So, what does this mean, short term? Not that much. Pineda was on the bubble for a rotation spot to begin with, especially with Old Faithful warming himself up to return in May. Depending on how serious this shoulder thing is, Pineda could be back in a few weeks, a few months, or next year. It's too early to know.
What does it mean long term? That's the more disturbing question. If Jesus Montero starts tearing up the American League West, is a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year and hits seven home runs in the six games the Mariners play against the Yankees this year (who made up this schedule?), pressure will start to build. If Pineda doesn't come back in a reasonably short period of time... or is never the pitcher the Yankees thought they were getting... that would be bad.
Montero was that rarest of quantities: A homegrown potential superstar. Now, he could turn out to be Robinson Cano, or he could turn out to be Roberto Kelly. It's far too early to tell. But sit down and think for a moment--when you first heard he'd been traded for Michael Pineda, given the state the Yankee rotation was in at that moment, didn't you think it was a good trade?
It's possible we'll still think that, and it's possible we won't have to wait too long to find out. For right now, the thing to do is reserve judgment, remain calm and remember: the real season, with games that count, starts in less than a week.
Ah. Baseball. Any way you look at it, that's a good thing.
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