TAMPA — A new pitching era began Tuesday for the Yankees when Michael Pineda took the bullpen mound at the minor league complex.
Half the battle of succeeding with the Yankees is wanting to be with the Yankees and taking in everything that entails.
When his first day of work was complete, Pineda had a first-to-third smile on his face.
“I’m think I’m ready to go,’’ said the big right-hander who came over from Seattle in a trade for Jesus Montero.
The Yankees are going to need Pineda. He knows that the destination is October and the World Series.
“I’m excited because this is my first day practicing with the New York Yankees,’’ Pineda said. “I had good work today, good running, lots of good work.’’
If you are a Yankees fan, here is the best part; Pineda chose to come early to camp to get comfortable in a new situation. He’s 23 years old and knows there is much to learn.
“It’s my first time living in Tampa and I don’t know what I’m doing here so I wanted to come early and get in a couple practices before spring training starts. I like to come in early,’’ he said.
He admitted last season his numbers tailed off in the second half because his arm grew tired from all the pitching of the first half of the season.
Pineda already has struck up a friendship with fellow Dominican, second baseman Robinson Cano.
The 6-foot-7 right-hander has been working this offseason on his changeup and his two-seamer and wants to focus on that during spring training.
The Jan. 14 trade surprised him and when he was first told of the deal by Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik.
“He said I was traded to the Yankees,’’ Pineda said. “He had an interpreter and the Latin guy was talking to me in Spanish and (the interpreter) said, ‘No way, really.’ They told me the Yankees GM would call me in the next 30 minutes and he did. He was excited.’’
That was Brian Cashman.
Pineda said he loves the change of teams.
“The Yankees are a good team, they have lots of good players,’’ he said. “It felt good. My mother was excited because she had a lot of family in New York and she never had come to America and now she is coming to New York. The whole family was excited.’’
He said he will “work hard to help my team make the playoffs.’’
Cano has talked to Pineda several times.
“Cano is my friend,” Pineda said. “He talked to me at the All-Star Game. When the Yankees were in Seattle he came over to talk to me and said hi and said, ‘You’re a good guy, you’re pitching great, you’re focused all the time.’ It was nice that he talked to me because I am such a young guy. He talked to me at the All-Star Game a lot. He said he was very excited for me to play in the All-Star Game my first year. It’s beautiful. I love him.’’
Cano has given Pineda a head’s up about playing in New York.
“He told me to focus on my game and work and that New York City is a beautiful team, the best team,” he said. “My head is spinning a little bit. He said, ‘Don’t worry man, I’ll prepare you, no worries.’’
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Injured reliever Joba Chamberlain threw 20 pitches during his third session on a 5-inch, half-mound.
“Another good day,” said Chamberlain, who had elbow-ligament replacement surgery in June.
Chamberlain is scheduled to have his status reviewed by orthopedist Dr. James Andrews on Friday and could start throwing off a full mound next week.
Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report Sunday.
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OF Preston Mattingly, the son of the former Yankees star and current Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, is among the prospects working out.
“I’m just trying to be myself and go out and play,” Mattingly said. “I’ve struggled in the minor leagues, and I think a lot of people would have gave up. You’ve just got to keep working. You’ll never know what can happen.”
Mattingly, drafted by the Dodgers in 2006, agreed to a minor league contract last month.
With AP