|
|
|
Jon Niese was roughed up in his major-league debut last night, letting up five runs and seven hits through four innings.
From the first pitch he threw, Niese appeared to be aiming the ball, while ‘telegraphing his pitches,’ as Keith Hernandez likes to say. That said, when at it’s best, his curve ball is seemingly devastating, as it is not all that much slower than his fastball. He clearly has a ton of talent, but for whatever reason he was a total mess last night – and I am not at all concerned about it.
Niese, on Niese, speaking to reporters after the game:
“I’m excited that the team won…This is every kid’s dream, to play in the big leagues. I’m just thankful to have the opportunity to play, and to get the first one out of the way.”
Jerry Manuel, regarding Niese, talking to reporters, said:
“Well, you know, I think that you almost have to throw that one out for him and kind of give him the benefit of the doubt. I think it was obviously a tremendous experience for him. I think th effect that we end up winning the game, which is the most important thing, is a good thing. I think if it went the other way, and having had the lead that we had, I think it would have had an adverse effect. But, I think winning the game, and with the way everybody feels, I think it lifts his spirits when he probably knows that was not his best…I can see the potential in the young man. I think he has tremendous potential, upside. Again, I think we really benefited as an organization with this experience and not losing in the midst of a pennant race.”
For more on Niese, check out John Harper in the Daily News, who writes, “Niese showed plenty of guts and a world of potential. He just didn’t show that he’s quite ready to pitch in the big leagues, particularly in a September pennant race.”
From someone that has not seen much of niese i can see why people are so high on him. Yes he was not dominant in his first outing but he showed some gutz getting out of those innings he put himself in. The kid has a wicked curve that falls right off the table and lets face it..he was going against the brew crew..no easy task. Like manuel said the most important thing is the team picked up niese. It was not the best debut but i liked the way he fought up there..especially when the butterflies finally wore off and he bore down. I like the kid alot but definatly he has stuff he can work on next year in the minors.
Yes, IMO Niese showed 2 things last night: that he has the potential to be a successful major league pitcher, and that he’s not quite ready yet. He’s already over his planned innings workload for the year, so while it’s great that he got his first taste of big league ball (and a pennant race), it’s time to shut him down and let him watch and learn and prepare for 2009.
I think it was way too much to ask him to make his debut on the road, against a righty-dominated slugging lineup that kills left-handed pitching. If he’s gonna stick around for the rest of the year, he’d be better off pitching against lineups with more lefties, or just used as a lefty specialist.
Yea it was a tough order to be thrown against the brewers for a debut. I would think he would be in the Bullpen for the rest of sept as he is over his IP.
Yeah, he was put in a situation that was absolutely designed for disaster and the Mets still won. Under the circumstances, that was as good as we could expect. I agree with others though, he didn’t look quite ready but I still like his potential.
Hey, Pelfry stunk it up for awhile when he first started and look at him now. I have every confidence Niese will come along as well.
Being a LHP and going up against the 2008 Brewers was no easy task. It would be nice to see him go up against the Nats next week to give him a bit of a breather (as well as the rest of the rotation).
Through the entire process, lets not forget the home plate umpire last night was waffling on the strike zone batter to batter inning to inning almost pitch to pitch.
So when you struggle and get behind in the count and you fall on the old throw a strike mode it can get you into trouble.
No reason to over examine any of this, and the Mets are not likely to need a 5th starter until Tuesday 9/16.
Perhaps Maine will take the hill at least one more time who knows.
I agree patrick and im soo glad you brought it up. Niese on a few pitches was getting squeezed pretty bad by the ump. I would imagine though next time we see niese, it will be out of the bullpen
Yes but you didn’t need Kieth Hernandez there last night to tell you he was aiming his pitches. As a pitcher, I know when somebody is telegraphing and “aiming” rather than throwing to the mitt. He was obviously nervous, fell behind every batter, and with a flat fastball (which is another result of aiming pitches) being grooved right down the middle, these young right handed hitters are gonna make you pay. I liked some of the stuff I saw, but I hope he clears his mind and pitches well next time.
Key words: “obviously nervous”.
Yep…and the lead off HR and failed bunt attempt didn’t do much to help the kids confidence, either.
yea i was a hotfoot and someone brought that up about niese aparently was tipping his pitches. I got the brewers feed so unfortunatly i could not hear keiths observation.
I love the way they’ve used the young kids this year, including Niese last night. Manuel was right that you almost have to throw out the first start.
Niese should remain in rotation for at least 1 more start with a well-rested Stokes and/or Figgy as backup for long relief. This way they can give the other starters an extra days’ rsst. They can afford to do this with the expanded rosters.
The fact that his debut came against the team with the highest OPS vs. lefties in the NL (and the 2nd highest in the majors) means that his second start should be somewhat easier.
we can call this a ’sh– happens’ start. He didn’t take his first ML loss, so that’s good. Just hope he cleared some of those nerves out.
It was also great to see when niese was struggling early and mostly due to nerves, Dwright went and just talked to him. Yet another leadership sighting…
He told him: “look here, buddy. if you dont start pitching like you have a pair we’ll send your a$$ to the Nationals for a bag of balls and a steak dinner.” haha
lollll it worked tho to a certian extent(until the 4th inning)
The way Niese pitched in the 2nd and 3rd innings is reason to have hope for him. He looked very strong. Of course two innings doesnt get the job done, and he didnt deal with the 4th inning situation well at all, but it was against the Brewers and they eat up lefties for the most part…
I would like to get Niese right back out there against the Nationals but with all the off days it wouldnt surprise me if he say around for a while.
Then again if Pedro cant go maybe Niese is the only options for Sunday night against the Phils…. yikes!
I’d give him another start, especially against the Phils who have a tough time vs lefties. But I’d have someone warming up, just in case.
I think the Mets need to either let him start again or shut him down. I would hate to see the kid try to work out of the pen after being a starter all year and wind up like Joba.
I would like to think our coaches and front office will handle this kid better than the Yankers handle their “prized” young pitcher (s)