Monday, March 5, 2012

Spring Training Day 16

The Yankees once again played the Philadelphia Phillies today in the Grapefruit League. The biggest news , in my opinion, was that Eduardo Nunez got hit on the hand by a pitch and had to be sent to Tampa for x rays. Recently it came out that the X Rays were negative for Nunez and since he was not scheduled to play tomorrow anyway then I dont see any reason why he cannot be in his next scheduled game.

You know I was joking when I said that the biggest news of the day was Eduardo Nunez getting hit, right? Michael Pineda made his first start as a New York Yankees today, albeit in spring training, but we will take what we can get. Michael Pineda was using that new changeup grip a lot today and the results were better then anyone could have expected. Pineda pitched two scoreless innings, retiring his last 6 batters, giving up one hit, throwing lots of changeups, and he had two strikes outs. Shane Victorino was one of his strike out victims and it was on a changeup, while Thome struck out on a Pineda fastball. I know that the first outing in spring training means absolutely nothing but it still excites me. If he can harness and control this changeup we may have the best double headed monster at the top of a rotation that baseball has ever seen. In other news it was originally reported that Pineda came into camp 10 lbs over weight... well now he has lost 8 pounds of it.

Freddy Garcia came out today and said that he wanted to be a starting pitcher but was willing to move to the bullpen as a long reliever. I guess he does not really have a choice and feels it is better to be the bigger man then complain but still it is good to hear. This 5th spot in the rotation is Phil Hughes to lose in my opinion and, again I know the first spring outing means nothing but, after his performance yesterday you have to think he is going to the pen. He is getting up there in age and is labeled a "junk baller" with his low speed fastballs and relying on offspeed pitches and location. When does his luck run out?

The Yankees lost the game 9-3 today, by the way, but everyone stayed healthy and got their work in so that is always a win in my book.

1 comment:

  1. Excited to see Pineida...may catch a game on Friday whilst in Florida.

    ReplyDelete

Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)