tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Trouble In Yankeeland???

In January, the New York Yankees sent Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi to the Seattle Mariners for Michael Pineda and Jose Campos. As a Yankee fan, while I really liked Montero, I thought it was a good move getting Pineda because he would help to solidify a shaky pitching staff. Last night, Pineda got rocked by the Philadelphia Phillies. I had seen Pineda pitch one other time this exhibition season and the kid looked good. Against the Tigers last weekend, his off speed pitches were fooling the hitters and his fastball was reaching 92-93 mph. While this was below where he was at last year (96-98mph), I was believing what we all were being told that the kid was building up his arm strength.

Well, so much for that story. Pineda told members of the media after the game that he was experiencing soreness in his shoulder which sent major red flags up in Yankeeland. The kid said he was trying to crank up his fastball last night but just couldn't do it. He didn't feel right. It appears the reason why he couldn't reach 96-98mph may be that there is something wrong with his right shoulder. If that is the case, there is the chance that it may be awhile before you see Pineda pitching in the Bronx.

Pineda came into camp overweight and out of shape. In an age when athletes don't have to work second jobs in the winter because of the salaries that they make as athletes, it is inexcusable to me that they can't come into camp in shape. Granted, Pineda is only 23 years old but it really is no excuse. Think about last spring training. Phil Hughes was overweight and out of shape and what kind of season did he have??? He lost something on his fastball last year too if my memory serves me right.

The naysayers will immediately begin to jump on Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman for making the trade that brought Pineda to New York. It's too early to judge whether it was a mistake or not. What is more important right now is getting Pineda back on track. Hopefully, surgery of any kind will not be required.

This whole situation shows how tricky it is acquiring a pitcher through a trade or in free agency. The one good thing for the Yanks is that they have plenty of young arms in the wings and one veteran in Andy Pettitte who will be ready sometime in May. Ivan Nova and Phil Hughes are going to be key factors for this starting rotation behind CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda. If Pineda was the pitcher that he was the first half of last season, the Yankee rotation would be really impressive. It would also have had 3 good under 30-somethings in it which would bode well for the future.

The results of Pineda's MRI will be awaited by many in Yankeeland with eager anticipation. A major problem to his right shoulder will be a huge setback to Cashman and the organization. It will also raise the voices of the critics who thought it was ridiculous to move your best young hitting prospect to get a young pitcher when you have so many good young arms in the system. They will also point to the fact that the Yankee lineup is aging and Montero would bring to it some youthful promise. Ah, baseball season in the Bronx. It wouldn't be right if there wasn't some controversy surrounding the Pinstripers and the regular season begins on Friday.