The promise of Pineiro

ESPNLosAngeles.com has the story on ex-Rattler Joel Pineiro.

Joel Pineiro once had a view of a future that seemed limitless.

It was August 2001 and Pineiro was pitching devastating relief for a Seattle Mariners team that was chewing up the rest of the American League. He was the baby-faced kid, just 22, in a room filled with veterans like Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner and Jamie Moyer. Pineiro's stuff was electric and hitters were reacting to it as if it were lethal.

He retired 51 straight right-handed batters at one point, the longest stretch of its kind in the majors in 16 years.

The Los Angeles Angels would see a similar act from Francisco Rodriguez at the end of 2002, one of those rare moments when even seasoned baseball people wonder whether something entirely new has arrived.

Mike Scioscia recalls Pineiro having "as good a fastball/breaking ball combination as we saw in our league."

The man who gave Pineiro his first major league opportunity at the tender age of 21 recalls it in his usual understated, world-weary style.

"When I had him, he was more of a power pitcher with a big, old curveball," Lou Piniella recalled. "Now, he's a little different type pitcher."

From that brink of possibility, Pineiro recalls the long fall that followed. He entered the Mariners' rotation and had promising seasons in 2002 and 2003. He piled up 30 wins and struck out an average of 144 guys a year.

The next year, Pineiro felt a twinge in his right elbow. It was the first crack in the hubris of youth.

Head over for the rest.