Thursday, June 16, 2005
Pineiro Needs a Big Start
While Aaron Sele continues to be THE MAN for the M's pitching staff, the team ace, Joel Pineiro, has struggled.
Joel is in the second year of a 3-year, $14.5 million deal, but he has not come close to earning his money.
In his last 5 starts, he has not earned a decision with 2 crappy starts (3.2 and 4.2 innings giving up 14 runs) and 3 decent starts (5.1, 6.1, and 6 innings giving up a total of 7 runs).
The disturbing thing is that even in his good starts, his is eating no more than 6 innings, handing over the game to the bullpen which blewup his last start in a 9-3 loss to the Nattys.
Here is the average start from the Mariners rotation over the last 6 games.
With Felix Hernandez and Jorge Campillo dominating AAA and making their bid for a rotation spot, someone is going to have to go to the bullpen, or even back to Tacoma. Franklin's erratic starts and the fact that the team won't score for him make him a natural choice to go to the bullpen to make room for El Cartelua.
But if Joel doesn't get things righted and soon, I would have no problem with sending Mr. Pineiro to Tacoma to straighten things out there. He had a decent start last time, but he needs to get past the 6th inning with a quality start. Lets hope that begins tonight.
Joel is in the second year of a 3-year, $14.5 million deal, but he has not come close to earning his money.
In his last 5 starts, he has not earned a decision with 2 crappy starts (3.2 and 4.2 innings giving up 14 runs) and 3 decent starts (5.1, 6.1, and 6 innings giving up a total of 7 runs).
The disturbing thing is that even in his good starts, his is eating no more than 6 innings, handing over the game to the bullpen which blewup his last start in a 9-3 loss to the Nattys.
Here is the average start from the Mariners rotation over the last 6 games.
Pitcher IP ER ERA
Sele 40.1 7 1.56
Meche 36 14 3.50
Franklin 33.2 19 5.10
Moyer 33.1 19 5.17
Pineiro 33 27 7.38
With Felix Hernandez and Jorge Campillo dominating AAA and making their bid for a rotation spot, someone is going to have to go to the bullpen, or even back to Tacoma. Franklin's erratic starts and the fact that the team won't score for him make him a natural choice to go to the bullpen to make room for El Cartelua.
But if Joel doesn't get things righted and soon, I would have no problem with sending Mr. Pineiro to Tacoma to straighten things out there. He had a decent start last time, but he needs to get past the 6th inning with a quality start. Lets hope that begins tonight.
