TAMPA — Wise baseball people understand there are three things you do not fall in love with when judging players: spring training, September and batting practice.
And then scouts and other talent evaluators break the rule about once a week because that’s the nature of the business.
So, after watching Michael Pineda throw two brilliant innings against the Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Friday night it would have been easy to gush about the 25-year-old right-hander for whom the Yankees had so much hope two years ago.
After all, Pineda fired two shutout innings, allowing one hit and fanning four in his first outing. One of the strikeouts was a three-pitch deal to Miguel Cabrera in which the game’s best hitter looked foolish hacking at Pineda’s slider.
“We liked what we saw. I don’t want to make too much about it,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of the 28-pitch effort from the 6-foot-7, 265-pound righty who had shoulder surgery in 2012 and hadn’t faced a major league hitter since 2011 when he was with the Mariners. “This is a good step.’’
When camp opened it appeared David Phelps and Adam Warren, righties who can start or relieve, were ahead of Pineda in the race for the fifth starter’s spot.
Phelps and Warren have made two starts each and done nothing to eliminate themselves. Yet, because of Pineda’s stuff he was given a puncher’s chance and Friday’s outing didn’t hurt.
“He was locking guys up with the fastball,’’ catcher Brian McCann said of Pineda’s heater that was measured at 92 to 94 mph. “His slider was pretty much unhittable.’’
That was the 1-2 pitch Cabrera flailed at to end the top of the sixth.
“Slider,’’ a smiling Pineda said of the final pitch to Cabrera. “He is a really good hitter and I wanted to make a good pitch.’’
Pineda worked 40 ²/₃ minor league innings last season after missing the entire 2012 season due to shoulder surgery.
By now you know the story of Pineda. An AL All-Star in 201,1 Pineda featured a mid-90s fastball in the first half of the year and watched his velocity drop in the second half. He was dealt to the Yankees the following January for catcher Jesus Montero. Pineda got hurt and Montero has been a colossal bust in Seattle.
Pineda is back in the picture, but two innings in the first week of March aren’t enough to predict wonderful things.
“It’s no surprise,’’ Pineda said when asked if after such a long time away from big league bats was he surprised he was very sharp. “I knew I had a game and I threw my game. It was a good game and I am happy.’’
When an athlete misses as much time as Pineda has, stepping back into the action is an adjustment. Those who have gone through it talk about jump-starting the competitive process.
For a pitcher, two years is an eternity.
“I knew it was a long time not seeing major league hitters so I had to focus,’’ Pineda said. “I showed the Michael Pineda.’’
Of course, nobody around the Yankees knows the real Pineda. His big arm and filthy slider would make a nice fit in the No. 5 spot, but can he stay healthy?
“As long as he is healthy and on the mound he is an uncomfortable at-bat,’’ McCann said. “You are not excited to face him.’’