Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda has been shut down again due to weakness in his right shoulder, manager Joe Girardi told reporters Saturday (including Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com). Pineda was scheduled to throw two innings in an extended spring training game. Now he's scheduled to see a Doctor Monday in Tampa. "I can't tell you when we'll get him back now," said Girardi.
Pineda, 23, was the Yankees' big ticket acquisition this past offseason, as they traded promising young slugger Jesus Montero for him. But Pineda has been unable to get his shoulder into shape due to continuing "weakness" or "fatigue."
The Yankees entered Saturday 8-6 and tied for first place in the AL East, but starting pitching has been a problem. Only the Brewers, Rockies, Red Sox and Twins entered Saturday with a starting pitching ERA worse than the Yankees' 5.40 mark.
Pineda was 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 173 strikeouts in 171 innings last season for the Mariners, making the All-Star team and finishing fifth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. He did suffer a huge decline in the second half (1-4, 5.12). And it now sounds like the Yankees can't count on much from him for a while.
The good news for the Yankees is that it sounds like unretired Andy Pettitte is going to be ready soon. He has a minor-league rehab start scheduled for Wednesday, when he'll throw 80-85 pitches in Double-A.
"It's getting close to a reality now," Girardi said. "I think it's realistic that he makes three more minor-league starts and then we evaluate where he is."
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