Why Vidal Nuno May Not Be In The Majors Much Longer…For Now

Apr 1, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher

(57) pitches during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. The Astros defeated the Yankees 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Today’s game is one of those games you’re going to have throughout a baseball season. There are days when you get your brains beat in and lose by nine runs. You pick yourself up, dust yourself off and move on. The New York Yankees will do the same. However, don’t expect Vidal Nuno to be a part of the team tomorrow.

Nuno was allowed to throw 67 pitches today in his 3.1 inning, eight hit, seven run disaster of an afternoon. His ERA is now a whopping 14.54. With five games to go until the Yankees have a day off, plus the fact that Nuno won’t be available for a couple of days because of the amount of pitches he threw, don’t be surprised if Nuno is optioned down to AAA for a fresh arm.

Also, with closer David Robertson going on the DL, the Yankees called up Cesar Cabral to take his spot, who is a lefty, just like Nuno and Matt Thornton. Three lefties is a bit of overkill, except for when the rosters expand in September.

So who would come up? Probably Preston Claiborne. He didn’t exactly have the best spring training, but the other pitchers on the 40 man are starters, except for Jose Ramirez, who has yet to pitch in the minors this season. Claiborne has only pitched one inning so far because Scranton has had so many rain-outs.

I’m not sure Nuno is that comfortable relieving, something he didn’t even really do in the minors. Some guys can and some can’t and Nuno may just be better off going back into his starting role in AAA.