Nova gets another start; Vazquez to the pen

TORONTO - Ivan Nova's performance Monday night earned him another start and, for the moment, knocked Javier Vazquez from the rotation.

But the move isn't permanent, general manager Brian Cashman said.

"He's going back in the rotation," Cashman said by phone before last night's game.

Joe Girardi told Vazquez Tuesday afternoon that Nova, who allowed two runs and six hits in 51/3 innings in his first major-league start Monday, would start in place of Vazquez on Sunday in Chicago against the White Sox.

Vazquez, pulled from his May 7 start against Boston, will be sent to the bullpen and could be available to Girardi as soon as Wednesday night.

Like in May, the move will give the struggling Vazquez some time to clear his head.

"Nova's going to give us a chance to give him a timeout," Cashman said. "Just like earlier in the year. Vazquez responded really well to that [being skipped]."

Vazquez, who won seven of 12 starts after being skipped, expressed disappointment but in his recent performance more than anything.

"I'm not surprised," Vazquez said. "I'm disappointed, like I said, but I'm not doing my job."

He added, "I feel good, physically and mentally, but I'm just not throwing the ball well."

Vazquez said his drop in velocity - his fastball has rarely been hitting 90 mph - a constant story the last month, hasn't been the reason for his struggles.

"When I was doing a good job, I was probably 88-90, as well, so I don't think it has anything to do with velocity," he said.

Phil Hughes, who starts Wednesday night, has an innings limit believed to be around 175. He comes into the start at 1402/3 innings and Girardi said if Hughes continues pitching as he has - nearly seven innings a game - the righthander will likely need to be skipped. If he stayed on rotation, Hughes would make seven more starts.

Nova or Vazquez could make a start for Hughes, but Cashman said yesterday's move had nothing to do with the innings limit. "Never even came up," Cashman said. "This has nothing to do with Hughes."

He said it's about getting Vazquez right, which is the righthander's hope, as well.

"Last time they put me in the pen, it was only one day," Vazquez said. "But that one day helped me out a little bit and hopefully, it will this time, too."