Nightly Links: Nova, Garcia, Replay

• We have two games to catch up on tonight. Yesterday the Yankees faced their rival Red Sox in a pitching duel ended by an embarrassing Zoilo Almonte error. The good news is that Ivan Nova looked very good, pitching 4.0 innings and giving up only two hits and earning three strikeouts. Both Mariano Rivera and Boone Logan pitched hitless innings with one strikeout, Rivera earned four outs thanks to a Bill Hall error. David Phelps looked very good in 2.2 innings, giving up two hits, one run on the Almonte error, and drawing five strikeouts. (Box Score)

• This afternoon’s game was against the Blue Jays, and the Yankees continued their losing ways as Freddy Garcia, Cory Wade, and Manny Banuelos all struggled. DJ Mitchell was exceptional in his 3.0 innings of work, putting up all zeros and four strikeouts. Offensively, Curtis Granderson doubled twice, with Francisco Cervelli, Doug Bernier, and Cole Garner each doubling once. (Box Score)

• Garcia was pulled early in today’s game after taking a line drive to the hand from Edwin Encarnacion, who killed the Yankees today. Fortunatly, X-rays appear negative, and the injury is being diagnosed as a contusion right now. Nick Swisher was also pulled from the game after some left groin tightness… at least David Robertson had no complications jogging today.

• Despite the groin injury today, Swisher believes he’s in the best shape of his life™. There is no surprise he wants a big season entering a contract year, but the right fielder has looked very good in spring training thus far. If he has a good season, I could see him complicating the Yankees plans for 2014.

• So we get the new CBA and as a big market team in the AL East have to deal with the extra wild card situation, the postseason schedule issues, the budget-based draft, and the salary cap on the international market, but at least we get expanded replay right? WRONG! After pumping out a premature plan for the extra wild card and postseason schedule, the MLB doesn’t plan to expand replay until earliest 2013. Bud Selig seems to have received everything he wanted without giving up anything yet, it’s good to be the king. I’m not bitter or anything.

• And today’s workouts.

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