The New York Mets are on the cusp of beginning their Spring Training schedule. With this time of year, comes many questions about some of the players we will be watching. In this three part series, we will attempt to answer some of those questions.
In part one, we will look at three specific starting pitchers that fans and media alike will be focusing their attention on. In part two, we will examine two bullpen pitchers and two bench players that will be in the spotlight this month. Finally, in part three, we will put three key position players under the microscope.
1. Johan Santana- After more than a year and a half, the Mets ace is nearly ready to step back into filling the role they acquired and paid him for. All reports point to a return in his velocity and his trademark change-up being as nasty as ever.
The two major questions everyone will be waiting with baited breath to see answers for are his health and his stamina. These questions are actually tied in together with one another. Every Mets fan knows he has a tremendous wealth of talent to draw from now that he has shown the capability to throw at maximum velocity again. The problem is can he stay healthy.
He missed the final month of the 2010 season and all of last year due to his shoulder injury. Santana must spend this month reconditioning himself to build his stamina. However, he must do this at a slower pace than normal pitchers do in order to preserve his health.
If he rushes himself now, he will be running on empty by the end of the season or worse, hurry his body into another injury. With his return also must come a renewal for the team to preach patience.
2. Jon Niese- In 2011, Niese emerged as a fan favorite and a future star in the rotation. He posted two consecutive seasons with at least 150 inning pitched and 130 strikeouts. In addition, he reached double digits in wins for the first time in his young career last season with 11.
While many spent the last few weeks talking about his new nose, the more prudent thing to take notice of this month will be his ability to settle into the rotation with high expectations. He is looked upon by some as the second best pitcher on the staff behind Santana.
This may be an unfair distinction to be placed on a 25 year old entering just his third full season in the majors, but it is an important distinction nonetheless. How will he embrace that pressure? How he answers that question will go a long way into seeing what type of pitcher he has become and what type he will develop into for the next several years.
3. Matt Harvey- The biggest name on the mound in Port St Lucie this month without a doubt will be Matt Harvey. The former first round draft pick has already impressed the big league hitters with his fastball. Many have even suggested he may be ready to break Spring Training with the big club.
The truth is, he is just about there, but could benefit from the extra year of seasoning in Triple-A for the sake of maturity. The numbers between Single-A and Double-A were very different. While he started 14 games, had a 2.37 ERA and struck out 92 batters in St Lucie, he struggled at the next level in Binghamton. He had 12 starts, a 4.52 ERA and 64 strikeouts.
The big issue was walks between the two levels. In his first 14 games, he walked 24. In two fewer starts in Double-A, he walked 23. While he has impressed early on, facing live MLB hitters has shown how far he still has to go. A few days ago, he posted a 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K and 0 R. That last part of the line is the most important, though. He gave up zero runs.
It was just a sampling of things and it wasn't even in a real game, but it was promising. He allowed four runners in just an inning and two-thirds. He needs to gain in-game experience versus skilled hitters that will not get fooled by a mediocre breaking pitch or blown out by a the predictable fastball.
He must develop the mental part of his game. How to attack a hitter and set them up for the putout. That killer instinct will serve him extremely well in the majors. It's the difference between a top tier, complete pitcher and a one season wonder.
****Look for Part Two tomorrow****
No comments:
Post a Comment