Joel Piñeiro
Encyclopedia
Joel Alberto Piñeiro is a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball
starting pitcher
. He is 6'1" tall and weighs 200 pounds. He is right-handed and made his major league debut on August 8, .
for the Seattle Mariners
. The previous two years he started in 60 games, won a total of 30 games, and produced a 3.52 ERA
. 2004 though, turned into a dismal year with Piñeiro posting a 4.67 ERA and the first losing record of his career (6 wins – 11 loses). Piñeiro suffered another problem when he was placed on the disabled list July 27, 2004, with a sore elbow and subsequently missed the remainder of the season.
Piñeiro continued his struggles in and was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma
on May 14, 2005. He returned to the majors and started in 30 total games; however he was unable to return to his previous form and posted a 5.62 ERA for the year.
In , Piñeiro was pulled from the starting rotation again on August 26, and placed in the bullpen. His 6.36 ERA was the highest in the major leagues.
Following the 2006 season, the Mariners declined to tender Piñeiro a contract offer, making him a free agent
. On January 3, , he reached a preliminary agreement for a one-year deal with the Boston Red Sox
, where he struggled as a member of their bullpen. On July 22, he was designated for assignment in order to clear a roster spot for Jon Lester
. Piniero cleared waivers and accepted an assignment with the Pawtucket Red Sox
, Boston's Triple-A affiliate, where he returned to the starting rotation.
On July 31, 2007, Piñeiro was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
, with cash considerations, for a player to be named later (minor league outfielder Sean Danielson).
In his debut start with the Cardinals on August 4 vs. the Washington Nationals
, he pitched 5 innings, giving up 7 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, 1 home run while taking his second loss of the year in the Cardinals 12-1 loss.
In his debut home start with the Cardinals on August 9 against the San Diego Padres
, he out-pitched Chris Young, giving up only 4 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, and earning 4 strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 4.50 for the year in winning his second game with the Cardinals in their 5-0 win. For the rest of 2007, Piñeiro showed some flashes of promise but general inconsistency, finishing with a record of 6-4 and posting an earned run average of 3.96 for his new team.
2008 was a season typified by inconsistency and a trip to the DL, as Piñeiro allowed 22 HRs and 180 Hits in 148.2 IP, posting a 7-7 record and 5.15 ERA. However, leading into 2009, Piñeiro reinvented his approach, utilizing a sinking fastball to pitch to contact and concede more ground balls, while limiting the number of home runs allowed. Through 25 games started, Piñeiro had only allowed 6 HRs and possessed an 84:18 K:BB ratio, with a 13-9 record and 3.11 ERA, his best season yet, since 2003.
After the 2009 season, Piñeiro filed for free agency.
On January 22, 2010, Piñeiro signed a 2 year, $16 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
.
Because of Pineiro's volatile performance before the 2009 season, critics were split on the deal, with most wondering whether his sinkerball would continue to be effective in 2010. Taking the sinkerball as starting point, Fangraph's Dave Allen thought, "the price was solid." Baseball Prospectus
's Christina Kahrl pointed out the different starters that failed after leaving Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan's guiding hand. "There are so many unknowns that it makes the proposition that he'll deliver on this deal seem dubious," concluding "this just doesn't seem like it'll go well." Meanwhile ESPN's Rob Neyer
said quality was not so important as quantity: Pineiro would be worth the contract if he would just pitch 200 innings per season.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
. He is 6'1" tall and weighs 200 pounds. He is right-handed and made his major league debut on August 8, .
Career
Piñeiro began the baseball season as a promising starting pitcherPitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. The previous two years he started in 60 games, won a total of 30 games, and produced a 3.52 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. 2004 though, turned into a dismal year with Piñeiro posting a 4.67 ERA and the first losing record of his career (6 wins – 11 loses). Piñeiro suffered another problem when he was placed on the disabled list July 27, 2004, with a sore elbow and subsequently missed the remainder of the season.
Piñeiro continued his struggles in and was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
on May 14, 2005. He returned to the majors and started in 30 total games; however he was unable to return to his previous form and posted a 5.62 ERA for the year.
In , Piñeiro was pulled from the starting rotation again on August 26, and placed in the bullpen. His 6.36 ERA was the highest in the major leagues.
Following the 2006 season, the Mariners declined to tender Piñeiro a contract offer, making him a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. On January 3, , he reached a preliminary agreement for a one-year deal with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, where he struggled as a member of their bullpen. On July 22, he was designated for assignment in order to clear a roster spot for Jon Lester
Jon Lester
Jonathan Tyler Lester is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
. Piniero cleared waivers and accepted an assignment with the Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
, Boston's Triple-A affiliate, where he returned to the starting rotation.
On July 31, 2007, Piñeiro was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, with cash considerations, for a player to be named later (minor league outfielder Sean Danielson).
In his debut start with the Cardinals on August 4 vs. the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, he pitched 5 innings, giving up 7 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, 1 home run while taking his second loss of the year in the Cardinals 12-1 loss.
In his debut home start with the Cardinals on August 9 against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, he out-pitched Chris Young, giving up only 4 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, and earning 4 strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 4.50 for the year in winning his second game with the Cardinals in their 5-0 win. For the rest of 2007, Piñeiro showed some flashes of promise but general inconsistency, finishing with a record of 6-4 and posting an earned run average of 3.96 for his new team.
2008 was a season typified by inconsistency and a trip to the DL, as Piñeiro allowed 22 HRs and 180 Hits in 148.2 IP, posting a 7-7 record and 5.15 ERA. However, leading into 2009, Piñeiro reinvented his approach, utilizing a sinking fastball to pitch to contact and concede more ground balls, while limiting the number of home runs allowed. Through 25 games started, Piñeiro had only allowed 6 HRs and possessed an 84:18 K:BB ratio, with a 13-9 record and 3.11 ERA, his best season yet, since 2003.
After the 2009 season, Piñeiro filed for free agency.
On January 22, 2010, Piñeiro signed a 2 year, $16 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
.
Because of Pineiro's volatile performance before the 2009 season, critics were split on the deal, with most wondering whether his sinkerball would continue to be effective in 2010. Taking the sinkerball as starting point, Fangraph's Dave Allen thought, "the price was solid." Baseball Prospectus
Baseball Prospectus
Baseball Prospectus is an organization that publishes a website, BaseballProspectus.com, devoted to the sabermetric analysis of baseball. BP has a staff of regular columnists and provides advanced statistics as well player and team performance projections on the site...
's Christina Kahrl pointed out the different starters that failed after leaving Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan's guiding hand. "There are so many unknowns that it makes the proposition that he'll deliver on this deal seem dubious," concluding "this just doesn't seem like it'll go well." Meanwhile ESPN's Rob Neyer
Rob Neyer
Rob Neyer is a baseball author and writer for SB Nation. He started his career working for Bill James and STATS, and then joined ESPN.com as a columnist from 1996 to January 2011 before becoming SB Nation's National Baseball Editor...
said quality was not so important as quantity: Pineiro would be worth the contract if he would just pitch 200 innings per season.