Greatest of tease
LAKELAND, Fla. — Despite having a dismal record and bloated ERA a year ago, Michael Pineda entered spring training with a spot in manager Joe Girardi’s rotation, even though five other pitchers are competing for two open spots.
Barring injury, Pineda is either the Yankees’ No. 2 or 3 starter behind Masahiro Tanaka.
Based on Pineda’s arsenal of mid-90s fastball that has natural cut to it and a filthy slider, it is difficult to marry the stuff to a losing record, but numbers don’t lie. In 32 starts last year, Pineda went 6-12 with a 4.82 ERA. Considering he struck out 207 and walked 53 in 175 2/3 innings, Pineda should have done better. The same can be said for his 32-37 major-league record and 3.99 career ERA.
The 6-foot-7, 260-pound righty is known in the clubhouse as “Big Mike,” but comparing his numbers to his stuff, he is more “Big Tease.”
That filthy stuff was on display Saturday against the Tigers at Publix Field, where the righthanded Pineda made his first start of the exhibition season and struck out five in two shutout innings while allowing one hit in an 11-1 victory. Pineda fanned the final five Tigers swinging, and a scout in attendance described the slider as a “bastard.”
“I feel pretty good today for my first outing,” said Pineda, who recorded four of the five strikeouts with the slider and concentrated on keeping the ball down. “My pitches were good, the slider especially.”
Making the performance more impressive was it came against the heavyweights of the Tigers’ lineup that had Ian Kinsler, Victor Martinez, Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez and Justin Upton in it.
“For me, when I go to the mound, I don’t care who the hitters [are],” said Pineda, who worked with a fastball between 93 and 94 mph. “I want to throw my best pitches. It doesn’t matter who the hitter [is]. I have to get an out.”
Catcher Gary Sanchez was impressed with the bite on the slider.
“All the pitches were good and the slider amazing,” Sanchez said. “The slider is better now than it was last year.”
Looking at Pineda’s stuff then checking the sub-.500 ledger and bloated ERA last year confused Girardi.
“We scratched our heads a lot last year,” Girardi said. “You look at the numbers month to month, and it doesn’t make sense. What’s been tough for Michael is finishing innings and eliminating mistakes. If you are a guy who is prone to making mistakes and they get hit out of the park … when you make mistakes and they don’t get hit out of the ballpark, you have a chance.”
After watching Pineda on Saturday, Girardi spoke glowingly of a pitcher the Yankees need to be a lot better than last year to contend in the AL East.
“I don’t think he can be much better than what he did today,” Girardi said.
Pineda, who will make $7.4 million this season, has a potentially big payday ahead of him if the 28year-old avoids injury and puts together a season that matches his stuff.
Ivan Nova, who has a 58-41 career record but went 7-6 with a 4.90 ERA for the Yankees last year at 29 prior to being dealt to the Pirates, re-signed with Pittsburgh for three years and $26 million, and he doesn’t have the weapons Pineda possesses.
Yet, Pineda couldn’t win with those weapons last year, so it makes you wonder, despite him saying he will have improved focus this season, he ever will be more than “Big Tease.”
Chad Green is one of five hurlers competing for two spots in the rotation and didn’t help himself by giving up three hits, a walk and a run in 1 2/3 innings.
Signed to a minor league contract after camp opened and coming back from right knee surgery, Jon Niese hasn’t pitched in a game yet.
“His next step is a simulated game,’’ said Girardi, who will look at the former Met as more than a lefthanded specialist in the bullpen.