Sweeny: Yankees Still Not Worried About Pineda's Pop
By Sweeny Murti
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Michael Pineda doesn't really seem to care much that his fastball was in the low 90's again Thursday. A veteran of just one major league season, Pineda believes he'll have his good heat when the regular season starts, and Russell Martin agrees that the adrenaline rush of a real major league game in full uniform will add a couple of MPH as well.
Maybe we're all fascinated by Pineda's radar gun readings only because of what happened to Phil Hughes last spring. But Pineda doesn't seem concerned. In fact his face lights up when you ask him about his changeup ("Oof! My changeup was great!") or his slider ("That's my baby"). When you bring up the fastball, he simply insists his arm feels fine and that the old number one will be ready when called on.
Joe Girardi actually seems more concerned about his ability to build on his first year in the majors and adjust to the New York spotlight…
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There's no telling how Pineda will react when he sees 40 reporters standing by his locker after a tough loss. That's what happens in a regular season game at Yankee Stadium. Pineda already seems a little uncomfortable facing a dozen reporters, especially when they are wondering where his 95 MPH went.
The Yankees want Pineda to be in their rotation, but Girardi maintains that he has to earn it this spring, so if Pineda has to read about the possibility of going to the minors when the season starts, Girardi actually doesn't mind putting that thought into his mind…
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Let's be clear…nobody is saying that Pineda will start the year in the minors. I still think that's a longshot, but it's an idea that isn't impossible. Other than the fastball velocity, there seem to be some awfully good things coming from that right arm.
Pineda carries a certain swagger that isn't usually seen in players that young. But if he delivers with the type of performance he seems to believe is coming when the season starts for real, then the swagger will be justified.
For now, there's a little mystery about how long it will take to see that radar gun light up. If you see it in April, we can chalk all of this Pineda fastball talk up to a little March Madness.
Sweeny Murti
Yankees@wfan.com
www.twitter.com/YankeesWFAN
