Pineda setback: Saturday outing cut short

BOSTON -- Michael Pineda suffered what Joe Girardi called a "somewhat significant" setback Saturday morning, one that has the manager unsure when the 23-year-old righthander will pitch again.

Pineda's outing was cut short after 15 pitches when he experienced some pain.

"You were expecting him to build up," Girardi said before Saturday 's 15-9 victory over the Red Sox. "Now you're going to have to give him probably a little bit more time than we did before. I can't tell you when we'll get him back now."

"[I'm] concerned," general manager Brian Cashman said in an email. "It's a setback. I don't know what more to say than that."

Pineda, who from the Yankees' perspective was the centerpiece in the trade that sent Jesus Montero to the Mariners, was placed on the disabled list March 31 with right rotator cuff tendinitis after concern about his velocity throughout spring training.

He pitched in an extended spring training game Saturday morning in Bradenton, Fla., and the outing ended early."He still felt it," Girardi said. "He had a little pain."

It was Pineda's first game since being put on the DL, with his previous throwing limited to flat ground and then full bullpen sessions.

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Cashman said Pineda will head to New York Monday to see team physician Christopher Ahmad and undergo a dye contrast MRI.

Pineda, who threw in the range of 95 to 97 mph much of last season, sat mostly at 90 to 92 during spring training. He disclosed that he was feeling soreness in the area behind his right shoulder after coming out of his March 31 exhibition start against the Phillies. He said that night it was the first time in spring training that he felt anything in the area, though many viewed that with skepticism.

Pineda admitted that night that he was overthrowing in an attempt to pump up his velocity. Given the constant questions about it, it wasn't a stretch to conclude that probably didn't begin against the Phillies.

The questions about Pineda's velocity mirrored those from the previous spring training about Phil Hughes' missing fastball. Hughes eventually was diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation in mid-April 2011 and was placed on the 15-day DL. He went to the 60-day DL in May and didn't return until July 6.

With Pineda, more questions than answers remain.

This much is certain: The excess of Yankees starting pitching most talked about throughout spring training hasn't materialized to this point, with Pineda out indefinitely, Andy Pettitte still building up arm strength after ending his retirement and the overall rotation struggling to find its footing.

Pineda's setback increases the significance of two rotation members who have been struggling, Hughes and Freddy Garcia.

"It's important because of the division we play in. The competition in the American League, it's really important," Girardi said. "I want both to get on a roll. I want all five, in fact, if I can be greedy. I thought Phil took a step in the right direction and I believe Freddy will take one today."

But Garcia allowed five runs and seven hits in 12/3 innings as the Yankees fell behind 9-0 before scoring 15 unanswered runs. Garcia has a 9.75 ERA after three starts.