Rothschild: Pineda could throw off full mound next week

by 25 Comments

Report: Felix Hernandez close to extension with Mariners
Thursday Night Open Thread

Via Erik Boland: Pitching coach Larry Rothschild confirmed Michael Pineda is progressing well during his rehab from shoulder surgery. There’s a chance he will be able to throw off a full mound as soon as next week.

Pineda, 24, has been throwing off a half-mound for a little more than a week now after spending several months on flat ground. Getting back up on a full mound is a big milestone in his rehab, but don’t confuse it for a sign that he is close to returning. Pineda is still weeks away from facing hitters behind an L-screen in batting practice, nevermind pitching in any kind of game situation. Still, I’m sure he and the team will take all the good news they can.

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Report: Felix Hernandez close to extension with Mariners
Thursday Night Open Thread
  • vin

    Fingers firmly crossed.

  • BigBSArteest

    Michael will be signing autographs at Hoochy Mama’s titty bar in Tampa after his workout.

  • mike

    id love to see if he is in any better physical shape than he was last year…..not that it a guaurantee of anything, but it might demonstate a dedication to his profession which (aside from the bs he was peddling last year about getting traded and different training camps) may have contributed to his injury

    • Cool Lester Smooth (formerly YanksFanInBeantown)

      You mean the fact that the Mariners told him to take the offseason off to recover after throwing a career high number of innings? That BS?

      • Havok9120

        Yep. Screw that he was following instructions and that guys his size (or even my size) treat ten and twenty pound increments like the nothing it is. It’s BS.

    • Steve (different one)

      Yes, he should have worked out with Jesus in Miami.

      • vin

        or Cervelli… in… Italy?

        • MannyGeee

          OR with Giambi… in a gold thong! #Haventforgotten

  • http://www.twitter.com/_swarlesbarkley Mark Teixeira – Ghostbuster (formally Drew)

    This is best news I have heard all offseason.

    • Dalek Jeter (formerly: Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM))

      +1 I mean I’m still of the mindset that anything we get out of Pineda in 2013 has to be looked at as a bonus, and nothing should be expected of him, but the fact that he’s making progress is great.

      • Laz

        Yes, I’m still waiting to pass any judgement on the trade. Montero was healthy sure, but he was a worse hitter than Ibanez. So to me it wasn’t huge that he was injured.

  • Wayne

    This guy will never pitch for the Yankees! Whoever he ends up on they are going to have to change his delivery!

    • Evan3457

      Thanks for the tip, Leo.

    • trr

      Uhhhhh, No!

    • MannyGeee

      Exclamation Points! Doom and Gloom!

  • Manny’s BanWagon (formerly Andy Pettitte’s Fibula)

    If he’s not throwing 95 MPH in 2 weeks, people will be flipping out.

    • Cool Lester Smooth (Formerly YanksFanInBeantown)

      Where’s the V-LO, dammit?!

      • Havok9120

        We’re gonna bring V-Lo back. The meme was too good (and too annoying to Mike) to let it die.

        • radnom

          I don’t understand how you guys aren’t embarrassed about that. You spent a month laughing at anyone who suggested Pineda didn’t look right, and then it turns out they were exactly right.

          • Bo Knows

            It takes a while for velocity to build back up, and it was reasonable to think that was what was happening with Pineda, his velocity had risen from his 1st and 2nd start then it just stagnated and fell again which we now know had come from the injury.

            Those who were complaining were complaining because they assumed he would be throwing 99 from day one, and no pitcher comes into spring training or even finishes spring training throwing at their average velocity. When you consider that Pineda was told not to do anything baseball related by the Mariners staff, was supposed to attend Mariners camp in January (the trade delayed his activities by a month and a half)it was reasonable to think he wasn’t going to be in baseball shape or even capable of doing what he could normally do yet.

          • Jim Is Bored

            Blind squirrel, nut, broken clock, etc.

            • MannyGeee

              THIS. Every year we hear someone doesn’t have the “V-LO” and that they are damaged and Cashman failed. If they come back strong and have a normal season, everyone forgets. However, if when trying to gain the V-LO back they blow out their arm, they were right…

              Is it the cause or the effect of the constant reminder that they are not Justin Verlander?

  • RetroRob

    The King Felix signing supports why the Yankees moved Montero for Pineda. It didn’t work out, but the reasoning was sound. Hopefully the kid can make a full recovery, but even if he does, I’m still not counting on quality until 2014.

  • LitFig

    Good news. I think he’ll be an August/September call up. I’m excited to see the guy pitch.

    Pineda, Nova, Phelps and ManBan, maybe Nuno and Marshall are vital to the $189 mil plan.

  • LitFig

    “BUT TEH VEEE-LO!!!!!!”