankees need to be able to put him into those kinds of situations (2nd and 3rd, 2 outs) in the postseason in order to be successful.
Cabeza: However, this series is huge. It was important to win the first game. That out was the biggest out in the game, and why would Girardi bring in a guy who's been struggling. How does he have a better chance of getting Dan Johnson out than Nova would if he had stayed in the game?
Hlava: I don't know what the matchups were, so I can't really answer that. But, in all honesty, Phil Hughes has been so mediocre for the last four months, he really has no shot at making the postseason rotation. Therefore, the Yankees need Nova to be confident going into the postseason. If he had blown that game like so many other pitchers have blown similar games... ouch.
Cabeza: I see where you're coming from, but I still would have left Nova in there. I don't think he would have blown it, and he needs to prove that he can get out of jams.
Ultimately, Girardi is still the best manager in baseball. He won the World Series last year, despite his supposed "over-managing," and the Yankees are in first place in the AL East. But sometimes his decisions are annoying - particularly from a fan's standpoint!
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
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