Michael Pineda with 61 strikeouts, 12 walks, and 0 home runs in 61 innings at West Tenn.  Lemme read that HR line again.

Before the M's lost 10-of-12, we sold Pineda as a promotion to the big leagues, as a logical attempt to hit the carcass with a lightning bolt.  And the M's bullpen is a huge issue:  their ERA+ is down around 100 despite four outstanding starters.

At this point, SSI has cashed in the division race, though Jack Zduriencik has not.   Under those circumstances, you'd think about preserving Pineda's service time, but if Zduriencik is wanting to revive the 2010 season, then Pineda is the first move to make...

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Note carefully that a real GM has many reasons to try to revive a season.  To us 'net rats, it is as simple as "if you can win the division, try to do so; else, announce that you give up, quit on the season and start rebuilding."

The Mariners would like to sell some baseball to Soccer Mom during the rest of the 2010 season.  That is the business they are in.  Some other company sells widgets.  The Mariners provide summer-evening entertainment to Seattle.  It is completely rational for them, as a company, to try to pull a .500'ish season out of this mess.

And there is residual effect, don't forget.  The 2-, 3-, 4-year regional impression of the Mariners can warp depending on whether the rest of this season is a train wreck, or whether the M's come out of it to play some fun baseball.

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=== Lessons Learned Dept. ===

We've seen some M's fans fretting about whether Michael Pineda is as good as advertised, or whether his "secondary pitches" are lagging enough that you have to downgrade him...

You've got to be aware, as with Strasburg, Lincecum, and many other players, when you're talking about special talent.  You don't evaluate the freaks by whipping out the 16-section generic scouting report.

Michael Pineda is the only pitcher in the minors, that I am aware of, who throws 97 mph with Shawn Kelley command.  It does not matter where you grade his changeup.  Pineda is a a man who can do things other pitchers can't.  His located 95-98 fastball changes all the rules.

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People get into feebleminded arguments about how good Lincecum, Strasburg, Verlander are going to be, precisely by trying to grade them as though they were Luke French.  :- )

Pineda is a platypus.  If his "secondary pitches" were lagging, they would take care of themselves along the way, anyhow.  You get that kind of torque on a ball and you're going to be able to spin it and make it move.  Ever hear of a starter who threw 97 who couldn't figure out some kind of #2 pitch?

Michael Pineda is a no-brainer for the same fundamental reason that Lincecum and Strasburg were no-brainers (though to a different degree, of course).

Back channel, ML teams don't make this mistake.  Nobody running a baseball team was confused about whether Stephen Strasburg was going to dominate from day one.

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BTW, the sliders I've seen from Pineda have been fine, not that they need to be.  Don't sweat it.  The M's have a monster of their own, and his name is Michael Pineda.

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Cheers,

Dr D