As Chapman ruling looms, Girardi starts on save situations
TAMPA — Major League Baseball’s ruling on Aroldis Chapman regarding domestic violence allegations could come down as early as Monday, and while most expect the closer to be suspended for the start of the regular season, the possibility of Chapman being banned from spring training as well sparked a new round of internal conversations within Steinbrenner Field.
“We started talking about that a little bit today,” Joe Girardi said Sunday. “I’ve got to find out exactly what the rules are. If you’re suspended and pulled from working out, then the suspension obviously becomes a lot longer than the suspension.”
If Chapman were to be forced out of camp, the Yankees would likely find a place for the lefthander to get his work in such as a college campus. Not being allowed to face big-league hitters would certainly inhibit his ability to be ready to join the Yankees when the suspension ends. “We’re dealing in a hypothetical,” Girardi said. We don’t know what’s going to hap- pen, so we’ll cross the bridge when it comes.”
HE LIKES MIKE
Girardi thinks Michael Pineda looks relaxed this spring and that, coupled with the flashes of dominance Pineda showed last season, has prompted the manager to expect big things from the big righty. “I think the ability is there for him to be a very good starter for us,” Girardi said. “When I walk in the clubhouse and I see him, he’s very comfortable and there’s usually people around and they’re laughing. And that’s a good thing.”
The 27-year-old was 12-10 with a 4.37 ERA in 160.2 innings last year. His vaunted slider faded late in the season and Girardi said, “Fatigue was a concern for us because he really hadn’t logged that many innings in a long time. That could’ve been it.”
Now, Girardi feels good about Pineda. “I think he looks really strong,” the manager said. ‘I think he’s ready to go and I think he’s extremely excited about the year.”
RUN A MILE IN THEIR SHOES
As part of their spring conditioning, Yankee pitchers had to run a mile in under seven minutes and 30 seconds. Dellin Betances, even though he’s 6-8, had no trouble finishing much faster and he credited his running mate. “I ran it with Chapman,” Betances said. “He’s pretty quick. He pushed me. We made it, I think, under six minutes. That’s what happens when you run with him.”
CALL TO ARMS
The Yankees added righthanders Mark Montgomery and Kyle Haynes to camp Friday, bringing the total number of pitchers to 33. The move seemed curious after the Yankees had already invited 31 arms to big-league camp, but Girardi explained the move Sunday. “The thought process is that the group of five or six starters probably won’t go through the first time, so you’ve got to make sure you have the innings covered,” Girardi said. “You’ve got one split squad fairly early. You just have to make sure you have the innings covered.”