30
2010
Fernando Nieve Could Be A Sleeper
An article by 
Adam Rubin of the Daily News, recently reported that the Mets will not have Bobby Parnell audition for a spot in the starting rotation, but that Fernando Nieve will figure into the battle for the fifth spot in the rotation behind Santana, Maine, Perez and Pelfrey.
Jerry Manuel is very high on Nieve as is GM Omar Minaya, both of them have mentioned him as a pitcher we shouldn’t count out this season.
We have profiled Fernando Nieve extensively here on MMO, and I clearly envision Nieve as a major sleeper for the 2010 season.
Here’s a scouting report on Nieve in 2006 as one of their top pitching prospects:
Fernando Nieve RHP, HOU
Strengths: 89-94 MPH four-seam fastball, 85-87 MPH cut-fastball, and 81-83 MPH slider. Command, arm action, aggressiveness.
Weaknesses: Deception of 81-84 MPH straight-change, setting-up pitches, effort to ¾ delivery
Comments: Strong/stocky hurler lights-up strike zone with above average fastball and nails RH batters with cutter and slider. Improved command within strike zone and proved durable, despite effort to delivery. Gets into mindset where he wants to overpower hitters and will need to change speeds to combat LH batters.
Also check out what we posted on Nieve back on June 14th, 2009.
The Astros brought him up in 2006 – where he made 11 starts for them – pitching pretty well for a rookie – with a 4.20 ERA and striking out hitters at a rate of 6.5 per 9 innings. However in August of 2006 he experienced some elbow issues that eventually shut him down for the season – and lingered into 2007. Apparently it was misdiagnosed by Astro trainers as elbow tendinitis (sound familiar Met fans?) – and it was revealed later in 2007 that he had a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow – and would require Tommy John surgery.
He attempted to come back early from TJ surgery in 2008 and the Astros obliged moving him to the bullpen in order to preserve his arm. Unfortunately he was spotty at best – and spent most of 2008 moving between AAA and the MLB club (which caused the Astros to run out of options on him).
The Astros waived Nieve early this year as he wasn’t making the big club – and the Mets swooped in and claimed him. (good scouting by someone in our organization) Although they knew Nieve wasn’t going to make the Opening Day roster the Mets optioned him right before Opening Day – thus allowing him to clear waivers and go to AAA Buffalo (another smart move).
He pitched reasonably well in the Mets minors in 2009 – re-establishing his dominance – averaging a strikeout per inning along with reasonable control 3.0 BB/9 – and a 3.75 ERA.
Finally – John Maine’s injury opened up a spot in the Mets rotation and with the organization either having given up on Jon Niese or thinking he needs additional “seasoning” – Nieve got the call.
The rest you know. A great outing in a pressure situation against one of the better teams in baseball. And certainly the opportunity to carve out a place in the Mets rotation if he can follow it up.
In eight appearances for the Mets in 2009, the 27 year old Nieve went 3-3 with a superb 2.95 ERA, while striking out 23 in 36 2/3 innings. He was well on his way to establishing himself before sustaining his season ending hamstring injury.
In one dominating performance against the Yankees last season, Carlos Beltran was impressed with his new changeup. It’s worth noting because one thing most scouts agreed on regarding Nieve, was that he had the plus fastball and effective curve, but lacked the changeup to pull it all together.
“His change-up was extremely effective as well as a pitch that he’s recently added to his arsenal. I like the way he pitches, I like his velocity,” Carlos Beltran said. “He pitched a great game, he challenged players.”
Beltran was not just impressed with his velocity. Nieve consistently threw 93 mph, and peaked at 96 mph, according to Beltran, and had an effective changeup.
“He never had that pitch before in his career, so he looked pretty good out there now,” Beltran said.
Nieve went 45-34 with a 3.63 ERA in an eight year minor league career. He is now fully recovered from TJ surgery and looks like a new and improved version who has transformed himself from a hard thrower to a smart pitcher who can deceive hitters.
While playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, Nieve went 1-2 with a 2.42 ERA in five starts, walking just three batters while striking out 26 in 26 innings. He drew raves from his manager, coaches and teammates.
Although I’m just as disappointed as most Mets fans that we didn’t acquire a starter to bolster the rotation for the 2010 season, Fernando Nieve can certainly turn those frowns upside down if he can deliver some solid performances to start the season and fulfill his expectations. He has electric stuff, and is loaded with so much promise and upside, maybe this is the year he finally delivers his breakthrough performance. LGM
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
Went to my first Mets game, a Mayors Trophy game at Shea, in '73. We beat the Yankees 8-4 and I was hooked. I marched in two Banner Day parades, and before the Grand Slam single, there was the "Hendu Can Do" grand slam - I was there. I've collected Mets memorabilia all my life and started Mets Merized Online to feed my addiction.
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I say its Nieve’s job to lose. Spring Training is less than 20 days away.
I agree and I liked a lot of what I saw last year and was bummed when he went down. At least it wasn’t an arm/shoulder injury and if he was pitching this winter his legs must be fine as well as his arm. Incidentally I watched Nelson Figueroa a couple of times in the DWL and he looked real good too. Imagine if Johan is Johan, Pelfrey duplicates or exceeds 2008, Maine and Ollie give us quality starts 2/3 of the time and Neive comes through with Figgy as a long man and Neise in AAA.
Age, you’ve ignored my choice for “under the radar, sneaky bonus offseason pickup, Escobar who I believe will feature prominantly in whatever role he fulfills. This was Omar’s one & only typical forthright early lockup. when Omar really was the old Omar this offseason. I’m not betting my house; but I’ve got a very strong good premonition. I believe he’s pulled the wool over Jeff’s eyes with that one and this setup role is more misdirection than anything else.
Great article Joe. Nieve should be considered as a sleeper. A 2.95 ERA in 36 innings is certainly a large enough sample size to NOT be considered a fluke. That, along with his initial scouting report and time after surgery could prove to be the formula that the back of this rotation desperately needs.
His 2.95 ERA was pretty fluky considering his very high left on base percentage and and his weak K/BB ratio. I like Nieve’s stuff more in a bullpen role and I think it will only be a matter of time before Jon Niese takes the #5 spot from Nieve.
Joe, Great observations and scouting info on Nieve. Because of his backround (Venezuela) it’s easy to assume that Johan is one of his heroes and perhaps has helped him in the development of his change-up. A guy like Nieve, who has talent, is a possibility for a breakout season, Especially if healthy.
I Can’t wait:
I can’t wait to buy a season tix pack and watch this team… I mean, a starting rotation of one #1 starter and 5 # 4 or 5′s starters to follow. A bullpen that is absolutly average. The second part of the line up that includes professional hitters like Murphy/tatis, castilla or Gary Mathews Jr. (depending on who is playing and hitting second), and Santos/Blanco. I can’t wait to see any one of four 35 year old guys come off the bench and chase fly balls in the biggest outfield in mlb, run the basis with speed,and get base hits in tight games. The fire this team has!!!! reminds me of the 86 Mets. I can’t wait to see a guy come up cleats high on David Wright and David reacting like Ray knight did to Eric Davis. I can’t wait to tell Omar Manaya to stick his season tickets up his ass.
Amen, jc. It’s says it all if people are getting excited about Fernando Nieve and “Figgy.” I think I’ll root for the Royals this year and get a Wilpon voodoo doll (either one will do). Oops, sorry, Madoff beat me to it.
Alright jc and gene99, you are cordially not invited to the World Series parade this year down Broadway!
Negative mets fans need to STF up!!!! If u don’t like our team now them might as well become a stankee fan and quit all your bitching!!!
Nieve has the potential to be one of the actual improvements for the Mets this year. If he can deliver some consistency as the #5, it will be an actual area of improvement over what we had last year. Hopefully, he will be fully recovered from surgery.
Hopefully, he [Santana, Reyes, Beltran, Neise, Perez, Nieve, Maine], will be fully recovered from surgery. That seems to be the big plan. Of course I would have prefered that they perform brain surgery on Perez and Pelfrey, at least.
IMHO, Nieve showed his true colors after his first few starts. The league quickly figured him out and he constantly pitched from behind and couldn’t get lefties out. Whoopee. Guy’s a DUD.
Nieve and Fogg attle for that #2 spot!
After Santana, Pelfrey, Perez, and Maine, the Mets have a number of possibilities. The Mets didn’t get any of the big name free agent pitchers leaving room for a “down on the farm” number 5 starting pitcher
1. Fernando Nieve
2. Jon Niese
3. Pat Misch
4. Nelson Figueroa
5. Josh Fogg (newly acquired)
That he pitched that well this winter means a lot more considering that the VWL is considered a hitter’s league. This is the same league that Thole lit up before leaving to prepare for spring training.
It’s interesting that the reassuring comments on Nieve’s fastball and changeup were made by Beltran. My question: Was Beltran on the bench or was he playing centerfield, about 300 feet away from homeplate?
A centerfielder who judges pitches that have lateral movement, like curves, or perhaps a sinker, is something I can believe in. But fastballs and changeups? About the only way an outfielder could make a judgment would be by the batter’s reaction. Not quite ready for Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, but . . . . What did Wright, Reyes, Castillo or Murphy/Delgado think?
Maybe Nieve bought Beltran a dinner somewhere along the line.
Nieve did not pitch too badly last season.
He pitched better than Pelfry, Maine, and obviously Perez.
Plus he showed me something when he hit that prima donna Alex Rodriguez after he hit a home-run off of Nieve. I know Nieve hit that punk on purpose because he missed hitting him with his first inside pitch…as warner Wolf would say….let’s go to the video tape.
I want Nieve on this team.
Greg,
Great comment. Made me chuckle.
Nieve may indeed be a sleeper, but he’s pitched only 46 innings in 08/09 and 26 this off season in the VWL. Is he capable of taking the ball every 5th day for an entire season in his first full year back? Gee, i doubt it. i do think he may well provide some great innings for us this year via spot starts and a long role in the pen, but to expect him to be a full time starter, logging 150+ innings when he last pitched 96 innings in 2007, is a stretch of the possible i think.
Bob, while your concerns re. Neive may be well founded they may just as well become mitigated by the addition of fellow VWL stalwart, Escobar, to help shoulder the anticipated workload of a #5. Just a thougt, I’ll see your conjecture with mine on Escobar & raise u by Neise. Look at all the fun we’re having and March 2ND is still a long ways off!
True ’62! i thought Escobar didn’t want to be considered a starter because he was worries about the strain on his arm? i do like Niese, but some drive-bye comment on the Fan intimated he was yet 100%..although i could not find that substantiated anywhere else. Otherwise, i consider Niese our sleeper for 2010. And we are having fun!