Spring Training Game Thread: Pineda, Part III

March 23, 2014 by Mike Axisa 121 Comments

Prior to yesterday’s game, Joe Girardi said there’s a chance he will announce his rotation for the start of the season on Tuesday. The fifth starter competition is technically still alive, though it seems both Vidal Nuno and Adam Warren have already been ruled out. It’s down to David Phelps and Michael Pineda, and based on how he’s thrown this spring, it’s hard to think Pineda won’t be the rotation if he stays healthy over the next ten days or so.

Pineda is making his third start and fourth appearance of Grapefruit League play this afternoon. The first three outings were pretty good overall, and the most important thing is that his fastball velocity has gradually crept upwards each time out. He topped out at 92 mph in his first game, then topped out at 93 mph in his second game, and in his last outing he hit 94 mph. I don’t know if Pineda will ever throw as he hard as he did with the Mariners a few years ago, but what we’ve seen so far is encouraging. He’s probably scheduled for something like 75-80 pitches this afternoon.

The Blue Jays made the short trip across the causeway from Dunedin for this afternoon’s game. Most of their regulars made the trip, including Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Brett Lawrie, Colby Rasmus, and former Yankee Melky Cabrera. Should be a nice test for Pineda. Mark Buehrle will be on the bump. Here is the Yankees’ starting lineup:

LF Brett Gardner
SS Derek Jeter
RF Carlos Beltran
1B Mark Teixeira
C Brian McCann
DH Alfonso Soriano
2B Brian Roberts
3B Eduardo Nunez
CF Ichiro Suzuki
SP Michael Pineda

Available Pitchers: RHP Chris Leroux, RHP Matt Daley, RHP Preston Claiborne, RHP Dellin Betances, LHP Cesar Cabral, RHP Jim Miller, RHP Danny Burawa, RHP Shane Greene, LHP Fred Lewis, RHP Manny Burawa, and RHP Branden Pinder.

Available Position Players: C Jose Gil, 1B Russ Canzler, 2B Zelous Wheeler, SS Yangervis Solarte, 3B Scott Sizemore, LF Zoilo Almonte, CF Antoan Richardson, RF Adonis Garcia, C Austin Romine, C John Ryan Murphy, and IF Dean Anna.

It’s cloudy but warm in Tampa, temperatures in the mid-to-high-70s with no threat of rain. This afternoon’s game is scheduled to start a little after 1pm ET, and you can watch live on YES, MLB Network, and MLB.tv. Enjoy.

dkidd

hulk smash!!!
Yankee$ (Formerly Pseudoyanks)

OK, I know this isn’t an Open Thread, but since it’s a half hour to game time and it’s Spring Training…
Latest Baseball America features a look at all the 25 Years Old and Under talent across the League. On the list ranking all organizations, they rank the Yanks dead last 30 out of 30. “Yankees have no 25U established regular big leaguers and only one entrant on this year’s Top 100 Prospects” is the comment along side the rating. On the bright side…Leonardo Molina (CF) is rated the best 16 year old kid “True CF with bat speed and an ability to square up the ball” and Luis Torrens (C) is rated the 4th best 17 year old kid. Add Jorge Mateo (SS) (recently given an 80 Speed Rating ) and the lower levels are trying to catch up, I guess.

I really hope the plan to break the bank this year on International Free Agents comes through (it’s only money, signings and penalties) and if they are smart, it saves big money later (chasing Major League free agents.)
- Dalek Jeter
  
  I know these guys get payed a lot of money to do this…but how can you call a kid still going through puberty a “true CF’er?” I get that teams, the media, and fans want more and more information about the future of their teams and the talent that will get them there..but there comes a point of diminishing returns. As an example, there’s an 18 year old that the Cards just drafted, a LHP who I know a bit named Rob Kaminsky. 2 or 3 years ago his slider wasn’t nearly what it was even a year ago, if a team had sent a scout to see him when he was 15 or 16 they may have seen a smaller kid (by baseball standards) with a pretty big fastball for his age but that’s it.
  - Yankee$ (Formerly Pseudoyanks)
    
    I’m not sure about still going through puberty at 16, but your points are valid. The farther away from the show, the higher the risk/variability in any scouting report. I was psyched to recently learn that my first cousin’s son, Sophomore pitcher at FAU, is hitting 93/94 regularly and is turning himself into a ’15 Draft prospect. Woo hoo!
Mantle28

“and based on how he’s thrown this spring, it’s hard to think Pineda won’t be the rotation if he stays healthy over the next ten days or so.”

Why. Why would you say this. Theres no way he doesn’t blow his arm out again
Evan3457

It’s not really possible for an exhibition game to be “big”. But if it were possible, this would be an example.
- Yankee$ (Formerly Pseudoyanks)
  
  That was certainly a big half inning right there. He looks so free and easy on the mound.
Dalek Jeter

Makes me just a tick nervous that Ells still isn’t ready to go. I’ve spent a lot of the off season arguing with Mike that Ells is going to be a better long term signing than Choo, and if he opens his first season hurt…that would suck not just for the team but my ego.
Wheels

Singleton and Cone, nice.
pat

Is he going my Miguel or Michael? Kenny called him Miguel.
- pat
  
  Aaand he just called him Michael too. Oh well.
JGYank

3 ground ball outs to start. Keeps shuttin them down.
Farewell Mo

If they can get Pineda stretched out to 75-80 today and the 95-100 in his last ST start, he’ll be right on schedule to slot into that number 5 spot perfectly.
Mykey

Can always count on Nunez.
pat

Lol Nunez
mustang

Nunez

SMH!!!
Need Pitching & Hitting

Eduardo being Eduardo
- Wheels
  
  Edward Nunoz.
Wheels

Let’s see if he can get out of this.
JGYank

Never will confuse Nunez with Ozzie. Infield d might be rough to watch. Pineda was doing fine until the error.
- mustang
  
  Might miss A-Rod’s glove more then his bat.
  - JGYank
    
    Not really. Didn’t have much range. Similar to Jeter in a way just at 3rd. Johnson shouldn’t be too bad with the glove and Arod’s a better hitter than him.
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      Agreed. If we were talking about like 2006-2009 A-Rod then yeah, I miss that glove…2010-2013 A-Rod? Very replaceable defensively.
Wheels

sweet
Dalek Jeter

3-6-1!
mustang

VERY NICE!
pat

Nice job MP. Gotta keep your foot on the other side of the bag though. Gonna get stepped on.
mustang

Nice to se Pineda work his way out that obviously is control is not all there today.
JGYank

Good job to get out of it. He’s getting tons of grounders. Even the error and the 2nd hit he gave up were on the ground. The other hit he gave up wasn’t hit hard either.
- nycsportzfan
  
  He did very well today , considering that 1st inn, the jam he was in. Only gave up 2 earned runs in 6innings and didn’t walk anyone. I like that both Tanaka and Pineda found success even when they didn’t seem to have there best stuff. What a staff we could end up having.
JGYank

Love Buehrle’s pace. Also Roberts has been working the count better than I thought he would of so far.
- mustang
  
  Roberts is a hitter no doubt man if can stay healthy he might be a welcome surprise.
mustang

Good.

He just doesn’t look as comfortable as in his other starters, but he is getting done anyway.

Good deal.
Dalek Jeter

John and Suzyn are talking about the Jeter/Roberts DP like they’re freaking Ozzie Smith and Joe Gordon out there turning it.
TWTR

This the point in ST when pitchers might have a little bit of a dead arm.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  How his his velocity? John and Suzyn hasn’t mentioned it and spring training Gameday is more worthless than they are.
  - pat
    
    90=91 ish. Has hit a few 92’s.
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      Not too bad. As important as some make velocity out to be, control and movement are just as. He had really good control before the injury, so if he can regain that I can see Pineda being successful at that velocity.
      - pat
        
        Yeah I’m not too worried about it. He’s been on the black most of the day the only hits he gave up were 2 fb that leaked over the middle. Tons of weak contact on the slider and even a few swings and misses on the changeup to LHB. I don’t think he’ll ever get back to the 98 MPH he was at years ago, but he certainly has a good enough repertoire to be successful at 92 or so.
        
        whozat
        
        I don’t think that’s true. His slider, while excellent, is just one other pitch. His other secondary offerings are mediocre at best. With a merely decent fastball, his repertoire is definitely not good enough to be a successful starting pitcher long term.
        
        Wheels
        
        We’ll see.
      - mustang
        
        THIS!!!!!!
        
        You guys are making me cry.
        
        lol
- mustang
  
  THIS!
The Other Matt

Will be interesting to see if Girardi continues to play Ichiro in center on the days Ellsbury is out of the lineup, during the regular season, or if he is just doing it for the time being to showcase Ichiro to other teams.
- pat
  
  I don’t think a guy like Ichiro needs showcasing. IMO it’s to get Gardy time in LF before the season starts.
Macho Man “Randy Levine”

The best thing about these spring training games is that it’s already let me know which commercials I will be sick of seeing by mid-April.
Wheels

Jeter’s got a week left to get it going.
- nycsportzfan
  
  Its more important that hes out there in games, then the results to me. By the time the season starts, he’ll pick it up, I have no doubt.
pat

Loving the first pitch strikes.
Need Pitching & Hitting

Liking all the ground balls.

Throw in some more missed bats, and I’d be ecstatic.
I’m One

50 pitches through 4 innings and touching 93 on a high fastball. 3 GB outs that inning. Not too bad.
- mustang
  
  Especially since he seem a bit off today nice to see him work his way through it.
Dalek Jeter

Anybody got a pitch count on Pineda?
- I’m One
  
  Just posted that right before your comment. 50 pitches.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    Nice. Girardi said he’s good for 75 pitches, so he’s got another inning or two probably.
    - I’m One
      
      Yes. Pretty efficient so far. Hope he keeps it up.
- Wheels
  
  50
mustang

Nice looks like Pineda is finding himself.
D$1184

I always kind of wished the Yankees would acquire Buerhle at some point in his career, notably when he went from the White Sox to the Marlins that one off-season. Left handed, always puts up 200 innings with a good if not great ERA and works very quickly. He would have been a nice fit as a no.3 guy in the rotation.
Dalek Jeter

Hey, it’s not the Daily News 5th anymore, it’s Post Time with a NY Post guy.
mustang

Not bad. He definitely struggling with his control and doesn’t look comfortable, but he still effective.
Dalek Jeter

“Those rules [when the 25 man needs to be set] I don’t even know. I really don’t even pay attention to them.” Actual quote by the Manager of the New York Yankees, Joe Girardi.
- Jorge Steinbrenner
  
  I’m sure there’s some checks and balances in place which will prevent an awkward and potentially dangerous moment with Cesar Cabral on Opening Day.
  - W.B. Mason Williams
    
    “Batting 4th and playing 3B…Nik Turley!”
mustang

For a 5th starter and not having his A game today not bad at all.
- Jorge Steinbrenner
  
  Yeah. Even with Tanaka yesterday, which I didn’t get to see, it’s at least good to see what they do when they’re struggling early on.
  
  I feel perfectly comfortable with him having the fifth starter spot and going from there. Sorry, BGDP.
pat

Bautista looks turrible there.
JGYank

Just noticed Cash sitting right behind the plate.
mustang

Damn

Jeter
mustang

Tex = NOT FAST!!!!
- Wheels
  
  glacial
Lukaszek

“With Alex Avila batting, Unknown (0) steals (1) 2nd base”

Who is this strangely named “Unknown (0)”, and can we trade for him? We sure can use some more speed.
whozat

So, when does Jeter go to Joe and offer to hit in the bottom of the lineup until he gets it going? He’s all about the team, right? No ego?
- mustang
  
  Maybe when they actually play games that count.
  - whozat
    
    Do you actually expect that to happen?
    - Jorge Steinbrenner
      
      Yes, I do expect them to play games that count. :)
      
      I also, somehow, expect Jeter to go 6 for 6 on Opening Day.
      - mustang
        
        LMAO
    - mustang
      
      Nope because it wouldn’t need to go there because Jeter will figure it out. If somehow it does happen and his manager puts him at the bottom of the order he will do as told and deal.
      If people don’t know that then they really understand what Derek Jeter is about.
      - whozat
        
        I understand that he’s about 40 and hasn’t hit for more than a game or two in about 18 months. I understand that incoming pitches don’t care about how good you used to be or about what your name is.
        
        The notion that it’s silly to be concerned about Jeter’s performance in 2014 is ludicrous. It’s perfectly reasonable.
        
        BigDavey88
        
        Or you could relax and just let things happen.
Jorge Steinbrenner

There are lots of stairs in Scranton.
pat

Lets go big Del. Time to show you got big MAHBLES
dot

Betances just made Jose Bautista his bitch.
Jorge Steinbrenner

Not out of the inning yet, but that was incredible.
- mustang
  
  I missed it
  what happen
  - dot
    
    Four straight dropped off a table breaking balls to get Bautista looking.
    
    In fact, he never took the bat off his shoulder.
    - mustang
      
      :)
  - Jorge Steinbrenner
    
    Betances came in, bases loaded, one out, with Bautista up. Dropped four straight breaking balls on him and struck him out. The first two were beautiful, like early Phil Hughes and vintage Mussina beautiful.
    
    He then ended the inning with a high fly out.
    - mustang
      
      So I guess he is going luggage shopping today.
      
      TRAVEL PRO
      dude.
      
      Welcome to the Yankees Mr Betances.
      - Mandy Stankiewicz
        
        “Ma, I’m coming back home”
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      Little bit of poetic-license/hyperbole, or did he actually look that good?
      - Jorge Steinbrenner
        
        That first breaking ball just dropping in there was a thing of absolutely beauty. No hyperbole on that pitch, at least.
  - BFDeal
    
    Struck out Bautista (looking) on four curves.
pat

Welcome to the Bronx.
Jorge Steinbrenner

I think someone just cemented their spot in the bullpen.
- JGYank
  
  I thought he had before that. He’s certainly passed the test this spring.
mustang

WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED ??????
- Jorge Steinbrenner
  
  Scott Sizemore grand slam, no one on.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    You forgot to mention it was an inside the park style grandslam.
    - Jorge Steinbrenner
      
      He ran around the bases four times.
- mustang
  
  OK..OK
  
  I’m in care of 10 and 5 year old sometimes you miss thing while looking for the Octonauts toy up in the pitbull german shepherd mix dog mouth!
Dalek Jeter

Hey, for how…not great…he looked if we’re managing expectations and expecting him to be a number 5 guy…a quality start isn’t the worst thing to get out of Pineda.
pat

Alfonso Soriano has pretty much the only legitimate 40/40 seaosn in MLB history. How crazy is that?
- Jorge Steinbrenner
  
  History will probably underrate him.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    He should be “In the Hall of Very Good.” That is, I think he should be at least talked about has a borderline candidate but rightfully fall short of ever making it. I think he’ll get on the ballot at least once though.
    - Farewell Mo
      
      about 40 career WAR puts him in there with guys like Bernie, O’Neill, Dave Parker. Well behind someone who also likely won’t get in like Bobby Abreu who has almost 60.
      
      He’ll get some votes but won’t get close to getting in. If he had stayed at 2nd base, though maybe he’d have a chance.
      - Dalek Jeter
        
        Like I said, right at the wrong end of the borderline. Like you said, if he’d stayed at 2nd maybe. Also if he was good/great defensively maybe…but he’ll deserve a mention as an outside shot guy but fall short.
Farewell Mo

Anyone know Pineda’s final line and how many pitches he threw?
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  6IP, 6 H, 3R, 2 ER, 2K, 0 BB
  About 80 pitches.
- Evan3457
  
  6-6-3-2-0-2 with no HR.
  
  1st run was set up by a Nunez throwing error from 3rd.
  2nd run was scored on Pineda’s own throwing error on a bunt.
  3rd run was Pineda throwing a WP with a runner at 3rd.
  If I remember right Pineda was at 74 pitches before facing Rasmus as his last batter, who then struck out. So 75-80, and against a pretty good lineup.
Dalek Jeter

Yankees running out close to the all 80 name tool team right now, Adonis Garcia, Zealous Wheeler, Yangervis Solarte, Antoan Richardson, and Jose Gil. Just need Zolio and John-Ryan out there.
pat

Pineda, Betances and Burawa? Awesome.
RetroRob

Doesn’t Sizemore have an opt out in his contract if he’s not on the MLB roster by a certain date?
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  May 1 and Aug 1, iirc
  - RetroRob
    
    Thanks. Hopefully they can hold on to him for depth. He also has some upside.
pat

Hahaha, “We’ll go with 31.” And 31 takes a strike.
mustang

Come on baby crush this shit
- mustang
  
  fuck
  
  oh well nice day regardless
Yankee$ (Formerly Pseudoyanks)

Damn. Was expecting Never Nervous Yangervis to come through Big Time!
TomG

Doesnt matter where Pineda is topping out right. The only thing that matters is where he’s sitting. You guys have said as much in the past. Surprised to hear you using this language. A guy can sit 88-90 and hit 95 one time. What matters is where he’s sitting. Sooooo, in other words, where is he sitting?
- Cool Lester Smooth
  
  He was sitting 89-91 today.