...........

=== Michael Pineda at Lookout Landing ===

Sully with his typically likeable-and-brainy musings on last year's SSI darling.  The SSI follow-on here:  let's recall that Taro flatly stated that he did not like Michael Pineda's chances to stay healthy.  Here we are, sooner rather than later - scratch that, much sooner.  

Here's an ominous report about his shoulder soreness during the game.  In the mood to see what Yankee fans are saying after the shoulder report?  Here's a thread at River Ave. Blues.  The comments post starts it off with "heads better roll in the front office" and things degenerate from there.

Dr. D has a queasy feeling about Michael.  The jury's not in and the story ain't over.  But the first returns weigh in on Taro's side.  If the Mariners were to try to deal Pineda for Jesus Montero right now, March 30th, they wouldn't have a chance.  As of March 30th, the Mariners "won" the trade, huge.  Stocks can go up and can go down, of course.  But as of today, Zduriencik has purchased stock in a start-up company and seen it split a couple of months later.  

Anybody else feel like it's going to be a while, before a star young pitcher is traded for a star young hitter?

It's a funny thing.  That slide rule tells you to multiply a pitcher's ROI by 0.70.  He has a roughly 30% chance of being injured.  In this deal, was that slide rule applied?  Did Pineda's All-Star rookie season, times 0.70, equal Jesus Montero with his much shorter rookie trial?

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=== Baker on Kelley ===

Reports Shawn Kelley as saying that his slider is his "go-to pitch."  I'm not saying that's flatly wrong, but I don't get it.

First of all:  the "slider" breaks armside, like a changeup - we're talking 8 inches' run away from a left hand hitter.  Why that would be called a "slider" I haven't the foggiest.  And F/X run values don't show it to be effective (2011 run values are based on just a few pitches).

First-and-a-half of all:  as a changeup, I don't care for the arm action, don't care for the "parachute" on it, he doesn't seem to keep it down and finish it... hey, I'm not an alien from the future with total wisdom.  Am just saying that if you ask me, I dunno why he thinks so much of the pitch, yet.

Second of all:  Kelley's signature, when he was good, was a hellacious 94-mph fastball that had (1) Michael Pineda location, and (2) unusual cutting, Mariano Rivera type movement.  Check it for yourself.  The green line shows you that his FB was actually breaking gloveside, just like Rivera's.  That's one whale of a pitch, and it could have made Kelley a closer.  For precisely the same reasons that Mariano Rivera has ridden a 92-mph cutter to fame and fortune.

........

Kelley's FB still cuts ... some.  Not nearly as much.   And it's FAR slower.  And it's not precise in its location.  What's G-Money's term?  The Alaskan Sled Dog bullpen, heavy on the Mush, babe.

........

Maybe Shawn Kelley's arm will return to vintage.  Some day.  Like Mark Lowe's?  I dunno.  All I know is, if Shawn Kelley is saying that his fastball is gone, that his slider is his #1, I don' like it.

It's like Freddy Garcia going from 94 mph to 88 mph, and trying to sell you on his wisdom and experience.  My reaction is a dreary one:  that the old Freddy's gone, and the rest is conversation.

Two games in, the bullpen's in a state of emergency.  People will tell you that you gotta wait 20 games before deciding anything, but ... that's just because they need those 20 games to figure out what's going on.  ;- )  If you can figure it out in two games -- and Eric Wedge did, judging by the way he got Capt. Insano up in the 7th Tuesday night -- well, then do something after two games.