vtmet
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Niese looked pretty good today
Niese throws five scoreless innings in loss to Braves
Posted: 4:41 PM, March 17, 2012
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Jonathon Niese is happy with his new changeup.
Niese allowed six hits — all singles — in 5 1-3 scoreless innings Saturday as the Mets lost to an Atlanta Braves' split squad 3-2.
"I felt good," Niese said. "I want to go out there and pound the zone and throw strikes with all my pitches. I got to use some changeups in situations that were 1-2. Some worked, some didn't. All-around it felt good."
Niese struck out three, walked none and hit a batter — Braves starter Kris Medlen. He threw 49 of 72 pitches for strikes and induced two double plays, both times with sinkers.
"It's pretty amazing — six innings, all six leadoff hitters got on and he pitched a six-inning shutout," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "You'll find that very seldom. It was an outstanding job. He mixed up all his pitches and really pitched good."
Niese, 11-11 with a 4.40 ERA last season, used his changeup in different counts, including the first pitch of at-bats. He said at times he threw the changeup away to let hitters know he had it, then came back with a four-seam fastball inside.
"The biggest thing with pitching is being confident with your pitches, trusting your pitches and right now I really trust my stuff," Niese said. "That helps me know that I can just pound the zone."
In three spring training starts, Niese has a 2.61 ERA in 10 1-3 innings with nine strikeouts, nine hits and just one walk.
"I think it's time for Jon Niese to step into what everybody thinks he's going to do and that's be a big winner in the big leagues because he's got the stuff," Collins said. "He's certainly has as good stuff as there is in this league."
While Niese has a spot in the Mets' rotation, Medlen is expected to work out of the bullpen for the Braves. After missing almost all of last season recovering from elbow-ligament replacement surgery, the 26-year old gave up one hit in four shutout innings, struck out four and walked one.
Medlen had thrown just two innings in each of his first two outings.
"I just wanted to keep the pitch count down, throw strikes and get ahead of guys," Medlen said. "I have no hesitation at all, no restrictions. My confidence is pretty high right now, but I'm still pitching exactly the way I used to. I'm attacking hitters and being aggressive and letting my fielders work."
Daniel Murphy had two hits, including a two-run single in the sixth against Sean Gilmartin. David Ross hit a go-ahead, two-run double in a three-run eighth inning off Ramon Ramirez that also included Matt Diaz's RBI single.
Martin Prado, Jason Heyward and Ross each had two hits for the Braves. Heyward also stole a base.
NOTES: The Mets celebrated St. Patrick's Day by wearing green jersey tops and green hats with orange lettering and numbers. The Braves also wore green hats and the bases were outlined in green. ... Braves SS Andrelton Simmons made a nice play to finish a double play in the second inning. Justin Turner made a hard slide at second base, which appeared to catch Simmons' foot. Simmons lost his balance and spun around, but still was able to get the ball to 1B Freddie Freeman. ... Mets top prospect Zack Wheeler threw 2 2-3 innings in a minor league game against St. Louis. Wheeler, whose fastball was clocked as high as 97 mph, walked three, hit a batter and struck out one.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/niese_throws_five_scoreless_innings_qNHv9NGmmuNj864EZ7Tv8K#ixzz1pQHXoruv
Last edited by vtmet, 3/17/2012, 8:17 pm
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3/17/2012, 8:16 pm
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vtmet
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Re: Niese looked pretty good today
At the bottom of that story...supposedly Zack Wheeler was throwing 97 mph today in his first minor league start...he's the guy that we got back for Beltran...
Mets top prospect Zack Wheeler threw 2 2-3 innings in a minor league game against St. Louis. Wheeler, whose fastball was clocked as high as 97 mph, walked three, hit a batter and struck out one.
Last edited by vtmet, 3/17/2012, 8:18 pm
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3/17/2012, 8:18 pm
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RenoHitman
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Re: Niese looked pretty good today
Just watched it, Niese was sharp, very hopeful he can have a break out year without breaking anything.
I was joking about Wheeler taking small pelfs place, but something has to give, 8 runs 8 hits from 20 batters today? Trashpile his ass, let Wally yell at him for a few months, maybe that will help.
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3/18/2012, 4:52 pm
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vtmet
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Re: Niese looked pretty good today
over/under on:
when Pelf is gone?
when Harvey is on the big club?
Collins is gone?
Backman is on the big club?
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3/18/2012, 5:01 pm
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LaidBackRider
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Re: Niese looked pretty good today
If you're doing over/unders:
Games started by Santana
Games started by Niese
Games started by Pelfrey before he's removed from the rotation?
Games started by Bay before they start platooning him with a lefty?
Games into the season before Murphy's annual injury?
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3/19/2012, 12:01 pm
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RenoHitman
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Re: Niese looked pretty good today
over/under on:
when Pelf is gone? 6 starts
when Harvey is on the big club? Sept
Collins is gone? Stays the year
Backman is on the big club? Next year, coach like Tuefel, has to behave another year..
Games started by Santana 27
Games started by Niese 30
Games started by Pelfrey before he's removed from the rotation? repeat Q -6
Games started by Bay before they start platooning him with a lefty? Dont see it
Games into the season before Murphy's annual injury? Ouch.. but its our year, he stays healthy unless they play the Saints 
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3/20/2012, 2:34 am
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LaidBackRider
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Re: Niese looked pretty good today
Bay has a major option that kicks in for a certain minimum number of ABs. If he's not performing, then the Mets are within their rights to platoon him (and not let that option vest) -- shades of K-Rod.
Here are the details:
4 years/$66M (2010-13), plus 2014 option
signed by NY Mets as a free agent 1/5/10
$8.5M signing bonus
10:$6.5M, 11:$16M, 12:$16M, 13:$16M, 14:$17M club option ($3M buyout)
2014 option guaranteed with 600 PAs in 2013 or 500 PAs in both 2012, 2013
full no-trade clause
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3/20/2012, 3:07 pm
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