"For Michael, it’s consistency more than anything else,” Girardi said. “Because we see how dominant he can be. Some innings can be really, really easy, and then he’ll get in a little blip.”

Mission accomplished! After six harrowing years, the mystery of Michael Pineda has been solved.

It's consistency. That's his bugaboo.

Write this down: If Pineda can get some consistency, his problems will vanish. He needs consistency, as opposed to inconsistency. 

Yep. I think we got it. Having now identified the ailment, we can fix it. In the past, we weren't sure why Pineda would rip through opposing lineups like castor oil through Harrison Ford when, suddenly, kaboom... six runs in! What happened? we'd ask. Why did Pineda fall apart. Now, we know. Lack of consistency. 


Yesterday, Pineda pitched three innings, giving up two runs. Out of the blocks, he gave up three hits in a row - doink, bang, doink - and then he slaughtered the last eight batters like zombies in The Walking Dead.  You know what his problem was? Inconsistency.

How do you beat inconsistency? Focus. My bet is that the esteemed Yankee brain trust will push for more Pinedian focus in 2017. They'll have him concentrate... think... focus. No shiny objects to distract him. No pine tar slathered along his neck. Pure, unadulterated, felony-grade focus. 

Yes, it's time to declare war on inconsistency! We have great reason for hope. Over the last two years - 59 starts and 330 innings - Pineda's ERA has remained well above 4.00 and drifting towards a Sidney Ponsonian 5.00. In fact, he's shown that he can be quite consistent. Thus, if Pineda becomes a bit more inconsistently inconsistent, rather than consistently inconsistent... he'll be a star!

Okay, now what do we do about Headley?