IS PINEDA FINISHED BEFORE HE STARTED?

Disappointed doesn't begin to explain what I'm feeling for Michael Pineda's DUI situation right now. The trade that sent Golden Boy Jesus Montero to the Seattle Mariners for young pitching sensation Michael Pineda still hasn't paid off on our end and with this recent DUI mess involving Pineda, I'm happy to just clean my hands of the whole thing. It sucks on many levels.

This is what we know about Pineda, brought to you by David Waldstein of the New York Times:

"Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda was arrested early Monday in Tampa, Fla., on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, a Tampa Police Department spokeswoman said.

An arrest report said Pineda, 23, who is in Tampa rehabilitating from shoulder surgery, was pulled over at 2:35 a.m. Monday. He was released on $500 bond.

The report said the Nissan S.U.V. Pineda was driving was traveling 'at a high rate of speed and weaving from side to side, crossing the lane markers.' The arresting officer wrote in the report that Pineda’s eyes were red, glassy and watery and that he smelled 'the distinct odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his breath.'

Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman declined to comment."

So without even throwing a pitch for the New York Yankees officially in 2012, Pineda got hurt, has surgery and then gets a DUI. It's not only a pathetic start, it's now embarrassing for Pineda, for his family and for Brian Cashman.  Sure, Cash did nothing wrong, but when you trade away a kid you swear you'll give 500 at bats to as a Yankee (Montero), read HERE and the kid we get in return just can't get started (read THE LEMON?), there is no doubt people are going to call for Cashman's head.  Sure, it isn't fair, but that's the business. Cashman knew he had a potentially good thing in Pineda, but he, nor none of us had any idea Pineda would have such a string of bad luck, some accidental, some brought on by himself.

Am I going to slam Pineda for getting hurt? No. Am I going to slam Pineda for getting a DUI? Kind of, yes. It's idiotic. He's a Yankee. He needs to represent. He's not representing, in fact, he's failing.

Now look, there are plenty of Yankee in our lifetime that have been caught drunk.  I'm not blasting the Mickey Mantles, the Ed Whitsons, the Michael Pinedas of the world for throwing a few back. I am disappointed with the DUI. What if someone got hurt, or God forbid, killed?  People need to think sometimes.

 

All I'll say is this; Apologize for the mistake you made Michael.  Then, get back on the field. Then... when the smoke clears and you're in your training again for 2013... Remember this; Being a Yankee is about pride. You need to stand a little taller and work a little harder.   Do I think you can be a superstar in New York? Sure, I do, but it doesn't just happen by wearing the pinstripes, it happens by being the pinstripes.

Straighten yourself out and show us what you got because all these shutdowns get Yankee fans impatient. After all, we gave up a kid we loved for you... now we want you to make us love again. Good luck pal.