Angels’ Pineiro has spring in his step
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Joel Pineiro has been coming to spring training for 14 years, but he says he’s never had one as effortless as this one.
‘I don’t remember … having this kind of spring,’ he says. ‘I don’t know, it’s just weird.’
On Thursday Pineiro cruised through his scheduled four-inning outing against the Kansas City Royals so efficiently he had to go to the bullpen afterward to get more work in. He gave up a run on four hits and struck out two. The run was the first Pineiro has allowed in nine innings.
Compare that to his first spring with the Angels last year when he allowed 12 runs and 29 hits in 24 2/3 innings.
‘Once you get to that age, 30, 32, you just become more experienced. You know your body,’ says Pineiro, 32. ‘You learn your body. Maybe more running, more stretching.’
On the other hand, though, the spring has always been kind to Pineiro no matter what the numbers say. The right-hander hasn’t lost a spring decision since 2006, his final season with the Mariners. That’s a streak of 26 appearances and 16 starts.
-- Kevin Baxter in Tempe, Ariz.