Well, I was at Fenway tonight watching the Yankee game, and I don't think I ever want to go back. There were just WAY too many things wrong with tonight's game that I noticed, some before it even started.
First, I did not agree with the lineup. I think Ichiro should've played right field, while Gardner took left field. More speed for the outfield. Second thing I noticed, as it was absolutely FREEZING, and windy as all hell....was, "why isn't Pineda wearing sleeves? It's so cold." Didn't make sense to me. Well, he went on to pitch a horrible first inning. So horrible that he felt the need to turn to pine tar again, for the second time this year! Here...we...go.
Pine tar on the neck. Why? Look I have no problem with "cheating" as long as you don't get caught. I just have many concerns as to why he would go this route and over expose himself, when he could've easily hid it, ON HIS WRIST UNDER HIS SLEEVES! It's almost like he WANTED to get caught!
When the 2nd inning started, I left my seats & headed to the concession stands. As I was on the line, the tv screen was focusing on Michael Pinedas neck. The camera man was ALL over him. I had to look twice. When I first noticed it, I thought it was sweat. He couldn't POSSIBLY make this noticeable two times in a row, right? But, then I thought, sweat? It's like 55 degrees and I'm in layers over here. So take two, I'm looking and I can't stop staring at this tv. I knew it was gonna happen....
My emotions were crazy. I actually had a huge amount of anxiety. I was nervous, for Pineda & the Yankees. Plus, I really don't like seeing stuff like this in person. I would've honestly preferred NOT to be at this game. So, I rushed down to some open seats not too far back behind home plate. Red Sox manager John Farrell, called time out, then proceeded to make his way towards home plate. It was over...
(Photo by myself, snapped of a tv screen inside Fenway Park)
The place went nuts. We all knew it was going to happen. After Farrell was done saying whatever it is exactly that he said to the home plate umpire, the ump walked to the mound. He checked Pinedas glove, made him turn around (like it was an airport security check),and then, (what appeared to be without permission by Pineda), the ump decided to touch his neck where the "pine tar" appeared to be. There goes our fifth starter. Pineda was EJECTED in only the SECOND INNING! Girardi came out quickly to talk to the ump. But I mean, what could he have possibly had to say? There was no getting out of jail card for that move.
Pineda was replaced by Phelps, who looked weak, although he was unprepared.
My thoughts? Dumb, careless, senseless, absurd, shocking, disappointing. As I said before, this was SO easy to hide. Also, Girardi knew about this. ESPN totally singled this guy out because they HATE THE YANKEES! If it were someone on Boston, they wouldn't have brought much attention to this.
I am still in the car on my way home, so I have yet to watch all the post game interviews. What I've read so far, ESPN reported that Pineda admitted to using pine tar at tonight's game, and stated he used it because he wanted to "get a better grip on the ball." Yankees GM Brian Cashman stated he is "embarrassed" for his team.
“We are all embarrassed this has taken place,” Cashman said. “I think Michael is embarrassed, and we are embarrassed that somehow he took the field like that. It’s just a bad situation and clearly forced the opponent’s hand to do something I’m sure they didn’t want to do, but they had no choice but to do.”
A 10 game SUSPENSION is likely, but we won't know until at least the morning I'm assuming.
This is just a really rough start for the 2014 Yankees. Phelps will likely take Pinedas spot if/when he is suspended.
This is going to make headlines & the front page in the morning, for sure. It should be very interesting to see what happens next. The Yankees will likely discipline him to make sure this doesn't ever happen again, but with a young mindset like Pineda, my thoughts are he's going to wannna to try & get away with this again. We shall see....
By:: Dana P. (Blog Owner/Editor in Chief)
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