Fifth Starter Competition

The Mets have a pretty interesting fifth starter competition as every one of the candidates has pitched well so far.

Jon Niese has the inside track on the fifth starter spot as long as he stays healthy and yesterday he looked very good. He has worked on his cutter alot this off-season and is turning it into a quality out pitch and a plus ML pitch. To go along with that cutter he already has a good curveball and a fastball that sits around 92-93 MPH. Niese was very good in his first spring outing striking out five in 2.2 innings while surrending only one run.

Fernando Nieve pitched pretty well last year for the Mets era wise but he had a 1.21 K/BB ratio which obviously is not good at all. He throws hard and has a good slider but struggles with his control and doesn't have a strong third pitch. He threw three innings yesterday only allowing one run striking out two, but he also walked two. I believe that Nieve has good stuff but he is more suited for the bullpen giving his lack of a third pitch. Right now I think he will make this team as a 7th inning guy/longman because he is out of options and the Mets don't want to risk losing an arm like his.

Nelson Figueroa pitched the best of all three yesterday allowing only one hit in four scoreless innings striking out five against the Cardinals. This spring he now has six scoreless innings with right strikeouts. Everyone loves the story about Figgy and his has quickly become a fan favorite among Mets fans. Figgy pitched well for the Mets last year with a 2.46 BB/K and a complete game shutout to end the season. He also pitched very well in the Caribbean Series for the second straight season. Some people disregard stats that happen in this league but I won't because there is immense pressure on these players in the playoffs. The level of play isn't the same as ML, maybe around AA-AAA, but the intensity is there and the pressure of doing well is still there. I like Figgy because of his experience and his very good off-speed pitches but he tends to give up to many hits and when he is bad he is just awful. This being said Figgy is out of options so the Mets would have to send him through waivers and right now he if going to have to fight for the last bullpen spot.

Hisanori Takahasi has yet to pitch in a Spring Training game because of his visa issues but that has been resolved and I would expect to see him pitch soon. He did pitch in the intrasquad game and looked good striking out four and showing a good screwball/changeup ala Hideki Okajima. He has a minor contract so he isn't on the 40-man roster and will likely start the year in Buffalo as a starter. Jerry Manuel has said that he see's Takahashi as only a starter because he doesn't dominate lefties because his best pitch is his screwball.

There are other people too who are getting looks such as R.A. Dickey, Pat Misch, and Tobi Stoner but neither of these guys have a chance. Dickey will likely go to AAA and be depth all season, Misch will have a chance to make it as a longman but just doesn't get enough lefties out. Stoner has been used as a reliever but I think the Mets need to put him at AAA as a starter. He has three good pitches and has been a starter his whole Minor League career, so the Mets would be better off with him starting waiting for an injury call-up.