2012 Michael Pineda Performance Thread

[1stbase]

Thats because his velocity dipped in the second half, which is why he struggled in the second half, which is well documented. Talk to any Mariners fan on the net and they'll tell you his V-lo dipped after the All Star break.

In the first half last year he was sitting at 95-96 and routinely cranking it up to 98

His velocity wasn't really that much different, it was down a little bit
but nothing to drastic
http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfxo.as...ion=P&pitch=FA

[spikeowenfan]

Otherwise, early 20 year old pitchers dont suddenly lose velocity unless there is a hidden injury involved.

this isn't true. Young pitchers often lose velocity after their first full season. Velocity peaks very early in a pitcher's career. It was a concern before he ever reported to camp.

[Eldee5]

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2012/03/2...what-you-need/

“Nobody throws hard in spring training, because it’s spring training,” Pineda said. “You think a little more, and work on what you need. Now I’m focused a little more on making good pitches. I learned from last year. That’s what I need.”

“Everybody knows last year I threw harder,” Pineda said. “So (they ask), ‘Hey, what happened to Pineda right now?’ But nothing (happened). I feel good. I can pitch. Everybody sees me. I pitch every five days. … I know last year I threw hard, so I have more power. But this is spring training, so the power is coming back.”

[kan_t]

People who compare Pineda to Hughes last year completely ignore their breaking stuff.

[Yankees1962]

People who compare Pineda to Hughes last year completely ignore their breaking stuff.

Not only that, but Hughes wasn't getting his fastball above 90 much. I saw Pineda touch 94 3-4 times today.

[1stbase]

Not only that, but Hughes wasn't getting his fastball above 90 much. I saw Pineda touch 94 3-4 times today.

Yea i don't think hughes broke 88 all spring last year

[Yankees1962]

An article from Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com


http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...tnerId=rss_nyy

[ThePinStripes]

I'd really like to see him start in AAA to develop that third pitch and maybe even start on a 4th . Okay, maybe not a 4th, but another year of being cost controlled would be great.

[Battingly]

An article from Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...tnerId=rss_nyy

Good column, made me feel better about this, thanks for posting it.

[kan_t]

I'd really like to see him start in AAA to develop that third pitch and maybe even start on a 4th . Okay, maybe not a 4th, but another year of being cost controlled would be great.

He can develop that third pitch in the major. Unlike Hughes last year, Pineda has shown his willingness to throw that pitch and the progress of his change is clear.

[metalboy15]

I still can't believe people haven't noticed that he's throwing all cutters right now. Look at every single highlight available @ mlb.com, pretty evident those are cutters.

[hellonewman]

I'm pretty sure the trade was for more than a 98 mph fastball. A 98 mph fastball can be found easily, other things that go along with pitching effectively, not as much.

Seriously if people want a 98 mph fastball in spring training so bad we should have just traded Montero for Farnsworth.

[philleotardo]

3/24 against Hanshin:

Montero 0-4, 3 K
Noesi 5 IP, 3 ER


We win

[Cool Papa B.]

I'm really surprised that some people here are worried out about Pineda not throwing 95+ MPH.....in spring training!

In the immortal words of Allen Iverson, "We Talkin' 'bout Practice..."

[awy]

to any Mariners fan on the net

we already have enough on the plate with mr.cameron

[False1]

In the first half when Pineda was topping out at 98-99 and sitting in the mid 90's he was a dominator even without a change-up or an effective second pitch, to the point where he made the AST, but in the second half when his velocity dipped, he pretty much got his head handed too him.

I've posted this a few times. I disagree with your comment somewhat. His xFIP was actually ridiculously good from July through October. I think he did tire somewhat in the second half due to the workload, but not to the degree that some think. Seattle began using "Pineda Rules" towards the end of the season that almost undoubtedly contributed to the reduced velocity. His last start came on 11 days rest.

I'm baffled that you're baffled. Hughes showed a major loss of velocity in ST last year and he parlayed it into a miserable season. I'm not worried about Pineda because I've watched his last two starts and he has legit swing and miss stuff, but I'm not going to pretend it isn't a concern that he hasn't touched 95 yet after touching 98-99 all last year.

To be fair, Hughes had a terrible, loopy curveball he couldn't command to accompany a 88/89 MPH fastball. Pineda appears to have a devasting slider and an impressive changeup to go along with a 91 / 92 MPH fastball right now. They're pretty different situations.

[StaleMilk]

I still can't believe people haven't noticed that he's throwing all cutters right now. Look at every single highlight available @ mlb.com, pretty evident those are cutters.

Was he throwing a cutter last night?

http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread...=1#post7463496

He does a lot of different things with his fastball, which is really nice to see from a young pitcher.

http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread...=1#post7465792

I don't remember him throwing cutters last season when I was watching starts of him with the Mariners and pitch FX doesn't have him throwing cutters last year either. I wonder if they added a cutter to his repertoire in secret.

[spikeowenfan]

I'm really surprised that some people here are worried out about Pineda not throwing 95+ MPH.....in spring training!

In the immortal words of Allen Iverson, "We Talkin' 'bout Practice..."

this made sense after his first couple starts, but we're now a week removed from the start of the season and he hasn't broken 94 after averaging 94.7 last year. Are there any other pitchers who are throwing 3 mph less and have not yet thrown a pitch as fast as they averaged last year? I don't understand the "it's spring training" argument when it's clear that this is not normal. Just one 96 or 97 pitch and this entire story goes away.

[YankeePride1967]

An article from Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com


http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...tnerId=rss_nyy

Meaning it's spring training and there's no need to be throwing 98 now? Nah that can't be it, we need to panic!

[justtxyank]

I'm not panicked about Pineda as much as I am baffled at people not caring.

When the trade got made most people who supported it used his velocity as part of the plus of the deal. Here's a young kid who can throw 98 with control. That doesn't grow on trees. Now you have people in here saying 90-91 is fine with the other pitches.

I wonder if everyone who would have been eager to trade Montero for a young prospect who threw in the low 90s with good breaking stuff.

[justtxyank]

Meaning it's spring training and there's no need to be throwing 98 now? Nah that can't be it, we need to panic!

Your hyperbole is noted. I agree. Everyone in this thread who wants him throwing 98 in spring training should be banned. Be sure to point out which posters are complaining he isn't at 98 right now.

*crickets*

[YankeePride1967]

I'm not panicked about Pineda as much as I am baffled at people not caring.

When the trade got made most people who supported it used his velocity as part of the plus of the deal. Here's a young kid who can throw 98 with control. That doesn't grow on trees. Now you have people in here saying 90-91 is fine with the other pitches.

I wonder if everyone who would have been eager to trade Montero for a young prospect who threw in the low 90s with good breaking stuff.

Not caring? I think people as in the article Yankees1962 posted above realize it's spring training and there is no need for him to be "airing it out" now.

[Yankees1962]

I'm not panicked about Pineda as much as I am baffled at people not caring.

When the trade got made most people who supported it used his velocity as part of the plus of the deal. Here's a young kid who can throw 98 with control. That doesn't grow on trees. Now you have people in here saying 90-91 is fine with the other pitches.

I wonder if everyone who would have been eager to trade Montero for a young prospect who threw in the low 90s with good breaking stuff.

I prefer to display my caring for games that count and more online tools to chart his pitches. Get back with me late next month then I might have some concerns.

[YankeePride1967]

Your hyperbole is noted. I agree. Everyone in this thread who wants him throwing 98 in spring training should be banned. Be sure to point out which posters are complaining he isn't at 98 right now.

*crickets*

Show me people in baseball who say he should be throwing 98 MPH in a March game.

*crickets*

[YankeePride1967]

I prefer to display my caring for games that count and more tools to chart his pitches. Get back with me late next month then I might have some concerns.

^this

Pineda himself said he is not trying to throw at top speed, yet we should be worried.