Pineda Seriously Impresses
Rather than writing about this, I’m just going to post the twitter messages from Mike Curto over the last hour.
Pineda 9 up, 9 down, four K’s, 28 pitches, 22 strikes. Rainiers lead 8-0 after three innings. #domination
about 1 hour ago via TweetDeckPineda 12 up, 12 down. Five K’s. 39 pitches.
35 minutes ago via TweetDeckMichael Pineda: 15 up, 15 down. 50/37 through five.
13 minutes ago via TweetDeck(from me): @CurtoWorld Mostly fastballs, or does he have the breaking stuff working tonight?
16 minutes ago via TweetDeck in reply to CurtoWorld@d_a_cameron Everything. He’s ready – call him up.
13 minutes ago via TweetDeck in reply to d_a_cameronMichael Pineda strikes out the side in the sixth. 18 up, 18 down. 64 pitches. 9 strikeouts. #domination
2 minutes ago via TweetDeck
RT @ProspectInsider: Don’t look now… just don’t. But Pineda’s dealing in Salt Lake. DEALING. Scout says “hitting spots like a big leaguer”
What kind of park is Salt Lake?
Wow. I cannot wait to seem him in Tacoma when they get back. Unfortunately, I could not go to his first start, but I will his next.
It looks like we have another rotation part for next year.
Salt Lake is an extreme hitter’s park at 4000 feet above sea level.
He had a perfect game through 6 IP.
How was his breaking stuff? Particulary his change/slider.
BTW final line for Pineda.
7 IP 3 H 2 ER BB 10K’s. Looks similar to another pitcher today.
I was lucky enough to be there tonight. Speeds changed quite a bit. Only two really well-hit balls in those first six innings (warning track outs)…the rest were either Ks or weak stuff. He struck out the side in the 6th. I hope this translates up a level.
What kind of park is Salt Lake?
Somone mentioned the 4000 feet above sea level, and that should tell it all.
E.g.: In 1925, TONY LAZZERI hit sixty (60) homers there. He never had twenty (20) in any of fourteen (14) Major League seasons.
[BTW, Utah’s state bird is the seagull.]
I actually really hope they don’t bring him up quite yet. He’s only had half a season above A-ball. Let him finish the season at AAA and bring him up for a look in September. If he does well, then presumably he’ll have every opportunity to win a rotation spot in the spring.
Wow….. Curto said “call him up.” How many more good starts before it is an actual possibilty?
I get that it’s blasphemy to talk about keeping Cliff Lee…
But please, can we try?!
Similar to Ichi… You can’t just give him up!
Lee, Felix, Pineda, Bedard, Vister!
How the holy hell do we NOT win the WS with that rotation?!?!?!?!?!
Yes, I get A’s fans were saying similar with hudson, zito, & mulder…
But still!
Damn! :/
Egreenlaw9, we could win the WS with that rotation… if they each were also hitting 25 home runs w/ a BA of .300ish. The problem isn’t our starting pitching, it’s the guys charged with the responsibility to score some runs. If we were scoring 2 more runs per game on average, we’d be right next to Texas and Anaheim.
It feels like (as I’m sure all teams do) that we go from slugging heavy to pitching heavy to defense heavy…
At what point do we just say screw it?
We HAVE pitching & defense right now.
Let’s keep it, add some bats, go for it.
And yes, when I say some bats – just add 2 legit ones.. and we’ll be 95 wins and WS candidates every year.
Please?
I just want to be a die-hard M’s man.
I can ride on ’95 for like 20 years….
Can the M’s please give me a reason for the next 20?
If only it were so easy as “adding bats”…
You know we could’ve had Jason Bay at DH and maybe Milton learns 1st. Or we don’t get Milton and resign Branyan. That lineup is actually decent and a nice defensive club too.
Jason Bay would have been a horrible signing.
So, is it just a coincidence Pineda could start in Cliff Lee’s spot Friday on normal rest?
Pineda has made just 3 starts since being called up from West Tenn. — I think it will be a bit before they even considering calling him up. Doubt we’ll see him this season.
I would not be surprised to see Pineda this season, but I would be surprised to see him before September (and before Tacoma finishes a playoff run).
Pineda will probably be sitting in the dugout at Safeco in September, but I’d be surprised to see him make a start (he might get a meaningless inning or two in relief). He only pitched 47 innings last year, after peaking at 138 in 2008. He’s almost at 100 now. Even if we make the dangerous assumption he can bounce back and exceed his 2008 numbers you still wouldn’t project him going past six to eight more starts, maybe less if he keeps going deeper into games. That’s not a replacement for Cliff Lee, and that’s not somebody who will be a starter in September either. I suppose he could be a stop-gap 5th starter for a month or so right now if he doesn’t get badly knocked around by major league hitters (which isn’t a given), but then what?
Good point Joser. I can understand the apprehension in accelerating Pineda.
I see him staying with Tacoma until they get knocked out of the playoffs (assuming they make it.)
I see him staying with Tacoma until they get knocked out of the playoffs (assuming they make it.)
I think I’m becoming a fan of Tom Wilhelmsen: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2011227857_mari02.html
I have him pitching Friday the 9th at 7pm against Fresno. Can this be confirmed?
If so, I may be skipping work that night…