MLB Spring Training 2012: Ivan Nova Blames Catcher for Most Recent Struggles

Uh oh.

What started out as a poor spring for sophomore Ivan Nova is now turning into a case of the blame game.

Nova blamed poor communication with third-string catcher Gustavo Molina for his poor performance on Monday, a start in which he allowed five runs in a 6-3 loss to the Orioles.

At 0-2 with an ERA of 7.82, Nova is currently pitching through the worst spring training of his short career.

He has started four games and gone just 12 2/3 innings, allowing 16 hits and four home runs. Opponents are currently hitting .296 against him.

In the first inning of the game on Monday, Nova allowed a three-run home run to Adam Jones and then Matt Wieters touched him up for a solo home run in the following at-bat.

Nova was annoyed that Molina wouldn't allow him to shake off the sign on the home run to Jones, saying "I don't want to get into those situations, I called him and said I thought it was the wrong pitch."

He followed that up by stating, "That's the game."

To Nova's credit, he did put the blame on himself for allowing the home run to Wieters.

Manager Joe Girardi addressed the situation by saying, "You have to take charge. If you make a pitch, you better have conviction."

It's clear that neither Girardi nor Nova is happy with what happened today against Baltimore, and it's very apparent that Nova is frustrated with his early spring struggles.

After going 16-4 last season with a 3.70 ERA, Nova is expected to be a main contributor to the starting rotation in 2012.

The state of the rotation became a little cloudier this weekend, though, as Andy Pettitte and the Yankees agreed upon a one-year contract.

It's assumed that Pettitte will be given every opportunity to be a member of the rotation at some point this season, and that puts the fate of either Nova, Phil Hughes, Freddy Garcia or Michael Pineda in jeopardy.

Nova will have to step it up during the last half of spring training, as he, Hughes and Pineda still have minor league options left.

The team is not afraid to exercise those options, and the worst performer out of the three may find himself in Triple-A to start the season.

Right now, that man is Ivan Nova.