CLEARWATER, Fla. — The extra pounds have almost been shed and the velocity will increase as March moves toward April.
And while those are indications Michael Pineda is moving in the right direction, the best nugget to take from the big right-hander’s Yankees spring debut yesterday was the command of the changeup.
“The changeup will be a monster pitch for him,’’ catcher Russell Martin predicted of the pitch GM Brian Cashman called below average at the start of the camp. “There are a lot of aggressive hitters who will be out in front of it and roll over for a ground ball. They will have to respect the heater.’’
Against the Phillies at Bright House Field, where the Yankees lost, 9-3, Pineda’s heater fluctuated between 89 and 91 mph. While that is below the 95-96 range he reached last year as a Seattle rookie, it’s not alarming at this time of the year.
“I am not focusing on my velo,’’ said Pineda, who worked two scoreless innings, allowing a single, striking out two and not issuing a walk. Nineteen of Pineda’s 30 pitches were strikes. “My focus is making good pitches with my slider and changeup and be ready for the season.’’
Acquired from the Mariners for stud prospect Jesus Montero, the 6-foot-7 Pineda arrived in camp 10 pounds above the 270 he finished 2011 at. He also had what Cashman said was a “below average’’ changeup.
According to Pineda, he has lost seven to eight pounds, and he got results from most of the five changeups he threw at the Phillies.
“It’s not easy,’’ said Pineda, who has adjusted his circle change grip under pitching coach Larry Rothschild. “I am a little bit surprised by the changeup being good. Right now I feel a little more comfortable. I had fun on the mound.’’
Martin said he enjoyed catching Pineda after working with him in bullpen and batting practice sessions.
“He said in the meeting that he wanted to work on his changeup, and I like him because he wants to work on stuff he hasn’t mastered,’’ Martin said. “The velocity is not where it will be during the season.’’
Rothschild said he is looking forward to finding out where Pineda can take the change.
“When the arm strength gets where it should we will see where the changeup is,’’ said Rothschild, who has Pineda holding the ball deeper in his colossal hands and spreading his fingers a bit. “The velocity is not where it will be later. Power pitchers take a little longer.’’
A two-inning outing in the first spring appearance provides far too little data to begin evaluating if Pineda will be one of Joe Girardi’s five starters.
Yet had Pineda been wild, unable to command the changeup and look flustered on the mound, yesterday would have been an early hurdle for the 23-year-old to overcome in a universe he is adapting to.
“He got two outs with it,’’ Girardi said of the changeup. “I don’t get too high or too low about everything.’’
Of the four candidates for three spots following CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda, Pineda is the most intriguing. The arm is live; the body large. He had a wonderful first half to a rookie season last year and a slow second half. Montero was sacrificed to bring Pineda to The Bronx. Freddy Garcia is known. Ivan Nova won 16 games last year. Phil Hughes, 26 in June, seemingly has been around a long time.
So the focus will be on Pineda every time he goes to the mound. Because of yesterday’s outing he won’t be looking to bounce back the next time. In the Yankees’ universe that is a positive.