Mack: Good morning folks. I've been looking forward to this one. Today we have... (he's gonna love when I write this...) ONE OF THE NEW YORK METS ROTATION PITCHERS... Chris Schwinden. Hey Chris. Music in your ears, huh?
Schwinden: Well, I like the sound of it that's for sure.
Mack: Boy, you've come a long way from a year ago when they couldn't find a rotation slot for you in Binghamton. We’ll get to your high point of the season in the next question, but early on relieving for the B-Mets, were those your darkest moments?
Schwinden: Absolutely not. I mean, don't get me wrong I wanted to be a starter, but I said to myself ( after hearing I was in the pen) that when it was my turn to pitch I'm going to pitch. There was no reason to be mad over not starting. To tell you the truth I kinda liked coming out of the pen as well.
Mack: Watch what you wish for... Okay, now, let's get to the good part. First, I sort of remember that there was a scare that had had a rumor going around that you were going to have sport start in late August. Was that stressful waiting for someone to tap you on the shoulder?
Schwinden: Well, having the carrot dangled in front of me this year was a roller coaster of emotions. By the end of august I got used to the stress. But I kept telling myself when the time comes be ready.
Mack: And then, the day came... walk us through...
Schwinden: We just finished our last game in Scranton. And I was making room in my luggage to fit my baseball stuff. Then Rickey Bones comes up to me and asked what I was doing. I told him and then he says come with me. And Tuff was waiting in the office and tells me I going up to the big leagues.
Mack: And lastly... walk us through that first outing/pitch...
Schwinden: Well, just being nervous about the hitters was the big shock for me. Being thrown into a game facing a lineup like that was very overwhelming. But nerves getting the best of me is something that I don't go through a lot. I defiantly don't like feeling like that. But it was amazing pitching against guys like Uggla and Jones and McCann. If I was dying tomorrow I'm proud to say I've pitched against those guys.
Mack: Chris, I gotta give it to you. That's a unique way of putting it... So here we are... you're a big time major league and I have to drop you from my "Keepers" list... I love it. So, what are you working on during the off-season?
Schwinden: Obviously work on commanding all my pitches a little bit better. Reaching near 100 pitches in 5-6 innings isn't where I want to be. Command is a big must this off season.
Mack: Chris, it's simply fantastic to see you have succeeded where so many of us have failed. I want to thank you for taking my readers through those great days and I wish nothing but more success in the future.
Schwinden: Thanks Mack I appreciate it.
Selected by New York Mets in 22nd Round (674th overall) of 2008 amateur entry draft.
In 2008, Schwinden went 4-1, 2.01, 14 games, 8 starts, 70Ks, 62.2 IP, only 12 BBs, for Brooklyn.
In 2009, Schwinden became one of the “Savannah 5”, posting a 9-6, 3.28, 1.22 record in 21 games, 17 starts. He also went 1-0, 3.97 for Lucy in the last week of the season.
Forecast written in Jan 2010:: Everybody spent the entire 2009 season bragging on Jeurys Familia and Robert Carson, while Schwinden stayed under the radar. Hey, this is a guy with a lifetime 1.17 WHIP! So far, in two seasons, he’s 14-7, 2.90, 1.17. I’ll take that at any level. We may have ourselves another pitching prospect here.
7-3-10: - Schwinden has had a hard time solidifying himself within the Binghamton rotation, but that might be all in the past after last night’s first game of the doubleheader. Schwinden had a no-hitter after six innings and finished up the 7-inning game with a two hitter. He also struck out five and did not give up a walk.
10-2-10 interview:
Mack: – Hey folks. We’re here this morning with the 22nd round pick in the 2008 draft, starting pitcher Chris Schwinden. Hey Chris, thanks for spending a few minutes with us. First up, are you home or down in Ft. Myers in Instruction Camp? .
Schwinden: – Thanks for having me. I’m back home here in Visalia, CA.
Mack: – I have to ask you the same question I ask all of you… take us back to that classic day you found out you were drafted… what was that all about? .
Schwinden: – I was just sitting at home watching TV, Fish-eyeing my computer every round. Then I saw my name popped up under the Mets. I kind of double-taked for a second and I knew it was for real. and I was really excited.
Mack: – Chris, you signed and went straight to Brooklyn, where you went 4-1, 2.01, in 14 games, eight starts. Nore importantly, you had 70-Ks in only 62.2-IP, with only 12-BB. The new grind of rotating every five days didn’t seem to affect you at all….
Schwinden: – Well…Its the same game where ever you go.You have to throw the ball over for strikes and try and get guys out. I was fortunate enough to have a season like Brooklyn. Pitching every five days was some getting use to, but it’s what you do with those extra days to try and get yourself better for the next outing.
Mack: – You said it perfectly. I can’t tell you how many times I have been asked “how do I get to the majors”… if they’re a pitcher, I tell them “well, you first have to throw strikes…”
Anyway, it was on to Savannah in 2009 (9-6, 3.28) and then finishing up with St. Lucie (1-0, 3.97), where you continued to shine in 2010 at (3-0, 1.83)… had you added anything new to your repertoire during this period?
Schwinden: – This past off-season I really wanted to work on my curve. It wasn’t that great in 09. So I really wanted to bring that back into play. This year mark brewer taught me how to throw a cutter and had lots of success with it. So I have another pitch that is going to be fun throwing.
Mack: – Last question… Chris, you’re at that place I call “the point of no return”. Minor league players really have two steps they must take to get to the Bigs…. one, they have to get to the AA level… and two, they have to get past it.
A coach told me once that there are no bad baseball players in AA. You’ve already had a taste of that this past season. Is it true and what are your off-season plans to get ready for your next step? .
Schwinden: – Well… I would say that there are guys that have experience where they have found success in what they have learned and there are some that haven’t found it yet. But they have done something great to get themselves where they are. I’m going to work on the cutter and try to establish that to the best I can get it. Also work on little mechanical problems that I endured over the season and go from there.
Mack: – Great ideas. The cutter turned out to be the difference for Mike Pelfrey. It’s a killer pitch with no predictable outcome. I always called it a fast-knuckler…
5-14-11: - No one seems to be able to give any explanation for what SP Chris Schwinden is doing different at the AAA level. His fastball remains in the 90-92 range, but it especially has good tail motion down and in to right-handed hitters. The changup did raise up last year to the 80-84 range, and he has an average slider (84-86) at best. His last and least used pitch is his overhand curve, in the high-70s. Anyone that has followed Chris’s game knows that the key here is command, and the ability to mix his pitches to his liking. I have to assume at this point that he is currently, as we say, in command.
6-9-11: - http://www.metstoday.com/6564/mets-minors/mets-minor-league-update-buffalo-bisons-starting-pitcher-chris-schwinden - Although he has been in a mini-slump lately in the International League, Schwinden looks like the next Mets pitcher to break the aforementioned rule. On the season, Chris has compiled a record of 3-3 with an era of 3.20. The record may not look very promising but considering the Bisons’ poor 26-34 record on the year, it is very respectable. In addition, Schwinden doesn’t allow many base runners — witnessed by his 1.08 WHIP on the season. (For those of you who don’t know, WHIP is a stat that counts the amount of walks and hits a pitcher averages each inning. It is calculated simply by dividing the total amount of walks and hits the pitcher has allowed in one season by the amount of innings the pitched in the same season. Generally speaking, a really good WHIP is anything below 1.10 and Schwinden’s falls into that category).
6-26-11: - It’s going to be very interesting to see what the Mets do with this guy if he keeps this up. He pitched his 14th start for Buffalo yesterday, going 7.0-IP, 7-K, 2-BB, 3-ER, 3.12. Seasonally, he has only struck out 67 in 80.2-IP and has walked 30 batters. We assume Johan Santana comes back next season and we’re still trying to figure out if Dillon Gee survives a needed rotational cut, so what about Schwinden? Long relief?
6-30-11: - press release - The International League today announced that Buffalo Bisons RHP CHRIS SCHWDINEN has been selected to the IL’s 2011 All-Star Team. Schwinden and the IL’s best will face the Pacific Coast League All-Star Team at the 24th Annual Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 13 at Spring Mobile Ballpark in Salt Lake City, UT. Next season’s 25th annual Triple-A All-Star Game will be played in Buffalo, NY at the home of the Buffalo Bisons, Coca-Cola Field. Schwinden, 25, is having a breakout season with the Bisons, his first career time at the Triple-A level. He leads the Bisons’ staff in all pitching triple crown categories with five wins, a 3.12ERA and 67 strikeouts. His ERA also ranks 10th-best in the International League Overall, Schwinden is 5-3 in 14 games with 63 hits allowed in a team-high 80.2 innings of work. Schwinden began the 2011 season in the bullpen for Double-A Binghamton. He was promoted to the Herd on April 16 and struck out a season-high nine batters that night in his Triple-A debut in Pawtucket. He picked up his first Triple-A win in his third start with 5.2 shutout innings on April 26 in Rochester. He has also won his last two starts, which included retiring 17 consecutive batters on Sunday in a victory over Norfolk. Schwinden has pitched five innings or more in 13 of his 14 starts and allowed three of fewer runs in 11 of his appearances
7-2-11: - Schwinden continues to impress with Buffalo, going 7.0-IP Friday night: 0-R, 5-H, 8-K, 0-BB. His AAA ERA is now 2.87 and he has definitely earned his all-star status. Even more important is his increased K/IP ratio over the last few games.
7-3-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/07/best-mets-minor-league-surprises-mid-season-edition.html - Chris Schwinden – Buffalo, after two relief appearances with Bingo to start the season, the 6’3″ righty was quickly called up to Buffalo and placed in the starting rotation. He is the only prospect to show positive development at AAA this year while at the same time staying healthy. In 15 game starts, he is 5-3 with a 2.87 ERA. In 87.2 IP, he has given up a paltry 67 hits, with 75 K and 30 BB. His AAA opponents are hitting only .211 against him, and his WHIP is 1.11.
7-4-11: - http://mets360.com/?p=7171&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mets360%2Ffeed+%28Mets360+Feed%29 - In his last start, Schwinden threw seven shutout innings against Lehigh Valley, and allowed four hits and no walks. He struck out eight batters and ran his scoreless innings streak to 15.2 IP. Schwinden got a no-decision in the game, as Buffalo lost 2-0. But even though he did not get rewarded with the win, there’s no doubting how well he has pitched this season. In his last four games, Schwinden has allowed 5 ER in 25.2 IP (1.75 ERA) and has allowed 6 BB and notched 25 Ks. In Friday’s game against the Iron Pigs, Schwinden retired the first 10 batters he faced and ended his outing by setting down his final eight hitters
7-5-11: - http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/7/4/2258798/prospect-spotlight-chris-schwinden-mets - While Schwinden isn’t the most overpowering pitcher on the planet, I do not like when people refer to him as not having enough "stuff" to get Major League hitters out. He is much like Gee, in that the overall command of his fastball and good off-speed pitch should be enough to keep hitters honest at the next level. In Gee’s case the pitch is a changeup, but for Schwinden it will be good old Uncle Charlie and being a guy who gets a lot of flyballs he could benefit greatly from pitching in Citi Field. He is still just a C prospect, but I don’t think it is out of the realm of possibility for him to have a Gee type of impact at some point this season or next."
7-27-11: - Schwinny pitched a gem Wednesday afternoon, with stats of 7.0-IP, 2-R, 6-K, 1-BB. He now has 101 strikeouts for the Bisons and has become the 16th pitcher in modern-era with 100+ strikeouts for the Bisons (Dillon Gee holds the record with 165, set last year).
8-14-11: - http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/32042/projected-prospect-call-ups - CHRIS SCHWINDEN, rhp (7-6, 3.53 ERA in 23 appearances, 21 starts, with Buffalo and Binghamton): The Dillon Gee-type feel-good story of the current crop of prospects, Schwinden came out of nowhere. A 22nd-round pick in 2008 from Fresno Pacific, even Schwinden has been pleasantly surprised by his success. “I didn’t think I was going to do as good as I am now. It’s kind of shocking. It’s turned out for the best so far,” Schwinden said earlier this season.
8-19-11: - Stock Up – SP Chris Schwinden – Schwinden wanted to make sure everyone still is considering him for the 2012 Mets rotation. Friday nights stats: 5.2-IP, 0-R, 4-H, 6-K, 1-BB. The season ERA is now 3.60.
8-23-11: - #22: - SP Chris Schwinden – Anyone that has had the privilege of covering the Mets minor league system is very proud of what Chris has done this season. Every organization has a bunch of pitchers that peak at 91-92, sit in the high 80s, and rely on mixing their pitchers. Their go to pitch is usually not the fastball and many never get the opportunity to join a big league rotation. Like Dillon Gee, Chris relies on his pitching intelligence which made him an all-star this season in the AAA. That’s a big deal, folks. Where does he go? Well, it depends on the rehabbing of Johan Santana, the iffy return of Mike Pelfrey, and the possible resigning of Chris Young. His worst case… he will anchor Buffalo come spring.
Chris Schwinden SP Buffalo Bisons: 23 GS 7-6, 3.60 ERA, 119 Ks, 130.0 IP Schwinden, a 22nd-round draft pick in 2008, has had a truly breakout season this year for the Bisons. He has emerged into one of the best-performing starting pitchers in the Mets farm system. Like current Mets pitcher Dillon Gee, Schwinden doesn't have overpowering stuff but still manages to get batters out. This is one of the reasons why he was named to the International League All-Star Game in 2011. Schwinden is a smart pitcher and as evidenced by Dillon Gee, those kind of guys manage to be successful for the Mets.
8-24-11: - http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/8/24/2381743/minor-league-notes-august-24-2011#storyjump - New York Mets prospect Chris Schwinden is having a solid year for Triple-A Buffalo and could receive a promotion for the stretch run. The 25-year-old right-hander has a 3.60 ERA with a 119/44 K/BB in 130 innings, with 115 hits allowed. He's given up 12 homers and has a 0.61 GO/AO ratio. Drafted in the 22nd round in 2008 from Fresno Pacific, Schwinden struggled last year in Double-A (5.56 ERA, 100 hits in 79 innings) but has been more effective this year. His velocity is mediocre (88-90) for a right-hander, but he throws strikes and mixes in a curveball and cutter. He has little margin for error and could be a Quadruple-A type, but there's at least some chance he could develop into a fifth starter or long reliever
9-3-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/09/prospect-pulse-buffalo-2012-help-on-the-way.html - SP4: Chris Schwinden - Schwinden has emerged as the “ace” of the Buffalo rotation this year, going 8-7 with a 3.95 ERA in 25 GS. He has put himself squarely on the “prospect map” as a RHP in the Dillon Gee mold. The chief difference between the two, is where Gee relies heavily on his change-up as an out-pitch, Schwinnie uses a hard-breaking curveball. He will be a super long-shot to make the Mets out of ST next year, and will probably be a “holdover” in the Herd’s rotation, but should definitely get his first big league opportunity at some point during the 2012 campaign, whether in the rotation or the bullpen is tough to say.
9-14-11: - http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/9/14/2423353/prospect-of-the-day-chris-schwinden-rhp-new-york-mets - Schwinden was undeterred however, and ended up having a fine season this year for Triple-A Buffalo, with a 3.95 ERA and a 134/48 K/BB in 146 innings, allowing 138 hits. He was promoted to the majors for this month and gave up eight hits and five runs in five innings in his first start, though he walked just one and fanned four. There is nothing special about his velocity, his fastball is just in the 86-90 range. He mixes in a cutter, curveball, and changeup, relying on sharp command of his secondary pitches to succeed. He has little margin for error and needs a strong defense behind him, but there are pitchers with worse stuff who have made careers for themselves due to superior command, and he's shown the ability to make adjustments to higher level competition. Schwinden really snuck up on us this year, but I don't see him as a total fluke. I think he projects as a fifth starter or long relief type as long as his command remains strong.
9-23-11: - http://risingapple.com/2011/09/23/the-stuff-that-dreams-are-made-of-chris-schwinden-via-seedlings-to-stars - Chris Schwinden was never considered much of a prospect, and FanGraphs’ Mike Newman, who had seen him pitch in Low-A years ago, was shocked that he ultimately made it to the big leagues. But here he is, and Schwinden’s made three starts, covering 16 innings. He hasn’t been that bad, either–he’s allowed just one homer with a 12/5 K/BB ratio. The 25-year-old righthander, who turned in a solid year in Triple-A this season, is not a hard thrower; the fastest pitch he’s thrown since his callup is about 91 mph. Schwinden throws three pitches: an 85-91 mph cut fastball (average: 88.1 mph), a 72-78 mph curveball (average: 74.4 mph), and a 79-83 mph changeup (average: 81.3 mph).
9-30-11: - With the season over for the Mets, Schwinden's offseason began Thursday as he flew back home to Visalia. He's been instructed by the New York Mets organization to not play winter ball and was told to rest during the offseason. He said he'll be in contact with the Mets' brass throughout the offseason and will follow the workout plan that he was given by the team's strength coach. "I reached and went over my innings pitched, so they're just going to have me relax and have me prepare for the offseason," he said. "The big thing, though, during the offseason is fine tuning my mechanics and getting my body in shape. - http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20110930/SPORTS/109300333
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