WHY MICHAEL PINEDA WAS A BRIGHT SPOT TODAY

Unlike the regular season when the score is all that matters, spring training is not about wins and losses but a time to evaluate your team, especially the new guys. Okay, that being said, today the Yankees lost to the Phillies in Clearwater 9-3 but, none of those runs were given up by Yankee starter Michael Pineda. Today Yankee fans were able to get their first real look at Pineda in pinstripes and he did not disappoint. Pineda's line today:

2 IP's - 7 Batters -- 1 Hit -- 2 K's - 0 Walks -- 0 Runs

Pineda was sharp and throwing hard but also really mixed in his change up which seemed to have Phillie hitters off balance. In fact, he ended the first inning of his Yankees debut with back-to-back strikeouts of Shane Victorino and Jim Thome. He seemed very loose and comfortable throwing. Obviously it would be ridiculous for me to take today's performance and hand Pineda the 2012 CY Young Award. But, watching him pitch today certainly made me smile. It certainly made me thing we have the real deal here in Pineda. His mound presence is incredible.

Yankee fans did have a brief scare today. Eduardo Nunez left the game with a right hand contusion in the fifth inning. Nunez winced and shook his hand after being hit and he was holding the right hand as he walked into the dugout. But, the good news is Nunez was sent back to Tampa for precautionary X-Rays and the X-rays were negative according to the Yankees. He’s day-to-day with a bruised right hand. So it sounds like a game or two off and Nunez will be back in action.

Keep it here for all your Yankee news and for all the Yankee spring training game recaps.

--Mikey Blue, BYB Senior Writer
Email: DonnieBaseball2323@gmail.com
Twitter: @MikeyBlu23


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