by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/21/2013) Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese pitched well Tuesday against the Reds, as he continues to turn his season around. However one error in the first inning ultimately cost him the game.
Niese got the first two batters in the first inning out, but ran into trouble with a pair of two-out walks and a single that loaded the bases. He appeared to get out of the inning when Todd Frazier hit a groundball right at third baseman David Wright, however the ball went through the Gold Glove winner's legs, allowing two runs to score.
Three runs would ultimately come around to score in the first, all unearned, but that was all for Niese over six strong innings. He allowed five hits and three walks, while striking out a season-high seven batters. Unfortunately, those three runs would be enough to sink the Mets, in a 4-0 loss.
Niese took the loss, despite lowering his ERA to 4.80. He is 3-5 through his first 10 starts of the season. He is scheduled to make his next start Monday against the Yankees at home.
Jonathon Niese not quite 'back'
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (5/17/2013) All of that practicing in front of a mirror must have paid off for Jonathon Niese because the Mets' left-hander rebounded from two abysmal starts with 7 1/3 strong innings at St. Louis Thursday. Well, isn't that swell? Guess he's useful Fantasy option after all, so if someone cut him loose in your league, go ahead and make a play for him.
But don't assume he's back to normal. There's still that messy issue of the Mets instructing him to pitch to contact.
I don't mean to keep harping on something I heard once on an opposing team's broadcast, but with only three strikeouts again Thursday, Niese has no more than three in any of his last seven starts. He's averaging 4.5 strikeouts per nine innings this year after averaging 7.3 per nine last year.
If that doesn't change, I don't see how he's anything more than a matchups type in mixed leagues.
Jonathon Niese rebounds against the Cardinals
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (5/16/2013) Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese had a strong start against the Cardinals Thursday.
Niese (3-4) had been struggling this season, and had reportedly worked on his mechanics recently. Niese pitched into the eighth inning Thursday, giving up two runs. He went 7 1/3 innings, giving up six hits, two walks and struck out three for the win.
Jonathon Niese is 'a mess'
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (5/16/2013) Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese has been working on his mechanics, but a person close to the team says he's a mess, according to Metsblog.com.
Niese hasn't been able to command his breaking pitches this season and is overcompensating by falling into predictable routines. Niese has been working on his mechanics in a mirror, and is trying to stay "tall and straight on the hill."
Niese will start Thursday against the Cardinals. He has a 5.93 ERA and a 5.34 FIP in 41 innings.
Jon Niese uses mirror to remedy mechanics
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (5/15/2013) Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese has surrendered 15 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings over two starts in May, and he's taken interesting steps to get past his slow start. Niese has been working on his mechanics in front of a weight room mirror, MLB.com reports.
"Whenever I had free time, I just stepped in front of a mirror and went through my mechanics, and made sure everything's on line," Niese told MLB.com. "I can feel when it's right."
Niese added that he's over the back soreness that hampered him earlier this month. He'll try to turn his season around Thursday against the Cardinals.
Picture becomes clearer for Jonathon Niese
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (5/14/2013) I get it. Jonathon Niese has been horrible. But the key for Fantasy owners is to figure out if he'll stay horrible, and to do that, it helps to know why.
Manager Terry Collins and others within the Mets' organization recently shed some light on the issue. To compensate for a stiff neck earlier in the season, Niese unknowingly changed his arm slot. It sounds reasonable enough. Poor mechanics lead to poor command, and poor command often leads to a shellacking.
Those earlier reports of the Mets encouraging Niese to pitch to contact still concern me a little, but seeing as he was the 30th-best pitcher in Head-to-Head leagues last year, he's worth stashing for now in the hope he irons out his mechanics in his next side session.
Report: Sore neck an issue for Jonathon Niese
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (5/13/2013) Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese's recent struggles, most notably lapsed command and diminished velocity, could be related to a neck injury, a source told the New York Daily News. Niese has surrendered a combined 15 runs and failed to complete more than 4 1/3 innings in his past two starts.
"His neck has been bothering him," the source said. "He hasn't wanted to talk to (the media) about it, or make excuses. Just a lot of soreness there."
The left-hander, who was the Mets' opening day starter, has also been hampered by a stiff lower back, manager Terry Collins said. That forced him to drop his arm slot on the mound, but Niese downplayed both issues Sunday.
"That's (in the) past. It doesn’t hurt anymore," he said about his neck. "You try to compensate and (then) create a bad habit. I just need to get on top of my pitches right now, and be more sharp."
Jonathon Niese admits he has work to do
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (5/12/2013) Mets manager Terry Collins said he is not overly concerned with pitcher Jonathon Niese's recent struggles and said the left-hander can regain his standout form by working on his mechanics. After being tagged for at least seven runs while failing to complete five innings for the second straight start Saturday against Pittsburgh, Niese agrees with his skipper's assessment.
"It's a tough time to go through this and I know the bullpen needs their rest. It's very frustrating not being able to go into the seventh inning, but, hopefully, it's something I'm going to work on and get it corrected," he said. "I think I created a bad habit of dropping down lower and kind of opening everything up. So, it's something I'm going to work on in the bullpen."
Jonathon Niese flops again
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/11/2013) Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese struggled again Saturday against the Pirates, dropping to 2-4 this season.
Neise got through the first inning, but ran into trouble shortly after, allowing two singles to lead off the inning, before walking the bases loaded. He allowed an RBI single, but got out of the inning otherwise unscathed.
That was the last time things went well for Niese. He ultimately allowed eight earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of work. He gave up eight hits and walked three batters, with just one strikeout. This was the fourth time in his last six starts that Niese walked more batters than he struck out. He earned the loss in an 11-2 final.
Niese has a 5.93 ERA and is one of just two regular starting pitchers this season with more walks than strikeouts. He told Newsday that his issues are not the result of an injury, but rather that he is throwing from a lower arm slot due to mechanical issues.
Niese is currently scheduled to make his next start Thursday against the Cardinals.
Jonathon Niese's back a non-issue
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/9/2013) Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese did not seem concerned about tightness in his back Thursday, after manager Terry Collins told reporters that it bothered him in his most recent start against the Braves Sunday.
Niese told reporters that he just had a knot in his back during the start, but it was not the reason he gave up seven runs in four innings.
Niese is not expected to be limited Saturday against the Pirates. He has 20 strikeouts and 19 walks in 36 2/3 innings this season, with a 4.66 ERA.
Jonathon Niese's slide worrisome
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (5/7/2013) I'm a little discouraged by Jonathon Niese's last few starts. Though he was never a strikeout artist, his rate of 7.3 per nine innings last year was useful and in line with the rest of his career. But over his last five starts, the most strikeouts he's had in a game is three, and his other numbers during that stretch aren't so great, either.
During Niese's start Sunday at Atlanta, the Braves' broadcast team pointed out that the Mets have stressed to Niese the importance of pitching to contact, presumably to increase his innings. But the approach seems to be robbing him of his effectiveness. It's also causing him to throw his curveball, arguably his most effective pitch, less than ever.
Niese could still turn things around, obviously, but since the coaching staff seems to be working against him, I've knocked him down to 50th in my starting pitcher rankings.
Jonathon Niese can't halt winless slide
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (5/5/2013) Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese (2-3) surrendered seven runs, including five in the third inning alone, and seven hits in four-plus innings during New York's 9-4 loss to Atlanta Sunday. Niese, whose scheduled start was pushed back a day after Saturday's rainout, faced 10 batters in the third as his ERA jumped from 3.31 to 4.66 during the outing.
The struggling left-hander matched a career high with six walks and struck out just three batters as his winless streak reached four games. His last two walks came in the fifth inning, when he was pulled with none out and the bases loaded.
Niese will attempt to bounce back during his next projected start Saturday against Pittsburgh. In four starts at Citi Field this season, he is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA over 21 2/3 innings.
Rainout forces Mets to alter rotation
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (5/4/2013) The Mets' game at Atlanta scheduled for Saturday was postponed due to rain and a makeup date was not announced. Although the Braves decided to skip Saturday's starter Julio Teheran in the rotation, New York chose to push back its group.
The Mets will send Jonathon Niese -- Saturday's probable starter -- to the mound Sunday, and Matt Harvey was pushed to the series opener against the White Sox Tuesday. He is scheduled to be followed by Jeremy Hefner (Wednesday), Dillon Gee (Thursday against Pittsburgh) and Shaun Marcum (Friday).
Quality control returns for Jonathon Niese
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/28/2013) Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese (2-2) bounced back after an abbreviated start in his last outing, but still suffered his second straight loss in New York's 5-1 defeat to Philadelphia on Sunday. Niese, who was limited to 2 1/3 innings in his previous start after taking a comebacker off his ankle, surrendered three runs -- one earned -- and five hits over 6 2/3 innings.
The left-hander was charged with his only earned run on a solo homer by Freddy Galvis to lead off the fifth inning and was able to shave his ERA to 3.31. The 117-pitch outing also matched his longest of the season and gave him four quality starts in six games.
Niese draws the heavy-hitting Braves on the road in his next projected start Saturday. He finished 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA in four starts against Atlanta last season.
All systems go for Jonathon Niese
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/26/2013) Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese completed his regularly scheduled bullpen session Thursday without any problem to his ankle and is expected to make his scheduled start Sunday against Philadelphia, The Star-Ledger reports. Niese left his previous start after 2 1/3 innings when he took a comebacker off his right leg but said he felt fine after the session.
The left-hander has stumbled since having two quality starts to open the season, allowing eight runs over his past three outings to raise his ERA to 3.81 -- his highest mark since Aug. 7.
Jonathon Niese to throw bullpen Thursday
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (4/25/2013) Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese will throw a bullpen session Thursday.
Niese had to leave his last start after being hit in the leg, putting his next start in doubt. Niese wanted to keep his normal routine, and will throw a bullpen as scheduled. Niese has been considered day-to-day since the injury, and is expected to make his Sunday start against the Phillies.
Jon Niese may skip Thursday bullpen session
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/24/2013) Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese, who left Tuesday's action after being hit by a batted ball, may elect to skip his Thursday's bullpen session in favor of a light session Friday, according to ESPNNewYork.com.
"If that's what he thinks, he needs an extra day, I certainly don't want him to go out with a sore lower leg and then all of a sudden mess up his shoulder or something," manager Terry Collins told ESPNNewYork.com. "So if needs an extra day, that's no big deal."
Niese plans to make his scheduled start Sunday against the Phillies.
Jonathon Niese not expected to miss time
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/23/2013) Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese, who departed Tuesday's start after being struck by a comebacker, is not expected to miss his turn in the rotation, Mets manager Terry Collins told ESPN.com.
Niese was hit between the ankle bone and the Achilles' tendon. He is slated to start Sunday at home against the Phillies. Niese went 2-1 with a 2.93 ERA in five starts against the Phillies last season.
Jonathon Niese diagnosed with contusion
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/23/2013) Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese has been diagnosed with a lower right leg contusion. Niese, who left Tuesday's start after being struck by a comebacker, had his X-rays come back negative and is listed as day-to-day.
Niese is scheduled to pitch Sunday at home against the Phillies, if healthy.
Jonathon Niese exits after hit by liner
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/23/2013) Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese had his outing cut short with a right ankle injury Tuesday night against the Dodgers.
Niese was hit in the right leg with a comebacker in the third inning. He walked gingerly back into the dugout and did not return. He was replaced by Robert Carson.
Niese walked three and allowed a run on three hits in 2 1/3 innings before getting hurt. He struck out one in 54 pitches, 28 for strikes.
The 26-year-old's status for his next start is unknown. He is scheduled to pitch Sunday at home against the Phillies. Niese went 2-1 with a 2.93 ERA in five starts against the Phillies last season.
Jonathon Niese gets no support in quality outing
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/18/2013) Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese bounced back with his third quality start in four outings Thursday against the Rockies, but poor support from the offense and bullpen earned him his first loss of the season, 11-3.
Niese allowed nine hits in six innings of work, but he limited the Rockies to three earned runs. He surrendered his second home run of the season, a solo shot by Josh Rutledge in the fourth inning. Despite the quality start, Niese was saddled with the loss, as he exited down 3-2. He struck out three and walked one, while throwing 56 of 97 pitches for strikes.
Niese has a 3.80 ERA through his first four starts, with a 1.48 WHIP. He has allowed 26 hits and nine walks, while striking out just 13 batters. Niese will make his next start Wednesday against the Dodgers, who have struggled to get going offensively this season. Los Angeles has scored the second-fewest runs in the majors this season.
Mets push back rotation after postponement
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/14/2013) A wintry mix of snow and rain forced the Twins to postpone their interleague series finale against the visiting Mets on Sunday. As a result, New York pushed back its starting rotation for an upcoming four-game series at Colorado.
Dillon Gee, who was scheduled to start Sunday, will take the hill in Monday's opener, followed by Aaron Laffey on Tuesday, Jeremy Hefner on Wednesday and Jonathon Niese in Thursday's series finale.
Jonathon Niese not sharp in win
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/12/2013) Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese was not at the top of his game Friday against the Twins, but the offense picked him up in a 16-5 win.
Niese allowed five runs -- four earned -- in five innings of work, his shortest outing of the season. Niese struggled with his control, walking four batters and throwing just 57 of 101 pitches for strikes. He struck out just one batter, however he was also working with a big lead for much of the game, as the Mets jumped out to a 10-2 lead after two innings.
Niese picked up his second win of the season but his ERA rose to 3.57. He is 2-0 with 10 strikeouts and eight walks in 17 2/3 innings of work through three starts. Niese will make his next start Wednesday in Colorado, a notoriously difficult environment for pitchers. Niese has a 7.94 ERA in two career starts at Coors Field.
Jonathon Niese aces another test
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/7/2013) After Johan Santana went down with a season-ending elbow injury during the spring, the loss sent the Mets scrambling for an opening day starter, as well as an ace for the pitching staff.
Enter Jonathon Niese. The left-hander capably handled the role for the season opener and his first two performances of the year have provided the team -- and Fantasy owners -- additional faith that he can be a frontline starter.
Revered for his improved command of the strike zone, Niese has increased his K/BB ratio each season he's been in the majors and posted a career-best 3.16 mark last year. Remarkably, he has issued more than two walks only twice during his current 22-game stretch in which he's completed at least six innings in each outing, the longest run in the majors.
"I just think he's growing into the pitcher that everybody thought he was going to be," manager Terry Collins told the New York Daily News Saturday. "We all know if he wants to he can go 92-93 (mph). He’s pitching it 91, 90, 89, because he’s locating and trying to get the ball to move around the strike zone. I think he’s really becoming a real good pitcher."
Indeed.
Jonathon Niese gets no-decision against Miami
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/6/2013) Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese (1-0) permitted two runs -- one earned -- and eight hits over six innings during New York's 7-3 victory over Miami Saturday. Niese, who was taken off the hook for his first loss of the season when the Mets scored twice in the sixth inning, finished with five strikeouts and two walks.
Niese also allowed two runs against San Diego on opening day, but he lower his ERA to 2.13 in the young season. The left-hander has now completed at least six innings in each of his past 22 starts while registering a 2.53 ERA over that span.
Niese is scheduled to make his next start Friday at Minnesota; he shut out the Twins over six innings during his only appearance against the team during the 2010 season.
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/3/2013) Met starting pitcher Jonathon Niese attributed his strong performance opening day against the Padres to veteran catcher John Buck, who is in his first year with the team.
"He called a great game," Niese said, per The Star-Ledger. "He’s a veteran guy that reads hitters better than I’ve ever seen. And it’s always nice to have that extra mind out there that sees that and calls a game accordingly."
Jonathon Niese lobbying for longer outings
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/2/2013) Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese lobbied manager Terry Collins to let him pitch into the seventh inning during Monday's season-opening rout of the Padres.
Collins wanted to pull Niese after he threw 94 pitches in six innings, but Niese implored Collins to let him go out for another inning. Collins relented, but he gave Niese a 100-pitch limit, which is why Niese was pulled after seven pitches into the seventh inning.
"Last year was a year where I hit that sixth inning and had 95 pitches and they shut me down," Niese said, per The Star-Ledger. "I just told him I wanted to go back out and I felt I had a lot left."
Niese logged a career-high 190 1/3 innings in 2012. He reached at least 100 pitches 19 times and pitched into the seventh inning 17 times last season.
Jonathon Niese steps up in top spot
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/1/2013) Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese (1-0) surrendered just two runs and four hits as he worked into the seventh inning during New York's 11-2 win over San Diego on Monday. Handed the opening day assignment in place of injured pitcher Johan Santana, Niese completed 6 2/3 innings against a Padres lineup that was missing Chase Headley and Yasmani Grandal.
He struck out four batters and walked two as he fired 101 pitches (62 strikes) during the outing. Last season, he topped 100 pitches in 19 of his 30 starts while posting a career-low 3.40 ERA.
Jonathon Niese works scoreless spring finale
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (3/27/2013) Mets starter Jonathon Niese showed he was ready for his opening-day duties in his final start of the Grapefruit League on Wednesday against the Astros. He worked 4 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up just two hits while striking out seven in the 6-2 win. The left-hander also walked two while lowering his spring ERA to 1.23.
“Early in the spring, I didn’t really feel like I had all of my pitches going at one point,” Niese told ESPN.com. “But today, I felt like I had everything going, especially the curveball. I felt like, for the most part, I could control it and throw it for a strike, and throw it in the dirt when I wanted to. Overall, the arm felt good and I’m ready to go.”
Niese will face the Padres on Monday.
Jonathon Niese ramps up his workload
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (3/22/2013) Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese pitched well Friday in Grapefruit League action against the Marlins, just one day after being named the team's opening day starter. Niese came close to throwing a regular season workload in the game, as he tossed 92 pitches over five innings of work. He said afterwards that his arm strength is almost at where he needs to be for the regular season.
“It’s obviously getting in a little bit better shape,” Niese told ESPN.com. “It feels really good.”
Niese allowed two earned runs in his five innings of work, both in the fourth inning, after he walked the bases loaded and allowed a pair of RBI singles. He finished with five strikeouts and four hits allowed, while walking four batters. Niese will make just one more spring start and will be capped at 50 pitches, in order to ensure he is fresh for the April 1 opener against the Padres.
Mets tab Jonathon Niese as opening day starter
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (3/21/2013) The Mets will go with Jonathon Niese as their opening day starter, manager Terry Collins announced.
The 26-year-old lefty threw 190 1/3 innings last season, with a 3.40 ERA and a 3.80 FIP.
Johan Santana was the favorite to start on opening day when camp opened but has been dealing with a shoulder issue.
Jonathon Niese makes opening statement
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/17/2013) With Johan Santana sidelined, pitcher Jonathon Niese moved closer to becoming the Mets' opening day starter with his strong performance Sunday. Niese permitted one run -- his first of the spring -- and two hits over five innings during New York's 2-1 loss to Atlanta in Grapefruit League play. He finished with four strikeouts and walked only one batter as his ERA slipped to 0.71.
While Santana still building up arm strength -- he hasn't pitched in a single spring training game -- Niese appears to be the likely replacement for the April 1 opener against San Diego. "I'm not convinced, but there's certainly a strong possibility that's going to happen," manager Terry Collins said.
Niese tames Tigers again
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/11/2013) Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese faced the Tigers for a second time this spring Monday and hurled another gem against the defending AL champs. Niese, who threw three scoreless innings against Detroit March 1, fired 4 2/3 scoreless innings Monday, keeping his spring ERA at 0.00. "I feel good and my velocity is increasing," Niese said. "I need to cut down on my walks, but I am also trying to attack hitters. I'm getting to where I want to be." Niese allowed one hit to a lineup that featured Austin Jackson, Torii Hunter and Prince Fielder. He didn't issue a walk and struck out four. "He won 13 games and pitched a lot of innings for us last year," manager Terry Collins said of Niese. "He's growing up as a pitcher and he deserves the opportunity. I think he can be one of the best pitchers in the game."
Niese pounded by Venezuela
(3/6/2013) Mets starter Jonathon Niese was hit hard in a Wednesday exhibition game against Venezuela, giving up four earned runs on six hits and two walks in 2 1/3 innings. He struck out one, throwing 39 of his 61 pitches for strikes.
Niese shrugs off knee issue
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/1/2013) Mets starting pitcher Jonathon Niese tossed three scoreless innings in his Grapefruit League debut during New York's 6-2 win over Detroit on Friday. Niese threw two innings against the University of Michigan earlier this week, and gave up just three hits -- singles -- against the Tigers. struck out three and picked off a baserunner. "I felt good," Niese said. "I think, for the most part, all of my pitches felt good."
Niese mows down Michigan
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (2/24/2013) Mets starter Jonathan Niese had a decent start to his spring season on Sunday during an exhibition start against the University of Michigan. Niese struck out three batters over two innings in the outing, though he did surrender a run on three hits. Niese gave way to Dillon Gee after two innings.
Niese doesn't require surgery
(1/7/2013) Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese was expected to undergo surgery for a heart ablation during the offseason but he said Monday that the procedure was not necessary. Niese had experienced a rapid heartbeat during at least two games over the past two seasons. "The doctors just said that it was nothing major and that I didn't need to have surgery," Niese said, per MLB.com. "I'm just going to go on as normal and that's it. It's a really good thing."
