KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) -- The Yankees want to ease the
pressure on Michael Pineda.
"We don't need him to be a
30-win All-Star. We need him to be Michael Pineda," Mark Teixeira said.
"Wherever Michael fits in, he's going to be great for
us."
Pineda worked around some erratic control in
Saturday's 8-3 win over the Atlanta Braves, showing more velocity than
he did in his first spring training start.
Again
mixing in his new changeup, Pineda allowed one run and four hits in 2
2-3 innings, walking three and striking out one. He threw 36 of 57
pitches for strikes.
"I am conserving myself right
now," Pineda said. `"I won't be conserving myself in the regular
season."
An All-Star for Seattle last year, the
23-year-old right-hander was acquired for top hitting prospect Jesus
Montero. Manager Joe Girardi says only ace CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda
are guaranteed slots in the starting rotation, leaving Pineda, Ivan
Nova, Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia to compete for the final three
berths.
"I don't care if I am the No. 2 guy or
anything else," Pineda said. "I just want to pitch every five
days."
His fastball velocity, which averaged 94-95
mph last season, topped out at 90-91 in his opening spring training
start against the Phillies in Clearwater. It improved to a top of 93-94
mph against the Braves, according to the stadium radar
gun.
"He threw some changeups, which I wanted to
see," Girardi said. "I think his slider was pretty good today and he
used it when he got behind in the count to get back in the count. I
thought it was a step in the right direction. We're looking at him to be
part of the rotation. All these guys have to earn it, but we're not
asking him to step up to be No. 2."
Girardi thinks
learning the changeup will be a key to Pineda's
success.
"We don't expect it to be as far along as
his slider. But it's nice to have that little weapon in your pocket," he
said.
Teixeira was impressed with Pineda's
performance for the Mariners last season, when he went 9-10 with a 3.74
ERA, struck out 173 in 171 innings and had a big-league best .184
opponents' batting average against right-handed
hitters.
"I just remember a guy last year who attacks
with his fastball, got you out with his slider, wasn't afraid of
anybody," Teixeira said. "If he works ahead in the count, he can get a
lot of outs because to be able to detect 97 and a really good slider,
it's tough to do with two strikes. If a hitter's behind in the count, he
can be tough to hit."
Jair Jurrjens started for
Atlanta and was roughed up for three runs, five hits and six walks in 2
1-3 innings. His spring training ERA rose to
10.38.
"I always have a hard time in spring
training," Jurrjens said. "It's frustrating, but today wasn't my day. I
am still working on a lot of things."
Jurrjens had a
3.43 ERA in six spring training starts last year while walking three in
21 innings. He went 12-3 in the first half and made his first All-Star
team, but he didn't pitch during the final month of last season because
of a bone bruise in his right knee.
Alex Rodriguez
had an RBI groundout in the first and a run-scoring double in the second
for the Yankees. Jose Gil went 2-for-2 to up his average to .800.
Michael Bourn went 2-for-3 with a double for
Atlanta.
NOTES: LHP CC Sabathia is
to start Sunday's split-squad game against the Phillies in Tampa, with
closer Mariano Rivera slated to make his first exhibition appearance of
the year. RHP Phil Hughes will start at Fort Myers against the Twins,
with Girardi making the trip. Tony Pena will manage the game against
Philadelphia. ... INF Eduardo Nunez still felt pain on his right hand
when he took batting practice Saturday in Tampa. He was hit by a pitch
Monday, and Girardi said he will take several days off. ... The Braves
will play split-squad games on Sunday with RHP Tommy Hanson pitching
against the Blue Jays in Kissimmee and LHP Sean Gilmartin starting
against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. ... Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman, 1 for
14 (.071) after an 0-for-3 day, says he feels fine despite a partially
dislocated right kneecap, an injury sustained during a fielding drill
Feb. 28.
