For some reason, the fifth inning has stumped Ivan Nova recently.
Keep in mind, six of those fifth-inning earned runs came in one start.
He’s 23 years old, which is not that young, and he didn’t have this problem in Triple-A.
I think he gets overconfident and loses his focus. And I don’t blame him!
He has quieted one of the best offenses in baseball, the Rays’, for the first four innings twice in a row! I’d be ecstatic and probably forget where I am.
But if I’m Joe Girardi, I continue to throw Nova into the fifth. If he doesn’t let him conquer his “fears” now, then when? Now is the best time, as a playoff berth is only a few wins away.
