Tag: Jon Niese

Preview: Mets at Phillies April 30, 2010

New York Mets (13-9)  at Philadelphia Phillies (12-9) 7:05 pm

Jon Niese (0-1 3.68) vs. Kyle Kendrick (0-0 7.71)

TV: WPIX   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets are hot! They’ve won seven in a row. The Phillies have lost four of their last six games. Niese has only allowed 1 ER over his last 11 IP over two starts. Kendrick has been rocked in three of his four starts this season giving up 16 ER in 18.2 IP. This is the most anticipated series against the Phillies that we’ve had in several years. The first place Mets are in Philly through Sunday.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Facebook page during the game to chat with other Mets fans! Connect with The Mets Report on Twitter too.

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Mets Wrap Up Successful Homestand – Look Ahead

The Mets have had a big home stand against the Cubs, Braves, and Dodgers. David Daniels writes that the next series in Philadelphia could set the tone for the rest of the season.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

Are we getting excited yet!?! Our Met’s are now on a 6 game winning streak and hopefully we can make it a 7 game winning streak before heading off to Philly. This was a wildly successful homestand.

Yes, It’s a little early in the year but I’m so looking forward to this weekend series with the Phillies. I love the rivalry. Considering the rough start the Mets had, catching the Phillies will make this series that much more entertaining.

Jon Niese will open the series Friday followed by Mike Pelfrey and then Johan Santana. The Phillies pitchers have yet to be announced. This lines up our top two pitchers for a crucial series that will set the tone for the entire year. Will the Phillies embarrass the Mets or will the Mets show they can play toe-to-toe with the defending NL Champs and leave Philly in first? Continue reading “Mets Wrap Up Successful Homestand – Look Ahead”

Jon Niese is “Nice”

Mets starting pitcher Niese leaves the game against Braves in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsOk, I have to admit I really was down on this pitching staff early this year. I thought that Jon Niese would never make it as a fifth starter and that we would be going through one retread pitcher after another in our quest to find that decent fifth starter who can also eat innings.

Neise was Nice! This was a solid 5 1/3 innings of 5 hit, 1 run pitching that will lock down the fifth starter position. I will accept a game pitched like this from our #5 starter any day of the week.

The 116 piches and 5 walks allowed prevented him from staying in the game longer and getting the win. If Niese can improve on his “Nice” he could turn in a decent year.

With Johan Santana holding his own, Mike Pelfrey turning into Superman and even Oliver Perez showing signs of life, having four of our five pitchers in good form is a pleasant surprise. Good enough to win the division? No. Good enough to stay in the race until the trading deadline in July? Definitely! Continue reading “Jon Niese is “Nice””

Mets 3 – Braves 1 April 24, 2010

Mets batter Bay follows through as he drives in a run with a double against the Braves during MLB baesball game in New York

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsThe Mets took the second straight game from the Braves to win the series an open the chance for a sweep tomorrow night on ESPN. It was bring your dog to the park day today and the Braves defense has certainly gone to the dogs. They look completely lost in the field. Today Yunel Escobar added the basepaths to the locations causing problems when he didn’t tag up from third on a fly ball that turned into a double play.

Jon Niese wasn’t great in today’s start but limited the damage to only 1 run over 5.1 IP. The downside of the start was that he gave up 5 hits and 5 walks. But he did strike out 6. It’s not an easy way to make a living giving up that many base runners. He needs to work on throwing strikes, especially with his fastball.

The bullpen saved Niese by throwing 3.2 scoreless innings. Francisco Rodriguez got his third save in three days and that includes his five out save against the Cubs on Thursday.

Another encouraging sign for the Mets is that Jason Bay was the offensive hero of the day going 3 for 4 with an RBI double. He’s 4 for his last 7 at-bats. Maybe he’s starting to come out of the funk he’s been in for the last three weeks.

Ike Davis continues to contribute going 0 for 2 with a walk and a run scored. He has 20 at-bats this season and 5 runs scored. It’s all about scoring runs and Davis is doing it at a tremendous rate.

The Mets only had 5 hits today. What else would you expect against Jair Jurrgens? He destroyed the Mets last year for four wins. But so did everyone else in the league. The true test will be what he does this season.

Box score

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Preview: Braves at Mets April 24, 2010

Atlanta Braves (8-8) at New York Mets (8-9)  1:10 pm

Jair Jurrjens (0-1 6.06) vs. Jon Niese (0-1 4.32)

TV: WPIX   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: Niese’s last start against the Cubs was a good one, going 5.2 IP and giving up no earned runs in a no-decision. Jurrjens went 8 IP in his last start against Colorado giving up 3 earned runs in a no-decision. The Mets’ lineup looked pretty good with Jose Reyes hitting third in the order, so I’m sure we’ll see more of that this weekend.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Facebook page during the game to chat with other Mets fans! Connect with The Mets Report on Twitter too.

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Mets 6 – Cubs 1 April 19, 2010

Chicago Cubs at New York Mets

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsIt wasn’t lost on us that the Mets won tonight, but it was all about Ike Davis tonight. He made his major league debut tonight and didn’t disappoint. The crowd gave him a huge ovation for his first at-bat and he singled over second base. He finished the night 2 for 4 with an RBI. Not a bad way to start a career.

Jon Niese also had a nice start. He went 5.2 IP giving up only 1 unearned run. The Cubs were hitting him but he kept the damage to a minimum. It was a very good recovery from his last bad start in Colorado.

The hero of the night was Angel Pagan, who hit a a long 2-run homer to left-center to put the Mets up for good in the bottom of the seventh.

On a positive note, Jason Bay went 2 for 3 tonight. Hopefully, that will get him out of his slump.

Box score

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Preview: Cubs at Mets April 19, 2010

Chicago Cubs (5-7) at New York Mets (4-8)  7:10 pm

Randy Wells (1-0 2.92) vs. Jon Niese (0-1 6.55)

TV: ESPN, SNY   Radio: WFAN

What to watch: This is an interesting series because both teams aren’t playing as well as expected so far this season. Niese got hit hard in his last start in Colorado, giving up 5 runs in 5 IP. Wells wasn’t much better in his last start in Milwaukee giving up 4 runs in 6.1 IP. The Mets still haven’t won a series yet this season but the big story all week is going to be when, or if, the Mets are going to call up Ike Davis from Buffalo to play first base.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!

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