New York Yankees Awaiting Debut of Michael Pineda

By kylemassa
John Munson – THE STAR-LEDGER – USA TODAY Sports

Expectations were high when the New York Yankees traded top catching prospect Jesus Montero to the Seattle Mariners for 6-foot-7 righty Michael Pineda. So far, the trade seems to have been a bit of a let down for both teams. Montero was recently sent down to the minor leagues, and Pineda missed the entirety of the 2012 season for the Yankees.

But let’s wait until Pineda gets on the field before we call him a bust. He’s due to debut sometime this month.

I think that Yankees fans should be excited for this. Pineda had an impressive rookie season, earning nine wins and posting a 3.74 ERA. He had dominant stuff as well, striking out 173 batters in 171 innings. Furthermore, Pineda is only 24-years old, and barring anymore medical disasters, he could be pitching for the Yankees for a long time.

Adding another starter to the mix will be critical for New York down the stretch. Hiroki Kuroda‘s been excellent, and C.C. Sabathia has been decent, though not outstanding. Andy Pettitte has also pitched well but has been injured, and David Phelps and Vidal Nuno have provided a few quality wins.

Beyond those pitchers, however, the staff has been pretty shaky. I think Pineda will at least provide some strikeout ability, if nothing else. And besides, he can’t possibly be as shoddy as Phil Hughes has been.

Yankees fans have been waiting for more than a year to see Michael Pineda pitch in pinstripes. He seems to have the talent, but the question is, will talent be enough?

Kyle Massa is a New York Yankees writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylemassa, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

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