St. Petersburg, Fla. ? Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella wants his young pitchers to stop throwing and start pitching.

“I’ve seen five games here and it’s probably a blessing,” Piniella said before Saturday’s game against New York. “I realize it’s just a big teaching job here, teaching these kids how to play.”

Piniella remained in his office at Tropicana Field well past 1 a.m. following Friday night’s 12-2 loss to the Yankees, discussing ways to help a pitching staff that has struggled since a season-opening victory.

Piniella was so upset by the team’s fourth straight loss that he did not speak with the media after the game.

Piniella is frustrated, but not necessarily discouraged.

“One thing for sure is these kids have got to pitch,” he said. “Just because you have a good arm and you can get people out and overpower people at the minor league level — that doesn’t work up here. You’ve got to use your breaking pitches, you’ve got to locate your fastball, you have to pitch away from a hitter’s power zone, and you’ve got to keep the ball in the ball park.”