Vidal Nuno gave the Yankees five shutout innings in his first start of the season in Tampa Bay. On Saturday, he’ll get a chance to prove whether they can rely on him on a consistent basis with Ivan Nova out for the year.
“It’s a big stretch for him and our club, to try and solidify that role,” Joe Girardi said before the Yankees were bulldozed, 13-1, in their series opener against the Angels in The Bronx on Friday.
Nuno couldn’t be much more different than Nova. A stout lefty who isn’t blessed with much power, Nuno relies extensively on precise location — unlike Nova, who featured a more powerful arsenal.
But Nova won’t be back until 2015 because of impending elbow surgery, so the Yankees have been forced to go to Nuno for the foreseeable future. David Phelps is set to fill in for the suspended Michael Pineda on Wednesday, according to Girardi.
The manager has liked what he has seen from Nuno so far.
“He’s a strike-thrower who can change speed,” Girardi said. “He can throw any pitch at any time and he works really quickly.”
Nuno’s season was cut short a year ago by a groin injury.
“It was a lesson learned,” Nuno said. “It’s about how you come back and I have more flexibility now. … This is a big step and I’m going to try to stick [around] and produce.”
Brendan Ryan (back) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Class-A Tampa on Sunday.
“We’re trying to get him 50 at-bats or so,” Girardi said of Derek Jeter’s backup, who has been playing in intrasquad games.
“We’ve got to get him where he can play some back-to-back games,” Girardi said. “I don’t imagine it will be too long.”
Girardi said he didn’t have a set schedule of games for Jeter.
“We’ll take it day-by-day right now,” Girardi said.
There was relief among infielders upon news MLB had reverted back to the old transfer rule, which says an out is recorded if a ball is dropped while a player transfers the ball from his glove to throwing hand. The new replay system had created confusion.
“It made it very uncomfortable to try to turn a double play,” Jeter said. “You were constantly thinking about it. You have to make sure you catch it, pull it out and don’t drop it when you’re throwing it.”
Girardi also liked the reversal.
“I think for the players it’ll be easier,” he said. “It’ll be more like it used to be. Obviously, I think at times it’ll be challenged and there will be questions about it. I don’t know how it’s going to play out.”