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

Big Comeback Masks Yankee Pitching Problem

Twitter world was exploding around 6pm yesterday as Yankee fans were screaming for General Manager Brian Cashman's head. You see word just came out that Michael Pineda was experiencing shoulder soreness after his latest bullpen session. It is such a problem that Pineda has been shut down and was sent back to New York for an MRI to determine if he needs shoulder surgery. The news coupled with another terrible start from Freddy Garcia had Yankee fans in an uproar. As the Yankees mounted an improbable comeback, fans' attention were now focused on the big days of Mark Teixiera and Nick Swisher and the continual descent of the Boston Red Sox and their loud-mouth manager, Bobby Valentine. However, the problem still exists: the Yankee rotation is in trouble.

For those of you who have read this blog, I have continually said that with the new playoff format if you end up being a wild card team it is going to be essential that you have a deep rotation. When Cashman acquired Pineda and signed Hiroki Kuroda, I thought it was a good move. Suddenly, the Yankees had six potential starters. Then with the news that Andy Pettite was coming back, things really looked good. Well, the Yanks suddenly find themselves with major rotation problems. CC Sabathia has not been his typical self but I believe that as the weather heats up so will CC. Ivan Nova has been a saviour. The kid is a gamer and is able to get outs when he needs them. Kuroda has been up and down and one would think he will right himself based upon history. But after that, there is nothing but trouble.

Phil Hughes has not been good. His last outing gave some hope and one has to wonder if Joe "The Binder" Girardi shouldn't have taken him out of the game after he walked the leadoff batter in the sixth inning. He also was done in by a Eduardo Nunez error in the 1st inning. However, a pitcher needs to pick up a teammate in a situation like that. Freddy Garcia has been a mess since the season has started. Reports indicate that his fastball is in the low 80's and that's not going to cut it.

Yankee fans are upset with Cashman because of what is going on with Pineda. The common belief is that Pineda was damaged goods. The Yankees maintain that Pineda passed their physical and they were satisfied that he was in good shape. But we do know that like Hughes last season, Pineda came into camp out of shape. You would think that going to a new team that Pineda would want to make sure that he made a good impression and come into camp ready to go. That was not the case and now the Yankees have pitching problems.

One can only imagine what would be going on right now if The Boss were still around. There is no doubt in my mind that Cashman would be getting ripped. One has to wonder if these developments will mean that Cashman will finally allow a youngster within the Yankee farm system to have an opportunity to make it into the rotation, similar to Ivan Nova a couple of years ago and Chien-Ming Wang back in 2005.

The comeback was nice, particularly against Boston in Fenway. But it happened during a game in April against a team that is in disarray, with a bullpen that is a joke. In October, the pitching is much better and I can't remember teams in the playoffs coming back from a 9-run deficit. The Yankees have set the bar that winning it all is all that matters. Unless something turns around with the starting rotation, there will be no parade down the Canyon of Heroes this October.

Joe The Binder Returns In Yankee Loss

Joe Girardi is noted for playing it by the book, his infamous binder. While I understand that it is important to know the history of matchups but as I have said before sometimes you have to go with your gut. Well there is no way that Joe "The Binder" Girardi will ever do that. In a move that I still find baffling, he decides to have CC Sabathia walk Sean Rodriguez and pitch to Carlos Pena with the bases loaded who then proceeds to hit a grand slam home run to give the Tampa Rays a 4-0 lead. While the Yankees came back to take the lead, the move tells us that we are in for another season of The Binder.

This is one game out of 162 so I'm not ready to push the panic button particularly since Sabathia has a terrible record on opening days: an ERA of 7.47 as the Yankee opening day pitcher and a career record of 5.66 on opening day. I'm not even upset about Mariano Rivera blowing a save. He is a human being and I'm confident he will bounce back.

But what is bothering me is that just like in last year's playoffs, the Yankees could not get a big hit to drive in runs. One of the big culprits once again was Mark Teixiera. Batting behind ARod he is going to have plenty of opportunities. I'm going to say this for the one thousandth time: he needs to go the opposite way. Speaking of ARod, he looked good yesterday both in the field and at the plate. If he can stay healthy, this could be a big year for him. It will be up to The Binder to make sure ARod gets the rest that he needs.

Tonight Hiroki Kuroda makes his Yankee debut against David Price. I'm sure The Binder has everything mapped out. The Rays bullpen was used up yesterday as Joe Maddon was also at his overmanaging best. The Yankees big 3 in the bullpen also made appearances yesterday for an inning each. Should be an interesting game with The Binder and Maddon matching wits.

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.

Yankees Begin Hunt For 28th Championship

The New York Yankees opened up spring training yesterday as pitchers and catchers reported to Tampa to begin the quest for their 28th World Championship. On paper, their starting rotation is much better than it was a year ago when Sergio Mitre, Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon were battling for a starting spot. However as we know, what's on paper means nothing when the games count just ask the 2011 Phillies and Red Sox.

When looking at the Yankee rotation, if CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda can pitch like they have in the past, then the Yanks will have a pretty solid 1-2 punch. Of course, it will be interesting to see how Kuroda makes the transition from the National League to the American League. Last season, Sabathia's knee gave him trouble in the second half and in the playoffs and the Yankees have discussed with him the need to keep his weight under control. Sabathia also indicated that he would have to figure out a way to deal with a six-man rotation if it happens again this year. An interesting comment from CC and one that indicates to me that Joe Girardi's playing around with the rotation late last year didn't help his ace.

The rest of the rotation will be filled out by Ivan Nova, Michael Pineda, Phil Hughes or Freddy Garcia. In the first 3, the Yankees have young arms that if they progress the way their potential would indicate, the Bombers rotation could be set for years to come. With young pitchers you never know what to expect but all three of these guys have the talent to succeed. For Phil Hughes, this year is a critical one. After making the AL All-Star team in 2010, Hughes faltered in the second half of 2010 and had a terrible 2011. It is believed that he was out of shape in 2011 and could be the reason for the decline in his fast ball. Reportedly he is in camp in great shape and time will tell if his fast ball can consistently crack 93-95 mph. If it can, the Yanks rotation will be solid.

With AJ Burnett traded to Pittsburgh, the Yankees are now setting their sites on a DH preferrably someone to face right-handed pitchers. There has been plenty of reports indicating that they are focused on Raul Ibanez. Not sure I'm all that crazy about Ibanez. Many have talked about bringing Johnny Damon back but I think Damon would be looking at getting more ABs than the Yankees would be looking to give him. Hideki Matsui is another possibility but GM Brian Cashman has said that they want someone who can play some outfield if necessary and Matsui's knees limit his ability to do that. As a result, the Yankees might not have many other options besides Ibanez.

There is also reports that the Yanks are interested in bring Eric Chavez back and Chavez wants to come back. I think that bringing Chavez back would be a good move as the guy can hit and fill in at third when giving ARod a rest. In addition, Chavez can also play a little first base if necessary. Speaking of ARod, I believe that he will play around 110-120 games at third base. The Yankees need his power and ability to drive in runs. If he can't drive off his legs then his power numbers will go down as was evidenced last season. Giving him more DH opportunities should take some stress off his hip and knees.

As we all know, championships are not won on paper but on the field. A lot of things can happen over the course of a 162 game schedule particularly with an aging starting lineup. But the key to the season will be those three young arms. If Pineda, Nova and Hughes can consistently give the Yankees quality starts, any issues with an aging starting lineup will be covered and give the Yankees a good shot of capturing Number 28.