NOVA FEELS GREAT & THAT'S GOOD NEWS!

ESPN reported this week that Ivan Nova threw off of level ground and his elbow feels 'great.' And this is good news.

 Nova tore a ligament in his elbow early last season and had to undergo Tommy John surgery. The recovery process usually takes about 12 to 15 months, so the positive feedback after throwing off of level ground is encouraging. The Yankees Depth Charts has him listed as out until at least May, but I believe that June seems like a more realistic outcome.  

As it stands right now our starting rotation, once Nova returns, would be Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, Nova, CC Sabathia, with the fifth being Adam Warren, Chris Capuano, or Nathan Eovaldi. A line-up that has the potential to be powerful, but also holds a lot of question marks. Tanaka's elbow issue, CC's knee, and Pineda's shoulder leave a lot to be desired. The questionable fifth spot will likely belong to Eovaldi. We'll need the added security in our rotation, which is where Nova becomes key.

The Yankees need Nova. It is likely that he will still be a bit shaky and inconsistent when he first returns. If he is able to get into a healthy rhythm within his first few starts, our rotation will have an added stability they need. Of course, this is provided that we're being optimistic, and everything goes off without a hitch. If everyone stays healthy, and performs up to expectations, we can have a powerful line-up.

Look, we all know that when Nova is at his best, he is nearly unbeatable. His recovery processing going smoothly is incredibly important, for him and for the team. Our rotation, as it stands now, makes me nervous. Hearing that Nova's elbow feels great means that he will be healthy, and in the Bronx in no time! And that is always positive. Especially given all the unknowns with our rotation right now. 

--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer 
Twitter: @e_morales1804

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