TwitterYou Really Can Never Have Too Much Pitching
21 Apr 2012
The word is Michael Pineda was pulled from his start today because of weakness in his shoulder. His next stop is the team doctor to see if they can find something wrong with him. Even if they don’t, you have to assume that this setback means we won’t see him before June 1st and I think that is a wildly optimistic projection.
And a quick glance around the Yankees’ roster shows that their pitching depth has been depleted. Manny Banuelos is on the DL in the minors with a back issue. Dellin Betances seems to be channeling Andrew Brackman and has walked 11 guys in 13 innings while striking out 13. His ERA is an unsightly 10.38. Adam Warren has a 5.17 ERA. Only D.J. Mitchell has pitched well, compiling a 2.12 ERA in 3 starts with 15 K’s in 17 innings.
It’s early and some of these guys will turn things around, but the Yankees’ decision to sign Andy Pettitte is looking like a very smart move.
Apr 21, 2012 @ 14:00:20
Uh-oh. The Montero-for-Pineda deal is starting to look like Frank Robinson-for-Milt Pappas.
Why was I so excited by this deal? Never, never, never trade a first rate position guy for a pitcher.
Apr 21, 2012 @ 15:52:47
Peter – I can see Phelps getting spot starts if needed or, if warranted, a slot in the starting rotation. I can also see Mitchell being called up to replace Phelps as the long guy.
Joba seems like a (maybe) late July long shot for the pen and, absolutely, the Pettite signing looks to be a very smart move. Who gets moved to make room for these two is a question for a later date, I think.
My sense is that Pineda is not going to be a factor for us this season. “Fatigue” in the shoulder tells me something may be sufficiently wrong that this season is questionable. It’s too bad, but he’s still very young, under control for many years and not very expensive.
Apr 21, 2012 @ 16:09:05
Corey
Because Montero hasn’t shown that he has a position. And for what it’s worth, Montero is hitting .261 with 2 homers. Noesi has a 9.49 ERA after 3 starts and Jose Campos has a 0.56 ERA with 18K’s in 16 innings. I bet we won’t be able to really evaluate this deal for five years.
Apr 21, 2012 @ 16:10:50
Mitchell
You are probably right about Pineda. I read he is getting a contrast MRI, never a good sign.
And Joba threw today with his foot on a stool apparently. That’s a positive.