Pineda’s debut an opportunity to announce his presence

When Michael Pineda takes the hill tonight he will become the first Mariners starter to make his debut as a starter and not out of the pen since Felix Hernandez made his first big league start August 4 2005 in Detroit. That night Felix went five innings giving up one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out four.

I remember that outing, I was there. There was a buzz around Felix and with some pitches that night he dazzled. He was a different Felix back then, we were watching the radar gun for the 96s 97s and 98s. It was a good, not great outing. What a difference five years can make.

The progression with Pineda this spring has been steady. The velocity on the fastball was there the entire time with scouts reporting seeing 97 in his first outing in the stadium. The command was a little spotty throughout but the break on the slider got nastier and the changeup improved as the spring went on. The confidence never wavered.

In Michael Pineda’s mind he is ready. I agree with him. Despite the test he will face in baseball’s hottest hitting team in the hitter friendly Ballpark at Arlington is daunting he has stuff however to go after these guys and he could be nastier.

Not his stuff mind you. He could be nastier. He already is intimidating at 6’7 260 and looking even larger on the mound. The opposition only knows him on what they have heard. Get nastier. I would love to see Pineda make these Rangers hitters who are so locked in right now uncomfortable. I don’t want to see any nibbling around the plate. Own plate and go after them. Push them off if they are hanging over. Get their feet moving, make them dance. The word will get around quickly. To steal a line from Bull Durham, announce your presence with authority.

Moving on. I suspect we could see Adam Kennedy in the lineup tonight. Eric Wedge has only been able to get him in as a pinch hitter and would like to use him more. With Brendan Ryan struggling at the plate I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw him at second tonight and Jack Wilson back at short…Aardsma update-David is scheduled to throw bullpen number 4 tomorrow. He told me he is now approaching bullpens as regular bullpens and not re-adjusting to the hill, getting the arm ready or loosening up the hip. He is beyond that. He also told me that he has no doubt he will be sent out on a rehab assignment and is happy to do so before he returns to the Mariners. I would look for at least another week of bullpens and a sim game or two before he is sent out…