Cover your ears Ivan Nova trade haters because Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington and this underrated acquisition might have silenced us all once again.
Despite some less than popular deadline deals, Huntington did make an underrated move that has, at this point in time, worked out well. The addition of former New York Yankee Ivan Nova has helped to turn around a once-struggling Pirates starting rotation in the month of August.
Watching Nova pitch, especially in his last outing in which he threw his fourth career complete game against the Houston Astros, I began feeling a sense of deja vu. Mainly because we all witnessed that similar scenario last season with J.A. Happ.
In fact, I wasn’t the only one to think about this comparison as there were many fans who thought of this directly after the trade for Nova.
Can’t imagine the Pirates gave up much for Nova. Guess they are hoping for a scenario similar to JA Happ? Not sure what to expect.
— Aaron Stucke (@stuckeinthehole) August 1, 2016
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Ivan Nova to the @Pirates might be huge, hopefully he’s this year’s JA Happ
— Andrew Boyle™ (@HardBoyledCC) August 1, 2016
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#Pirates The comparison to JA Happ last year is not inappropriate. Let’s give Searage a couple of months w/ him. https://t.co/Q9sTJci2X5
— 3PC (@LouiseMister) August 1, 2016
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After sporting a 4-6 record, a 4.64 ERA, and a 1.41 WHIP in 21 appearances (20 starts) with the Seattle Mariners last season, Happ was dealt to the Pirates at the 2015 deadline in exchange for right-handed minor league pitcher Adrian Sampson.
From criticism to success
At the time, Pirates fans were less than pleased with the job Huntington did at the deadline, but they were even more puzzled by the acquisition of Happ.
I mean, a year ago I think my analysis of the Happ trade was, “I have no idea why the Pirates want JA Happ.”
— Dr. W. Gavs (@whygavs) August 1, 2016
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I already hate JA Happ. Shouldve gotten an ace at the deadline. Better trade for big game james right now if they want to win
— Andrew (@AG_Calu) August 4, 2015
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Would’ve rather seen Adrian Sampson thrown into rotation than friggin’ JA Happ. Poor, unnecessary trade. #Pirates
— James Krug (@jim_krug) July 31, 2015
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Happ did have a good 2009 campaign in which he went 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA in 35 appearances (23 starts). He also put up stellar numbers in 2010, going 6-4 with a 3.40 ERA in 16 starts. However, he struggled from 2011 to 2014, failing to have an ERA under four while pitching for the Houston Astros and the Toronto Blue Jays.
It was the inconsistent reputation that Happ showcased that caused people to show displeasure towards the trade.
Despite the criticism, Happ flourished with a little change in scenery. The then-32-year old veteran, who had played for four other organizations prior to his time in Pittsburgh, went 7-2 with a 1.85 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 11 starts for the Bucs.
The left-hander also accumulated 69 strikeouts in 63.1 innings, while only allowing three home runs and surrendering 13 free passes.
Happ also benefited by working with Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage, a highly respected coach who has helped pitchers regain their stuff in the past. Happ joined a list that includes Francisco Liriano and A.J. Burnett, and now it seems as if Ivan Nova isn’t far away from reaching that list as well.
What makes Nova’s situation so interesting is that, like the Happ trade, many fans on Twitter were also quick to criticize the deal that brought Nova to Pittsburgh.
I’m still mind-boggled by the Ivan Nova trade tho. The dude is a right-handed Jeff Locke, perhaps worse.
— Dig (@yadigdadadig) August 1, 2016
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Trading Melancon & Walker to free up funds for…Ivan Nova. Can’t believe how a contending team actually gets worse at the trade deadline
— The Mayor (@addyOklock) August 1, 2016
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After going 7-6 with a 4.90 ERA in 21 appearances (15 starts) for the Yankees, Nova has turned the page and been “Happ-like” in his first four starts for the Bucs. In those four outings, Nova is 3-0 with a 3.20 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 25.1 innings. The right-hander has also only allowed just one walk, quickly silencing his doubters, at least for now.
Keys to Nova’s immediate success: leaving the AL East and familiar backstops
A change of scenery and leaving the American League East division seems to have benefited the 29-year-old so far and it should benefit him in the long run.
When he was a Yankee, Nova was consistently pitching in hitter-friendly AL East ballparks and struggled, compiling a career ERA above 4.86 in each visiting park and allowing a total of 26 home runs in 32 career appearances. This is not to mention his old home stadium (Yankee Stadium) was a huge hitters ballpark in which he allowed 48 career home runs in 67 appearances (62 starts).
Nova has acclimated well to NL ballparks, only allowing just two home runs in four starts and going three straight outings without allowing a long ball.
He has also seemed to pitch well with a familiar face behind the plate in Francisco Cervelli, an old teammate of Nova’s in New York. In his career with Cervelli behind the dish, Nova sports a 4.20 ERA in 16 starts.
Nova could likely be reunited with former teammate Chris Stewart at some point this season as well. With Stewart behind the plate, Nova sports a 3.11 career ERA in 29 starts.
Will the future remain as bright for Nova as it has been for Happ?
Following Happ’s success last season, many fans were behind the idea of re-signing the veteran southpaw. However, he signed a three-year deal to return to Toronto.
Happ has put up huge numbers this season with the Blue Jays, going 17-4 with a 3.19 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 25 starts.
The Nova deal was similar in many ways to the J.A. Happ deal of last season. Both deals were immediately criticized and involved two pitchers who were very good to start out their careers, but had endured struggles throughout the past few seasons.
Happ was able to basically rejuvenate his career after his time in Pittsburgh last season and so far Nova looks to be on the right track to doing the same.
Nova will look to continue his stellar pitching and lead the Pirates to a four-game sweep as he takes the mound this afternoon in the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m.
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Image Credit – Keith Allison (Flickr Creative Commons)
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