Adopted: Jonathon Niese

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Niese continues his great start at Binghamton After 4 starts, he has a 0.93 ERA 17 strikeouts and only 5 walks in 19.1 innings.

Keep it up, kid.

Full write-up to follow.

[Guest themetfairy]

We saw your boy pitch an inning in the game where neither El Duque nor Pelfrey really felt like landing the 5th starter position. He looked pretty good.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Jonathon Niese is a left-handed pitcher from Lima, Ohio, who stands at 6-4ft, 215lbs. He was born on the 27th October, 1986 and if you don't know the significance of that date, I'm going to petition the admins to have you banned from CPF.

Niese was selected by the Mets in the seventh round of the 2005 Draft out of Defiance High School (presumably in Ohio). He was committed to the University of Cincinnati but slipped into the draft due to supposed contract demands. His signing bonus was $175,000.

Niese has a windup reminiscent of former Mets prospect Scott Kazmir. Niese's fastball may not have the same velocity as Kazmir's -- it tops out in the low nineties, but given his age it is conceivable he could add 1-2mph to this. His fastball has late movement and is thrown with excellent control. (This may describe his splitter.) His curveball has devastating break and is consistently thrown for strikes (Tell me who doesn't love a lefty with a nasty curve?)

From reports, his change-up may still need some work and is considered his weakest pitch. Also, some of his mechanics need to be "ironed-out" particularly working on balancing his upper and lower body in his delivery. Mets minor-league coordinator Rick Waits is credited for the improvement in his command (although I'm sure Al Jackson has also contributed in some form), and his changeup has shown steady signs of progress.

In 2007 at St. Lucie, he won 11 of 18 decisions, producing a 4.27 ERA in 27 starts and 134 1/3 innings. His hits allowed were a bit high -- 151. But he reduced his walks from 67 in 133 2/3 in 2006 -- all but 10 of the innings at a lower level of Class A -- to 31 in 134 1/3 innings last season. His final 10 starts produced a 4-3 record, but a 3.38 ERA as well. These performances prompted Waits to say that Niese "reached the turning point."

This was what Baseball America had to say at the end of last season:

Strengths: Niese uses a fastball that sits at 91-92 mph early in games, then attacks hitters with an improved curveball that has become a plus pitch as he has learned to locate it. He has figured out how to throw his changeup with the same arm speed he uses for his fastball, and it has similar sink and tailing action.

Weaknesses: While he has improved his conditioning, Niese remains inconsistent in terms of maintaining his velocity. He�s still learning to pitch inside with his fastball and remain aggressive with his changeup. His competitiveness can work against him at times.

The Future: After his strong finish, Niese is ready to hit Double-A as a 21-year-old. He�s still probably two years away from making an impact in New York�s rotation.

Edited April 24, 2008 by Guest

[seawolf17]

Projected number of strangely offset eyes: 2

[Guest The Second Spitter]

04/24 - 5th Start:

IP 6.0, H 5, R 0, ER 0, BB 2, K 5
D: W, (2-1)
ERA: 0.71

[Guest The Second Spitter]

04/30- 6th Start: First bad start of the season
IP 4.1 H 4, R 4, ER 4, BB 6, K 5
D: L, (2-2)
ERA: 1.52

[Guest The Second Spitter]

05/05 - 7th Start: Um, not good.

IP 4.1 H 8, R 7, ER 7, BB 2, K 2
D: L, (2-3)
ERA: 3.44

[Frayed Knot]

Niese gets a little love from a Baseball America online chat:

... you wouldn't know Niese was one of the Eastern League's youngest pitchers based on his performance.
He committed to conditioning this season and got out of the gate strong. His ERA took a step back in May, but his peripherals remained solid, and now in June he's given up three runs in three starts while striking out 20. Niese sits in the low 90s and touches 94 with a solid curveball and change, meaning he's got midrotation starter potential.

[Guest themetfairy]

Niese looked good against the Trenton Thunder last Sunday. He gave up three runs in the second, but that was it, and he went six innings.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Promoted to New Orleans. He'll make his next start tomorrow against Tuscon. Is he on track to pitch for the Mets this season?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yes.

[Guest Vince Coleman Firecracker]

Niese goes 7 for New Orleans, giving up 3 hits and 1 run, striking out 7 and walking 2. Don't trade him, Omar!

[Guest AG/DC]

Triple Dee is an estranged father, and I'm a little afraid he's going to show up, shove the kid in his car, and drive off.

[Guest Vince Coleman Firecracker]

At the very least, Triple Dee should be taking young Jon out to amusement parks every weekend to show up his mother.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Thanks for looking after my boy while I was gone, VCF . Unfortunately, I'm going to do a Barry Bonds and skimp on child support.

Btw, his last start on 5/22 was just horrible;;
3.2ip 12h 7er

[Guest The Second Spitter]

5/27 -- Another sucky start
6.0 ip, 7h, 5er, 2hr

Now 0-4 in Buffalo with a 7.62era.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

1/6 - Jon's officially grounded for putting up another shitty start v Durham

6.1IP 7H 6ER 1BB 6SO HR1 ERA8.05 (0-5)

[A Boy Named Seo]

Neglect.

I think he's just acting out, 3D. Take him for a cotton candy or something.

[Benjamin Grimm]

1/6 - Jon's officially grounded for putting up another shitty start v Durham

6.1IP 7H 6ER 1BB 6SO HR1 ERA8.05 (0-5)[/quote:3p2n6ztz]

He was pitching in January?

[MFS62]

Maybe he's unsing International format with the day before the month.
That, or dyslexia.
Or a typo.

Maybe we'll find out.

Later

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Geez guys, it's hard for me to remember to use US grammar, spelling and protocols every single time. But I do try.

[MFS62]

Jon came in at #16 in the BA list of International League prospects. He was the only Buffalo player to make the list.

Later