Severino command issues continue
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — If this keeps up, Luis Severino is going to find himself in the starting rotation — at Triple-A Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre to start the season. No fastball command. No shot. The young right-hander was a mess on the mound Sunday in the Yankees’ 6-4 win over the Astros at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, allowing eight base runners in 3 ¹/3 innings, six hits, two walks and three runs. He is fighting for a rotation spot and took a big step backward, admitting he must find a way to deal with the “pressure’’ of starting so he can command his fastball.
When manager Joe Girardi was asked if Severino could find himself at Triple-A to work out his issues, he said: “That’s the million-dollar question and we’re going to have to talk about it. You talk about trying to finish off people’s development but you also talk about winning.’’
Severino, 23, must be better.
“Bad command, I was missing a lot,’’ Severino said. “My fastball was way better last time. I throw a couple down [in the zone] but I was trying too hard to make the perfect pitch.’’
In 11 games as a starter with the Yankees last season he was 0-8 with an 8.50 ERA. In 11 games as a reliever with the Yankees last year Severino was 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA.
Severino said he gets in trouble when he rushes.
“I have to practice more in the bullpen,’’ he said of repeating his delivery and not rushing. “Sometimes the pressure of the game, you start thinking about that. I have to keep working.’’ Severino owns a 5.08 ERA this spring.
“You have to be able to slow things down and relax,’’ said Girardi, who in his playing career was always there as a catcher to try to guide the way. He knows what it takes to gain that consistency.
“The pressure of pitching in New York, the pressure of pitching in Tampa, Toronto, Baltimore and Boston, there’s pressure pitching there, too. So you have to learn to control your mind and slow things down and make your pitch,’’ Girardi said.
Why such a difference between bullpen and starter for Severino, Girardi was asked.
“The difference in the bullpen is they don’t see you two and three times,’’ Girardi said. “So you can get away with it, but when you have to repeat it and repeat it it’s more difficult.’’