Michael Pineda didn’t do too well tonight:
Yikes.
To quote one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes: “That’s not going to be good for business” “That’s not going to good for anybody.”
Spring Training is finally winding down. Most teams are just a week removed from their first official game of the season and as of now, the Yankees’ starting rotation is still not set. And for once, the problem is not a shortage of starting pitching options, it is a surplus.
So far CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda are all set. Phil Hughes who has impressed this Spring seems as if he would be a likely candidate for a spot in the rotation as well which leaves us with Ivan Nova, Freddy Garcia and Michael Pineda.
Out of those three, Ivan Nova won 18 games last year for the Yankees, Freddy Garcia is a veteran and has a long track record and Michael Pineda is the new kid on the block.
But the pitcher who seems to be the focus of the “Should he or shouldn’t he be in the rotation?” discussions and the who has caused the most indecisiveness among the teams coaches is the newcomer Pineda.
As has been documented ad nausem, on this blog and on every other Yankee blog from here to kingdom come, the main source of grief – if you will – is the decreased velocity of Pineda’s fastball. But while his fastball may be slower than expected, his off speed pitches have been a pleasant surprise for the Yankees coaching staff.
And it’s not as if Pineda has been going out and getting shelled in every outing. It’s just that he was throwing in the mid to high 90′s last year and that velocity has not been reached as of yet.
So Pineda’s last chance may be tonight. He is scheduled to pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies and the plan according to Manager Joe Girardi, is to stretch him out. His performance in the game may be the difference between being added to the starting rotation or starting the season in Triple-A.
As everyone knows, Michael Pineda has been the main topic of conversation this Spring. Even with freak injuries happening to both David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain, the subject of Pineda’s fastball velocity or lack thereof is what has been dominating the New York Yankees blogosphere.
From the pure adulterated panic of some, to the more calm and even keeled attitude of others, Pineda and his not so fast-fastball, have been written about continuously this past month. Some people are already questioning the trade that brought Pineda here from Seattle and some fans are even clamoring for Jesus Montero’s return.
Everyone needs to calm down and take a few deep breaths.
» Continue reading “Michael Pineda’s Fastball Or Lack Thereof And Other Pitching Notes”
The Yankees and Tigers ended their game in a 1-1 after ten innings.
Derek Jeter led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run – obviously the only run the Yanks would score all day – and had a double in his second at bat. He finished 2-3.
Michael Pineda gave up one run in five innings of work. Once again, his velocity was in the low 90′s, which is now causing some concern among Yankee fans with Opening Day around the corner. He gave up five hits, the one run, walked two batters and struck out four. If a lower velocity is all we’re going to have to deal with for a little while until he figures things out, I’ll be fine with that. He’s still getting people out.
Alex Rodriguez was hit in the ribcage by a pitch from Detroit pitcher Brayan Villareal. Rodriguez exited the game, was examined and is fine according to Manager Joe Girardi. He’s expected to play on Tuesday.
Another player expected back on Tuesday is Nick Swisher who is battling a groin injury.
David Robertson pitched a scoreless inning giving up one hit and striking out a batter. Mariano Rivera continued his Spring Training scoreless streak. He hasn’t given up a run since March 2008.
Tuesday’s game is against Toronto in Tampa at 7:05 p.m. It will be broadcast on YES.
Good morning friends. I am unfortunately feeling a tad under the weather this morning. I’ve been battling my allergies all week. This weather may be pretty to be in for some people but for me, it’s been hell. So this morning I am going to direct you toward some interesting links from other Yankees blogs and sites.
Enjoy!
Larry Koestler of River Avenue Blues looks at Andy Pettitte’s Pitch/fx data. I will be the first to admit that numbers and stats scared me a little but I am slowly dipping my foot into the sabermetric pool, if you will, and looking forward to writing my own stuff on stats sometime this century.
The Yankees welcome home dinner has been set for April 12. Jorge Posada and former head trainer Gene Monahan will both be honored.
All eyes were on Michael Pineda last night as he made his fourth start of the Spring. The results of the start were mixed. He started off badly, giving up three quick runs to the Pirates but after Larry Rothschild noticed something off in his mechanics, Pineda came back to strike out five of the last six batters he faced. Another good sign, his velocity was up. He was hovering around 92-93 and hit 94 m.p.h. a few times.
Some Pineda links:
Derek Jeter’s calf is still not 100% so he will be sitting out until Friday due to the next two games being on the road.
Some Jeter links:
It’s Tuesday afternoon, the Yankees haven’t played since Sunday night and I am antsy waiting for tonight’s game.
But before we get to tonight’s game and its implications for Michael Pineda let’s talk about what’s happening at 6 p.m. in Tampa. Andy Pettitte will be addressing the media outside George M. Steinbrenner Field.
I don’t know about you but I still feel like this is a dream and it’s not real. How could Andy Pettitte be coming back to the Yankees?
I am looking forward to hearing Pettitte’s good ol’ boy drawl during the presser. I am also really looking forward to him saying “man” about 1500 times. He gives Nick Swisher a run for his money when it comes to calling everyone – men and women – “man.” I’m sure Pettitte will say the same things he’s been saying on the radio and on TV since his comeback was announced but it will be nice to see him again and having him in Tampa talking about it, will make it more real.
Now onto Michael Pineda and his diminished fastball. With Andy Pettitte returning to the fray, a lot of talk has been focused on the Yankees starting rotation and what will happen if Pettitte pitches well enough to make the Major League squad, talk of Pineda, Freddy Garcia and Phil Hughes being affected by his return – even Ivan Nova to a lesser extent. So tonight’s start though a Spring Training start, could be pretty big for Pineda. It’s his fourth start and even though he has seen good results so far, his lack of velocity is what’s worrying some folks.
Earlier this afternoon, I was watching a show on HGTV called “My Favorite Place” and Mark Teixeira’s Connecticut home was featured. Teixeira showed off his children’s playroom, his home office and his 4000 square foot basement. When I did the math in my head I laughed because his basement alone is more than three times the size of my entire house.
The tremendous finished basement has a few designated areas. Teixeira’s favorites are his large home gym, complete with a Yankees logo rug and his customized home theatre. He said the gym is where he does his intense offseason workouts and his home theatre is where he spends his time when he isn’t in the mood to work out.
Hey Mark, if you need a live in nanny let me know. I have experience babysitting though I haven’t done it in a while. Plus, I’m a blogger and most people think we all live in our mom’s basements anyway, so yours would be like a playground for me to work in. Think about it, okay? Thanks.
Flickr Image Courtesy of C. Sherman
The phrase “many happy returns” is British and used primarily for birthdays but I thought it was appropriate for this coming week in Yankees camp. A week that should be filled with many happy returns for the Yanks.
The biggest happy return is Andy Pettitte’s to camp, this time as a player and not as a guest instructor. Pettitte is scheduled to arrive in camp on Tuesday and will throw a bullpen session.
Though the reactions to his return have been varied, most have been positive. The one thing Pettitte’s return will definitely do is generate many more questions about the Yankees’s starting rotation.
For Pettitte the question will be “Can he return close to top form after a year off?” and thanks to his deal being of the Minor League variety, he will have more than enough time to prepare for the season.
» Continue reading “The Week Of Many Happy Returns”
Ha! Tricked you!
Michael Pineda’s not a bust, no matter what people are saying about his lack of velocity during today’s game – only his second Spring Training start. He’s a pitcher about to enter his second full year of work. He’s young, he’s talented and I believe he will be fine.
Today against the Braves*, Pineda lasted 2 2/3 innings, gave up one earned run on four hits, struck out one and walked three. He was supposed to throw more sliders today but only threw 6-8 of them. He did manage to hit 93 m.p.h but was averaging 90-91 on most of his fastballs.
So is this cause for concern? According to Dave Cameron of Fangraphs, it’s not.
As the 2011 season wore on, Pineda decided that it wasn’t in his best interests to come out firing at full velocity from the first pitch. He wanted to be more efficient early in games, so rather than coming out and throwing 97 and striking everyone out, he decided to ease off the fastball in the first inning or two and try to get some quick outs on the ground.
Cameron’s piece was written after Pineda’s first Spring start but the point remains. Do not panic.
Essentially, this development just isn’t new. Pineda spent a good part of the second half of 2011 experimenting with pitching at reduced velocities early in games, and then he cranked up the volume when he needed to as the game wore on. Now, I think an argument could be made that it’s a little disconcerting that Pineda feels it’s necessary to start games with diminished velocity, suggesting that perhaps he doesn’t feel he can throw in the mid-90s for 100 pitches per start over a full season. However, his performances from 2011 suggest that he’s choosing to throw at lower velocities early in starts, and you’d certainly rather have velocity loss be due to something that the pitcher can change when he wants to, rather than simply being unable to throw as hard as he used to.
So I’m going to listen to Mr. Cameron and not worry abut Pineda. If his velocity is still only hovering around 90-91 during the season, I’ll worry.
*The Yankees won 8-3.
Pineda is A-Ok
Just kidding.
I’m not kidding about the Phillies winning but I am kidding about the importance of the actual game itself. Like I always say, the most important thing about Spring Training is health. Poor Eduardo Nunez was hit by a pitch and had to leave the game. It was his right hand and the x-rays were negative.
Michael Pineda looked good in his brief appearance. He pitched two scoreless innings, struck out two and retired five out of six batters. He also threw 30 pitches, 19 of them for strikes. Not too shabby. And the good news for Yankee fans is he didn’t give into the pressure of pitching in New York, oh wait.
I’m apologize for being so obnoxious today. Some of the nonsense I saw written in regards to Pineda and today’s start was just ridiculously over the top for March 5.
Should I be surprised? Probably not.
After the game he was asked if he was nervous and Pineda reportedly said, “Hell no.”
Yeah, I like him already.
From the way some people were acting this morning you would have thought that today’s Spring Training “start” for Michael Pineda was a make it or break it situation.
The good news: He pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts against the Phillies in Clearwater. Yes, the Yanks are playing the Phillies, again.
Good job Michael but it’s only March 5, let’s see how you do on October 5!!!
(That was a joke. Calm down.)
