Pirates’ Nova optimistic about starting rotation
If you look up the 2016 New York Yankees starting rotation on Opening Day, you won无毛视频檛 find Ivan Nova无毛视频檚 name. Nova, who had made 113 starts in the first six years of his Yankees career, had been relegated to the bullpen after sporting a 5.07 ERA in 2015.
This year, he无毛视频檒l start in Pittsburgh for the Pirates无毛视频� home opener Friday at PNC Park. It无毛视频檚 a long way from the Yankees无毛视频� bullpen to the Pirates无毛视频� rotation, but as soon as Nova came over to the Pirates, everything seemed to click for the 30-year-old right-hander.
Nova came up in the Yankees无毛视频� system with Francisco Cervelli and the comfort level between the two was evident when reunited with the Pirates in 2016. Nova also quickly embraced the work of pitching coach Ray Searage, and the combination of a new coach and his old catcher helped Nova find a place that he hadn无毛视频檛 been to for very much of his major-league career.
In 11 starts with the Pirates in 2016, he posted a 3.06 ERA, averaged nearly six innings per start and struck out 52 while walking only three batters. Those were numbers that turned some heads.
无毛视频淚t got our attention early,无毛视频� manager Clint Hurdle said. 无毛视频淵ou think 无毛视频榃ow, how much of this he did do before this?无毛视频� We went and looked at a lot of games that he pitched before. We got the best bulk of work that he无毛视频檚 ever done. 无毛视频� He无毛视频檚 pitched extremely well. He无毛视频檚 fit in extremely well. He无毛视频檚 mentored extremely well. He无毛视频檚 always looking to learn.无毛视频�
After the productive second half of his 2016 season, Nova became a free agent and was free to test the market and sign for any team he liked. It turned out that team was the Pirates, as Nova made it a priority to re-sign with the team that had been the home of so much of his success. The Pirates desperately needed to add to their young pitching staff for this season, and while they were not able to get Jose Quintana or any of the other big-name targets they sought, retaining Nova may end up having just as big of an impact.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 unbelievable,无毛视频� Gerrit Cole said. 无毛视频淎ny time you can add a veteran presence, any time you can add quality innings, quality experience, good clubhouse guy, great leader; those are attributes that any team is looking for and can be an upgrade at any position. Fortunately, we had the opportunity to bring him back and we无毛视频檙e really excited for it.无毛视频�
While the Pirates无毛视频� rotation didn无毛视频檛 get the ace general manager Neal Huntington was looking for last off-season, Nova thinks they无毛视频檙e still poised to do big things thanks to the group of talented young pitchers that will join him in the starting five.
无毛视频淲e don无毛视频檛 have those type of big name guys,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淚n the papers, everybody can choose who is going to win. At the end of the day, we have to go out there and perform. We无毛视频檝e got a lot of guys that are capable of doing that, young guys with a lot of talent. It无毛视频檚 going to be a fun season.无毛视频�
The positive relationships that he developed with players like Cole, Jameson Taillon and Chad Kuhl during the 2016 season is another reason that Nova is happy to be back in black and gold.
无毛视频淭he excitement that you see on those guys coming in here every day motivates you to keep going as a group,无毛视频� Nova said. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檝e seen a lot of guys over the past couple of years, opening day is right around the corner, that are anxious about what无毛视频檚 going to happen. You see these guys relaxing, because they trust themselves that they can do a good job out there.无毛视频�
Hurdle obviously showed trust in Nova无毛视频檚 abilities by naming him the starter for the home opener, and while he cautioned that 11 starts don无毛视频檛 make for a long sample, he sees good things in the future from the veteran of his staff.
无毛视频淗e无毛视频檚 in a good place. He loves to compete,无毛视频� Hurdle said. 无毛视频淭here无毛视频檚 a comfort on the mound with a conviction to pitch, which is fun to watch.无毛视频�