Jonathon Niese: Under-appreciated and Under the Radar

Phillibuster

"Niese had a good 2012, but he's likelier to pitch closer to his career ERA (4.06) than last year's - still not bad, but #4-5 range on most teams."

Braves2013Champs

"mets need to be knocked out? what the crap neise sucks who do the mets think he is? bahahahaha"

Brandon Hodge

"Why are people acting like Niese is a good pitcher?"

The above are some highly intelligent quotes from commenters on various non team committed blogs such as ESPN and MLBTradeRumors. We can see that for some odd reason, Jonathon Niese doesn't exactly have a good reputation with the public. The same types of comments can even be found amongst some cynical Mets fans as well. However despite the belief, "The Nose," as he is called over at Amazin Avenue, was much better then people give him credit for. Here is his stat line from 2012.

2012: 13-9 record, 3.40 ERA, 190.1 IP, 174 H, 72 ER, 22 HR, 51 BB (2 IBB), 155 K

SABR: 1.172 WHIP, 8.2 H/9, 1.0 HR/9, 2.3 BB/9, 7.3 K/9, 3.2 WAR, 73% QS, GB/FB ratio .97

Amongst left handed starters only 10 MLB pitchers had better ERA's then Niese:

(Clayton Kershaw, David Price, Gio Gonzalez, Chris Sale, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, Matt Harrison, Wade Miley, Madison Bumgarner, and CC Sabathia)

Only 9 of them were worth more wins then Niese .
(Madison Bumgarner produced a 1.8 WAR)

Only 3 of them gave up fewer walks.
(Lee, Miley, and Sabathia)

And Only 3 of them produced a higher quality start percentage. 

(Price, Hamels, and Kershaw) 

He may not be a premier left hander but Jonathon Niese is absolutely amongst the second tier of him. To make his case even better, he will pitch in 2013 at only 26 years old which means he may still be due for some progression. It will not be outside the realm of possibility to see him win 15+ games this season.