THE NEW GUY: Jon Niese, walking off the mound after exiting in the seventh inning, allowed two runs and four hits as the left-hander stepped in for an injured Johan Santana to lead the Mets to an Opening Day victory. (Bill Kostroun)
THE NEW GUY: Jon Niese, walking off the mound after exiting in the seventh inning (inset), allowed two runs and four hits as the left-hander stepped in for an injured Johan Santana to lead the Mets to an Opening Day victory. (Bill Kostroun; Paul J. Bereswill)
This is a new age for the Mets, and yesterday they showed a new ace.
Jon Niese earned his No. 1 status in the Mets’ 11-2 thumping of the Padres on Opening Day at Citi Field. It wasn’t just the 6 2/3 innings the lefty pitched, allowing four hits and two runs. It wasn’t the way he insisted on going back out for the seventh inning and it wasn’t the way he accepted his role of replacing Johan Santana.
It was this: Jon Niese set the tone that the Mets can grow their own when it comes to starting pitchers and now the torch will be passed to Matt Harvey for Game 2 tomorrow night.
The Mets are trying to establish that they can build their own starting staff and in so many ways that is what this 2013 season is all about. Niese is playing the role of Andy Pettitte for the Mets and he did exactly what was needed yesterday.
“He has stepped into a role where he kind of leads that rotation,’’ manager Terry Collins said.
Coming through the Mets system makes a difference.
“At least in my situation, you come through this system and you have a great deal of pride of putting that uniform on,’’ noted David Wright, who has embraced his role as captain. “That is what we are trying to do here.’’
Catcher John Buck, who is going to make a big difference for this pitching staff, said Niese lived up to the billing.
“He showed today why he is our No. 1,’’ Buck said. “I’ve said all along he could be a No. 1 on a lot of teams and he showed that. He had a lot of pressure coming in, being moved into that role with Santana being out. His first home opener, he stepped up and did what No. 1 should do. He’s been compared to Pettitte and he didn’t change who he was, he has the guts to stick to who he is. That says a lot for his character and his makeup.’’
Dillon Gee echoed those sentiments.
“He went out there and pounded the strike zone, stayed in control,’’ Gee said. “He didn’t let Opening Day get him out of his game, that’s Niese. He doesn’t care. But that is the kind of attitude you have to have. The thing we learn from him is to pitch your game.
“You can call him Pettitte all you want, but he is Jon Niese.’’
That is good enough.
When Collins told Niese three weeks ago he would fill the No. 1 starting role for the Mets, replacing Santana, Niese’s reaction said it all: “All right!’’
When Collins heard that he smiled: “That means he wanted it bad,’’ the manager explained. “He pitched a great game.’’
“I’m not going to lie, the adrenaline was pumping, but I prepared as if it were any other game,’’ Niese said of his first Opening Day start.
Niese, 26, also wanted to establish he could do more than expected.
“Last year was a year when I hit that sixth inning and I had 95 pitches and they kind of shut me down,’’ Niese said of why he talked Collins into letting him go out to get the first two outs in the seventh. “I want to be that guy that goes back out and finishes my starts. I just told [Collins] that I wanted to go back out and that I felt like I had a lot left.’’
Niese also picked up two hits, worked a walk, produced an RBI and scored a run.
You have to have the talent to succeed in the majors. But you also have to have that competitive edge and that is what Niese brings to the party.
“I’m never satisfied with what I have,’’ Niese said of his desire to improve.
This was only the first of 162 and the win came against the pitiful Padres, but you have to start somewhere. On this Opening Day, the Mets found a No. 1 homegrown starter.