Struggling right-hander Joel Pineiro, who was 0-3 with a 14.85 earned-run average in his last four starts, took his demotion from the rotation to the bullpen in stride Thursday.
“If I was young, I’d probably be throwing stuff around, yelling at people, but I’m too old for that,” Pineiro, 32, said. “If they want me in the bullpen, that’s their decision. They’re the bosses. I wish I was pitching better, but I had a bad little stretch — a really bad stretch.”
Pineiro was 5-3 with a 3.90 ERA in his first 14 starts before giving up 22 earned runs and 29 hits in 13 1/3 innings against Oakland, Baltimore, Detroit and Minnesota.
His struggles could impact his value as a free agent this winter — Pineiro’s two-year, $16-million contract expires after this season.
“If I wasn’t healthy, I’d be very concerned, but I feel fine,” Pineiro said. “I just want to pitch good for the team and to make it to the playoffs. Honestly, free agency was the last thing in my head.”
Manager Mike Scioscia said before the game Friday night against the Seattle Mariners that he has settled on a rotation replacement for Pineiro, at least for Wednesday night's game in Yankee Stadium, but he wouldn't reveal his choice.
Reliever Hisanori Takahashi appears to be the leading candidate because of his 10 years of experience as a starter in Japan and the fact that the former New York Mets left-hander threw six shutout innings, giving up four hits, striking out three and walking two, in a 4-0 victory in Yankee Stadium on June 18, 2010.
The Angels' lineup: SS Erick Aybar, DH Bobby Abreu, RF Torii Hunter, LF Vernon Wells, 2B Howie Kendrick, 1B Mark Trumbo, 3B Alberto Callaspo, CF Peter Bourjos, C Jeff Mathis, P Jered Weaver.
The Mariners' lineup: RF Ichiro Suzuki, SS Jack Wilson, 2B Dustin Ackley, 1B Mike Carp, 3B Adam Kennedy, C Miguel Olivo, DH Casper Wells, CF Franklin Gutierrez, LF Trayvon Robinson, P Jason Vargas.
-- Mike DiGiovanna
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