BOSTON — In light of Michael Pineda getting caught wearing pine tar Wednesday night at Fenway Park, you have to question whether the right-hander has the intelligence to pitch in the big leagues.
Less than two weeks ago, everybody in the Red Sox dugout knew Pineda had pine tar on his pitching hand to get a better grip, but nobody said a word to the umpires, because it’s common knowledge pine tar and pitchers are popular couples.
Major League Baseball official Joe Torre contacted general manager Brian Cashman, discussed the issue but didn’t discipline Pineda because no umpire’s report was filed.
Yet, after being warned by pitching coach Larry Rothschild if he used pine tar again there would be consequences, Pineda lathered the right side of his neck before the second inning and was easily caught by Red Sox manager John Farrell and ejected from what would turn into a 5-1 Red Sox victory in front of 37,015 chilly customers who sat through 50-degree temperature and 24-mph winds.
“It was cold and I didn’t want to hit anybody,’’ said Pineda, who gave up four hits and two runs in the first inning without the pine tar stuck to his neck. “I wanted to feel good and make good pitches. I didn’t feel the ball and I didn’t want to hit anybody.’’
That’s understandable, but putting it on his neck where television cameras can focus? That’s the act of a person who doesn’t fully comprehend his surroundings.
Pineda, who absorbed the loss and is 2-2, will get suspended. The sentence will likely be for more than five games but less than 10.
“We, as a group, are embarrassed this took place,’’ Cashman said. “Obviously, we will deal with the ramifications. I would want my manager to do what John Farrell did. Obviously this is a terrible situation. We all have ownership.’’
Manager Joe Girardi and pitching coach Larry Rothschild said they didn’t see the pine tar on Pineda’s neck before he took the mound for the second inning. However, when Farrell went to crew chief Gerry Davis, they knew where things were headed.
Davis went to the mound, checked Pineda’s hands and glove, turned him around and put his fingers on Pineda’s neck.
“It was pine tar,’’ said Davis, who politely gave the ejection signal.
Pineda said he apologized to his teammates and promised this would be the final time he uses pine tar to get a better grip on the ball.
“I will learn from this mistake and it will not happen again,’’ Pineda said.
As for the game, the Red Sox scored twice in the first and two unearned runs in the third off David Phelps when Derek Jeter committed a throwing error. They added a run in the eighth with help from third baseman Kelly Johnson’s errant toss to first.
After spanking John Lackey the last time they faced the right-hander, the Yankees managed one run and seven hits in seven innings Wednesday.
On top of being questioned whether he has the smarts to pitch successfully in the big leagues, Pineda forced Girardi to use four relievers.
In Pineda’s four starts, pine tar has clearly been detected twice. Now, there have to be questions if Pineda can operate without the help.
“I believe he can pitch without it,’’ Girardi said.
Cashman and Rothschild echoed Girardi’s thought, but you wonder if the pine tar played as big a part in Pineda’s head as it did on his hand.