Big Mike Returns Today To Right The Ship
Post – Since being traded from the Mariners in January 2012, Michael Pineda has cornered the market on surgeries, strains and controversy.
Maybe now the Yankees right-hander finally can deliver.
He returns to the mound Wednesday for the first time since landing on the disabled list — again — with a right forearm muscle strain in July. And it’s just in time for Pineda to pitch in a pennant race.
“For me, when the season started, I had [a lot] of responsibility,” Pineda said before the Yankees were destroyed by the Astros, 15-1. “I have to be ready for my team. We [may have] lost CC. That’s a little sad. I really want to start pitching good … [and] continue to help my team.”
Last night was a total disaster and there is no way to spin that into a positive, so we need to just pick up and keep it moving for today’s game. Three terrible innings in the field and almost no offense is going to end up with a blow out loss, so lets just be happy that Keuchel is out of the way and worry about what needs to happen today.
Big Mike is back in the rotation today and while his rehab assignments haven’t been great, this is the rotation fans have been pushing for. CC is injured and open to a relief role when he returns so it’s time to roll and see if this team is good enough and Mike can start it off. From what he is saying, Pineda gets the stage he is on today, in a game that we really need in order to keep pace with the surging Blue Jays.
The key today, not that different from any other game, is to get going early. The top of our lineup has to come up big today because that has be the key to our success and a key for Pineda. Big Mike is going to make a mistake or two today but with a lead, he won’t be phased and can remain dominant. If he has to pitch from behind though, Mike will have bad body language, which leads to bad mechanics and bad pitches. Plus we could use the help for the bullpen of a 7 inning start.
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Last night doesn’t look nearly as bad if we win this game and win this series. Win enough series and win a pennant.
Follow @BarstoolJJ