Jon Niese has arguably endured one of the worst stretches in his career, earmarked by his tendency to allow big home runs and crooked numbers from start-to-start.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for Niese as the Mets had extended their rotation to six with eyes on left-handed phenom Steven Matz, who reportedly could arrive to the Mets by the All-Star break.
So, it was important for Niese to begin progressing back to being the groundball specialist he had been known for with a cutter and curveball known to eat up right-handed hitters.
While his start on Friday night in Phoenix wasn’t perfect, and his record fell to 3-6 and his ERA rose to 4.43 for the year, Niese was encouraged with his performance in which he allowed three runs and six hits with a walk and eight strikeouts in six innings of work.
“I would say it’s a step in the right direction,” Niese said. “I felt really good. I thought mechanically I was pretty sound today. I made some good pitches. Unfortunately, there at the end, they made the adjustment, put good swings on some pretty good pitches and came out on top.”
He definitely looked better out there. He had better command of his two-seamer, although it’s clear he’s still trying to regain the feel for that pitch consistently.
But he had a real good cutter and curveball running for the entire night, but most importantly he used those pitches consistently and when he found himself in trouble. That strategy helped him work out of a couple of big jams, although four of the five cutters Arizona put in play were not outs. Niese cited a minor mechanical adjustment to his stride which helped his delivery on Friday night.
That in turn certainly could’ve helped his command.
“He threw the ball very well,” Terry Collins said. “Jon had very good stuff tonight, worked both sides of the plate, was more effective, threw his changeup. I thought he threw the ball well.
“We just couldn’t get him runs to work with,” Collins concluded.
That’s going to be the problem not just for Niese, but for all the starting pitchers with this group. So, in Niese’s case, it’s important he continue to trend upward with his performance, because he simply can’t afford to allow the opposition to put up crooked numbers.
But Niese could have an added incentive to perform better, and the Mets could potentially reap the benefits of an improved performance overall as they’re reportedly trying to move him in a trade.
But for him and the team right now, it’s important he simply start to keep the team in the game and give them at least a chance to scratch a few runs across for him.
While the latter may seem like a tall task, all Niese can do is provide the opportunity on the mound.
And, he did on Friday.
Just Mets 