PIN' DROP
Pineda lagging behind expectations, but Yanks hope he finally turns corner
TAMPA — Michael Pineda will start the Yankees’ third game of the season April 5 against the Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.
After watching him struggle against the Pirates’ Triple-A team at the minor league complex Saturday, it is hard to fathom Pineda fits the part of a No. 3 starter after Masahiro Tanaka and CC Sabathia.
By now you have heard big league pitchers say it is difficult to pitch at the Yankees’ minor league complex against hitters who just want to hack — often in a sun-drenched atmosphere surrounded by chain link fences — and there is a lot of truth to that.
Yet, this close to the start of a season in which the Yankees will attempt to contend and build at the same time, alarms go off when looking at Pineda’s work and his pitching line.
In 3 ¹/3 innings Pineda gave up two runs (one earned), four hits, one walk and struck out four.
Pineda said he felt pretty good but admitted he was working on keeping his left shoulder from flying open during his delivery and sharpening his slider, which at times can be the filthiest in baseball.
“I felt pretty good today and my arm is strong,’’ said the 28-year-old righthander, who can become a free agent following the upcoming season. “I was trying to practice the slider — down, down, down.’’
Pineda threw 64 pitches, and multiple times he had catcher Gary Sanchez shifting to block balls in the dirt.
“He missed a couple of pitches, but throughout the game he made adjustments,’’ Sanchez said. “I am looking forward to his next start.’’
According to Sanchez, Pineda missed with the outside fastball to lefties and in- side to the right-handed hitters.
Pineda’s history is maddening considering the quality of stuff he brings to the mound: a mid-90s fastball that cuts naturally and a nasty slider leave scouts drooling. Yet, Pineda is 32-37 with a 3.99 ERA in 100 major league starts. A year ago Pineda was 6-12 with a 4.82 ERA in a career-high 32 starts.
Manager Joe Girardi said the decision to use Sabathia in the No. 2 spot was he wanted right-left-right against the Rays. Then the manager mentioned that Sabathia had a “pretty good year last year’’ when the veteran lefty went 9-12 with a 3.91 ERA in 30 starts.
Left unsaid was that Pineda’s year was awful. And a repeat this season would doom the Yankees’ postseason dreams, but also cost the 6-foot-7, 260-pound a potful of money when he enters free agency in November.
Pineda will be 29 in January, and six years removed from serious right shoulder surgery that cost him the 2012 season and limited him to 10 minor league games in 2013.
With his stuff, Pineda should be in line for a five-year deal in the area of $75 million. With his inconsistencies, that isn’t likely to happen unless he dominates in 2017.
Watching him battle command issues against Triple-A hitters Saturday didn’t instill confidence that “Big Mike’’ isn’t ready to shed the “Big Tease’’ label soon.
Former Yankee Ivan Nova signed a three-year deal worth $26 million to remain with the Pirates as a free agent. Based on stuff, Pineda easily should be able to surpass that.
However, he could have something else in common with Nova: being dealt at the trade deadline to a team seduced by his electric, but frustrating stuff.