Yankees Editorial: Can Pineda Be the Ace the Yanks So Desperately Need?

Michael Pineda certainly believes in his ability to step-up and the lead the New York Yankees starting rotation. In turn, the Yankees management brass completely believe that he’s capable of doing so. The early indication coming out of the Yankees camp is that the 26-year old right-hander is capable of taking a big stride to the head of the Yankees rotation in 2015 after two years of inactivity due to a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder, back spasms and a foolish pine tar suspension.

Due to his dominating performance in spring training, the injury concerns surrounding Masahiro Tanaka and the 2,8211.1 innings pitched by CC Sabathia prior to the 2015 season, Pineda is now viewed as the emerging pitcher who can catapult to the front of the teams rotation. He’ll get his chance to prove that later on tonight when he takes on R.A. Dickey and the heavy hitting Toronto Blue Jays at 7:05 pm in the teams second game of the season.

"“He could wind up being the ace of that staff,’’ an NL scout told George King III of the New York Post.“I saw electric stuff. What stands out is that he is right on top of the hitter with long arms and legs, and that creates great angles. I liked what I saw, there is no concern about his stuff. The only concern is his ability to stay healthy. Sometimes for a big guy there is a lot of moving parts and that can be a problem repeating the delivery, but he didn’t seem to have any trouble with that.’’"

Now all of this is just fine and dandy, but the one question that remains is whether Pineda can be trusted with the responsibility that comes with being a teams ace?

Yes, he’s now entering his third season on a major league roster, but who can forget the his first impression with the team when he showed up overweight and out of shape in 2012, which ultimately lead to season-ending shoulder surgery. How about his DUI in Tampa while rehabbing in 2012? What about the two pine tar incidents in 2014 that led to a 10-game suspension?

Have any of these incidents improved his intelligence and maturity level? Let’s hope so. A healthy and focused Michael Pineda would work wonder for the success of the New York Yankees.

The journey to top starts tonight for Michael Pineda!

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