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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Joe Girardi didn’t baptize Freddy Garcia as a member of the Yankees rotation yesterday. But the manager left very little to the imagination by talking glowingly of the veteran right-hander.
“Freddy, as much as anyone, we have a pretty good idea of what he can do,’’ Girardi said before the Yankees and Braves tied, 5-5 in 10 innings at Champion Stadium.
Considering Phil Hughes has met every criteria given him during the offseason, he is the solid bet to be Girardi’s No. 3 starter.
Including Garcia in the group of five leaves Ivan Nova, who pitches in a minor league game today, and Michael Pineda, who goes tomorrow against the Phillies, for the final spot after CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda take the first two spots.
Nova and Pineda, both right-handers, have one year of big league experience each and that doesn’t compare with Garcia’s 11-plus seasons.
“When you look at a guy who doesn’t have a lot of time, you are trying to consider the upside of what you can possibly give because they don’t have the same track record as Freddy,’’ Girardi said. “You have a good understanding of what Freddy is going to give you.’’
Garcia, who went 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) last year, long ago gave up trying to over-power hitters. These days he throws five pitches and doesn’t push speed guns into the mid-90s. However, Girardi has noticed a spike in the 35-year-old’s fastball that he believes will help the off-speed stuff.
“His velocity is up a little bit and that is not something I would have expected,’’ Girardi said of Garcia, whose fastball hovered in the high-80s a year ago. “I think it will help all his pitches because there is a bigger discrepancy.’’
So what becomes of the odd man out? He can land in the pen, but if it’s Pineda there is no reason for him to be a long man while attempting to build arm strength needed to throw more than 90-mph fastballs consistently.
If Nova is the winner, Pineda could start the season in the minors. That might shock some because Jesus Montero’s potential power bat was sacrificed to land the 23-year-old Pineda but it’s clear Pineda’s arm strength — which is what spring training is for building — hasn’t arrived.
If it’s Pineda, Nova could be a long man in the pen or in the minors after winning 16 games as a rookie last year.
“We could do that [long reliever] and some of the guys we could send down,’’ Girardi said. “That’s the worst part of this, that somebody is going to be disappointed. But they have to get over their disappointment to help this team.’’
Girardi said there is a possibility his decision could be relayed to the players involved as soon as Saturday after watching Nova today and Pineda tomorrow. It’s a decision that has been difficult for the manager.
“The other times we were searching for the five starters,’’ Girardi said. “This year, we have six quality guys for five spots.’’
While Girardi said “probably’’ when asked if this was the toughest personnel decision of his managerial career, Andy Pettitte could provide a more difficult problem if he is ready in early May and the five starters are pitching well.
As for Garcia, the unknown of Nova and Pineda are being measured against Garcia’s track record.
“You are trying to envision what they can give you, the amount of innings they can give you and continue to improve,’’ Girardi said of the young right-handers. “You look at Freddy’s year last year and it was really good. And for a guy who is not supposed to pitch well in spring training he has pitched well (1-1; 2.92 ERA in four starts).’’
Well enough to leave the final spot to Nova or Pineda.